NDSGC Request for Proposals | ASCEND RFP Fall 2026
Overview:
NDSGC ASCEND Fall 2026 RFP
The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) is soliciting applications for the Affiliate Synergistic and Collaborative Engagements across ND (ASCEND) program, available to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and education professionals at NDSGC Affiliate Institutions. The purpose of ASCEND is to support opportunities for students, educators, faculty, and staff across the state to engage in STEM-centric experiences that are NASA-relevant and promote workforce development initiatives.
For the Fall 2026 RFP, the ASCEND program will award up to two awards to meritorious proposals (one Catalyst and one Impact).
Funding Available: One $10,000 Catalyst Award | One $30,000 Impact Award
The Catalyst Award is designed to support new ideas, pilot projects, and exploratory activities. These awards provide seed funding for affiliate staff and faculty to initiate NASA-relevant projects, test innovative concepts, or collect and analyze preliminary data that may lead to larger external funding opportunities. Examples include: pilot research, outreach programs, college and K-12 student engagement activities, prototype development w/ student researchers, preliminary data collection, etc. This award is ideal for: new investigators, early-career affiliates, small teams, and first-time applicants.
The Impact Award is designed to support interdisciplinary ideas that include multiple affiliate representatives. These awards provide seed funding for affiliate faculty and staff to build partnerships across institutions, disciplines, or organizations to advance NASA-related research, education, or workforce development initiatives. Projects should demonstrate meaningful collaboration and shared expertise. Examples include: statewide STEM research collaborations, STEM industry partnerships for student experiences, professional development workshops, K-12 and higher education partnerships, multi-institutional projects, etc. This award is ideal for: interdisciplinary teams, cross-campus collaborations, new or experienced investigators, and early-career affiliates.
Timeline:
RFP Issued: Oct 1, 2026
Proposals due: Nov. 1, 2026
~Notice Sent to Selected Proposals: ~Nov. 23, 2026
Period of Performance: Jan. 15, 2027 – Dec. 15, 2027
Eligibility:
- Projects must include:
- Faculty / Staff Project Leads who are employed at an NDSGC Affiliate Institution (UND and NDSU faculty and staff can serve as Co-Is or Collaborators, but cannot serve as Project Leads)
- College Student Support or Direct Student Engagement (e.g. hourly work, fellowships, stipends, direct involvement of students enrolled in a specific college course, etc.)
- Stipends / Salary only for U.S. citizens (Non-U.S. citizens can participate in the project, but cannot be the project lead and cannot receive direct funding through the project)
- NASA Relevance and STEM or STEM Education Relevance
- A combination of 2 or more of the following:
- Travel funds (e.g. STEM field trip, NASA center, industry partner, field research, presenting at conferences, etc.)
- Stipends / Salary (e.g. Part-time support for staff project leads, summer student internships, student hourly pay, etc.)
- Materials & Supplies (e.g. Hands-on activities, research materials and supplies, research publications, meals for special events / workshops, etc.)
- Review the full RFP for all requirements for funding consideration.
Templates & Online Submission Forms:
Questions:
Applicants are expected to thoroughly review RFP and associated links prior to reaching out with questions.
General questions regarding the RFP may be directed to the NDSGC Director, Dr. Caitlin Milera, Caitlin.Milera@und.edu.
Finance questions regarding the RFP may be directed to UND Aerospace Associate Director of Fiscal Affairs, Laurie Baumgartner, Laurie.Baumgartner@und.edu.
Image credit: Minot State University Researchers, 2025 – 2026 ASCEND Recipient
