RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this NASA funding opportunity?

This is a NASA Headquarters discretionary funding opportunity titled Research Opportunities in Fundamental Physics, issued as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) under Funding Opportunity Number NNH13ZTT002N. It supports U.S.-led research connected to NASA's Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) on the International Space Station (ISS).

What is the main purpose of the solicitation?

The purpose is to advance fundamental physics by using ultra-cold atoms and quantum gases in the microgravity environment of space. NASA highlights that microgravity can enable longer interaction times and reduce some noise sources and gravitational effects that limit comparable experiments on Earth.

How is this opportunity structured (procurement vs. research announcement)?

The call is framed as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2). That means NASA is seeking a range of innovative research ideas rather than procuring one predefined product or service.

What facility is at the center of this opportunity?

The centerpiece is access to the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL), described as a multi-user facility designed to study ultra-cold atoms and degenerate quantum gases in microgravity aboard the ISS.

Why does microgravity matter for cold-atom and quantum gas research?

According to the announcement, microgravity can provide longer interaction times and reduce certain noise sources and gravitational effects that limit experiments on Earth, potentially enabling cleaner tests of quantum behavior and precision measurement concepts.

What research topics does NASA emphasize?

The NRA emphasizes research related to the physics and applications of quantum gases and research that improves understanding of fundamental forces and symmetries, where ultra-cold atom sources can be especially powerful.

What kinds of activities can be proposed?

The NRA describes three main types of proposed activities:

• Flight research using CAL on the ISS focused on ultra-cold atoms and degenerate quantum gases.
• Ground-based research on ultra-cold atoms and quantum gases aimed at enabling future flight experiments, including potential upgrades to CAL and follow-on missions.
• Collaboration with European scientists to use the German Aerospace Center (DLR) drop tower facilities in Bremen, Germany, for short-duration microgravity validation and risk reduction.

Does NASA expect proposals to match CAL as it is currently designed?

Yes. Proposers were expected to align their work with CAL capabilities as designed. NASA also indicated that minor, feasible modifications suggested by principal investigators could be accommodated.

Is this opportunity only for flight investigations on the ISS?

No. While CAL flight investigations are a primary focus, the NRA also includes ground-based research aimed at enabling future flight experiments (including upgrades and follow-on missions) and encourages use of DLR drop tower microgravity for validation and risk retirement.

Does the solicitation mention specific approaches like BECs or atom interferometry?

Yes. The ground-based enabling research category explicitly highlights Bose-Einstein condensates and atom interferometry as promising approaches for fundamental physics measurements and precision sensing concepts using cold-atom systems.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open. NASA states that all categories of U.S. organizations may submit proposals.

What types of organizations can participate on a team?

The opportunity allows collaboration with a wide range of partners, including universities, federal laboratories, private-sector entities, state and local government labs, and international collaborators, as long as NASA policies regarding research with non-U.S. organizations are satisfied and U.S. institutions remain in the lead as proposers.

Are international collaborations allowed?

Yes. International collaboration is allowed as long as NASA policies on research with non-U.S. organizations are satisfied. The solicitation also specifically encourages collaboration with European scientists for work using the DLR drop tower facilities.

What funding instruments might NASA use for awards?

NASA lists grants and cooperative agreements as potential funding instruments and reserves the right to select the most appropriate instrument for each selected proposal.

How many awards does NASA anticipate making?

The program anticipated approximately five awards.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the notice.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 43.003 (Exploration).

How are proposals evaluated or what does NASA emphasize in selection?

Because the solicitation is a broad agency announcement, it emphasizes scientific and technical merit and relevance to NASA objectives. It also notes that the selection and award approach may vary depending on the nature of the proposed work.

How do applicants submit a proposal?

Submission is handled electronically through NASA NSPIRES, with Grants.gov also available for proposal submission by an authorized organizational official.

What registrations or system steps are required to submit?

Organizations intending to submit were required to be registered in NSPIRES and to identify authorized representatives. The announcement encourages registering and becoming familiar with NSPIRES and Grants.gov well before deadlines because both systems impose participant registration requirements (including for principal investigators and co-investigators).

Were Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

The timeline includes due dates for Notices of Intent and for full proposals, indicating that an NOI was part of the process described in the notice.

What was the final proposal due date listed in the notice?

The final proposal due date listed was November 5, 2013. The posting history also indicates that the schedule was updated over time.

Who are the points of contact for questions?

The announcement lists:

• Dr. Mark Lee, Senior Program Executive, ISS Fundamental Physics Program (programmatic questions)
• Ken Albright, Contracting Officer (contracting and award-related questions)
• NAIS Support (help accessing the announcement electronically)

What is the role of the DLR drop tower in this solicitation?

The solicitation encourages collaboration using the DLR drop tower facilities in Bremen, Germany. Drop towers provide short-duration microgravity that can be used to validate technologies, refine experimental procedures, and reduce risk for spaceflight investigations relevant to CAL and future cold-atom missions.

What is the broader programmatic context NASA cites for this opportunity?

NASA describes the work as building directly on high-priority recommendations from the National Research Council's 2011 report, Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era, and aims to strengthen the pipeline from enabling research to flight-ready investigations.

Does the opportunity support only immediate CAL use or also future mission development?

It supports both. NASA targets near-term flight investigations executable within the expected CAL configuration and also supports research that matures the next generation of space-based cold atom experiments, including potential upgrades to CAL and follow-on missions.