ROSES 2012 Atmospheric Composition Upper Atmospheric Composition Observations | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2012 Atmospheric Composition Upper Atmospheric Composition Observations (UACO)

1) What is the ROSES 2012 UACO opportunity?

ROSES 2012 Atmospheric Composition Upper Atmospheric Composition Observations (UACO) is a program element within NASA's annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitation. This specific element focuses on observation-driven research that improves understanding of the composition of the upper atmosphere and the processes that affect it, including the tools and methods needed to interpret those observations.

2) What is the official funding opportunity number for this solicitation?

The funding opportunity number is NNH12ZDA001N. The opportunity is commonly referred to as ROSES 2012 UACO.

3) What NASA directorate goals does ROSES support?

ROSES supports NASA Science Mission Directorate goals across Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. The UACO element is specifically tied to upper atmospheric composition observations and related research.

4) What kinds of work are within the scope of ROSES 2012 (and potentially relevant to UACO)?

The overall ROSES 2012 scope is broad and can include basic and applied research as well as technology development that enables NASA science. As described, proposed work may include theory, modeling, and analysis of existing NASA science data, and investigations using observation platforms such as aircraft, stratospheric balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rockets.

5) Is the UACO element strictly about observations, or can it include modeling and analysis?

UACO is described as observation-driven, but the solicitation explicitly includes the tools needed to interpret observations. ROSES also allows theory, modeling, and analysis of existing NASA science data as part of proposed work.

6) Are technology development and instrumentation activities allowed?

Yes. ROSES includes technology development that enables NASA science, including developing new experimental techniques, maturing advanced instrumentation or mission-relevant technologies, and building concepts for future space missions, as long as they align with NASA objectives.

7) Can proposals involve laboratory work?

Yes. The solicitation recognizes supporting laboratory efforts, including determining atomic and molecular parameters needed to interpret remote sensing or in situ data.

8) Can proposals involve analysis of returned samples or terrestrial analog samples?

Yes. ROSES allows analyses of samples returned from space missions or terrestrial analog samples that help validate Earth observations.

9) Are Earth system science activities like field campaigns or model development allowed?

Yes, when they align with NASA objectives. The ROSES description allows field campaigns, integrated Earth system model development, and applied information systems that translate research data into societal or operational value, provided they are consistent with NASA goals.

10) What platforms can be used for investigations mentioned in the solicitation?

The solicitation references investigations that use aircraft, stratospheric balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rockets, in addition to work based on existing NASA science data.

11) How much funding is typically available per project?

Funding levels can vary widely based on what is proposed. Smaller, focused efforts (such as data analysis) may be funded at under $100,000 per year, while large and complex efforts (such as developing science experiment hardware) can exceed $1 million per year.

12) How much total funding is available within a program element like UACO?

The amount available within a specific program element can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars total. As a result, NASA may select only a few projects or potentially several dozen, depending on program goals and the strength of the proposal pool.

13) What award mechanisms might NASA use?

NASA notes that awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- and intra-agency transfers. The mechanism used depends on the nature of the work and the submitting organization.

14) What is the typical period of performance for ROSES projects?

The typical project period is four years. Some elements may allow shorter or longer durations, up to a maximum of five years.

15) Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Eligibility is broadly open to many organization types, including government and private entities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and domestic and foreign institutions. However, NASA generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions.

16) Can non-U.S. organizations participate in ROSES 2012 UACO?

Yes, non-U.S. organizations can participate under NASA's "no exchange of funds" policy. That means they may collaborate but are generally expected to support their participation without receiving NASA funding, except in special cases such as jointly issued solicitations with non-U.S. partners that include additional instructions.

17) What is NSPIRES, and is it required?

NSPIRES is NASA's system used for registrations and proposal-related activities. All proposers must be properly affiliated and registered in NSPIRES.

18) Do all investigators need NSPIRES accounts?

Yes. All investigators listed on the proposal, including the principal investigator and any co-investigators, must have NSPIRES accounts. This applies regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

19) Where and when was the ROSES 2012 solicitation expected to be posted?

ROSES 2012 was expected to be available around February 14, 2012 via the NSPIRES solicitations page, with amendments and updates posted through roughly February 2013.

20) Were Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs were requested for most program elements. An early NOI date mentioned for ROSES 2012 was March 16, 2012.

21) When were proposals due under ROSES 2012 generally?

Proposal due dates began May 4, 2012 and extended into March 2013, depending on the specific program element.

22) What are the key dates specifically listed for the UACO opportunity listing?

For the UACO listing, the posting date is May 18, 2012. The original and current closing date is July 2, 2012. The archive date is August 1, 2012.

23) How did proposals need to be submitted?

Proposals had to be submitted electronically by an authorized organizational representative.

24) Why does NASA encourage early registration and system familiarization?

NASA strongly encouraged organizations to begin registrations and become familiar with the relevant systems well before the deadline to reduce the risk of last-minute submission problems.

25) Where are the administrative requirements and element-specific instructions described?

Administrative details and requirements are distributed across the main ROSES NRA text and its appendices. The appendices describe each program element, provide key information summaries, list program officers, and provide element-specific due dates (referenced as being in Tables 2 and 3).

26) How can applicants track amendments, clarifications, and updates?

Applicants were directed to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to NASA's electronic notification services for updates. They could also use the ROSES amendments archive on NASA's science website for clarifications and corrections.

27) Who should be contacted for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General questions about ROSES policies and procedures were routed to the ROSES point of contact at NASA Headquarters, listed in the announcement as Dr. Max Bernstein.

28) Who should be contacted for element-specific scientific or programmatic questions?

Element-specific scientific or programmatic questions were intended for the program officers named in the relevant program element appendix.