ROSES 2010 Ocean Salinity Science Team | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2010 Ocean Salinity Science Team (OSST)

1) What is the ROSES 2010 Ocean Salinity Science Team (OSST) opportunity?

OSST is a program element under NASA Headquarters broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2010 solicitation, issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH10ZDA001N. While OSST is ocean-salinity-focused, it sits within the larger ROSES 2010 umbrella that spans multiple science divisions and includes many separate program elements with their own requirements and due dates.

2) What is the official solicitation number and where does this opportunity sit within NASA?

The solicitation is part of ROSES 2010, issued as NRA NNH10ZDA001N, and was posted under NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) research solicitations.

3) When was this opportunity released and posted?

The opportunity was released around February 12, 2010 as part of the ROSES 2010 solicitation.

4) Is OSST a standalone grant, or part of a larger solicitation?

OSST is not described as a standalone solicitation. It is a specific element within the larger ROSES 2010 omnibus solicitation. The detailed scope, proposal requirements, and deadlines are defined in the relevant ROSES appendices and associated due-date tables.

5) What kinds of work does ROSES 2010 fund?

ROSES 2010 is intended to fund both basic and applied research and technology that supports NASA science objectives and missions. The solicitation covers a wide range of activities including theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; development and use of aircraft, balloon, suborbital rocket, and other suborbital investigations; experimental techniques and instrumentation relevant to future missions; early-stage concepts for future missions; and advanced technologies that could enable or improve NASA missions.

6) What types of activities are emphasized for Earth science within ROSES 2010?

For Earth science, ROSES 2010 emphasizes field campaigns and Earth surface observations that support NASA missions, integrated Earth system modeling, and development of applied information systems that translate NASA Earth science data into societal benefit.

7) What kinds of projects would fit the OSST theme, based on the description provided?

The OSST element is expected to align with ocean salinity measurement and science priorities described in the relevant ROSES appendix for OSST. The description suggests activities commonly associated with such teams, such as satellite data product evaluation, algorithm and validation support, salinity-driven process studies, and integrating salinity observations into models and applications, as permitted and described by the program text.

8) Which scientific areas does the overall ROSES 2010 umbrella include?

ROSES 2010 invites proposals spanning Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. Specific topics and requirements are defined in the ROSES appendices.

9) How much funding is available?

ROSES 2010 does not present a single total funding pool for the entire omnibus. Instead, each program element has its own funding level, ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars, depending on the element. The number of selections can range from a few to several dozen, depending on program goals and proposal quality.

10) What award sizes are typical?

Award sizes vary widely depending on scope. Budgets can be under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts such as data analysis, and can exceed $1,000,000 per year for large, complex activities such as development of science hardware.

11) What types of funding mechanisms might NASA use?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers. The mechanism is chosen based on the proposing organization type and NASA program needs.

12) How long is the typical period of performance?

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

13) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs are requested for most program elements. Whether an NOI is needed for OSST specifically depends on the requirements stated in the relevant ROSES appendix for that element.

14) When are NOIs due?

For ROSES 2010, NOIs were due on a staggered schedule starting March 15, 2010 and continuing through February 9, 2011, depending on the program element and the due-date tables.

15) When are full proposals due?

Full proposals were due on a staggered schedule starting April 30, 2010 and continuing through April 30, 2011. The exact due date depends on the specific appendix/program element and is listed in the ROSES tables of due dates.

16) What are the Grants.gov dates shown for the OSST listing?

The Grants.gov record associated with OSST shows an original and current closing date of October 29, 2010 and an archive date of November 28, 2010. These dates reflect the way that specific listing was tracked on Grants.gov, even though the ROSES umbrella included multiple program elements with rolling or staged deadlines.

17) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is broadly open by organizational type: domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, for-profit and non-profit organizations may submit proposals. The solicitation states there is no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

18) Does NASA fund non-U.S. organizations?

NASA notes that, in general, it provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but NASA policy requires such participation to be on a no-exchange-of-funds basis unless a specific jointly issued NRA states otherwise.

19) Where can non-U.S. participants find participation rules and special cases?

Non-U.S. participants are directed to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed instructions, including special cases where a non-U.S. proposal involves U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

20) How do we submit an application?

Submission is electronic and requires registration and role setup in NASA NSPIRES. Proposals can be submitted through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov, but the proposing organization must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of which submission path is used.

21) If submitting via Grants.gov, do we still need NSPIRES?

Yes. Even when submitting through Grants.gov, the organization must be registered in NSPIRES, and the authorized organizational representative who submits the application must be identified in NSPIRES. Grants.gov registration is also required for the Grants.gov submission route.

22) Who needs to be registered in NSPIRES?

All principal investigators and other named participants (such as co-investigators) must be individually registered in NSPIRES. The proposing organization must also be registered, and the authorized organizational representative must be properly identified in the system.

23) Does NASA provide any advice about timing and registrations?

Yes. NASA strongly advises organizations to complete registrations and become familiar with NSPIRES and (if applicable) Grants.gov well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute access or validation problems.

24) Can the solicitation change after it is posted?

Yes. ROSES 2010 is described as a living solicitation during its open period, with amendments, clarifications, and corrections posted online. Proposers are encouraged to monitor the NSPIRES solicitation page or subscribe to notifications for updates.

25) How long were updates expected to continue?

Updates were referenced through February 2011, when a subsequent ROSES NRA was planned.

26) Where can proposers find amendments and updates?

An online archive and RSS feed for ROSES 2010 amendments is referenced, and proposers are encouraged to monitor the NSPIRES solicitation page and/or subscribe to notifications.

27) Who should we contact with questions?

The solicitation distinguishes between program-element-specific questions and general ROSES policy/process questions. Program-element-specific questions are handled by the individual Program Officers listed in each appendix summary. General ROSES policy/process questions may be directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (with contact details provided in the announcement).

28) Where do we find the exact OSST requirements and due dates?

The exact requirements and due date for OSST are defined in the relevant ROSES appendix for that element and in the ROSES tables listing due dates. Because ROSES 2010 contains many program elements, the appendix and table entries are the authoritative sources for OSST-specific instructions.