ROSES 2011 Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2011 ASTID (Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development)

1) What is the ROSES 2011 ASTID opportunity?

ASTID (Astrobiology Science and Technology for Instrument Development) was a NASA Headquarters grant opportunity released as part of NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N). ASTID specifically focused on astrobiology-relevant science and technology by supporting instrument development work that could enable or enhance future NASA investigations and missions.

2) Who released this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was released by NASA Headquarters under NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) as part of the ROSES 2011 solicitation.

3) What does ROSES stand for and how does ASTID fit into it?

ROSES stands for Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences. It is a broad NASA solicitation that supports multiple program elements spanning Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. ASTID was one program element under the ROSES 2011 umbrella, focused on astrobiology-related instrument development.

4) What kinds of activities did ROSES 2011 support (in general)?

ROSES 2011 supported a wide range of basic and applied research and technology development activities. Examples included theory, modeling, and analysis of SMD data; development and maturation of experimental techniques for future missions; development of concepts for future SMD space missions; creation of advanced technologies relevant to SMD needs; laboratory and analytical methods for studying returned extraterrestrial samples or terrestrial analog samples; Earth observations and field campaigns; integrated Earth system modeling; and applied systems that translate Earth science results into societal benefit.

5) What was ASTID focused on within ROSES 2011?

Within ROSES 2011, ASTID focused on advancing astrobiology-relevant science and technology by supporting instrument development intended to enable or enhance future NASA investigations and missions.

6) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for ROSES 2011?

The Funding Opportunity Number for ROSES 2011 was NNH11ZDA001N.

7) When was ROSES 2011 released?

The ROSES 2011 solicitation was released around February 18, 2011.

8) Were Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

Notices of Intent (NOIs) to propose were requested for most ROSES 2011 program elements. The NOI due dates varied by program element.

9) What were the NOI due dates under ROSES 2011?

NOI due dates for ROSES 2011 ran from March 18, 2011 through February 8, 2012, depending on the specific appendix/program element.

10) What were the proposal due dates under ROSES 2011?

Proposal due dates began April 29, 2011 and continued on a rolling schedule through April 30, 2012, depending on the specific appendix/program element.

11) What were the key Grants.gov dates for the ASTID listing?

For the ASTID listing as posted on Grants.gov, the posting date was June 9, 2011. The original and current closing date was August 26, 2011. The archive date was September 25, 2011.

12) Why are the ASTID Grants.gov dates different from the broader ROSES timeline?

ROSES 2011 included multiple program elements with different deadlines and schedules. The Grants.gov ASTID entry reflects the lifecycle of that specific listing in Grants.gov, while ROSES as a whole had multiple program-specific due dates across 2011-2012.

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

Funding levels varied widely across ROSES program elements. Typical awards ranged from under $100,000 per year for narrowly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) to more than $1 million per year for larger efforts (such as development of science experiment hardware). Available funds in each program element ranged from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

14) How many awards would NASA make?

Because funding availability and proposal pressure varied by program element, NASA could select anywhere from a few to dozens of proposals, depending on priorities, merit, and the number of proposals received.

15) What award mechanisms could NASA use?

Awards could be made using different mechanisms, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on proposer type and program needs.

16) How long were periods of performance?

Periods of performance were typically four years. Some programs allowed shorter or longer terms, up to a maximum of five years.

17) Who was eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility under ROSES 2011 was broad: domestic and foreign entities, government and private, for-profit and nonprofit organizations could submit proposals.

18) Was there a limit on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

No. The solicitation stated there was no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

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

NASA generally provided funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations could participate under a "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning they would need to support their contribution using non-NASA resources, unless a specific jointly issued NRA included different terms.

20) If a team includes non-U.S. participants, where are the rules described?

The solicitation pointed proposers to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed rules, including special instructions for proposals involving non-U.S. organizations where NASA funding was requested for U.S. personnel.

21) How were proposals submitted?

Submission was electronic and required use of NASA's NSPIRES system. Grants.gov could also be used optionally for proposal submission.

22) What registration steps were required?

Several registrations were required and could take time if not completed early. Every organization intending to propose had to be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations submitting via Grants.gov also had to be registered there. Each organization needed to identify authorized organizational representatives who could submit proposals. In addition, all principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) had to be individually registered in NSPIRES even if the final application was sent through Grants.gov.

23) Why did NASA encourage early log-in and registration?

NASA encouraged teams to log in well ahead of deadlines so they could learn the systems, confirm organizational access, and complete required profiles and organizational information before submission deadlines.

24) Where were the specific ASTID requirements and due dates described?

Program details for individual program elements like ASTID were provided in the ROSES appendices, and proposal due dates were summarized in tables within the full ROSES NRA.

25) Could ROSES 2011 change after it was released?

Yes. NASA noted that amendments and new program elements could be issued through February 2012, and encouraged interested applicants to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications.

26) How could applicants keep up with clarifications, corrections, and updates?

NASA encouraged monitoring NSPIRES and noted the availability of a separate web archive and an RSS feed for clarifications and corrections.

27) Who was the general contact for ROSES policy and procedural questions?

For policy and procedural questions about ROSES generally, the listed contact was Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (sara@nasa.gov, 202-358-0879).

28) Who should applicants contact for ASTID-specific questions?

Program-element-specific questions (including ASTID questions) were directed to the program officers identified in each appendix's summary of key information.