ROSES 2008 Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigator | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2008 Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigator (NASA)

1) What is the ROSES 2008 Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigator opportunity?

It is part of NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2008 (ROSES 2008) solicitation, issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH08ZDA001N through NASA Headquarters. It functions as a large umbrella solicitation under which many individual program elements are posted, each with its own specific focus, requirements, and deadlines.

2) Is this a single grant program with one deadline and one budget?

No. ROSES 2008 is an umbrella solicitation that contains many program elements. Each program element typically has its own schedule (including due dates), its own scope, and its own budget range.

3) What NASA mission directorate is associated with this opportunity?

The work supported is tied to NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD). While the item is framed around Earth Science, ROSES 2008 spans Earth Science and also related program areas in Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics.

4) What types of work does NASA seek under ROSES 2008?

The scope is intentionally broad and includes both research and enabling technology that helps NASA plan, fly, and extract value from missions. Examples listed include theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; investigations using aircraft, stratospheric balloons, and suborbital rockets; development of experimental techniques and instrumentation suited to future space missions; early concept development for potential future missions; and advanced technology development relevant to SMD mission needs.

5) What kinds of Earth science activities are specifically mentioned?

Earth science examples called out include Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support missions, development of integrated Earth system models, and efforts that translate Earth science research data into societal benefit, including applied information systems aligned with SMD objectives and datasets.

6) Does the opportunity include laboratory work and sample analysis?

Yes. The description includes laboratory and analytical work on extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft, as well as related terrestrial samples used to validate or interpret NASA Earth observations. It also includes determining key atomic or compositional parameters needed to analyze space-based data and samples.

7) What are typical funding levels?

Funding levels vary widely based on the activity. Some awards may be under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts (such as data analysis), while larger and more complex efforts (such as developing science experiment hardware) can exceed $1,000,000 per year.

8) Is there one overall pot of money for all ROSES 2008 elements?

No. The amount available is not described as a single pool for the entire ROSES umbrella. Instead, each program element typically has its own budget range, described as anywhere from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

9) How many awards might NASA make under a program element?

It depends on the program element's budget range, priorities, and the number and quality of proposals received. The stated ranges could support selection of only a few proposals in some cases or several dozen in others.

10) What is the typical period of performance?

NASA expects most projects to run about four years as a typical period of performance, though some program elements may specify shorter or longer timelines.

11) What funding instruments can NASA use for awards?

Awards may be issued using different legal instruments depending on the nature of the work and the proposing organization, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The listing notes that the funding instrument types for this opportunity include grants and cooperative agreements.

12) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

13) Who is eligible to participate?

Eligibility is broad. Participation is open to domestic and foreign organizations, including universities, industry, nonprofits, NASA centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other government agencies.

14) Are there restrictions on teaming arrangements or the number of proposals?

NASA does not restrict teaming arrangements or the number of proposals an organization can be involved in, based on the information provided.

15) Can non-U.S. organizations participate, and will NASA fund them?

Non-U.S. organizations can participate, but NASA emphasizes that investigations involving non-U.S. organizations are generally conducted on a "no exchange of funds" basis, meaning NASA typically does not transfer funds to foreign organizations.

16) If NASA generally does not send funds to foreign organizations, what guidance applies to foreign participation?

The text indicates that specific guidance for foreign participation is referenced in NASA's NRA Guidebook for Proposers, including special cases where non-U.S. organizations involve U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

17) What registration is required before submitting a proposal?

Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES. All investigators (including the principal investigator and co-investigators) must also be registered in NSPIRES.

18) How do applicants submit proposals?

The application process is fully electronic and runs through NASA's NSPIRES system and, optionally, Grants.gov. Submissions must be made by an authorized organizational representative.

19) Do applicants have to use Grants.gov?

No. Grants.gov is described as optional. The process runs through NSPIRES and, optionally, Grants.gov.

20) If submitting through Grants.gov, what else is required?

If an organization plans to submit through Grants.gov, it must also complete Grants.gov registration, in addition to NSPIRES registration.

21) Why does NASA recommend starting registrations early?

NASA strongly advises starting registrations and system familiarization early because proposals can be rejected or delayed if registrations are incomplete near the deadline.

22) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

The solicitation indicates that Notices of Intent are requested for most program elements. An early NOI date listed is March 14, 2008. Whether an NOI is requested/required can depend on the specific program element.

23) When are proposals due?

There is not a single due date. Proposal due dates begin May 9, 2008 and extend through March 27, 2009 across the various program elements.

24) Why do some records show different posting and closing dates within ROSES 2008?

The opportunity spans multiple elements and records, each of which can have its own posting and closing window. In the excerpted Grants.gov record described, the posting date is September 4, 2008, with an original and current closing date of December 2, 2008 and an archive date of January 1, 2009.

25) How do applicants find the right program element to apply to?

Applicants are directed to find specific program elements in NSPIRES under the open solicitations menu or in Grants.gov using Advanced Search. The provided instruction is to search by the Funding Opportunity Number "NNH08ZDA001N" to pull up the list of associated program elements, then select the element-specific funding number to download the correct application package.

26) Who should applicants contact with questions about a specific program element?

For program-element questions, applicants are directed to the Program Officers listed in each element's Summary of Key Information.

27) Who should applicants contact with broader questions about NRA policy and procedures?

Broader questions on NRA policy and procedures are directed to Dr. Max Bernstein, Senior Advisor for Research and Analysis in NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, as referenced in the announcement.

28) What is the key identifier (Funding Opportunity Number) for searching this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is NNH08ZDA001N.