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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - ROSES 2011 Astrophysics Data Analysis (ADAP)

What is the ROSES 2011 Astrophysics Data Analysis (ADAP) opportunity?

ADAP is a program element within NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation. It is part of the Astrophysics portion of ROSES 2011 (NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH11ZDA001N) and focuses on funding science and technology work that strengthens NASA's space science goals by analyzing astrophysics data products and producing new scientific results from existing or ongoing NASA-supported missions and archives.

What is the broader solicitation that ADAP is part of?

ADAP is included under ROSES 2011, an umbrella solicitation issued by NASA's Science Mission Directorate that spans multiple research areas, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. ADAP is specifically positioned as a mechanism for targeted astrophysics data analysis activities within that larger ROSES framework.

Who administers this opportunity and what is the CFDA number?

The opportunity is administered by NASA Headquarters and is associated with CFDA 43.001 (Science).

When was the opportunity released and when was it posted as a grant listing?

The opportunity was released around February 18, 2011, and the grant listing was posted on March 8, 2011.

What types of projects does ADAP support?

Based on the description provided, ADAP supports focused research that increases the scientific return from NASA's astrophysics data holdings. This can include analysis and interpretation of science data, development or improvement of analysis methods and techniques, and related research activities such as theory and modeling when they strengthen the data analysis objectives.

Is ADAP focused on new missions or on existing data?

ADAP emphasizes extracting new scientific results from existing or ongoing NASA-supported missions and archives, with a particular focus on analyzing astrophysics data products and improving methods used to work with those data.

How does ADAP relate to other kinds of work mentioned under ROSES?

ROSES as a whole can include a wide range of activities (for example, aircraft and suborbital investigations, mission concept development, advanced technologies, laboratory analyses of samples, and applied information systems). ADAP is described as being positioned within this larger ecosystem as a targeted mechanism for astrophysics data analysis efforts.

What is the typical award size for projects like ADAP data analysis?

Typical awards across ROSES can range from under $100,000 per year for limited-scope projects such as data analysis, up to more than $1 million per year for larger efforts (more applicable to extensive technology or hardware development in other program elements). The specific amount available can vary by program element.

How much total funding is available and how many awards might be made?

The total amount available varies by specific ROSES program element, ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars in total. This allows NASA to fund anywhere from a handful to several dozen proposals, depending on program priorities and the quality and quantity of submissions.

What kinds of award instruments might NASA use?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers. The specific instrument can depend on the applicant type and NASA's program needs.

How long is the typical performance period?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation is broadly open to many organization types, including government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and domestic or foreign institutions. The information provided does not state a restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Does NASA fund non-US organizations directly under this opportunity?

The eligibility language emphasizes that NASA generally funds US institutions. Non-US organizations may participate under NASA's long-standing policy of no exchange of funds, meaning collaborations can occur but NASA funding is typically not provided directly to the non-US entity.

Where can applicants find the detailed rules about non-US participation?

Applicants are directed to the NASA NRA Guidebook (including Appendix B and other cited sections) for detailed rules affecting non-US participation, including cases where a non-US proposal involves US personnel for whom NASA funding is requested.

What were the key dates for notices of intent (NOIs) under ROSES 2011?

For ROSES 2011 overall, notices of intent were requested for many elements beginning March 18, 2011, and continuing through February 8, 2012, depending on the program element schedule.

What were the proposal due dates under ROSES 2011?

For ROSES 2011 overall, proposals were due from April 29, 2011 through April 30, 2012, depending on the specific appendix and program element schedule.

What due date was shown for the ADAP funding listing?

For the ADAP funding listing as posted, the original and current closing date shown is May 13, 2011, with an archive date of June 12, 2011.

Why do applicants need to check the ROSES tables and appendices for ADAP?

ROSES uses appendix-specific requirements and deadlines. Applicants were expected to consult the ROSES tables and the relevant appendix for the precise ADAP due date and detailed instructions, including scope, evaluation factors, and any special proposal content requirements.

How were proposals required to be submitted?

Proposals were required to be submitted electronically, either through NASA's NSPIRES system or through Grants.gov.

Is NSPIRES registration required if submitting through Grants.gov?

Yes. Registration in NSPIRES was mandatory for all proposers regardless of whether they submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

Who needed to be registered in NSPIRES?

Organizations needed to be registered in NSPIRES, identify their authorized organizational representative(s), and ensure that principal investigators and co-investigators were individually registered as well.

What did NASA recommend regarding registration and system readiness?

NASA strongly encouraged applicants to register and familiarize themselves with NSPIRES and the submission process well before the deadline to avoid administrative delays.

How can applicants stay up to date on amendments or corrections?

The solicitation advised interested parties to monitor NSPIRES and the ROSES 2011 web archive (including an RSS feed) for amendments, clarifications, and corrections issued through February 2012.

Who should be contacted for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure inquiries were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein, Lead for Research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate, via the SARA mailbox (sara@nasa.gov) and the listed NASA Headquarters phone number.

Who should be contacted for ADAP-specific questions?

Program-element-specific questions were to be routed to the program officers named in the relevant ROSES appendices, which is where applicants would find the most detailed ADAP scope, evaluation factors, and proposal content requirements.