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ROSES 2011 Space Archaeology (NNH11ZDA001N) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is "ROSES 2011 Space Archaeology" (Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N)?

It refers to an entry within NASA Headquarters' annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitation for 2011. While the listing highlights "Space Archaeology" in the title field, the description indicates it functioned under the broader ROSES 2011 NASA Research Announcement (NRA), which covered many research topics and program elements across NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

2) Is this a standalone grant program focused only on "Space Archaeology"?

Based on the text provided, the opportunity is described as part of the larger ROSES 2011 umbrella. Specific research topics and program elements were detailed in ROSES appendices, each with its own scope, requirements, points of contact, and due dates. Applicants were expected to target the appendix/program element that best matched their proposed work.

3) What NASA directorate supported this solicitation?

The solicitation supported NASA's Science Mission Directorate, spanning Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics.

4) What types of projects were supported under ROSES 2011?

The text indicates ROSES 2011 supported a wide range of basic and applied research and technology development, including:

• Theory, modeling, and analysis of existing NASA science data
• Research using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rocket platforms
• Development of experimental techniques and instrument concepts for future missions
• Advanced technology development relevant to NASA science missions
• Laboratory methods and analyses for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft and terrestrial samples used to validate mission observations
• Development of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret mission and sample data
• Earth surface observations and field campaigns tied to NASA science objectives
• Integrated Earth system modeling
• Applied systems translating Earth science research data into societal or decision-support uses

5) How do I know which part of ROSES 2011 my proposal should align to?

Applicants were expected to propose to the specific ROSES appendix and program element that matched their work, because selection priorities, budgets, and evaluation details varied by element. The appendices were where element-specific scope, requirements, points of contact, and due dates were laid out.

6) How much funding could an award provide?

Funding levels were described as flexible and dependent on the program element and the scale of work. The announcement noted awards could be:

• Under $100,000 per year for focused efforts such as data analysis
• Over $1 million per year for larger, more complex activities such as building science experiment hardware

The total funds available within each program element ranged from less than $1 million to several million dollars, affecting how many proposals could be selected within an element.

7) How many awards would NASA make?

The text indicates NASA could select anywhere from a handful to several dozen proposals within a given program element, depending on proposal quality, relevance, and program needs, and on the amount of funding available within that element.

8) What was the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance was about four years. Some program elements could be shorter or longer, up to a maximum of five years.

9) What types of award instruments could NASA use?

NASA anticipated making awards through several mechanisms, depending on the proposer and the nature of the work, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

10) Was this opportunity discretionary, and what was the primary eligible activity?

It was categorized as discretionary. Eligible activity centered on science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA listed as 43.001.

11) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was stated in the information provided.

12) When was the solicitation released?

The announcement was released around February 18, 2011.

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

NOIs were requested for most program elements, with NOI dates beginning March 18, 2011 and running through February 8, 2012, depending on the specific program element.

14) What were the key proposal due dates?

Proposal due dates began April 29, 2011 and extended through April 30, 2012, depending on the program element and appendix-specific schedule.

15) Why do some Grants.gov dates look different from the broader ROSES timeline?

The Grants.gov record associated with this opportunity shows administrative dates (Posted August 3, 2011; original and current closing date of September 15, 2011; archive date of October 15, 2011). The text explains this reflects how the opportunity appeared and was tracked in Grants.gov, even though ROSES operated with multiple appendix-specific due dates across a broader window.

16) How were proposals submitted?

Submission was electronic and required organizational and user registration. Proposals could be submitted through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or via Grants.gov, with additional registration requirements depending on the route.

17) Can an organization submit through Grants.gov instead of NSPIRES?

Yes. Proposals could be submitted via Grants.gov, but the organization still had to be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations using Grants.gov also needed Grants.gov registration in addition to NSPIRES.

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

The submission had to be made by an authorized organizational representative.

19) Do all investigators need NSPIRES registrations?

Yes. All principal investigators and other participants (including co-investigators) were required to have NSPIRES registrations regardless of whether the proposal was submitted via NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

20) Any advice on registration timing?

Applicants were encouraged to register and learn the system well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute access or authorization issues.

21) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad by organization type. Domestic and foreign entities, government and private organizations, for-profit and non-profit organizations could submit proposals. The information provided states there was no stated restriction on the number of submissions or teaming arrangements.

22) Are non-U.S. organizations eligible for NASA funding under this opportunity?

The text notes NASA's funding policy generally limited financial support to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations could participate under a "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning they typically would not receive NASA funding for their participation and would need to cover their own costs.

23) Where are the detailed rules for non-U.S. organizations and international participation?

Applicants were pointed to the NASA NRA Guidebook (including Appendix B and specific sections) for detailed rules affecting non-U.S. organizations, joint solicitations with foreign partners, and situations where a non-U.S. proposal includes U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

24) Where can I find the full ROSES 2011 solicitation and appendices?

The full ROSES 2011 NRA and its appendices were to be found through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage (NSPIRES) under Solicitations and Open Solicitations.

25) How do I track amendments or updates to ROSES 2011?

Applicants were instructed to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications for amendments through February 2012. The text also notes NASA maintained an amendments and updates archive and an RSS feed for ROSES 2011 on the Science Mission Directorate research solicitation pages.

26) Who should I contact with questions about a specific program element?

For program-element-specific questions, investigators were instructed to contact the program officers listed in the relevant appendices.

27) Who is the general point of contact for ROSES policies and procedures?

For general ROSES policies and procedures, the information provided lists Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters: sara@nasa.gov and 202-358-0879.