EPSCoR CAN has been released The FY 2010 NASA EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) has been released. The CAN solicitation is below, but can also be downloaded from NASA NSPIRES. Please note the following items: 1. The total allowable award is $750,000 for three years. 2. Match is set at no less than 50 percent (i.e., $375,000), which is a major change (and improvement) for this solicitation. 3. Notice of Intent are due on Jan. 11, 2010. 4. Two proposals from North Dakota can be submitted and they are due on Feb. 19, 2010. Hardersen is the PI of all proposals, as that is a requirement of this CAN, but the Science-I/Co-I will manage the actual research. 5. Proposals *must* *directly* align with the five ND NASA EPSCoR Research Focus Areas: a) astronomical/planetary sciences, b) Earth sciences, c) materials science, d) small satellite design, development, launch, and operation, and e) planetary space suit research. Note that item e) will not be a part of the upcoming CAN as this RFA has been funded in the last CAN. Proposals must also align with the goals of at least one Mission Directorate. The establishment of *direct* links to NASA and develop strong, collaborative research projects are strongly encouraged. Note that ND NASA EPSCoR is currently beginning to develop a strong solar physics research capability in North Dakota. A strong asteroid spectroscopy program already exists as well. However, proposers are not limited to proposal submissions related to these two research areas. 6. A pre-proposal process will be initiated immediately. PIs desiring to propose to this program must submit a research proposal that includes up to five page of a project description (goals, methodology, alignment with NASA, etc.), plus two pages of a tentative budget. Proposals should be sent to Dr. Paul Hardersen no later than December 15, 2009. 7. $300,000 in cash match is available for the two winning teams (i.e., $150,000 each). In-kind match is also allowable. 8. A briefing for all interested faculty will be held in the UND Department of Space Studies on December 1. Please contact me if you plan on attending. I will give an overview of the program, its goals, and the pre-proposal and proposal submission process. 9. This research opportunity will also be advertised more fully at UND and NDSU in the very near future. Please contact me if you have any questions. This is a significant funding opportunity and faculty wishing to engage in, or expand, directly NASA relevant research in North Dakota are strongly encouraged to apply. Collaborations between UND and NDSU are also strongly encouraged. -- Paul S. Hardersen, Associate professor, Space Studies, Hardersen@space.edu, 777-4896