ROSES 2010 Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is ROSES 2010 ASTEP?

ASTEP (Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets) is a program element within NASA's broader ROSES 2010 solicitation (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences). ROSES 2010 was issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH10ZDA001N and was made available through NASA's NSPIRES system around February 12, 2010.

2. How does ASTEP fit within ROSES 2010?

ROSES 2010 is an umbrella solicitation covering multiple NASA Science Mission Directorate priority areas (Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics). ASTEP sits within the space science and technology area of ROSES and focuses on research and technology development that advances astrobiology goals and supports planetary and other-world exploration, especially with respect to habitability and life detection.

3. What kinds of work does ASTEP support?

The scope is intentionally broad and includes both basic and applied efforts, such as theory, modeling, and analysis using existing NASA science data; laboratory studies that support interpretation of space-based observations; development and maturation of techniques and instrument concepts suitable for future missions; and technology development tied to NASA exploration objectives.

4. Does ASTEP allow data analysis proposals?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes theory, modeling, and analysis of existing NASA science data as part of the scope of work supported.

5. Are laboratory studies and sample analysis included?

Yes. The scope includes laboratory studies linked to interpreting space-based observations, laboratory analysis approaches for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft, and work on terrestrial analog samples used to validate or interpret mission observations.

6. Can ASTEP proposals include instrument concepts or technology development?

Yes. ASTEP includes development and maturation of new techniques and instrument concepts for potential future missions, as well as technology development relevant to NASA exploration objectives.

7. Are suborbital, field, or analog efforts allowed under the broader ROSES framework referenced here?

Yes. The ROSES 2010 framework explicitly allows work connected to suborbital and field efforts when they support NASA science goals. Examples mentioned include aircraft investigations, stratospheric balloon campaigns, sounding rockets, and commercial reusable rocket investigations.

8. Does ASTEP cover work related to remote-sensing interpretation and supporting parameters?

Yes. The described scope includes work on underlying atomic and compositional parameters needed to analyze remote-sensing data and returned-sample data.

9. What funding mechanisms can be used for this opportunity?

Funding instruments can include grants and cooperative agreements. Depending on the specific program element and proposer type, the solicitation notes that contracts or inter/intra-agency transfers may also apply.

10. How large are typical awards?

Award sizes vary widely depending on the type of activity proposed. Smaller, focused efforts (such as limited-scope data analysis) can be under $100,000 per year, while large, complex activities (such as development of science experiment hardware) can exceed $1 million per year.

11. How much total funding is available?

Budgets differ by individual program element. The description indicates that total budgets for an element generally range from less than $1 million to several million dollars, which can translate into only a handful of selections in some areas or several dozen in others.

12. What is the typical project period of performance?

The usual period of performance is about four years. Some program elements may specify shorter or longer periods, up to a maximum of five years.

13. When were Notices of Intent (NOIs) due?

NOIs were requested for most elements. The first NOI due date listed is March 15, 2010, and the continuing NOI window extended through February 9, 2011.

14. When were full proposals due?

Proposal due dates began April 30, 2010 and continued through April 30, 2011, reflecting that different ROSES program elements have different submission deadlines.

15. Which due date should applicants rely on?

Applicants were expected to rely on the ROSES tables and any amendments for the controlling due date for the specific program element they intended to target. The opportunity record notes that elements may have their own close dates (including examples of an original closing date of May 28, 2010 and an updated closing date of July 23, 2010).

16. Where was the solicitation posted and managed?

The solicitation was made available through NASA's NSPIRES system. NASA also directed applicants to monitor NSPIRES for amendments and new program elements, and referenced an amendments archive and RSS feed for updates.

17. Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is broad by organization type: domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit institutions may submit proposals. The description also states there is no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

18. Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to participate?

Yes, non-U.S. organizations may submit proposals and/or participate. However, the opportunity notes that NASA policy generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions, and non-U.S. participation is typically handled under a "no exchange of funds" policy where the non-U.S. side supports its own costs.

19. How does the "no exchange of funds" policy affect budgets for non-U.S. participants?

Based on the description provided, non-U.S. organizations generally do not receive NASA funding and typically must cover their own expenses. The solicitation also notes that special instructions apply when a proposal from a non-U.S. organization includes U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

20. Where are the rules for foreign participation explained?

Applicants are directed to NASA's NRA Guidebook, including Appendix B and relevant sections, for the specific rules and special instructions related to non-U.S. organizations and related participation scenarios.

21. How were proposals required to be submitted?

All submissions were required electronically, either through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

22. What registration steps were required before submission?

Organizations intending to submit had to be registered in NSPIRES. Those submitting via Grants.gov also had to be registered there. NSPIRES registration needed to identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who would submit the proposal.

23. Do investigators need NSPIRES accounts even if submitting through Grants.gov?

Yes. The description states that all principal investigators and co-investigators had to be registered in NSPIRES regardless of which submission portal (NSPIRES or Grants.gov) was used.

24. Are there limits on the number of proposals an organization can submit?

No restrictions on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements are stated in the description provided.

25. How could applicants stay informed about amendments or new elements?

NASA encouraged applicants to monitor NSPIRES for amendments and new program elements through February 2011 (when the next ROSES release was planned). The description also mentions an amendments archive and an RSS feed for ongoing updates.

26. Who should applicants contact for technical or programmatic questions about a specific ASTEP element?

The solicitation points applicants to the Program Officers listed in the appendices for each program element for technical and programmatic guidance.

27. Who should applicants contact for general ROSES policy or process questions?

General ROSES policy and process questions were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (Science Mission Directorate), with contact information provided in the announcement.

28. What NASA priorities does ROSES 2010 support (as context for ASTEP)?

ROSES 2010 invited proposals supporting NASA Science Mission Directorate priorities across Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. ASTEP is described as most directly aligned with planetary exploration technologies and astrobiology-driven measurement and mission needs.