NASA FRC grant information
 

The application process for NASA sponsorship of teams for the 2008-2009 FIRST Robotics Competition season will open on September 19, 2008. Teams that are considering applying for NASA team grants may want to start to prepare their applications early. To learn more, please view the application directions and application guide. As always, please review the directions and required information carefully and completely before submitting an application.

-dave


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Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Thanks, Dave.

I noticed the following on the application directions page:

"Due to decisions beyond our control that limit full accessibility of the FRC program, we regret that we cannot offer sponsorship to Michigan teams. Grant applications for NASA Regional Challenge Grants and NASA Program Growth Grants from Michigan teams will not be accepted."

I think that information is probably something affected teams should know about sooner rather than later. So make sure you read the documents in their entirety as soon as you can.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Is this available for all teams or just 1st or 2nd year teams.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

There are 2 types. The first is only available to 1st and 2nd year teams. The 2nd is the Regional Challenge Grant which gives sponsorship to up to 10 veteran teams per selected regional which are newer regionals. Its on the site.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Veteran teams can apply for a grant if they are attending the inaugural Washington D.C. Regional. They can also apply for a program growth grant, but will only be considered after all the rookies and second year teams that applied.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Agreed. Which is one of the reasons why we wanted to put out the information and instruction sheets as early as possible, even before the application period opened. The other limitations are just as important - particularly the one about awarded teams from last year completing all their requirements before submitting a new application. There are several teams that have still not fulfilled their requirements from last year, and they will need to take corrective actions before they can apply for 2009 (nudge, nudge, if you still have not sent in your CA submission as required).

PLEASE read the information that has been posted. It is all spelled out quite clearly therein.

-dave



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Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Note the definition of veteran teams (it is different then it has been in the past). It is only teams whose rookie year was 2007, ie 3rd year teams.

Edit: Never mind. See below. For the sake of clarity, the "or earlier" should go before the long parenthetical, as it tends to get lost. If doing that, the long parenthetical should become its own sentence.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

"Veteran - A Veteran Team is any team registered with FIRST that had their rookie year during the 2007 FRC competition season (the 2007 competition season refers to the FRC season that began in January 2007) or earlier."

For clarity, it includes teams from 2007 and earlier -- not just 2007. :)

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Is that still closed for non-USA teams?

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

That is not correct. PLEASE read the information that has been posted, completely and carefully.

Please read the "Limitations" section. It is all there.

-dave



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Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

it is great that NASA offers these grants. Does NASA offer any similar type of grants for ftc, vex, botball or other programs that don't cost over $5,000? Our principal won't let us start an FRC team because it's just too expensive, but she will let us enter any of the programs that cost under $5,000. We're hoping to do vex and maybe ftc this year, and some of our programming students are asking me about botball - so if NASA offers any grants for other programs that would be great for us.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

As a second year team we are looking to apply for this grant, but it makes it sound like only second year teams that were excepted the first year are eligible. Is that right? We started last years team a few days before the grant was due so never submitted a rookie app.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

Your interpretation is correct according to the definitions on the NASA site.

Re: NASA FRC grant information
 

*sigh* thats what I thought, second major grant that has come our way that we are not eligible for for some pesky reason.