ROSES 2010 Enhancing the Capability of Computational Earth System Models and NASA Data for Operation and Assessment | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ROSES 2010 Enhancing the Capability of Computational Earth System Models and NASA Data for Operation and Assessment opportunity?

It is a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) program element that appeared under NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2010 solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number NNH10ZDA001N). It invited proposals intended to strengthen research and technology efforts tied to NASA Science Mission Directorate goals, with this element emphasizing computational Earth system models and the use of NASA data for operational use and assessment.

Is this a standalone grant, or part of a larger solicitation?

It is part of the larger ROSES 2010 umbrella solicitation. ROSES included many different program elements, each described in ROSES appendices and tables, and each with its own specific scope, points of contact, and due dates.

Which NASA office managed ROSES 2010?

ROSES 2010 was managed by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate.

When was the solicitation released?

The ROSES 2010 announcement was released around February 12, 2010.

What research areas did ROSES 2010 cover?

ROSES 2010 covered NASA science areas including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics, along with a broad set of related research and technology activities described across the ROSES appendices.

What kinds of activities were eligible under the ROSES 2010 framework?

The solicitation described a wide range of eligible activities tied to NASA science goals, including theory, modeling, and analysis of Science Mission Directorate data; development and use of airborne, balloon, suborbital rocket, and emerging commercial reusable rocket investigations; development of new experiment techniques and technologies for future missions; concept development for future missions; and laboratory and analytical work on extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft and terrestrial samples that validate NASA Earth observations.

How does Earth system modeling and operational assessment fit into ROSES 2010?

Within the broader ROSES agenda, NASA explicitly included development of integrated Earth system models and development of systems that translate Earth science data into practical applications and societal benefit, including applied information systems that use NASA data. The computational Earth system modeling and operational assessment theme fits within this broader intent to support both scientific understanding and technical capabilities to collect, analyze, model, and apply NASA science data.

Were Earth surface observations and field campaigns included?

Yes. The solicitation explicitly included Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support NASA missions.

Did NASA request Notices of Intent (NOIs)?

For many program elements, NASA requested Notices of Intent (NOIs). The NOI window listed was March 15, 2010 through February 9, 2011.

When were proposals due?

Proposal submissions were scheduled across a long window: April 30, 2010 through April 30, 2011. Specific due dates depended on the particular program element, as listed in ROSES tables and appendices.

Was there a single deadline for all ROSES 2010 proposals?

No. The solicitation used a long open window with program-element-specific due dates rather than one universal deadline.

Could the solicitation change after release?

Yes. NASA noted that amendments and new program elements could be released through approximately February 2011, and proposers were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications and amendment feeds to keep up with updates.

What funding levels were typical under ROSES 2010?

Funding levels were flexible and depended on the scope of the work. Typical awards ranged from under $100,000 per year for narrower efforts such as focused data analysis, to more than $1 million per year for large-scale activities such as developing science experiment hardware.

Did each program element have the same budget?

No. NASA indicated each program element had its own budget range, from less than one million to several million dollars total, and could support anywhere from a handful to dozens of awards depending on merit, priorities, and available funds.

What was the typical performance period?

The typical performance period was four years. Some program elements allowed shorter durations or up to a five-year maximum.

What types of award instruments could NASA use?

NASA planned to issue awards using the mechanism best matched to the work and proposer, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The opportunity was described as discretionary funding and listed grant and cooperative agreement as the primary instrument types.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation stated that no cost sharing or matching was required.

How were proposals submitted?

Submission was electronic and involved registrations in NASA systems. Every proposing organization had to be registered in NSPIRES, and organizations submitting via Grants.gov had to be registered in both NSPIRES and Grants.gov.

Who is required to have an NSPIRES registration?

NASA stated that all principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) needed NSPIRES registrations regardless of whether submission occurred through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov.

Who must submit the proposal on behalf of the organization?

Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.

What did NASA recommend regarding registration and submission preparation?

NASA emphasized starting registrations and system familiarization early to avoid last-minute submission problems.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described broadly: organizations of all types could apply, including government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit, domestic and foreign.

Were there limits on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

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

Do non-U.S. organizations qualify for NASA funding under this opportunity?

While eligibility was broad in principle, NASA noted that it generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations could participate under NASA's longstanding "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning the non-U.S. partner would typically cover its own costs.

What if a non-U.S. organization proposes work involving U.S. personnel who request NASA support?

The solicitation noted that special guidance applies in cases where a non-U.S. organization proposes work that involves U.S. personnel requesting NASA support, and directed applicants to NASA's NRA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed rules.

Where can applicants find the official solicitation details and program-element due dates?

The primary access point was NSPIRES (nspires.nasaprs.com) under the Open Solicitations menu. Full details, including program-element descriptions, proposal due dates, and program officer contacts, were contained in the ROSES 2010 appendices and tables.

Who was the general point of contact for ROSES policies and procedures?

For general ROSES policies and procedures, the announcement listed Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters as the point of contact.

Why might the posting record show different administrative dates than the proposal windows?

The posting record reflected later administrative dates associated with the listing (such as a posted date of June 2, 2010 and closing/archive dates shown for the listing), while the core ROSES 2010 submission windows for NOIs and proposals extended across 2010 into 2011 as described in the solicitation.