PURPOSE

In conjunction with NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 7120.8, NASA Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements, this document establishes the requirements by which NASA will conduct research and technology (RT), consistent with the governance model contained in NASA Policy Document (NPD) 1000.0, NASA Strategic Management and Governance Handbook.

While RT program and project management requirements are established in NPR 7120.8, NASA Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements, this document establishes requirements for RT planning, solicitation and selection of RT proposals, peer review, quality assessment and performance metrics, data protection and RT misconduct. The requirements described in this NPR are used to develop Mission Directorate (MD) and Mission Support Office (MSO) RT management processes. These general principles also apply to the MD, MSO and Functional Offices which fund RT that is specifically reported as part of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).

APPLICABILITY

This NPR is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. This NPR applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), other contractors, grant recipients, or parties to agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in the appropriate contracts, grants, or agreements. Certain cooperative or partnership arrangements involving cost sharing with the private sector may be excluded from the scope of this NPR when approved by the appropriate Mission Directorate Associate Administrator (MDAA) or Mission Support Office Director (MSOD).

This NPR applies to all current and future RT managed or funded by NASA .

RT involving human subjects should be conducted in conformance with this NPR except in the areas of release and maintenance of resulting data (see NPD 7100.8, Protection of Human Research Subjects and NPR 7100.1, Protection of Human Research Subjects).

Any conflict between NPR 7120.8, NASA Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements and this NPR shall be jointly resolved by the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the Office of Chief Engineer (OCE).