Fifth annual OCIO’s NASA T&I Labs challenge project call is now open

The Chief Technology Officer for IT in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is sponsoring the fifth annual Technology and Innovation (T&I) Labs project call. This will provide an opportunity for NASA employees to develop project ideas with the potential to improve the way we approach IT at NASA.
 
This agency program is designed to engage and empower NASA's employees to develop capabilities that support or enhance one or more of NASA's many missions in a rapidly changing world. This is accomplished by providing a lightweight, low-cost methodology for research, proofs-of-concept and prototypes for innovations from employees.
 
The T&I Labs budget for FY16 will be shared between the new proposals and an initiative to raise the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) on some of the 51 projects T&I Labs has already funded.
 
The goal of supporting past T&I Labs projects is to build upon their success and to drive them to a production readiness level. In order to facilitate the potential for advancing past T&I Labs projects, the complete project list and supporting documentation is available on the T&I Labs website.
 
Past project leaders are encouraged to apply if their project has merit to reach production, although anyone can propose advancing a past effort if your business unit is interested in championing it. Phase 2 and above projects will require co-sponsorship and contributing funds from a business unit champion.
 
The project call will run from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8, 2016.
 
There is a two-step approach for project submissions in order to streamline the review process.

1. You need to submit a one-page write up with a high level overview on the project you are proposing. The one-pager will be submitted via the T&I Labs website and revealed to all after the deadline. Teams should be aware duplicate projects on the same topic will not be funded. After the submitted applications are revealed, teams will be encouraged to self-collaborate if they are proposing similar projects. Extra points will be awarded to reward teams that collaborate across Directorates and/or Centers. Projects with co-sponsorship and matching funds from a business unit champion will also receive extra points. So, the more you collaborate the more points you will receive before grading begins.
2. Four weeks after your submission, a formal project submission will be due. All formal proposals will require an executive summary. Videos are optional again this year. If you do choose to submit one, only the executive summary information will be allowed in the video (video requirements).

 
For more information or to coordinate with your Center’s Chief Technology Officer for IT (CTO) on an idea or concept for submission, click here.
 
NASA T&I Labs – Technology & Innovation Division.