NASA FRC grant information

[comphappy]

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.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by comphappy

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.

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

Definitions:

For the purposes of applying for a NASA sponsorship, FRC teams are grouped into three categories - "rookie," "second-year" and "veteran." In all cases, we accept the identifications provided by FIRST to determine into which category a particular team may fall. The categories are defined as follows:

* Rookie - A Rookie Team is one that is entering the FRC competition for the first time. For this application process, we use the criteria provided by FIRST (which can be found at - http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...t.aspx?id=6632) to determine if a team is a rookie or not.

* Second-Year - A Second-Year Team is one that was identified by FIRST as a rookie team during the 2008 competition season (the 2008 competition season refers to the FRC season that began in January 2008) AND was sponsored by NASA during the 2008 competition season. To be eligible to apply for a second-year NASA grant, the team must have successfully registered, created a team, built a robot, competed in at least one 2008 FRC competition event, and successfully completed all the requirements of their NASA grant.

* 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.

[comphappy]

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

[Rich Kressly]

Our team finalized its submission on Thursday. Since there are still 23 days left until the submission deadline, I (along with a few other veteran mentors) thought it might be a good idea to share some NASA grant writing tips.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2167

Personally, this is the third time I've been involved in this process with two different teams and every time I participate I learn more. Good luck to all applying and THANK YOU NASA for the opportunity to apply for funding.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2167

terrific resource for the teams. Thanks for taking the time to write and post!

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2167
Good luck to all applying and THANK YOU NASA for the opportunity to apply for funding.

Your "6th Thing to keep in Mind" is "Say Thank You."
Every year I get this question.
"Who do we thank and where does it get sent?"
Is there contact information included in the application for followup?
Thanks.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Your "6th Thing to keep in Mind" is "Say Thank You."
Every year I get this question.
"Who do we thank and where does it get sent?"
Is there contact information included in the application for followup?
Thanks.

There is the general email box that goes along with question 7a and Dave posted this last year:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...1&postcount=49

Dave, is Dr. Green still the best person to send a thank you to?

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

There is the general email box that goes along with question 7a and Dave posted this last year:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...1&postcount=49

Dave, is Dr. Green still the best person to send a thank you to?

Yes.




.

[waialua359]

On the grant application, there is a section for year 2 teams only.
If N/A, how have teams got around this. Application cannot be submitted without filling out this section.
Last year, we typed in N/A repeatedly to meet the word/character count, which seemed to be OK as we received the grant.
Doesnt seem to be the case this year.


Thanks.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by waialua359

On the grant application, there is a section for year 2 teams only.
If N/A, how have teams got around this. Application cannot be submitted without filling out this section.
Last year, we typed in N/A repeatedly to meet the word/character count, which seemed to be OK as we received the grant.
Doesnt seem to be the case this year.
Thanks.

If you are a veteran team applying (or rookie as well I believe) after you choose veteran (or rookie) at the start of the application and save, questions 8, 9, and 10 become gray and you cannot fill them in, so you shouldn't need to worry about those fields as a veteran (or rookie).

[waialua359]

that's strange because it didnt happen now twice.
NASA got back to me anyway and its OK for us to do what we mentioned earlier.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by waialua359

that's strange because it didnt happen now twice.
NASA got back to me anyway and its OK for us to do what we mentioned earlier.

I had a strange thing happen to me as well. When I originally entered data for 1712's entry I could fill in questions 8, 9, and 10. Then, when I came back to the saved data, it was gone, the boxes were grayed out, and I panicked a little (luckily I save a version in word). As it turned out, NASA had adjusted the instructions slightly to state that Rookies AND Veterans could skip ahead to question 11 and didn't need to do 8,9, and 10 (only second year applicants need to complete 8, 9, and 10). So, that little part of the system might still be "glitchy" perhaps? I did this work from a Mac, would that matter at all? Dave, any insight here??? As long as things get worked out it's no biggie, but this should be smooth for as many as possible as the deadline approaches so NASA support doesn't get a lot of these questions.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

I had a strange thing happen to me as well. When I originally entered data for 1712's entry I could fill in questions 8, 9, and 10. Then, when I came back to the saved data, it was gone, the boxes were grayed out, and I panicked a little (luckily I save a version in word). As it turned out, NASA had adjusted the instructions slightly to state that Rookies AND Veterans could skip ahead to question 11 and didn't need to do 8,9, and 10 (only second year applicants need to complete 8, 9, and 10). So, that little part of the system might still be "glitchy" perhaps? I did this work from a Mac, would that matter at all? Dave, any insight here??? As long as things get worked out it's no biggie, but this should be smooth for as many as possible as the deadline approaches so NASA support doesn't get a lot of these questions.

We will look into it.

-dave


.