ROSES 2009 Hurricane Field Experiment | Apply Online

FAQs: ROSES 2009 Hurricane Field Experiment (NNH09ZDA001N)

1) What is the ROSES 2009 Hurricane Field Experiment opportunity?

It is a grant opportunity listed under NASA Headquarters broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2009 (ROSES 2009) solicitation, released as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) under Funding Opportunity Number NNH09ZDA001N. While the title highlights hurricane field experiment work, it sits within the larger ROSES 2009 structure, where proposals must align to one or more specific ROSES program elements and their appendices.

2) Is this opportunity only for hurricane field campaigns?

No. The listing emphasizes a hurricane field experiment theme, but the solicitation itself is part of ROSES 2009, which spans Earth Science as well as Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. Proposals are expected to fit a specific program element described in ROSES, and the relevant scope may extend beyond hurricane-focused fieldwork.

3) What types of work will NASA fund under this opportunity?

NASA states the scope is broad and can include basic and applied research and technology development. Examples mentioned include theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; Earth surface observations and field campaigns supporting NASA Earth system science missions; development of integrated Earth system models; aircraft, balloon, and suborbital rocket investigations; development of new experimental techniques for future missions; advanced technology development relevant to NASA missions; and concept development for future space missions. The ROSES umbrella also supports laboratory and analytical work connected to returned extraterrestrial samples and terrestrial samples used to validate or interpret mission observations, along with efforts to transition Earth science results into societally useful applications and applied information systems.

4) How do I know whether my topic is a fit?

Fit is determined at the ROSES program element level. NASA directs proposers to consult the specific program officers and the ROSES documentation for each program element, because key details like topic scope, required deliverables, evaluation criteria, and element-specific due dates are typically defined there.

5) How much funding is available per award?

NASA indicates award sizes vary widely depending on the work proposed. Awards can be under 100,000 dollars per year for narrowly focused efforts (such as data analysis) and can exceed 1 million dollars per year for large, resource-intensive activities (such as building or advancing science hardware).

6) How much total funding is available, and how many awards might be made?

Availability of funds is managed at the individual program element level. NASA notes that each element typically has anywhere from under 1 million to several million dollars available. As a result, selections can range from only a few to several dozen per program element, depending on program objectives and proposal quality.

7) What award mechanisms will NASA use?

NASA expects to make awards using multiple possible mechanisms depending on the proposer and the activity. This opportunity explicitly lists grants and cooperative agreements, and NASA also notes that in some cases it may use contracts or inter-agency and intra-agency transfers.

8) What is the typical performance period?

The typical performance period is four years. NASA notes that some program elements may allow shorter or longer periods, up to a maximum of five years, which may matter for multi-season field efforts, major model development, or instrument and algorithm maturation.

9) Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Eligibility is broad. NASA states that many types of organizations may submit, including government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and both domestic and foreign institutions.

10) Can a non-US organization apply and receive NASA funding?

NASA emphasizes that, in general, it provides funding only to US institutions. Non-US organizations may participate under NASA policy on a no exchange of funds basis, meaning NASA does not transfer money to the non-US organization. The ROSES guidebook contains the detailed participation rules and special cases described in the solicitation summary.

11) Do we have to be registered in NSPIRES to apply?

Yes. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES (the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System).

12) How must proposals be submitted?

All proposals must be submitted electronically. NASA strongly encourages use of NSPIRES rather than Grants.gov for this solicitation due to technical issues associated with Grants.gov at the time.

13) Can we submit through Grants.gov instead of NSPIRES?

The opportunity indicates electronic submission is required and that NASA strongly encourages NSPIRES rather than Grants.gov. If an organization submits via Grants.gov, it must register there as well as in NSPIRES.

14) Who must submit the proposal in the system?

The submission must be made by an authorized organizational representative. In addition, all investigators participating in the proposal (including the principal investigator and any co-investigators) must be individually registered in NSPIRES.

15) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs are requested for most program elements. The earliest NOI date mentioned in the ROSES 2009 schedule is March 13, 2009, but applicants are expected to follow the NOI guidance that applies to their targeted program element.

16) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posted date for this listing is February 26, 2009. The original and current closing date shown for this listing is May 14, 2009, and the archive date is June 13, 2009. More broadly, ROSES 2009 proposal due dates begin May 1, 2009 and continue through April 30, 2010 depending on the specific program element.

17) Which due date should I follow if there are multiple dates in ROSES?

Applicants are expected to follow the due dates that apply to the exact ROSES program element they are targeting, because ROSES is a collection of elements with different schedules and requirements.

18) Where do I find the most important requirements like deliverables and evaluation criteria?

NASA indicates these details are typically specified at the program element level in the ROSES documentation and appendices. Proposers are directed to consult the program officers listed for each program element for guidance and clarifications.

19) Who should we contact with questions?

For topic-specific questions, NASA directs proposers to the program officers listed for each ROSES program element. For general ROSES policies and procedures, the announcement references the Science Mission Directorate research lead at NASA Headquarters as the point of contact, with contact information provided in the announcement.

20) Any submission system advice from NASA?

NASA advises organizations and investigators to start registrations and become familiar with the electronic systems well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute problems, and it specifically encourages using NSPIRES rather than Grants.gov for this opportunity.