ROSES 2011 Planetary Geology and Geophysics | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2011 Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG)

What is this funding opportunity?

ROSES 2011 Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG) (Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N, PGG) is a NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 program element run by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate. It invites proposals supporting research and technology development aligned with NASA science, specifically focused here on planetary geology and geophysics.

Which NASA organization manages this solicitation?

The broader ROSES 2011 solicitation is run by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Within ROSES, the Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG) element is managed through program-specific guidance in the ROSES appendices and overseen by the relevant program officers identified there.

What is the purpose of the Planetary Geology and Geophysics (PGG) element?

PGG is a mechanism NASA uses to fund work that improves understanding of planetary surfaces, interiors, and processes. Supported approaches include data analysis, modeling, laboratory work, and related investigations and technology tasks that strengthen current and future NASA missions.

What types of work are supported under ROSES 2011 and this PGG element?

The opportunity is intentionally broad and can support basic and applied research as well as technology development. ROSES 2011 includes, among other activities: theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA SMD data; development of experimental and measurement techniques suited to future missions; formulation of concepts for future missions; and development of advanced technologies relevant to SMD missions.

Does this opportunity support laboratory work related to samples?

Yes. ROSES 2011 explicitly includes laboratory analysis techniques for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft and for terrestrial analog samples used to validate or interpret mission observations. It also includes determination of key atomic and compositional parameters needed to analyze space-based data and returned materials.

Is the solicitation limited to Planetary Science only?

No. ROSES spans multiple NASA science divisions, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. This particular entry is tied to the Planetary Geology and Geophysics area within that broader ROSES structure.

How much funding is typically available per award?

Award sizes are flexible and depend on scope and program needs. Typical 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 large, resource-intensive activities such as science experiment hardware development or extensive technology development.

How much total funding is available within a ROSES program element?

The amount available within each ROSES program element can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars. As a result, some elements may select only a handful of proposals while others may select several dozen, depending on submission quality and program priorities.

What types of awards might NASA issue under this opportunity?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter/intra-agency transfers. The instrument used depends on the proposing organization and the nature of the work.

What is the typical project period of performance?

The period of performance is typically four years. Some programs allow shorter or longer periods, up to a maximum of five years.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is open to a wide range of organizations, including government and private entities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and both domestic and foreign institutions, with important policy caveats described in the solicitation.

Do applicants have to use NASA's NSPIRES system?

Yes. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system). NSPIRES registration is required regardless of whether the proposal is ultimately submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

Can proposals be submitted through Grants.gov?

Yes. Proposals could be submitted electronically through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov. However, organizations submitting via Grants.gov had to be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES.

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

Yes. NASA required that all principal investigators (PIs) and co-investigators (Co-Is) be registered in NSPIRES regardless of the submission route.

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

Non-U.S. organizations can participate, but NASA policy generally requires that their involvement be on a "no exchange of funds" basis unless a particular joint solicitation states otherwise. The solicitation also notes special cases, including proposals from non-U.S. organizations that include U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested, and directs proposers to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for details.

Is NASA funding primarily intended for U.S. institutions?

Yes. While a wide range of institutions may be involved, the solicitation indicates NASA funding is primarily provided to U.S. institutions, with non-U.S. participation typically handled without NASA funding unless specified otherwise.

When was this opportunity released?

The ROSES 2011 announcement was released around February 18, 2011 and posted March 11, 2011.

What were the deadlines for Notices of Intent (NOIs)?

Notices of Intent (NOIs) were requested for most ROSES elements. NOI due dates began March 18, 2011 and continued through February 8, 2012, depending on the specific program element schedule.

What were the deadlines for full proposals?

Full proposals were due starting April 29, 2011 and continuing through April 30, 2012, depending on the deadlines for specific program elements listed in the ROSES tables and appendices.

Why does this Grants.gov entry show a closing date of June 3, 2011?

The Grants.gov entry lists a closing date of June 3, 2011 (and an archive date of July 3, 2011). This reflects how individual elements were tracked and published in different systems, even though the overall ROSES 2011 solicitation remained active through spring 2012 and used element-specific rolling deadlines.

Where are the program-element-specific requirements and details found?

Program-element-specific details, guidance, and contacts are provided in the ROSES appendices. Each element is managed by its own program officers, and proposers are expected to follow the element-specific instructions and deadlines.

What guidance should applicants follow when preparing a proposal?

The solicitation points proposers to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for instructions and special cases, in addition to the program-element guidance provided in the ROSES appendices and tables.

How should applicants handle updates or amendments to the solicitation?

NASA distributed updates, amendments, and clarifications through NSPIRES and archived them on NASA's ROSES 2011 webpage. Proposers were encouraged to monitor these channels through February 2012 because new elements or changes could be posted.

Why does NASA emphasize early registration and system familiarization?

Because submission was electronic and required advance registration, NASA emphasized starting registrations and learning the systems early to avoid last-minute administrative issues, including ensuring authorized organizational representative(s) and all investigators were properly registered.

Who should be contacted with technical questions about the PGG element?

Technical questions about specific program elements should be directed to the program officers identified in the relevant ROSES appendices.

Who should be contacted with general policy or procedural questions?

General solicitation policy and procedural questions could be addressed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (sara@nasa.gov, 202-358-0879).

What kinds of project scopes tend to align with smaller versus larger award sizes?

Based on the solicitation description, smaller awards (often under $100,000 per year) may fit narrowly focused efforts like data analysis, while larger awards (potentially more than $1,000,000 per year) may be appropriate for resource-intensive activities such as developing science experiment hardware or extensive technology development.

Is the selection volume fixed (for example, a set number of awards)?

No. The solicitation indicates that selection counts can vary widely by element, from only a handful of proposals to several dozen, depending largely on submission quality and program priorities, as well as the amount available in that element.