Simpler Grants.gov #PDS-UAE-02-FY2026

Lunar Payload Design Challenge – U.S.-UAE Graduate Student Space Innovation Program

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is seeking proposals for the Lunar Payload Design Challenge, a cooperative agreement to foster U.S.-UAE collaboration in lunar mission technology development. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to the UAE, Public Diplomacy Section - Program Overview: - Solicitation for a single award up to $300,000 - Seeks to engage U.S. and UAE graduate students in hands-on, team-based design and development of lunar payload or technology concepts - Focus on STEM fields, especially aerospace and space-related disciplines - Emphasizes collaboration between universities, research institutions, and industry partners with existing space capabilities - Products/Services Requested: - Implementation of a Lunar Payload Design Challenge program, including program management, partnership facilitation, and monitoring/evaluation - Development of 1-3 viable lunar payload or technology concepts with potential applicability to future lunar missions (including those aligned with NASA or partner mission architectures) - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Eligible applicants: not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions (U.S. and foreign), and public international organizations; for-profit entities are not eligible - Requires a robust monitoring and evaluation plan - Program duration of 12 to 18 months, with possible continuation grants - No specific OEMs, vendors, or part numbers are identified in the solicitation

Description

The U.S. Department of State's U.S. Mission to the UAE announces an open competition to implement the Lunar Payload Design Challenge, a program that brings together U.S. and UAE graduate students in a hands-on, team-based initiative to develop technologies relevant to future lunar missions. The program aims to build advanced technical and collaborative skills while fostering partnerships between universities, industry, and research institutions. It strengthens U.S.-UAE cooperation in space innovation, highlights U.S. leadership in lunar exploration, and creates pathways for continued collaboration, research advancement, and potential mission integration. The program supports U.S. foreign policy priorities by expanding partnerships in high-growth sectors of the space economy and reinforcing the competitiveness of the U.S. innovation ecosystem.

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