ROSES 2011 Planetary Atmospheres | Apply Online

FAQs: NASA ROSES 2011 Planetary Atmospheres (PATM) - NNH11ZDA001N

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Planetary Atmospheres (PATM) program element within NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation. It is identified by Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N and the program element code PATM, and it is managed by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate.

What does "ROSES 2011" mean in this context?

ROSES 2011 is an umbrella NASA research announcement that contains many separate program elements (appendices), each with its own scope and due dates. Planetary Atmospheres (PATM) is one of those elements within NASA's Planetary Science portfolio.

What types of projects does the Planetary Atmospheres element support?

The Planetary Atmospheres element supports research and related technology development aimed at improving understanding of planetary atmospheres. This can include analysis of existing and new measurements, numerical and theoretical modeling, and laboratory work that supports interpretation of spacecraft data. It also includes development of capabilities that enable future planetary investigations.

Is the solicitation limited to one research method or discipline?

No. The solicitation is intentionally broad and can support theory, numerical modeling, and data analysis using NASA Science Mission Directorate datasets; laboratory measurements and determination of fundamental atomic/compositional parameters needed to interpret remote sensing and in situ observations; and development of experiment techniques and measurement approaches that could fly on future missions.

Does ROSES 2011 only fund planetary science?

No. While this listing is for a planetary science element (Planetary Atmospheres), ROSES 2011 as an umbrella solicitation includes both space science and Earth-oriented activities. The Earth-oriented examples mentioned include field campaigns, integrated Earth system models, and applied information systems.

Can proposals include laboratory studies related to spacecraft or sample-return data?

Yes. The solicitation emphasizes laboratory measurements that help interpret remote sensing and in situ observations, including work tied to extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft as well as terrestrial analog samples used to verify or support NASA observations.

Does the opportunity support technology development or hardware work?

Yes. ROSES 2011 spans research and related technology development, including development of experiment techniques and measurement approaches that could fly on future missions, early concept work for future space missions, and advanced technologies relevant to NASA science objectives. The funding ranges described also explicitly include large activities such as development of science experiment hardware.

How much funding is typical for an award?

Budgets are flexible depending on project scale. Typical annual budgets range from under $100,000 per year for narrow, focused efforts (such as targeted data analysis) up to more than $1,000,000 per year for large efforts (such as development of science experiment hardware).

How many proposals might NASA select under this element?

The amount available varies by program element and is generally from less than one million to several million dollars. As a result, NASA may select anywhere from a few proposals to several dozen, depending on available budgets, program priorities, and proposal quality.

What award instruments can NASA use?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- and intra-agency transfers. The appropriate instrument depends on the proposing organization and what NASA determines is most appropriate.

How long can a project period of performance be?

Periods of performance are commonly four years. Some elements allow shorter or longer periods, up to a maximum of five years.

When was this opportunity announced and posted?

The ROSES 2011 announcement was released around February 18, 2011 and was posted in grants systems in early April 2011.

What are the key dates for Notices of Intent (NOIs) under ROSES 2011?

For ROSES 2011 overall, NOIs were requested for most elements starting March 18, 2011 and running through February 8, 2012. (Specific dates can vary by appendix/program element.)

What are the key dates for proposal submissions under ROSES 2011?

For ROSES 2011 overall, proposal due dates began April 29, 2011 and continued through April 30, 2012, with exact due dates depending on the specific appendix element.

What is the due date shown for the PATM listing in this record?

For this PATM opportunity record, the system shows an original and current closing date of June 24, 2011, and an archive date of July 24, 2011. This reflects the deadline schedule as implemented for this specific record, even though ROSES as a whole ran on a rolling calendar across many elements.

Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is broad by organization type. Organizations of every type may submit, including domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, and for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The solicitation states there is no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations allowed to participate?

Yes, foreign organizations may participate, but NASA generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations may participate under NASA's "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning they fund their own participation, unless the NASA Research Announcement is jointly issued with a non-U.S. partner organization and provides special instructions.

What should teams know about non-U.S. participation when NASA funding is requested for U.S. personnel?

The solicitation notes that additional special rules apply when a non-U.S. proposal includes U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested. Proposers are directed to Appendix B and relevant sections of NASA's NRA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed requirements.

How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is entirely electronic through NASA's NSPIRES system and, in some cases, Grants.gov.

Is NSPIRES registration required?

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

When is Grants.gov registration required?

Organizations submitting through Grants.gov must be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES.

Who must be registered in NSPIRES on the proposal team?

Registrations must designate authorized organizational representatives who are permitted to submit proposals, and all principal investigators and co-investigators must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

Why does NASA encourage early registration and system familiarization?

NASA strongly encourages teams to start registration and become familiar with the systems well ahead of deadlines because submission requires completion of specific fields and certifications by an authorized official.

Where are detailed program rules and points of contact provided?

Program details and point-of-contact information are organized in the ROSES appendices. The NRA includes tables listing due dates by element, and each appendix provides a "Summary of Key Information," including the responsible Program Officer.

How will applicants learn about amendments, clarifications, or newly added elements?

Proposers are directed to monitor NSPIRES (or subscribe to notifications) for amendments, clarifications, and new elements added through February 2012. The announcement also references a public archive and RSS feed on NASA's science research solicitations site.

Who is the general contact for ROSES policies and procedures?

For general ROSES policies and procedures, the listed contact is Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (sara@nasa.gov, 202-358-0879).