ROSES 2011Cassini Data Analysis and Participating Scientists | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2011 Cassini Data Analysis and Participating Scientists (CDAPS)

1) What is ROSES 2011 CDAPS?

ROSES 2011 Cassini Data Analysis and Participating Scientists (CDAPS) was a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released under the broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2011 solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number NNH11ZDA001N). CDAPS specifically focused on research that makes direct scientific use of Cassini mission data and, where relevant, supports participating scientists contributing to Cassini data analysis, interpretation, and publication.

2) How does CDAPS fit within the larger ROSES 2011 solicitation?

ROSES 2011 served as a wide umbrella for space and Earth science research across NASA Science Mission Directorate programs, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. CDAPS was one program element within that umbrella, with its own Cassini-centered expectations defined in the relevant ROSES appendix and its “Summary of Key Information.” The main ROSES document provided overall rules, policies, and schedules.

3) What was the main purpose of the CDAPS element?

The practical center of gravity for CDAPS was science data analysis: producing new scientific results from existing Cassini mission datasets, strengthening the scientific return of NASA’s investment in Cassini, and delivering rigorous analysis aligned with NASA program objectives. This included analysis, interpretation, and publication of results about Saturn, its moons, rings, magnetosphere, and related planetary processes.

4) What kinds of work were encouraged under CDAPS?

Based on the description provided, CDAPS emphasized work such as extracting and interpreting Cassini measurements, combining datasets, improving or applying models to explain observations, and publishing results that advance scientific understanding of the Saturn system.

5) Were approaches beyond data analysis allowed under ROSES 2011?

Yes. ROSES as a whole allowed a broad range of research and technology activities, including theory, modeling, laboratory work supporting data interpretation, and development of techniques relevant to future missions. The exact expectations and scope depended on the specific program element as described in the ROSES appendices and their “Summary of Key Information.”

6) Where were the official requirements for CDAPS proposals defined?

The ROSES document functioned as the master rulebook and schedule for the solicitation overall, while the Cassini-related appendix (the CDAPS element) defined what proposals should aim to accomplish and how they would be evaluated.

7) What types of award instruments could NASA use for ROSES 2011 awards?

Awards could be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter/intra-agency transfers. The choice of instrument depended on the proposing organization and NASA’s program needs.

8) How large could awards be?

ROSES 2011 stated that funding could vary widely depending on the nature of the work. Smaller, focused efforts such as data analysis could be under $100,000 per year, while more complex activities in other elements could exceed $1 million per year. The available funding for a given element could range from less than $1 million to several million dollars, supporting anywhere from a handful to dozens of awards depending on proposal quality and program priorities.

9) How long were periods of performance typically?

Periods of performance were typically four years. Some exceptions existed, and the general upper limit was five years unless a specific element stated otherwise.

10) Who was eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility was broad by organizational type. Domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, and for-profit and non-profit organizations could submit proposals, with no blanket restrictions on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements. Proposers needed to be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES.

11) Does NASA fund non-U.S. organizations under this opportunity?

NASA generally provided funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations could participate under NASA’s “no exchange of funds” policy, meaning the non-U.S. side would typically cover its own costs. The solicitation pointed proposers to specific guidebook sections for special rules when non-U.S. organizations were involved.

12) Can U.S. personnel request NASA support if a proposal is led by a non-U.S. organization?

The announcement indicated that special rules may apply in cases where non-U.S. organizations are involved, particularly if U.S. personnel are requesting NASA support within an otherwise non-U.S.-led proposal. Proposers were directed to consult the relevant guidebook sections for these situations.

13) Were there limits on the number of proposals or team configurations?

No blanket restrictions were described on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements. Proposals still needed to follow ROSES policies and be submitted by an eligible organization through the required systems.

14) What systems were used to submit proposals?

Proposals had to be submitted electronically through either NSPIRES or Grants.gov. NSPIRES registration was required regardless of which portal was used.

15) Who needed to be registered in NSPIRES?

The opportunity emphasized that proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES. In addition, all investigators and co-investigators needed NSPIRES registration regardless of whether the proposal was submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

16) Who had to complete the electronic submission?

Submission had to be completed by an authorized organizational representative.

17) When was ROSES 2011 posted?

ROSES 2011 was posted around February 18, 2011.

18) Were Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs were requested for most ROSES elements. NOI windows began around March 18, 2011 and continued through February 8, 2012 depending on the element.

19) What were the proposal due date ranges for ROSES 2011 overall?

Across the various ROSES appendices, proposal due dates started April 29, 2011 and ran through April 30, 2012, depending on the specific element.

20) What were the key dates shown in the CDAPS opportunity record?

For the CDAPS listing in the opportunity record, key system dates included a posted/creation date of April 8, 2011 and an original/current closing date of July 8, 2011. The listing was archived on August 7, 2011, reflecting the window for that specific Cassini-related call as represented in the record.

21) Did NASA recommend early registration and planning?

Yes. NASA advised organizations to register early and become familiar with NSPIRES and/or Grants.gov well before deadlines to avoid last-minute access or submission issues.

22) Could ROSES 2011 change after it was posted?

Yes. ROSES is amended throughout the year as new elements are added or details are clarified. Proposers were directed to monitor the NSPIRES solicitation page or subscribe to notifications for amendments through February 2012. NASA also maintained an archive and RSS feed for corrections and clarifications.

23) Where should applicants look for program-specific guidance and contacts?

For program-specific questions, proposers were expected to consult the program officers listed in the relevant appendix for the element they were applying to (in this case, the Cassini/CDAPS appendix).

24) Who was listed as the point of contact for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure questions were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein (Science Mission Directorate) using the email and phone contact provided in the solicitation materials.

25) What outcomes was CDAPS intended to produce?

CDAPS was intended to turn Cassini mission datasets (archived and/or ongoing at the time) into high-impact science through careful analysis, modeling, and interpretation, leading to publication and scientific results that advance understanding of the Saturn system and support NASA’s Planetary Science objectives.