Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH16ZTT002N
Apply for NNH16ZTT002N
- The NASA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS - NASA/NSF PARTNERSHIP ON SCIENCE OF DUSTY PLASMAS: UTILIZING THE PK-4 FACILITY ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.003.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2016 and posted on May 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 19, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a joint NASA and NSF research announcement (NNH16ZTT002N) focused on advancing the fundamental physics of dusty plasmas, also called complex plasmas, with a strong emphasis on experiments that benefit from microgravity. The central research platform is the Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4) facility, a laboratory-style experimental payload located aboard the International Space Station and operated through an international collaboration involving the European Space Agency and the Russian Federal Space Agency. The call is designed for U.S. investigators who want to carry out science that can be performed directly on PK-4, as well as complementary ground-based work that either supports ongoing PK-4 investigations or lays the groundwork for future microgravity dusty plasma experiments beyond PK-4.
The announcement invites two main types of proposals. The first category is flight research tied to PK-4 on the ISS, including the design and execution of dedicated experiments, analysis of existing or newly acquired PK-4 data, and theory or modeling work that is tightly connected to what PK-4 can observe in microgravity. Within this flight-focused track, NASA/NSF highlight scientific goals such as understanding microscopic properties of complex plasmas (for example, particle-scale interactions, charging, and local structure), macroscopic properties (such as collective behavior, waves, flows, phase-like behavior, and transport at larger scales), and broader insights into strongly coupled many-body systems where interactions between constituents are strong enough that simple weak-coupling approximations fail. The solicitation also leaves room for other dusty-plasma topics, as long as the microgravity relevance and the tie to PK-4 capabilities are clear.
The second category is ground research that supports and extends the PK-4 program while building toward new microgravity science and instrumentation. This includes data analysis and theoretical/modeling development that strengthens interpretation of PK-4 results, as well as the creation of new experimental tools, diagnostics, or methods that can be used either to better exploit PK-4 data streams or to mature techniques for future flight investigations. It also explicitly encourages development of next-generation microgravity dusty plasma experiments beyond PK-4, meaning proposals can be forward-looking as long as they credibly contribute to a pipeline of future ISS or other microgravity platforms, with the necessary scientific rationale and instrument or experiment concept development.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, this is a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2), and NASA and NSF indicate they may choose the most appropriate award instrument for selected projects. The opportunity lists multiple possible funding instruments (including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and other mechanisms), and selections may be funded entirely by NASA, entirely by NSF, or jointly by both agencies depending on the project and programmatic fit. Eligibility is broadly open across U.S. institution types, including universities and other educational institutions, private industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other government agencies. International participation is allowed as long as it fits within the solicitation requirements and complies with NASA policies governing research interactions with non-U.S. organizations, which typically means proposers need to be careful about roles, funding flows, and any policy constraints described in the full announcement.
Key logistics are straightforward but important. The solicitation was expected to be accessible in NASA NSPIRES around May 18, 2016, and it could be located through the NSPIRES open solicitations list under the title matching NNH16ZTT002N, with the full package available in the announcement documents section. Proposals were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 19, 2016, and submissions had to be made electronically by an authorized organizational official. Applicants could submit through NSPIRES or Grants.gov, but every organization intending to apply needed to be registered in NSPIRES and to designate authorized organization representative(s) who could formally submit. In addition, principal investigators and other named participants such as co-investigators were required to be registered in NSPIRES. The announcement stresses that teams should complete registrations and familiarize themselves with NSPIRES well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute access or compliance issues, and directs technical or programmatic questions to the points of contact listed in the full solicitation document.
Finally, the public listing includes a few headline program details that help set expectations: it is categorized under science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 43.003), it anticipated roughly five awards, and it did not specify an award ceiling in the posting (shown as 0), implying that proposers would need to consult the full solicitation for budgeting constraints, typical award sizes, and any limits by project type. Overall, the opportunity is essentially a targeted push to use the unique low-gravity environment of the ISS, through PK-4, to answer foundational questions about dusty plasma behavior and strongly coupled systems, while also investing in the modeling, diagnostics, and experiment concepts needed to expand microgravity dusty plasma research in the future.
FAQs: NASA/NSF Dusty (Complex) Plasma Microgravity Research Opportunity (NNH16ZTT002N)
1) What is this funding opportunity about?
This is a joint NASA and NSF research announcement (NNH16ZTT002N) focused on advancing the fundamental physics of dusty plasmas (also called complex plasmas), with a strong emphasis on experiments that benefit from microgravity.
2) What is PK-4, and why is it central to this call?
The Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4) facility is a laboratory-style experimental payload located aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The solicitation is built around using PK-4 as the core research platform for microgravity dusty plasma studies.
3) Who operates PK-4 on the ISS?
PK-4 is operated through an international collaboration involving the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency.
4) Who is the opportunity intended for?
The call is designed for U.S. investigators who want to carry out science that can be performed directly on PK-4, as well as complementary ground-based work that supports PK-4 investigations or prepares for future microgravity dusty plasma experiments beyond PK-4.
5) What kinds of proposals does the announcement invite?
The announcement invites two main categories of proposals: (1) flight research tied to PK-4 on the ISS, and (2) ground research that supports and extends the PK-4 program while building toward future microgravity science and instrumentation.
6) What is included under the flight research (PK-4/ISS) category?
Flight research can include the design and execution of dedicated experiments on PK-4, analysis of existing PK-4 data or newly acquired PK-4 data, and theory or modeling work that is tightly connected to what PK-4 can observe in microgravity.
7) What scientific topics are highlighted for flight research?
NASA/NSF highlight goals including: microscopic properties of complex plasmas (such as particle-scale interactions, charging, and local structure), macroscopic properties (such as collective behavior, waves, flows, phase-like behavior, and transport at larger scales), and broader insights into strongly coupled many-body systems where weak-coupling approximations do not apply.
8) Are topics outside the listed scientific examples allowed?
Yes. The solicitation leaves room for other dusty-plasma topics, as long as the relevance to microgravity and the connection to PK-4 capabilities are clearly justified.
9) What is included under the ground research category?
Ground research can include data analysis and theory/modeling development that strengthens interpretation of PK-4 results, as well as development of new experimental tools, diagnostics, or methods that help exploit PK-4 data streams or mature techniques for future flight investigations.
10) Does the announcement support development of future microgravity dusty plasma experiments beyond PK-4?
Yes. The call explicitly encourages development of next-generation microgravity dusty plasma experiments beyond PK-4, including forward-looking proposals that contribute to a pipeline of future ISS or other microgravity platform investigations, provided they include credible scientific rationale and concept development.
11) Is this a standard grant program, or something else?
Administratively, this is a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2). NASA and NSF indicate they may choose the most appropriate award instrument for selected projects.
12) What funding instruments might be used for awards?
The opportunity lists multiple possible instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and other mechanisms, depending on what NASA/NSF determine is most appropriate for a selected project.
13) Will projects be funded by NASA, NSF, or both?
Selections may be funded entirely by NASA, entirely by NSF, or jointly by both agencies, depending on the project and programmatic fit.
14) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open across U.S. institution types, including universities and other educational institutions, private industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other government agencies.
15) Is international participation allowed?
Yes, international participation is allowed as long as it fits solicitation requirements and complies with NASA policies governing research interactions with non-U.S. organizations. The announcement notes that proposers should be careful about roles, funding flows, and any policy constraints described in the full announcement.
16) Where was the solicitation expected to be posted?
The solicitation was expected to be accessible in NASA NSPIRES around May 18, 2016. It could be found via the NSPIRES open solicitations list under the title matching NNH16ZTT002N, with the full package available in the announcement documents section.
17) What was the proposal due date and time?
Proposals were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 19, 2016.
18) How were proposals required to be submitted?
Submissions had to be made electronically by an authorized organizational official. Applicants could submit through NSPIRES or Grants.gov, but organizations intending to apply needed to be registered in NSPIRES and to designate authorized organization representative(s) who could formally submit.
19) Who needed to be registered in NSPIRES?
Every organization intending to apply needed NSPIRES registration, and principal investigators and other named participants (such as co-investigators) were also required to be registered in NSPIRES.
20) What does the announcement emphasize about registrations and preparation?
The announcement stresses completing registrations and becoming familiar with NSPIRES well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute access or compliance problems.
21) Where should applicants send technical or programmatic questions?
The posting directs questions to the points of contact listed in the full solicitation document.
22) How is the opportunity categorized in public listings?
The public listing categorizes it under science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA 43.003.
23) How many awards were anticipated?
The listing anticipated roughly five awards.
24) Was there an award ceiling listed?
No specific award ceiling was provided in the public posting (it was shown as 0). The listing implies applicants would need to consult the full solicitation for budget constraints, typical award sizes, and any limits by project type.
25) What is the main purpose or "big picture" goal of the call?
Overall, the opportunity is intended to leverage the unique low-gravity environment of the ISS, using PK-4, to answer foundational questions about dusty plasma behavior and strongly coupled systems, while also investing in modeling, diagnostics, and experiment concepts that expand microgravity dusty plasma research in the future.
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