ROSES 2010 Astrobiology Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2010 Astrobiology, Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology

1) What is this funding opportunity?

It is the Astrobiology, Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology topic area within NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2010 announcement (NRA number NNH10ZDA001N). This topic area sits under NASA's Science Mission Directorate priorities and is part of a broader umbrella that spans Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics.

2) When was ROSES 2010 released?

The solicitation was released around February 12, 2010.

3) What is the purpose of the Astrobiology/Exobiology/Evolutionary Biology topic area?

The purpose is to advance scientific understanding relevant to life in the universe, including how life originates, evolves, and survives in extreme environments, and how biosignatures might be produced, preserved, detected, and interpreted in planetary contexts.

4) What kinds of research approaches does ROSES 2010 support?

ROSES 2010 supports a wide range of research modes, including theory and modeling, laboratory studies, data analysis, field campaigns, and technology development.

5) What are examples of activities that may be supported under this NRA?

Examples described in the announcement include:

• Modeling and analysis of NASA science data
• Development and maturation of methods and instrumentation relevant to future missions
• Investigations using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, or commercial reusable rocket platforms
• Laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial materials returned by spacecraft
• Laboratory analysis of terrestrial analog samples used to interpret flight observations
• Determination of key atomic, molecular, and compositional parameters needed to interpret remote sensing and in situ measurements

6) What types of astrobiology/exobiology questions are typically relevant?

Based on the description provided, proposals in this space typically connect to questions such as habitability, planetary environments, organic chemistry in space, prebiotic processes, evolutionary dynamics under planetary constraints, and scientific groundwork needed for mission concepts and instruments aimed at detecting life or assessing habitability.

7) Is there a single deadline for ROSES 2010 proposals?

No. The timeline uses rolling program-element deadlines across roughly a year, and the exact dates vary by program element (as listed in ROSES tables and appendices).

8) When were Notices of Intent (NOIs) due?

NOIs were requested for most program elements, with NOI windows running from March 15, 2010 through February 9, 2011 (depending on the program element).

9) When were full proposals due?

Full proposals were due between April 30, 2010 and April 30, 2011, with specific due dates varying by program element and provided in the ROSES tables and appendices.

10) Could NASA add or change program elements after the initial release?

Yes. NASA indicated that amendments and new program elements could be released through about February 2011. Proposers were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe for updates, and NASA provided an archive and an RSS feed for clarifications and corrections.

11) How much funding could an award provide?

The announcement describes a broad range. Awards could be under $100,000 per year for tightly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) and could exceed $1,000,000 per year for large, complex activities (such as development of science experiment hardware).

12) How many awards might be made?

It depends on the specific program element. Total funding available varied by element from less than $1 million to several million dollars, so selections could range from only a handful of awards to several dozen depending on program goals and the quality of submissions.

13) What is the typical project period of performance?

The typical period of performance was about four years, though some program elements allowed shorter or longer projects, up to a maximum of five years.

14) What types of award mechanisms can NASA use under ROSES 2010?

ROSES 2010 allowed multiple award mechanisms depending on the project and proposing organization, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

15) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility was broad by organizational type. Domestic and foreign entities, governmental and private organizations, and for-profit and non-profit entities could submit.

16) Are there limits on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

No restrictions on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements are described in the provided information.

17) Can non-U.S. organizations receive NASA funding under this opportunity?

The general policy noted is that NASA funding goes to U.S. institutions. Participation by non-U.S. organizations is typically on a "no exchange of funds" basis unless the solicitation is jointly issued with a non-U.S. partner or contains special provisions.

18) Where are the detailed rules for non-U.S. organizations described?

The announcement references the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for the specific rules that apply to non-U.S. organizations, including cases involving U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

19) How do proposals have to be submitted?

Submission was electronic and required registration. Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational representative using either NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or Grants.gov.

20) If an organization submits through Grants.gov, is NSPIRES still required?

Yes. Any organization using Grants.gov also had to be registered in NSPIRES.

21) Do principal investigators and other participants need NSPIRES registration?

Yes. All principal investigators and other named participants needed NSPIRES registration regardless of whether the proposal was submitted via NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

22) Who must submit the proposal in the system?

Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.

23) What does NASA recommend to avoid submission problems?

NASA strongly advised institutions to complete registrations and become familiar with NSPIRES and/or Grants.gov well before deadlines to avoid last-minute submission problems.

24) Where are the specific scientific requirements for the Astrobiology/Exobiology/Evolutionary Biology elements found?

The opportunity does not present a single one-size-fits-all set of scientific requirements in the main text. The details were contained in the appendices for each program element (and in key information summaries for those elements).

25) Who is the general point of contact for solicitation policies and procedures?

For general solicitation policies and procedures, the listed headquarters contact was Dr. Max Bernstein (Science Mission Directorate).

26) Who should applicants contact for scientific or programmatic questions about astrobiology/exobiology/evolutionary biology?

Applicants were directed to the relevant program officers identified in the appendices and key information summaries for those specific elements.

27) What should applicants do to stay current on amendments, clarifications, or corrections?

Applicants were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe for updates. NASA also noted the availability of an archive and an RSS feed for clarifications and corrections.

28) Does the opportunity support both basic and applied work?

Yes. The broader ROSES 2010 announcement supports a wide spectrum of basic and applied research as well as technology development aligned with NASA Science Mission Directorate priorities.