2015 NASA Grants are open

[Joe G.]

http://frc-grants.arc.nasa.gov/rcs/directions.php

Thank you to NASA for your continued generous support!

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Neither South Florida nor NY Tech Valley are new events. Is there still a push to get veteran teams to these events?

[techtiger1]

Tom,

In short I believe both these regionals are still fairly new and under capacity. While I can not directly speak for NY Tech Valley, I know this is the case with the South Florida Regional. This is also about growing FRC in these areas. South Florida would love to host a team like 254, who would possibly draw more high end teams (233 ahem!) to the event.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by techtiger1

Tom,

In short I believe both these regionals are still fairly new and under capacity. While I can not directly speak for NY Tech Valley, I know this is the case with the South Florida Regional. This is also about growing FRC in these areas. South Florida would love to host a team like 254, who would possibly draw more high end teams (233 ahem!) to the event.

The South Florida Regional is not yet listed on the FIRST site.
Does anyone have "unofficial" information on which week this regional will be held?

[Chris is me]

TVR did reach capacity last year, but I'm willing to bet that was in large part due to the NASA funding available. We in the Tech Valley certainly welcome the help as we're still growing our local region.

[Maximillian]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

TVR did reach capacity last year, but I'm willing to bet that was in large part due to the NASA funding available. We in the Tech Valley certainly welcome the help as we're still growing our local region.

My team is looking into applying for the regional challenge grant. In order to apply for the NASA funding for TVR it appears that you have to be a second year or rookie team. This is my teams second year of competition but wasn't funded by NASA our rookie year so we would be classified as a veteran team under NASA's definition, who can't apply for the regional challenge grant.

Does anyone have some insight into this?

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Maximillian

My team is looking into applying for the regional challenge grant. In order to apply for the NASA funding for TVR it appears that you have to be a second year or rookie team. This is my teams second year of competition but wasn't funded by NASA our rookie year so we would be classified as a veteran team under NASA's definition, who can't apply for the regional challenge grant.

Does anyone have some insight into this?

I believe, at least for Program Growth grants, if all first and second year grants are not given out, grants are then given to veteran teams once those supplies are exhausted. This is how 2791 was rewarded a NASA grant 2011. It's not a sure thing by any means, and I don't know if the same rule applies to Regional Challenge grants, but you can't get what you don't apply for.

[Maximillian]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I believe, at least for Program Growth grants, if all first and second year grants are not given out, grants are then given to veteran teams once those supplies are exhausted. This is how 2791 was rewarded a NASA grant 2011. It's not a sure thing by any means, and I don't know if the same rule applies to Regional Challenge grants, but you can't get what you don't apply for.

That's the indication I was given about the Program Growth grants. Under the description for the Program Growth it says that rookie, second-year, and veterans may apply but

"Program Growth Grants are being offered to teams in their first two years of participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition, and potentially a limited number of Veteran teams (depending upon availability of funds and the number of eligible grant applications received)."

That sounds allot like what you are describing but no such information is given about the Regional Challenge grant. The only description is "Regional Challenge Grants will be available to Rookie Teams and Second-Year Teams for the following events:"

The wording in the description on the directions page before you log in is also slightly unclear to me.

Regional Challenge Grants: In conjunction with the sponsorship of Regional Competition events, NASA is making Regional Challenge Grants available to teams that participate in these specific events. The grants provide funding to cover the registration costs for the selected event. All funding will be sent directly to FIRST, and FIRST will credit the accounts of teams selected to receive a NASA sponsorship.

Rookie Teams: The Regional Challenge Grants are intended for new rookie teams that are entering the FRC program for the first time. Rookie teams that successfully participate in the 2014 program may apply for a second year of Regional Challenge Grant sponsorship in 2015.

Second-Year Teams: Second-year funding is available ONLY to those teams that received a "rookie year sponsorship" from NASA for the SAME event during the 2014 competition season.

Veteran Teams: Additionally, during the first year of a new Regional Competition event, a number of "veteran team" sponsorships will also be awarded. These sponsorships are for one year only, and are awarded to veteran teams that are electing to attend the new event. By involving veteran FRC teams in the new events, it is expected that the overall level of the competition, quality of the experience, transfer of knowledge and experience to rookie teams, and demonstration of values associated with the FRC program will be increased.

For the competition season, Regional Challenge Grants will be available to Rookie Teams and Second-Year Teams for the following events:

South Florida (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
NY Tech Valley Regional (Troy, NY)

This area lists Veteran as an option but talks about TVR as being a first year regional event. I am assuming this is just information left in from last year when it was.

[Chris is me]

For what it's worth, the 2014 Regional Challenge grants for South Florida included one awarded to a single "veteran" team: http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2014_sponsorship.php

South Florida was not a new regional in 2014; so given new rules, there is a slim but non-zero chance I would say?

[Maximillian]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

For what it's worth, the 2014 Regional Challenge grants for South Florida included one awarded to a single "veteran" team: http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2014_sponsorship.php

South Florida was not a new regional in 2014; so given new rules, there is a slim but non-zero chance I would say?

The Regional Challenge Grant seems like the better option from this list you gave. At least last year one team in the same situation as mine won it unlike the Program Growth Grant which had many more awarded and all rookie/second-year winners. A slim chance is better than none!

Thanks for the help.

[PayneTrain]

The wording of Regional Challenge Grant confused me. When we applied for it in 2012, they handed those grants out to a majority of veteran teams. I think it even used to be a program intended for veteran teams. I think with the rise of the Sustaining Grants, those are primarily the money NASA sets aside for veteran teams, while RCGs are now primarily for rookies and PGGs are for second year teams. If they get an application that merits the grant even though the team's status doesn't fit into those checkboxes, that team may still get the money.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

The South Florida Regional is not yet listed on the FIRST site.
Does anyone have "unofficial" information on which week this regional will be held?

The "FRC in South Florida" Facebook page posted this in August:

If you had to chose, what would you prefer: week 1 or week 6?
Let me know!!!

[techtiger1]

I'm hearing South Florida will most likely be week 6, however this is not finalized yet.

[PayneTrain]

Either I'm blind or there is no Tech Valley date either...

Should we assume it takes place over RPI's spring break (Mar 21-29/Week 5)?

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

Either I'm blind or there is no Tech Valley date either...

Should we assume it takes place over RPI's spring break (Mar 21-29/Week 5)?

This is from the FRC blog:

We’ve just started posting event dates and locations for which we have confirmed information. ‘Confirmed’ means either that FIRST HQ has a signed agreement with the venue, or that District organizers have passed along to us firm information on their events. Please keep in mind that even though we may have signed contracts with the venues, things still can change! It’s very unlikely, but still possible. We have a few more event dates and locations ready to post, we’ll be getting those up shortly.

Events will be posted not later than a week or so after the information is confirmed.

I wouldn't assume anything just yet. Lone Star has no date either. Tech Valley may not have a facility agreement and so the date cannot be released/set just yet.