THE RICE ALLIANCE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (RICE ALLIANCE) PROPOSES TO COLLABORATE WITH NASA TO ESTABLISH A PRIZE(S) FOR THE 2018-2020 RICE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION (COMPETITION). THE COMPETITION WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 5-7 2018; APRIL 4-6 2019 AND APRIL 9-11 2020. THE RICE ALLIANCE PROPOSES TO OFFER FOR THE 11TH 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEARS THE NASA CASH AWARD(S) CALLED THE NASA COMMERCIAL SPACE INNOVATION CASH AWARD(S). THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A NEW SUCCESSOR AWARD TO NNX13AD44G. THE TOTAL REQUESTED IS $499 500 FOR THREE YEARS: 2018-2020. $145 000 PER YEAR NASA COMMERCIAL SPACE INNOVATION PRIZE(S) WILL RECOGNIZE THE TEAM/BUSINESS PLAN WITH THE BEST IDEA IN COMMERCIAL SPACE INNOVATION. THE $145 000 CASH PRIZE(S) WILL BE OFFERED EACH OF THE THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF THE GRANT. (IF NASA WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY THE NUMBER OF CASH PRIZES E.G. TO OFFER 2-3 PRIZES TOTALING $145 000 OR TO MODIFY THE NAME OF THE PRIZE WE ARE FLEXIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CHANGES. MOST RECENTLY THIS NASA PRIZE HAS BEEN CALLED THE NASA EARTH/SPACE HUMAN HEALTH&PERFORMANCE INNOVATION PRIZE). $21 500 PER YEAR FOR DIRECT COSTS OF COMPETITION. THE AWARD WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE TEAM THAT BEST MEETS THE CRITERIA DESIGNED BY NASA. THE AWARD WILL BE GIVEN THE TEAM THAT HAS THE BEST TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH SPACE AND EARTH (UNLESS NASA WISHES TO MODIFY THE SELECTION CRITERIA.) THE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TEAMS DURING THE COMPETITION AWARDS BANQUET ON SATURDAY EVENING EACH OF THE THREE YEARS. THE $145 000 CASH AWARD(S) WILL PLACE NASA IN THE TOP TIER OF SPONSORS FOR THE COMPETITION. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: BRAD BURKE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE RICE ALLIANCE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP