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FAQs: ROSES 2011 Heliophysics Guest Investigators (HGI) - NNH11ZDA001N

What is ROSES 2011 Heliophysics Guest Investigators (HGI)?

ROSES 2011 Heliophysics Guest Investigators (HGI), Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N, is a NASA research solicitation that supports competitively selected research and technology activities aligned with NASA science priorities. This opportunity represents the heliophysics guest investigator component within NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 announcement managed by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate.

How does this HGI opportunity relate to the larger ROSES 2011 announcement?

HGI is one component within ROSES 2011, which spans multiple science divisions including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. While the HGI listing is heliophysics-focused, it sits within the ROSES structure and follows the general ROSES approach: NASA funds work that produces new science from mission data and/or advances tools, methods, and technologies that enable future space science investigations.

What kinds of projects does the solicitation support?

The solicitation supports basic and applied research and technology work tied to NASA science priorities, including (but not limited to) heliophysics-focused investigations that use NASA mission data and related resources. Within the broad ROSES 2011 scope described, supported work can include theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA Science Mission Directorate data, and efforts that interpret and extract new science from existing datasets.

Does the solicitation only fund data analysis, or can it fund technology and methods work too?

It is not limited to data analysis. The ROSES 2011 scope explicitly includes projects that advance the tools, methods, and technologies needed for future space science investigations, including advanced technology development relevant to NASA missions and development of experimental techniques suitable for future missions.

Is ROSES 2011 limited to heliophysics topics?

No. ROSES 2011 covers Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. This specific opportunity is the heliophysics guest investigator component, but applicants were expected to follow the relevant ROSES appendix and tables for the specific heliophysics element they were targeting.

When was this opportunity released and when were proposals due?

ROSES 2011 was released on February 18, 2011. Notices of Intent (NOIs) were requested for many elements beginning March 18, 2011 and continuing through February 8, 2012. Proposal due dates across ROSES started on April 29, 2011 and ran through April 30, 2012 because different program elements have different deadlines.

What dates are shown in the Grants.gov listing for the HGI opportunity?

For this specific HGI Grants.gov listing, the posting and creation date is June 23, 2011. The original and current closing date is September 23, 2011. The archive date is October 23, 2011.

Why are there multiple deadlines mentioned for ROSES 2011?

ROSES 2011 is organized into multiple appendices and program elements, each with its own requirements and due date. That is why the overall ROSES proposal window spans from April 2011 to April 2012, while the Grants.gov listing for this HGI opportunity shows a specific close date for that listing.

How do applicants confirm the correct due date and requirements for the specific call they want?

Applicants were expected to track the specific appendix and the relevant ROSES tables (including Tables 2 and 3, plus the relevant appendix) to confirm the exact due date and requirements for the particular heliophysics guest investigator call they were targeting.

What is the purpose or intent of the funding?

The intent is to fund competitively selected research and technology work that aligns with NASA science priorities. This includes projects that extract new science and understanding from existing mission datasets and projects that strengthen the pipeline of methods and technologies needed for future NASA science investigations.

What is the expected award size?

Funding levels vary widely based on the nature of the project. Awards can range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) to more than $1 million per year for large, complex activities (such as development of science hardware).

How much funding is available within a program element, and how many awards might be made?

Funding available within each program element can range from under $1 million to several million dollars. As a result, the number of selections can vary from a handful to several dozen depending on program priorities and the quality and quantity of proposals received.

What type of funding instruments can NASA use for awards?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- and intra-agency transfers. The instrument used depends on the proposing organization and NASA program needs.

How long is the typical performance period?

The typical performance period is about four years, with some exceptions. Certain programs may allow up to a stated maximum of five years.

Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Eligibility is broad by organization type: domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, and for-profit and nonprofit institutions may submit.

Are there limits on how many proposals an organization can submit or on teaming arrangements?

No specific restriction is stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements in the information provided.

Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

Non-U.S. participation is allowed under a "no exchange of funds" policy. This means foreign organizations typically participate without NASA transferring funds to them. The announcement references special cases and instructions in the NASA Guidebook for Proposers, including situations involving proposals from non-U.S. organizations that include U.S. personnel requesting NASA support.

Does NASA directly fund non-U.S. institutions?

NASA policy generally limits direct funding to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations typically participate without receiving NASA funds, consistent with the "no exchange of funds" policy described.

What registration system is required for applicants and team members?

Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system). In addition, all principal investigators and other participants (including co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

How are proposals submitted?

Submission is electronic and must be made by an authorized organizational representative. Proposals can be submitted through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov, but organizations planning to use Grants.gov still must be registered in NSPIRES.

What is the recommended approach to avoid submission problems?

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete registrations and become familiar with NSPIRES and/or Grants.gov well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.

Where should applicants look for updates, amendments, or corrections?

Applicants were directed to monitor the NSPIRES solicitation page for updates and amendments through February 2012. NASA also maintained an archive (and RSS feed) for amendments, clarifications, and corrections to ROSES 2011 on the NASA Science website.

Where are the detailed requirements for each ROSES program element located?

ROSES 2011 places detailed requirements for each program element in separate appendices. Each appendix includes a summary of key information and identifies named program officers.

Who is the point of contact for general policy and process questions about ROSES?

General policy and process questions for ROSES were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (Science Mission Directorate), as stated in the announcement.

What kinds of activities are included in the broader ROSES 2011 scope (beyond heliophysics)?

The scope described under ROSES 2011 is intentionally broad and includes, for example, research using aircraft, balloon, suborbital rocket, and commercial reusable rocket platforms; mission concept development; laboratory and analytical work tied to extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft or terrestrial samples used to validate NASA Earth observations; Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support mission science; development of integrated Earth system models; and applied systems that translate Earth science research data into societal benefits.

If this is an HGI opportunity, why does the listing mention Earth science and other areas?

Because HGI is part of ROSES 2011, which is a multi-division umbrella announcement. The broader ROSES scope is described at the ROSES level, while each specific program element (including heliophysics guest investigator elements) is governed by the relevant appendix and the associated ROSES tables for deadlines and requirements.

What should an applicant do first when planning to apply?

Based on the information provided, key early steps include verifying the correct program element and appendix within ROSES 2011 (and checking Tables 2 and 3 for deadlines), ensuring the organization is registered in NSPIRES, ensuring all investigators are registered in NSPIRES, and choosing whether the final submission will be made through NSPIRES or Grants.gov by an authorized organizational representative.