ROSES 2011 Science Definition Team for the DESDynI Radar Mission | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2011 Science Definition Team for the DESDynI Radar Mission (DESSDT)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a NASA Headquarters funding call released under ROSES 2011 (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2011), part of NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH11ZDA001N. The specific element referenced is the "ROSES 2011 Science Definition Team for the DESDynI Radar Mission," commonly abbreviated as DESSDT.

2) What does ROSES 2011 refer to, and how does DESSDT fit within it?

ROSES 2011 is NASA Science Mission Directorate's main annual solicitation mechanism for proposing research and related activities across Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. DESSDT is one program element within the broader ROSES 2011 umbrella, focused on science definition team work for the DESDynI radar mission concept.

3) What is the purpose of a Science Definition Team (SDT) element like DESSDT?

Based on the description provided, an SDT-style element is intended to support early mission planning work that helps refine and justify a future mission. For a radar mission like DESDynI, that typically includes refining mission science objectives, measurement requirements, observing strategies, and the overall science and applications framework used to optimize and justify the mission concept.

4) What kinds of activities did NASA indicate it could fund under ROSES 2011?

ROSES 2011 was described as spanning both basic and applied research and technology. Examples NASA listed include:

• Theory and modeling
• Analysis of Science Mission Directorate (SMD) science data
• Investigations using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, and other platforms
• Development of techniques and instruments that could fly on future missions
• Development of concepts for future SMD missions
• Advanced technologies relevant to those missions
• Laboratory methods and analyses tied to extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft and terrestrial samples used to validate Earth observations
• Field campaigns and surface observations supporting Earth system missions
• Integrated Earth system modeling
• Applied systems translating Earth science data into societal benefits

In the DESSDT context, these examples frame the broader ROSES scope, while the SDT focus is generally on mission-definition planning deliverables.

5) Who released the opportunity?

NASA Headquarters released the opportunity under ROSES 2011 as part of NRA NNH11ZDA001N.

6) What are the key dates for ROSES 2011 overall?

From the information provided:

• Overall NRA release date: February 18, 2011
• Notices of Intent (NOIs): requested for most program elements; earliest NOI due date was March 18, 2011; NOI window extended through February 8, 2012 depending on the element
• Proposal due dates: began April 29, 2011 and extended through April 30, 2012 across different appendices and program elements

7) What are the key dates for the specific DESSDT posting?

For the DESSDT posting details captured in the source data:

• Posted date: July 1, 2011
• Closing date (original and current): September 23, 2011
• Archive date: October 23, 2011

8) Could NASA update or amend ROSES 2011 after release?

Yes. The solicitation notes that NASA could issue amendments, clarifications, or add new program elements through February 2012. Applicants were directed to monitor NSPIRES and the ROSES 2011 amendment archive for updates.

9) How much funding is available?

The announcement emphasized wide flexibility in award size across ROSES 2011. Annual funding could range from under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts to more than $1 million per year for larger efforts (for example, major hardware or extensive developments). Total funds available within a given program element could range from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

10) How many awards might NASA make under a program element like this?

NASA indicated that, depending on the program element and the availability of funds, it could select anywhere from a few proposals to dozens. Selection would depend on program goals and proposal quality.

11) What award types or funding mechanisms could NASA use?

Awards could be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter/intra-agency transfers, depending on the proposing organization and the nature of the work.

12) What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance was stated as four years. Some programs could allow shorter or longer periods up to a five-year maximum. The description also notes that SDT-style activities can sometimes be structured differently depending on the appendix requirements.

13) Who is eligible to apply?

Organizations of every type could apply, including government and private entities, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and domestic or foreign institutions. The listing classifies eligible applicants broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details provided in the full announcement text.

14) Are there restrictions on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

No restrictions were stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements. The opportunity notes that there was no restriction on the number of proposals or teaming.

15) Can non-US organizations participate?

Non-US organizations could participate, but NASA generally provides funding only to US institutions. Non-US participation is typically under NASA's "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning non-US collaborators can generally not receive NASA money. The opportunity also points to the NASA NRA Guidebook for Proposers for special instructions, including cases involving US personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

16) Is submission electronic or paper-based?

Submission was required to be electronic.

17) Where could proposals be submitted?

Applicants could submit through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or via Grants.gov.

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

Yes. The information provided states that in either case (NSPIRES or Grants.gov), the organization needed to be registered in NSPIRES. If submitting through Grants.gov, Grants.gov registration was also required in addition to NSPIRES.

19) Who must be registered in NSPIRES?

The organization must be registered and must identify authorized organizational representatives. In addition, all principal investigators and other named participants (including co-investigators) had to be registered in NSPIRES regardless of the submission pathway.

20) Who must submit the proposal?

Proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational official by the relevant due date.

21) What should applicants do to avoid last-minute submission problems?

NASA encouraged organizations to start the registration and system familiarization process well before the deadline. This includes ensuring NSPIRES registration (and Grants.gov registration if applicable) is complete and that authorized organizational representatives and all named participants are properly registered.

22) Where do applicants find detailed technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and appendix-specific rules?

The opportunity directs applicants to the ROSES appendices and to the due-date tables in the NRA (Tables 2 and 3). It also identifies the NSPIRES solicitation page as the primary access point.

23) Where are amendments, corrections, and updates posted?

Applicants were directed to monitor NSPIRES and the ROSES 2011 amendment archive for amendments and clarifications. The opportunity also points to a NASA Science web archive (including an RSS feed) where amendments and corrections would be posted.

24) Who should applicants contact with questions about a specific program element like DESSDT?

Program-element-specific questions were to be addressed to the Program Officers listed in each appendix's "Summary of Key Information."

25) Who should applicants contact with general ROSES policy or procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure questions could be directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (email: sara@nasa.gov; telephone: 202-358-0879).

26) What is the relationship between the posted opportunity dates and the broader ROSES window?

ROSES 2011 spans many program elements with different NOI and proposal due dates. The DESSDT element has its own posting date (July 1, 2011) and closing date (September 23, 2011), while the broader ROSES 2011 solicitation includes program elements with proposal due dates extending through April 30, 2012.

27) Does the opportunity mention where to find due dates across ROSES elements?

Yes. It points applicants to the due-date tables in the NRA (Tables 2 and 3) for element-by-element scheduling information.

28) Does the opportunity specify whether a Notice of Intent (NOI) is required for DESSDT?

The information provided says NOIs were requested for most program elements and that NOI due dates varied by element. It does not explicitly state, in the provided summary, whether DESSDT required or requested an NOI, so applicants would need to confirm within the DESSDT appendix or its "Summary of Key Information."

29) What kinds of NASA science goals does ROSES 2011 support?

In practical terms, this ROSES 2011 call invited proposals that advance NASA science goals, including early mission planning activities (such as science definition teams for future missions) and more traditional research tasks such as data analysis, modeling, and technology development across SMD divisions.

30) What should applicants monitor during the application period?

Applicants were advised to monitor NSPIRES and the ROSES 2011 amendment archive (and the referenced NASA Science web archive/RSS feed) because NASA could issue amendments, clarifications, or add program elements through February 2012.