ROSES 2011 Opportunities in Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Science | Apply Online

FAQs: ROSES 2011 Opportunities in Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Science

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the "ROSES 2011 Opportunities in Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Science" listing, which sits within NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation. ROSES 2011 was issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH11ZDA001N under NASA Headquarters and the Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

2) Is this a standalone program, or part of something bigger?

It is part of the larger ROSES 2011 framework. While the listing highlights Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) for Earth and Space Science, the detailed requirements, topic areas, and instructions are defined in the ROSES appendices for each specific program element.

3) What kinds of activities does ROSES 2011 support?

ROSES 2011 is intentionally broad and supports a wide sweep of NASA Earth and space science research and related activities, including basic and applied research as well as technology development. Examples mentioned include:

• Scientific theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data
• Investigations using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rockets
• Development of instruments and experimental techniques for future missions
• Concept studies for future missions
• Advancement of enabling technologies
• Laboratory analysis methods for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft and terrestrial samples used to validate mission observations
• Determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret space-based data and samples
• Earth surface observations and field campaigns
• Integrated Earth system modeling
• Applied systems that translate Earth science research outputs into societal benefits and usable information systems

4) How does Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) fit into ROSES 2011?

Education and public outreach efforts that align with NASA's Earth and space science program goals are covered within this opportunity area. The specific expectations and requirements for E/PO proposals are governed by the relevant ROSES appendix (i.e., the program-element appendix that applies to the effort).

5) Which NASA science areas are included in ROSES 2011?

ROSES 2011 invites proposals that strengthen NASA's portfolio across four major research programs:

• Earth Science
• Heliophysics
• Planetary Science
• Astrophysics

6) How much funding is available per award?

Funding levels vary widely depending on the scale and nature of the proposed work. The announcement indicates awards can range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts (such as data analysis) to more than $1,000,000 per year for larger efforts (such as development of science experiment hardware).

7) How much funding is available for a given program element?

The amount available for any given program element can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars. Depending on priorities and proposal pressure, NASA might fund only a handful of projects in one area or dozens in another.

8) What is the typical project period?

Typical award periods are about four years. Some program elements may allow shorter or longer performance periods, up to a maximum of five years.

9) What types of award mechanisms might NASA use?

NASA may issue awards using several mechanisms depending on the applicant and program requirements, including:

• Grants
• Cooperative agreements
• Contracts
• Inter- or intra-agency transfers

10) Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is described as open broadly to many organization types, including government and private entities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and both domestic and foreign organizations, subject to NASA's eligibility and funding policy constraints described in ROSES and related guidance.

11) Can non-U.S. organizations apply or participate?

Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but the solicitation notes important constraints: in general NASA funds U.S. institutions, and participation by non-U.S. organizations is typically on a "no exchange of funds" basis (meaning NASA does not provide funding to the non-U.S. entity). Non-U.S. proposers are directed to consult the NASA Guidebook for Proposers and the specific ROSES provisions for applicable guidance.

12) Is there a limit on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

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

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The Grants.gov record associated with this opportunity indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement.

14) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The Grants.gov record lists CFDA 43.001 (Science).

15) How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is electronic and is managed primarily through NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System), with an option in some cases to submit via Grants.gov.

16) Do we need to register in NSPIRES?

Yes. Any organization intending to submit must be registered in NSPIRES.

17) If submitting through Grants.gov, do we still need NSPIRES?

Yes. Organizations submitting through Grants.gov must be registered there and also in NSPIRES.

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

NASA requires that proposals be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.

19) Do principal investigators and co-investigators need NSPIRES accounts?

Yes. All principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

20) Why does NASA emphasize early registration?

The announcement strongly encourages organizations to complete registrations and become familiar with the submission systems well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute access and compliance problems.

21) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs are requested for most program elements. Whether an NOI is needed for a specific element depends on the applicable ROSES appendix and the program-element instructions.

22) When were the NOI due dates?

The first NOI due date listed was March 18, 2011, and NOIs were accepted through February 8, 2012 depending on the program element.

23) When were full proposals due?

Full proposals were due starting April 29, 2011 and continued through April 30, 2012, depending on the specific program element.

24) Where do we find the exact due date for a specific program element?

The full set of due dates is organized in ROSES tables (Tables 2 and 3) and in the appendices, which also contain program-element-specific instructions, points of contact, and any special requirements.

25) Why do the Grants.gov closing dates look different from the ROSES schedule?

The Grants.gov posting metadata (such as the original closing date and current closing date) reflects the Grants.gov listing lifecycle rather than the full ROSES schedule of rolling due dates across 2011-2012.

26) Where should applicants look for updates, amendments, or clarifications?

Proposers were directed to monitor the NSPIRES solicitation page and/or subscribe to its notification system for official updates, amendments, clarifications, and corrections. NASA also maintained an archive page for ROSES 2011 amendments on the NASA Science website, including an RSS feed.

27) Who should we contact with questions about a specific program element?

Questions about specific program elements were to be addressed to the program officers listed in the relevant ROSES appendix.

28) Who should we contact for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General policy and procedural questions for ROSES could be directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (Science Mission Directorate) using the provided email (sara@nasa.gov) and telephone number (202-358-0879).

29) What category is this opportunity listed under on Grants.gov?

The Grants.gov record identifies it as a discretionary funding opportunity in the science and technology/research and development category.

30) When was this opportunity released and posted?

The opportunity was released around February 18, 2011. The Grants.gov record shows it as posted March 22, 2011 and includes additional administrative metadata (created May 2, 2011; archive date June 19, 2011) tied to the listing lifecycle.