NASA NIAC Phase I FY2027: Up to $225K for Visionary Aerospace Concepts

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could change what NASA, other government agencies, and the commercial space sector are able to do. NIAC is run by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The FY2027 Phase I solicitation (NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1) offers awards of up to $225,000 for feasibility studies of about nine months, and NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards.

Deadline: Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Invited Step B proposals are due January 13, 2027.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most federal R&D money goes to ideas that already have data behind them. NIAC deliberately funds the opposite: concepts at TRL 2 or lower that are unexplored, highly innovative, and credible enough to study. For startups and small companies, it is one of the few federal programs that pays to test a far-out aerospace idea before a prototype exists. The Step A proposal is short, all categories of U.S. organizations can lead, and a NIAC award builds a NASA track record that supports NIAC Phase II and later NASA SBIR/STTR proposals.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
• Solicitation: NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1, NIAC Phase I for FY2027
• Award size: Up to $225,000 per award
• Duration: About 9 months
• Expected awards: 12 to 16
• Who can lead: All categories of U.S. organizations, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs
• Foreign participation: Non-U.S. organizations may join on a no-exchange-of-funds basis
• Step A due: October 28, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern, through NSPIRES
• Step B due: January 13, 2027, by invitation only (invitations issued December 8, 2026)
• Selection: Targeted for April 2027, with awards around July 2027
• Contact: hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov

What NIAC Funds

NIAC looks for visionary, yet credible, concepts that address national, government, and commercial aerospace goals. Strong concepts sit at TRL 2 or lower, are framed in a mission or architecture context, and take a radically different approach rather than an incremental one. Concepts can come from any discipline, including:

• Advanced propulsion and power
• In-space manufacturing, assembly, and large structures
• Robotics and autonomous exploration systems
• Human exploration, habitation, and life support
• New approaches to sensing, communications, and science instruments
• Novel mission architectures for the Moon, Mars, and deep space

Is Your Company a Fit?

NIAC Phase I is a strong fit if your company:

• Has a bold aerospace concept that is still early, at TRL 2 or lower
• Can describe the concept as a system, architecture, or mission, not only a single component
• Has a credible technical basis and a team that can run a nine-month feasibility study
• Can lead the proposal through a U.S. organization
• Wants a NASA relationship that can grow into NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, or other STMD funding

NIAC is usually not the right fit for near-term product development, incremental upgrades, or technologies that already have working prototypes. Those projects often fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How to Apply

1. Attend the proposers' forum. NASA is hosting a virtual NIAC Phase I forum on October 7, 2026.
2. Submit a Step A proposal. Submit a short concept proposal through NSPIRES by October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern. Step A screens for innovation, potential impact, and credibility.
3. Prepare a Step B proposal if invited. NASA issues Step B invitations on December 8, 2026, and full proposals are due January 13, 2027.
4. Selection and award. NASA targets selection notices in April 2027 and awards around July 2027.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, aerospace, and space tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding, including NASA awards. We help you frame a visionary concept so reviewers see it as credible, write a sharp Step A, and connect a NIAC study to NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, and other federal funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NASA NIAC?

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is a program in NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate that funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could transform future NASA, government, and commercial missions.

How much funding does NIAC Phase I provide?

NIAC Phase I awards are up to $225,000 each for a feasibility study of about nine months. NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards in the FY2027 cycle.

What is the NIAC Phase I deadline?

Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Proposers invited to Step B must submit full proposals by January 13, 2027.

Can companies apply for NIAC?

Yes. All categories of U.S. organizations may lead a NIAC proposal, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs. Non-U.S. organizations may participate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis.

What technology readiness level does NIAC require?

NIAC funds concepts at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 or lower. Projects that already have working prototypes or are close to product development usually fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How does the NIAC two-step process work?

Proposers first submit a short Step A concept proposal. NASA reviews Step A submissions and invites the strongest concepts to submit a full Step B proposal, which is the basis for selection.

What comes after a NIAC Phase I award?

Phase I awardees can compete for NIAC Phase II funding to mature their concepts further, and the results often support later NASA SBIR/STTR and other NASA proposals.