ROSES 2010 Land Cover/Land Use Change | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2010 Land Cover/Land Use Change (LCLUC)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Land Cover/Land Use Change (LCLUC) element 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 solicitation number NNH10ZDA001N and supports research and technology development aligned with NASA Science Mission Directorate priorities.

2) What does the LCLUC element focus on?

Based on the listing, LCLUC generally focuses on understanding how human-driven land use decisions and natural land cover dynamics interact with climate, ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, water resources, and related societal impacts.

3) Is this opportunity only for Earth science?

This specific listing is for an Earth science research element (LCLUC). The broader ROSES 2010 umbrella spans multiple divisions, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics.

4) What kinds of activities does ROSES 2010 support that are relevant to LCLUC?

The opportunity description indicates NASA was interested in a wide range of NASA-relevant approaches, including theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support NASA missions; development of integrated Earth system models; and creation of systems that translate Earth science research and data into useful applications for societal needs.

5) Does the opportunity support technology development as well as research?

Yes. The listing describes support for both basic and applied research and technology development activities. It also notes potential support for techniques and technologies that would enable or enhance future NASA missions.

6) Can projects include airborne or suborbital platforms?

Yes. Under the ROSES framework described, projects could include work using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, and related platforms.

7) Are proposals limited to analyzing existing datasets?

No. The posting explicitly indicates NASA was not only looking for studies that analyze existing datasets, but also for work that improves measurement methods, modeling capability, and application pathways tied to NASA science objectives.

8) When was the solicitation released?

The solicitation was released around February 12, 2010.

9) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

The listing states that NOIs were requested for most program elements. That implies an NOI was generally expected in many cases, but the posting does not claim it was required for every element.

10) What were the NOI submission windows?

NOI windows ran from March 15, 2010 through February 9, 2011, depending on the program element.

11) When were full proposals due?

Full proposal due dates began on April 30, 2010 and ran through April 30, 2011, depending on the specific program element and the due-date tables included in the NRA (referenced as Tables 2 and 3 in the full ROSES document).

12) Could deadlines or program elements change during the ROSES year?

Yes. NASA indicated that amendments and new program elements could be added through February 2011, and applicants were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications and the posted amendment archive/RSS feed for updates.

13) How much funding could an award provide?

Funding ranges were broad. Awards could range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) up to more than $1 million per year for large, complex activities (such as development of science experiment hardware).

14) How much total funding was available?

The listing states that available funds varied by program element from less than $1 million to several million dollars. The number of awards could range from a small number to several dozen, depending on the element, the merit of submissions, and NASA priorities.

15) What is the typical project period, and what is the maximum?

The typical performance period was four years. Some elements could be shorter or longer, with an overall maximum of five years.

16) What types of award instruments might NASA use?

NASA planned to issue awards using several possible instruments depending on the situation, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

17) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity listing states that cost sharing or matching was not required.

18) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is described as broadly inclusive: organizations of every type could submit proposals (government or private, for-profit or nonprofit, domestic or foreign). The listing also states there was no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

19) How does NASA handle international participation and funding?

The listing emphasizes NASA policy that, in general, NASA funds U.S. institutions, and work involving non-U.S. organizations is typically conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. Non-U.S. proposers were directed to consult the NASA NRA Guidebook and the specific ROSES provisions, including special instructions for proposals that include U.S. personnel requesting NASA support.

20) How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission was electronic and routed through NASA systems. All proposing organizations needed to be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations submitting via Grants.gov also had to be registered with Grants.gov in addition to NSPIRES.

21) Who needs to be registered in NSPIRES?

The listing states that each organization must be registered in NSPIRES and must identify authorized organizational representatives who will officially submit proposals. It also states that all principal investigators and co-investigators need NSPIRES registration regardless of whether submission occurs through NSPIRES directly or via Grants.gov.

22) Any advice on registration timing?

NASA strongly encouraged applicants to start registration and system familiarization early to avoid technical delays close to deadlines.

23) Where can applicants find the full announcement and detailed LCLUC requirements?

The posting indicates the full announcement and appendices (including the detailed LCLUC element description, requirements, and evaluation information) were accessible through the NSPIRES open solicitations page and the solicitation summary link referenced in the posting.

24) Who should applicants contact for general ROSES policy or procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure questions were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein (Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate) via the sara@nasa.gov contact and a listed phone number.

25) Who should applicants contact for program-specific questions about an element?

The listing states that program-specific questions should be directed to the individual program officers identified in the appendices for each element.

26) What is the official solicitation identifier?

The ROSES 2010 solicitation is identified as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) number NNH10ZDA001N.