ROSES 2010 Cosmochemistry | Apply Online

FAQs - ROSES 2010 Cosmochemistry (NASA ROSES 2010 / NRA NNH10ZDA001N)

1) What is "ROSES 2010 Cosmochemistry"?

ROSES 2010 Cosmochemistry refers to a cosmochemistry-focused opportunity that sits within NASA Headquarters' broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2010 solicitation. ROSES 2010 was issued as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) under number NNH10ZDA001N and funds competitively selected research and technology work aligned with NASA's Science Mission Directorate priorities.

2) Is this opportunity only for cosmochemistry?

No. While the title line highlights "Cosmochemistry," ROSES is an umbrella solicitation that spans multiple science programs, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. The specific goals, topics, and points of contact are defined in ROSES appendices for each program element.

3) Where do I find the specific cosmochemistry topics and requirements?

The specific goals, topics, and program officer contacts for each element are defined in the relevant ROSES appendix, including its "Summary of Key Information." The umbrella solicitation describes the overall ROSES framework, but the appendix controls the element-specific expectations and deadlines.

4) What types of work does ROSES 2010 support?

ROSES 2010 invites proposals for a wide range of basic and applied research and enabling technology. The scope explicitly includes theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; laboratory and analytical work; development of experimental methods and instruments relevant to future missions; suborbital investigations (aircraft, balloons, sounding rockets, and commercial reusable suborbital platforms); concepts and technologies for future missions; and laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial returned samples and terrestrial analog samples used to validate or interpret NASA observations. It also includes Earth-focused activities such as field campaigns, Earth system modeling, and applied systems that translate Earth science data into societal or operational benefits.

5) What kinds of work are especially relevant to cosmochemistry under this umbrella?

Based on the umbrella description, cosmochemistry-relevant work particularly includes sample analysis (including returned extraterrestrial materials), laboratory techniques, analytical measurements, and the determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret spacecraft observations and returned samples.

6) How much funding is available?

Funding levels are flexible and depend on the specific program element. NASA indicates awards may range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts (such as data analysis) to more than $1,000,000 per year for large activities (such as developing science hardware). The total amount available within each program element typically ranges from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

7) How many awards will be made?

The number of awards depends on the funding available in a given program element, the size of proposed efforts, the element's objectives, and proposal quality. NASA notes that some elements might fund only a handful of projects while others could support dozens.

8) What is the typical project period of performance?

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

9) When was ROSES 2010 released?

The opportunity was released around February 12, 2010, with posting information showing February 22, 2010.

10) What are the key deadlines?

ROSES 2010 uses a long open window with multiple element-specific due dates. Notices of Intent (NOIs) are requested for most program elements, with NOI due dates running from March 15, 2010 through February 9, 2011. Proposal due dates begin April 30, 2010 and run through April 30, 2011, with the exact due date depending on the specific appendix/program element (organized in ROSES Tables 2 and 3).

11) Why do I see a May 14, 2010 closing date and a June 13, 2010 archive date?

Separate listing metadata associated with a particular posting instance shows a May 14, 2010 closing date and a June 13, 2010 archive date. However, the controlling process described in the ROSES announcement is the rolling set of appendix-specific deadlines across the 2010 to 2011 cycle, with due dates varying by program element.

12) Is a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

NOIs are requested for most program elements. Whether an NOI is required for your specific element depends on the element-specific instructions described in the relevant ROSES appendix and scheduling tables.

13) How do I submit a proposal?

Submission is electronic and must be made by an authorized organizational representative. Proposals may be submitted through NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or via Grants.gov.

14) Do I have to use NSPIRES if I submit through Grants.gov?

Yes, in the sense that all organizations must be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations that submit via Grants.gov must be registered in both NSPIRES and Grants.gov.

15) Who needs to be registered in NSPIRES?

All organizations must be registered in NSPIRES. In addition, all principal investigators and any other named participants (such as co-investigators) must be individually registered in NSPIRES, regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

16) Why does NASA recommend starting registration early?

NASA emphasizes starting registration and system familiarization early to avoid last-minute access issues, authorization problems, or delays tied to organizational representative approval and system setup.

17) What types of organizations are eligible to propose?

Eligibility is broad by organizational type: government or private, for-profit or nonprofit, domestic or foreign.

18) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

The announcement states eligibility can include foreign organizations, but notes that in practice NASA generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Participation by non-U.S. organizations is typically allowed only under NASA's no-exchange-of-funds policy (meaning NASA does not send funding to the non-U.S. entity).

19) Where are the rules for foreign participation explained?

The announcement points proposers to the NASA NRA Guidebook (including Appendix B and specific sections) for detailed rules affecting foreign participation, including cases where non-U.S. proposals involve U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested, and cases where an NRA is jointly issued with a non-U.S. organization (which may add special instructions).

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

No restriction is stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

21) What funding instruments might NASA use for awards?

Awards may be made using several legal instruments depending on circumstances, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The specific instrument depends on the nature of the work, the proposing organization, and NASA program requirements.

22) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the information provided.

23) How should applicants track updates, amendments, or newly added elements?

ROSES 2010 is accessed via NASA's Research Opportunities homepage through NSPIRES. Proposers are encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications for amendments and newly added program elements through February 2011. NASA also provides an amendments and clarifications archive and an RSS feed on the NASA Science site for tracking corrections or changes.

24) Who do I contact with scientific questions about a specific program element?

Scientific questions should be directed to the program officer(s) identified within the relevant ROSES appendix "Summary of Key Information" for that element.

25) Who do I contact for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General policy and procedure questions for the ROSES NRA are directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (Science Mission Directorate), using the sara@nasa.gov contact and phone number provided in the notice.

26) What is the official solicitation identifier for this opportunity?

ROSES 2010 was issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH10ZDA001N.

27) Does this opportunity support technology development as well as research?

Yes. The scope includes enabling technology and explicitly mentions development of experimental methods and instruments relevant to future missions, along with concepts and technologies for future missions.

28) Does this opportunity support suborbital research platforms?

Yes. The scope explicitly includes suborbital investigations using aircraft, balloons, sounding rockets, and commercial reusable suborbital platforms.

29) Does this opportunity support analysis of returned samples and analog materials?

Yes. The scope includes laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial returned samples as well as terrestrial analog samples used to validate or interpret NASA observations.

30) Is ROSES 2010 a single deadline solicitation?

No. ROSES 2010 is structured around multiple program elements with different NOI and proposal due dates over the 2010-2011 cycle. Applicants need to use the appendix-specific information and ROSES tables to confirm the correct due date for the element they are targeting.