NASA Grant App posted

[gblake]

Color me confused.

Mark Leon's introduction talks about past support of many STEM programs and invites teams to apply for competition registration grants.

However, common sense would say that handing out a lot of money, $50 to $500 at a time, would be inefficient. That hints that the grant approval process is tilted toward writing big checks for expensive competitions' fees (FIRST's big blow-outs come to mind).

Similarly, if the $4M CAN at the URL in DeepWater's message describes the strings attached to the big pot of money from which the registration grants will be doled out; teams other than FRC teams need not apply. Does that CAN apply to the money behind this grant opportunity?

So... Are Mr Leon's references to to programs other than FIRST simply references to past accomplishments or are they supposed to encourage teams from many STEM programs to apply?

If they are supposed to encourage non-FRC teams to apply, then the dollars to be awarded need to come from sources that are not governed by the particular CAN DeepWater linked us to.

Finally this statement at the end of this RAP page puts the nails in the coffin for me. "Demonstrate at least $6,000 of existing corporate or community funding,"

I will be completely flabbergasted to learn that any single team in a program outside of FRC requires both that sort of sponsorship, and needs a NASA grant to pay registration fees. I can see a group of several teams from a single location needing that sort of money; but not just one. However, I might just be ignorant of other expensive programs.

I'm going to be optimistic that NASA will continue to support the many successful non-FRC and non-FIRST programs Mark mentions in his opening remarks; but this particular opportunity appears to be for FRC teams.

Blake