ROSES 2010 Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is ROSES 2010 LASER?

ROSES 2010 Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research (LASER) is a program element within NASA Headquarters broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2010 announcement. It sits within NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) research solicitations and supports a mix of basic and applied research and technology work aligned with NASA science goals and future exploration-related science needs, including lunar-focused investigations as defined in the LASER appendix.

2) What is the official funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The ROSES 2010 announcement (which includes the LASER element) was released under Funding Opportunity Number NNH10ZDA001N.

3) When was this opportunity initially released?

The initial release date for ROSES 2010 (including LASER) was February 12, 2010.

4) Where was the solicitation published and managed?

The opportunity was published through NASA NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). The full announcement and amendments were accessible through the NSPIRES solicitation listing and NASA ROSES web pages.

5) Is LASER a standalone solicitation or part of a larger NASA announcement?

LASER is part of the larger ROSES 2010 NASA Research Announcement (NRA). Proposals are accepted across multiple program elements and appendices described in the ROSES NRA, with LASER being one specific program element focused on lunar advanced science and exploration research themes.

6) What kinds of work does ROSES 2010 support (and how does that relate to LASER)?

ROSES 2010 has an intentionally broad scope spanning Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. It supports work ranging from core scientific research (theory, modeling, and data analysis) to technology and instrument development that enables future missions. LASER is specifically oriented toward advanced lunar science and exploration research themes as defined in the relevant LASER appendix within ROSES.

7) What are examples of activities NASA said it was willing to support under ROSES 2010?

Examples listed in the announcement include: analysis of SMD science data; investigations using aircraft, stratospheric balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rockets; development of experimental techniques suitable for future space missions; early-stage mission concepts; advanced technologies relevant to SMD missions; laboratory methods and analyses for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft (and terrestrial analog samples used to validate spacecraft observations); determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret remote sensing and sample data; Earth surface observations and field campaigns supporting NASA missions; integrated Earth system modeling; and applied systems that translate Earth science research data into societal or operational benefits.

8) How do I know which specific requirements apply to LASER?

ROSES requirements and due dates can vary by program element. LASER-specific scope, instructions, and any special requirements are defined in the LASER appendix for that program element, along with the relevant ROSES tables and appendix materials.

9) Were Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

Notices of Intent (NOIs) to propose were requested for most program elements, with NOI due dates running from March 15, 2010 through February 9, 2011. Whether an NOI was requested and the exact due date depended on the specific program element.

10) When were full proposals due?

Full proposals were due on schedules beginning April 30, 2010 and continuing through April 30, 2011. Specific proposal due dates varied by program element and were listed in ROSES Tables 2 and 3 and in the appendices.

11) Were deadlines fixed, or did NASA use rolling deadlines across the year?

Key dates were structured as a rolling set of deadlines across the year, with different due dates depending on the program element.

12) Could NASA add new program elements or revise the solicitation after release?

Yes. NASA noted that ROSES amendments and new program elements could be added through approximately February 2011, and proposers were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe for updates, including an RSS/archive page for clarifications and corrections.

13) How much funding was available and what award sizes were typical?

Funding levels varied by program element. Typical awards ranged from under $100,000 per year for narrow, focused tasks (such as data analysis) to more than $1 million per year for larger projects (such as development of science experiment hardware or other extensive activities). Some program elements had less than $1 million total available, while others had several million.

14) How many awards might NASA make?

The number of proposals selected depended on the funding available for the specific program element and on NASA considerations such as merit, portfolio balance, and program goals. Depending on the element, NASA could select anywhere from a handful to dozens of proposals.

15) What is the typical period of performance?

The usual period of performance was about four years. Some program elements could specify shorter or longer durations up to a five-year maximum.

16) Who was eligible to submit proposals?

A wide range of applicant types were allowed, including government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and domestic or foreign participants. The solicitation did not state a restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

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

Yes, but NASA emphasized a key policy constraint: investigations involving non-U.S. organizations generally must be conducted on a "no exchange of funds" basis, meaning NASA typically does not provide funding directly to non-U.S. institutions.

18) If a proposal includes international collaborators, can NASA still fund the overall project?

The guidance states that NASA funding is generally provided only to U.S. institutions, with specific rules for proposals involving non-U.S. organizations and any requested NASA support for U.S. personnel tied to those collaborations. The NASA Guidebook for Proposers was referenced for details.

19) What registration requirements applied to organizations and personnel?

Proposers had to be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES. All principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) were required to be registered in NSPIRES regardless of which submission portal was used.

20) How were proposals submitted?

Submission was electronic. Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational official, and could be submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov. If submitting via Grants.gov, the organization still needed to be registered in NSPIRES as well.

21) Why did NASA recommend registering early?

NASA explicitly encouraged organizations and investigators to start registration and familiarize themselves with the systems well ahead of deadlines to avoid administrative delays.

22) What types of award instruments could NASA use?

Awards could be issued using multiple funding instruments depending on the proposing organization and the nature of the work, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The announcement lists grants and cooperative agreements for this opportunity category, and also describes NASA broader practice of selecting the most appropriate instrument based on program requirements.

23) Where can applicants find the specific due dates for their program element?

Specific due dates were listed in ROSES Tables 2 and 3 and in the appendices for the relevant program elements.

24) How can applicants keep up with amendments, clarifications, or corrections?

Applicants were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe for updates, including the RSS/archive page referenced for clarifications and corrections.

25) Who should be contacted for official interpretation of requirements?

NASA directed proposers to consult the individual Program Officers listed in each program element appendix. A general ROSES policies and procedures contact was also provided: Dr. Max Bernstein, Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters (sara@nasa.gov; 202-358-0879).

26) How long were updates expected for ROSES 2010?

Updates were expected until the next ROSES cycle planned for release after February 2011.

27) Does LASER cover only lunar science?

The broader ROSES 2010 solicitation spans multiple science divisions and a wide range of activities. LASER is the element specifically oriented toward advanced lunar science and exploration research themes as defined in the LASER appendix, including lunar-focused investigations where applicable.

28) Does the solicitation mention limits on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

No specific restriction was stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements; the solicitation described a wide range of eligible organization types and did not indicate a cap in the information provided.