Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II) | 80GSFC21R0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80GSFC21R0003

The Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II) opportunity is a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) intended to select one partner to provide ongoing, long-term support for research programs within the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED), specifically focused on Earth science work at GSFC. NASA planned to release the CAN around October 15, 2020, under funding opportunity number 80GSFC21R0003 (CFDA 43.001), using a cooperative agreement mechanism. The core purpose is to create a structured collaboration where the awardee works closely with NASA scientists to carry out investigations, studies, and related activities that advance NASA Earth Science strategic mission objectives.

The research emphasis is broad but clearly centered on improving understanding of the Earth system and the processes that drive it, and on strengthening the ability to observe, model, and predict how the Earth system evolves over time. This includes supporting scientific and technical work that helps characterize key components of the Earth system (atmosphere, oceans, land, ice, and biosphere), improves Earth observations and modeling capabilities, and advances predictive skill. Alongside the science itself, GESTAR II also highlights the importance of informational and computational sciences, meaning efforts that improve how Earth science data are managed, analyzed, assimilated, and used. Another major pillar is technology development, with an explicit interest in developing or maturing technologies needed to meet Earth science challenges, as well as moving products and methodologies toward practical readiness so they can deliver public value and societal benefits.

The primary NASA collaborator for this effort is the Earth Sciences Division (ESD) (Code 610) within the SED, and the opportunity is designed so the recipient can work across multiple ESD laboratories and offices. The participating organizational elements include the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (Code 610.1), Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory (612), Climate and Radiation Laboratory (613), Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory (614), Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory (615), Ocean Ecology Laboratory (616), Hydrological Sciences Laboratory (617), Biospheric Sciences Laboratory (618), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory (619), and the Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory (61A). NASA indicated that additional detail on objectives and research areas for each element is provided in an attachment to the announcement, which implies that proposers are expected to align their approach and staffing to the specific needs of those groups rather than proposing unrelated or purely independent work.

GESTAR II is also framed as a relationship-building vehicle. NASA states that the award should strengthen cooperative relationships between the selected recipient and government scientists in the Goddard SED, and it is meant to broaden participation by the external science community in achieving NASA goals. Because this is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), substantial involvement by NASA personnel in the planning and execution of the work is implied, with collaboration and shared technical direction being central features rather than incidental.

Eligibility is open to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations, consistent with the intent to engage external research capacity while maintaining close integration with NASA teams. The notice specifies that Notices of Intent are not requested. It also stresses communication rules: it is not a Request for Proposals, oral communications are not acceptable for questions, and all questions must be submitted in writing to the Contract Specialist, Joel Rivera, at Joel.Rivera@nasa.gov, with telephone questions explicitly not accepted. The opportunity record shows key administrative details such as an original closing date of October 12, 2020, an expected single award, and an award ceiling listed as 0 (which typically signals that funding details are defined elsewhere in the notice or are otherwise not represented by a simple capped amount in the summary record).

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 05, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 12, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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