ROSES 2011 Mars Fundamental Research | Apply Online

FAQs: ROSES 2011 Mars Fundamental Research (NNH11ZDA001N)

What is ROSES 2011 Mars Fundamental Research (NNH11ZDA001N)?

ROSES 2011 Mars Fundamental Research is a program element within NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation. ROSES functions as an umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA) managed by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate, and it contains many individual program elements described in ROSES appendices. Mars Fundamental Research is one of those elements, within the Planetary Science scope.

Which NASA organization released and managed this opportunity?

The opportunity was run by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate as part of the ROSES 2011 solicitation.

When was the solicitation released and posted publicly?

The ROSES 2011 announcement was released on or about February 18, 2011. It was also posted in funding databases on April 12, 2011.

Is this opportunity a single grant program or an umbrella solicitation?

It is an umbrella solicitation (an NRA) that covers multiple program elements. Each element is described in an appendix within ROSES, with its own technical scope, evaluation details, points of contact, and due dates.

What kinds of work did NASA seek under this solicitation?

NASA invited proposals for basic and applied research and technology work supporting NASA science goals, including Mars-focused fundamental research. Example activities described include:

• Theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data
• Development and maturation of experiment techniques for future missions
• Concepts for future space missions
• Advanced technologies relevant to Science Mission Directorate missions
• Laboratory analysis techniques for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft
• Laboratory analysis of terrestrial analog samples used to validate spacecraft and Earth-observing mission data
• Determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret space-based measurements and returned samples
• Field campaigns and Earth surface observations supporting NASA science missions
• Integrated Earth system modeling
• Applied information systems that translate Earth science data into societal benefit

Is this limited to Mars research only?

ROSES spans multiple science areas (Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics). This specific listing highlights Mars Fundamental Research within the Planetary Science scope, but the overall ROSES 2011 solicitation includes many other elements across NASA science disciplines.

What is the CFDA number and is cost sharing required?

The CFDA number listed is 43.001, and the solicitation stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

How much funding is available per award?

Funding levels were flexible and scaled to the work proposed. Typical awards ranged from under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused tasks (such as data analysis) to more than $1 million per year for large, complex efforts (such as development of science experiment hardware).

How much total funding was available for selection?

The amount available varied by specific program element. In general, totals ranged from less than $1 million to several million dollars, allowing NASA to select anywhere from a handful to several dozen proposals depending on merit, program priorities, and the number of high-quality submissions received.

What types of award instruments could NASA use?

NASA indicated it could make awards using multiple legal instruments depending on the nature of the work and the proposing organization, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance was four years. Some elements could specify shorter or longer durations, with an overall maximum generally capped at five years.

What were the key dates for Notices of Intent (NOIs)?

Notices of Intent (NOIs) were requested for most program elements. NOI due dates spanned March 18, 2011 through February 8, 2012, depending on the specific appendix/program element.

What were the proposal due dates?

Proposal due dates began April 29, 2011 and ran through April 30, 2012. Exact deadlines depended on the specific appendix/program element within ROSES.

Why does a closing date of July 8, 2011 appear in some listings?

The summarized grants listing shows an "Original/Current Closing Date" of July 8, 2011, reflecting a particular posting window in Grants.gov or a specific element snapshot. The broader ROSES timeline extended through April 2012 with rolling, element-specific deadlines.

Could new program elements or amendments be released after the initial release?

Yes. NASA noted that amendments and new elements could be released through February 2012, and encouraged investigators to monitor NSPIRES and NASA's ROSES amendment archive/RSS feed for updates.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad in principle: organizations of every type could submit, including government and private entities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and domestic or foreign institutions. The solicitation stated there was no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to participate?

Non-U.S. organizations could participate, but participation was governed by NASA's "no exchange of funds" policy. International partners typically participate using their own resources unless a jointly issued NRA or special case guidance applies. The announcement directed non-U.S. proposers to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed rules, especially where U.S. personnel support is requested.

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

The information provided notes that, in practice, NASA generally funds only U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. participation is typically without NASA funding under the "no exchange of funds" policy unless an exception applies.

How do proposals need to be submitted?

Submission was electronic and required organizational and investigator registration. Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational representative and could be submitted through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or via Grants.gov.

Is NSPIRES registration required even if submitting through Grants.gov?

Yes. All proposing organizations were required to be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations using Grants.gov also needed Grants.gov registration in addition to NSPIRES registration.

Do principal investigators and co-investigators need to register in NSPIRES?

Yes. All principal investigators and co-investigators had to be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal was submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

Who is allowed to submit the proposal on behalf of an organization?

Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.

Why does NASA recommend registering early?

NASA emphasized registering early to avoid last-minute issues and to become familiar with required forms and data fields in NSPIRES (and in Grants.gov if that route is used).

Where can applicants find the exact scope and requirements for Mars Fundamental Research?

Applicants were directed to the ROSES appendices for the program-element descriptions, evaluation details, and points of contact, and to the ROSES due date tables for the exact NOI and proposal deadlines for each element.

Who should applicants contact for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General questions about ROSES policies and procedures were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (email sara@nasa.gov; telephone 202-358-0879).

Who should applicants contact for element-specific questions about Mars Fundamental Research?

Element-specific questions were to be addressed to the program officers listed in the relevant ROSES appendix for that element.