National needs awards may be awarded by the Administrator or designee, Director, NASA Space Grant Program, to meet such needs or problems relating to aerospace identified by the Space Grant Review Panel, by NASA officials, or by any person. NASA may fund such awards in an amount not to exceed 100 percent of the total cost of the program or project.

National needs shall be identified by the Administrator who shall consider specific national needs and problems relating to space proposed by the Space Grant Review Panel, any NASA official or any person.

(a) The Administrator or designee has the authority to make awards to meet identified national needs.

(b) The Director, NASA Space Grant Program shall establish a competitive, merit-based review process to examine unsolicited national needs proposals.

The same limitations shall apply as are stated in § 1259.203.