ROSES 2013 Earth Surface and Interior | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2013 Earth Surface and Interior (ESI)

1. What is the ROSES 2013 Earth Surface and Interior (ESI) opportunity?

ROSES 2013 Earth Surface and Interior (ESI) is a NASA Headquarters research funding opportunity released under NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) umbrella. It supports science and technology research and development activities focused on Earth Surface and Interior topics.

2. Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by NASA Headquarters.

3. What types of funding instruments are available under this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.

4. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH13ZDA001N (ESI).

5. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA 43.001 (Science).

6. Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated. This means proposers generally are not expected to provide mandatory non-federal matching funds as a condition of award.

7. Who is generally eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility follows NASA's standard ROSES proposal infrastructure and institutional requirements. Proposers must be affiliated with an organization that is registered in NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System).

8. What is NSPIRES and why does it matter for eligibility?

NSPIRES is NASA's Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System. To submit under this opportunity, the proposer must be affiliated with an organization registered in NSPIRES at nspires.nasaprs.com.

9. Are proposals expected primarily from U.S. organizations?

Yes. As a general rule, NASA provides funding only to U.S. institutions, so proposals are primarily expected from U.S.-based eligible organizations.

10. Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

Yes, but participation is described as limited and typically involves a "no exchange of funds" approach. Under this policy, non-U.S. organizations do not request NASA funding and instead support their own participation.

11. What does "no exchange of funds" mean for non-U.S. participation?

"No exchange of funds" means the non-U.S. organization participates without requesting or receiving NASA funding, covering its own costs instead.

12. Where are the rules for non-U.S. participation described?

Non-U.S. entities considering the "no exchange of funds" route are directed to consult Appendix B, Section (l) of NASA's Guidebook for Proposers for specific terms, limitations, and documentation expectations.

13. Are there situations where NASA issues joint NRAs with non-U.S. partner organizations?

Yes. The notice explains that some NASA Research Announcements (NRAs) can be issued jointly with non-U.S. partner organizations, including contexts such as guest observing programs for jointly sponsored missions. In such cases, special guidelines for non-U.S. participants may apply beyond standard ROSES rules.

14. How should international organizations handle proposals that include U.S. personnel who need NASA support?

The opportunity highlights that international organizations including U.S. personnel who request NASA support for those U.S. participants must follow special instructions in Section 2.3.10(c)(vii) of the NASA Guidebook for Proposers.

15. Why do budget and team structure matter for international teams?

The notice emphasizes that international teams need to be careful about how budgets are structured, who the prime institution is, and whether requested NASA funds would flow to U.S. personnel or institutions, because NASA rules can differ depending on whether the proposing organization is domestic or foreign.

16. When was this opportunity posted?

The notice was posted (and created) on December 19, 2013.

17. What was the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date listed for this opportunity is March 21, 2014.

18. What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?

The archive date is April 20, 2014, which indicates when the solicitation was formally moved into an inactive status for public listing purposes.

19. Where should applicants look for complete proposal requirements and evaluation criteria?

Applicants are directed to the full text of the announcement via the additional information link and to NASA's Guidebook for Proposers, which governs ROSES submissions and contains detailed compliance instructions.

20. Who is the point of contact if an applicant cannot access the full announcement electronically?

Dr. Max Bernstein is named as the person to contact if an applicant has difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.

21. What is the scientific scope of this element?

The element is focused on Earth Surface and Interior (ESI) topics. For the specific scientific scope under the Earth Surface and Interior element, applicants are directed to the full text of the announcement.

22. Does this summary replace the official solicitation text?

No. The notice directs applicants to the full announcement and the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for complete and authoritative requirements, including proposal instructions, compliance expectations, and any special participation rules.