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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2009 Planetary Astronomy (NNH09ZDA001N)

What is ROSES 2009 Planetary Astronomy (NNH09ZDA001N)?

ROSES 2009 Planetary Astronomy (Funding Opportunity Number NNH09ZDA001N) is a funding opportunity under NASA Headquarters' broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2009 (ROSES 2009) NASA Research Announcement (NRA). Although this listing is labeled "Planetary Astronomy," it sits within the ROSES umbrella, which covers many research program elements across NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Is this opportunity only for Planetary Astronomy projects?

The listing name is "Planetary Astronomy," but ROSES is an umbrella solicitation made up of many program elements. Applicants are expected to propose to the specific ROSES program element that best matches their work scope and NASA's objectives for that element, including (but not limited to) Planetary Science elements.

Which NASA science areas does ROSES 2009 support?

ROSES 2009 supports a wide mix of basic and applied research and technology development across NASA Science Mission Directorate programs, including Planetary Science (which includes the Planetary Astronomy element), Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics.

What types of activities and research does the solicitation support?

The solicitation is designed to fund work that advances NASA science goals through activities such as theory, modeling, and analysis of mission data; development of new observational or experimental techniques for future missions; formulation of mission concepts; maturation of technologies relevant to future spaceflight; laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft (and related terrestrial analog samples used to validate mission observations); determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret space-based measurements; Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support NASA missions; integrated Earth system modeling; and applied systems that translate Earth science results and data into societal uses.

How do I submit a proposal?

Submission is electronic-only. Proposals may be submitted through NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or through Grants.gov. NASA strongly encourages use of NSPIRES due to known technical problems historically associated with Grants.gov.

Is NSPIRES registration required if I submit through Grants.gov?

Yes. In all cases, the organization must be registered in NSPIRES, and all investigators and co-investigators must also be registered in NSPIRES regardless of which submission portal is used.

Do I need to register in both NSPIRES and Grants.gov?

If submitting via Grants.gov, the organization must be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES. If submitting via NSPIRES, NSPIRES registration is still required (and is the system NASA encourages).

Who is allowed to transmit the proposal?

Proposals must be transmitted by an authorized organizational representative identified during registration.

Any advice on preparing for submission?

Teams are encouraged to log in well ahead of deadlines to learn the system workflow and to complete required profiles and proposal data fields.

When was ROSES 2009 expected to be posted, and what is the formal posting date?

ROSES 2009 was expected to be posted around February 13, 2009 through the NSPIRES solicitations menu, with a formal posting date listed as March 18, 2009.

What are the key dates for Notices of Intent (NOIs) and proposal submissions?

Requested Notices of Intent for many program elements begin March 13, 2009. Proposal due dates start May 1, 2009 and extend through April 30, 2010, depending on the specific program element within ROSES.

What is the closing date shown for this listing?

For this particular listing, the closing date is shown as June 5, 2009, with an archive date of July 5, 2009.

Which deadline should I follow if different ROSES elements have different schedules?

Because ROSES is organized by many program elements with different schedules, applicants needed to follow the due date associated with the specific program element they were proposing to within the ROSES umbrella.

How much funding is available?

Funding levels vary widely across ROSES because it covers everything from small data-analysis or modeling efforts to major hardware or technology developments. Typical awards can be under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused projects, while large-scale activities (such as developing science instrument hardware) can exceed $1 million per year.

How much funding is available within a specific ROSES program element?

The amount available within any given ROSES program element ranges from under $1 million to several million dollars, supporting selections from just a few proposals up to several dozen depending on program priorities and the quality and quantity of submissions.

What funding mechanisms might NASA use to make an award?

NASA may issue awards using several mechanisms, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the work and the proposing organization.

What is the usual period of performance?

The usual period of performance is four years, though some elements allow shorter or longer durations up to a five-year maximum.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing.

What type of funding is this categorized as?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and supports science and technology and other research and development.

Who is eligible to submit?

Eligibility is broad by organizational type: domestic or foreign entities, government or private, for-profit or non-profit, may submit. There is no stated restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Will NASA fund non-U.S. organizations?

NASA generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations can participate under NASA's "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning NASA typically will not transfer funds to the non-U.S. partner; those organizations are expected to support their participation with their own resources or other funding.

Where can I find the detailed rules for non-U.S. participation?

The announcement points proposers to the NASA NRA Guidebook (including Appendix B and specific sections addressing non-U.S. participation) for detailed rules, including cases where a non-U.S. organization proposes work involving U.S. personnel for whom NASA funding is requested, and special situations where an NRA is issued jointly with a non-U.S. partner agency.

Are there special cases where non-U.S. participation differs from the "no exchange of funds" approach?

The notice references special situations where an NRA is issued jointly with a non-U.S. partner agency (for example, some guest observing programs). It also notes that detailed rules apply in situations involving U.S. personnel for whom NASA funding is requested in connection with non-U.S. organizational participation. Applicants are directed to the NASA NRA Guidebook for these cases.

Are there limits on the number of proposals an organization can submit or on teaming arrangements?

No restriction is stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements, based on the information provided.

Who should I contact with questions about a specific ROSES program element?

Questions about individual program elements are directed to the Program Officers identified in each element's "Summary of Key Information."

Who should I contact with general solicitation policy or procedural questions?

General solicitation policy and procedural questions could be directed to the ROSES research lead listed in the notice: Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (contact information is provided in the announcement).

Are grants and cooperative agreements the only award types?

Grants and cooperative agreements are identified as primary funding instruments for the opportunity, but NASA may also use other mechanisms (such as contracts and inter- or intra-agency transfers) depending on the nature of the work and the proposing organization.