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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2008 Applied Information Systems Research (AISR)

What is ROSES 2008 AISR?

ROSES 2008 Applied Information Systems Research (AISR) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released under the broader NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH08ZDA001N, titled Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2008 (ROSES 2008). AISR is one program element within ROSES 2008 and focuses on developing and advancing applied information systems that help scientists and other users work with NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) data and meet mission and program needs.

What does AISR fund (in general terms)?

AISR is centered on practical applied information systems where improved data access, integration, analysis, decision support, or societal application is a central outcome. In the context of ROSES 2008, AISR aligns most directly with the applied information systems and data-to-use parts of the overall portfolio, supporting better use of NASA science data in research and applications aligned with SMD priorities.

How does AISR fit within the overall ROSES 2008 solicitation?

ROSES 2008 is designed to fund a wide range of basic and applied research and technology supporting NASA SMD objectives across Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. AISR is one element under that umbrella and is most closely tied to outcomes that improve how SMD data are accessed, integrated, analyzed, and applied.

What kinds of activities are included in the broader ROSES 2008 scope?

ROSES 2008 is intentionally broad and can include theory, modeling, and analysis of science data; investigations using aircraft, stratospheric balloons, and suborbital rockets; development of new experiment techniques and concepts for future missions; advancement of technologies that could be infused into SMD missions; laboratory techniques and analyses for extraterrestrial samples and related terrestrial samples; determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret observations and samples; Earth surface observations and field campaigns; development of integrated Earth system models; and systems that translate Earth science research data into societal benefits.

How much funding is available for AISR and other ROSES elements?

Funding levels can vary significantly based on the type and scale of work proposed. NASA indicates that awards may range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) to more than $1,000,000 per year for large, complex activities (such as development of science experiment hardware). For each ROSES program element (including AISR), the total funding available may range from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

How many awards might be made under a given element like AISR?

NASA indicates that element-level budgets often translate into selecting anywhere from a few proposals to several dozen, depending on program goals and the quality and relevance of submissions.

What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance is four years, although some ROSES program elements may specify shorter or longer durations.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What types of award instruments can NASA use?

Awards may be issued using different legal instruments depending on the organization and the nature of the work, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open and essentially unrestricted. Eligible applicants can include domestic and foreign organizations, universities and other educational institutions, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other government agencies.

Are teaming arrangements allowed? Is there a limit on partners?

Teaming arrangements are allowed, and the opportunity does not state a restriction on the number of partners.

Can non-US organizations participate? Will NASA send funds to them?

International participation is allowed, but NASA expects investigations involving non-US organizations to be conducted with no exchange of funds. In other words, NASA generally will not transfer award funds to non-US entities.

What is the overall solicitation number for ROSES 2008?

The overall NASA Research Announcement number is NNH08ZDA001N (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2008, also referred to as ROSES 2008).

When was ROSES 2008 expected to be available, and what were the general due date ranges?

ROSES 2008 was expected to be available around February 15, 2008 via the NSPIRES portal. Proposal due dates began May 9, 2008 and continued through March 27, 2009, depending on the specific program element.

Was a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

For most ROSES 2008 elements, NASA requests an electronic Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to proposal submission. The earliest NOI date listed in the opportunity information is March 14, 2008.

What were the key dates specifically for the AISR posting summarized here?

For the AISR posting summarized in the provided information, the opportunity was posted May 27, 2008. The original and current closing date was August 27, 2008, and the archive date was September 26, 2008.

How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is electronic and must be completed by an authorized official of the proposing organization. Proposals may be submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov, but registration is required in advance.

What registrations are required to submit?

Any organization planning to submit must be registered in NSPIRES. If submitting via Grants.gov, the organization must also be registered there. The registration must identify the organization’s authorized organizational representative(s) who are permitted to submit. In addition, all principal investigators and other named participants (such as co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES.

Who must submit the application in the electronic system?

The proposal submission must be completed by an authorized official of the proposing organization (i.e., an authorized organizational representative identified through the organization’s registration).

Where can applicants find ROSES 2008 program elements on Grants.gov?

Applicants can locate specific ROSES 2008 elements on Grants.gov by using Advanced Search and entering the funding opportunity number NNH08ZDA001N, which returns the list of posted elements. Each element has its own associated identifier and application package.

Where should applicants look for element-specific guidance (such as AISR priorities and requirements)?

Program-specific guidance and priorities are handled at the program element level. Applicants are directed to consult the Summary of Key Information and the listed Program Officers for detailed questions about a particular element such as AISR.

Who was listed as the contact for general policy and procedural questions for the NRA?

General policy and procedural questions for the NRA were directed to Dr. Yvonne Pendleton at NASA Headquarters (contact information was provided in the announcement).

Does NASA provide any advice about timing and system preparation?

Yes. NASA strongly encourages applicants to start registration and system familiarization early to avoid last-minute submission problems.