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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2013 Mars Data Analysis Program (MDAP)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the ROSES 2013 Mars Data Analysis Program (MDAP), which sits under NASA Headquarters broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2013 (ROSES 2013) solicitation. It is issued under Funding Opportunity Number NNH13ZDA001N.

2) How does MDAP relate to ROSES 2013 overall?

ROSES is NASA Science Mission Directorate main annual mechanism for requesting proposals across Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. MDAP is one specific program element within the Planetary Science portion of ROSES 2013.

3) What is the primary purpose of the Mars Data Analysis Program (MDAP)?

MDAP focuses on extracting new scientific results from existing Mars mission data sets. The emphasis is on analysis, modeling, and interpretive work using archived data products, rather than building new flight hardware.

4) What kinds of work does ROSES 2013 support (in general)?

ROSES 2013 supports a wide range of NASA-relevant research activities, including theory, numerical modeling, analysis of NASA science data, development and maturation of methods and techniques for future missions, concepts for future missions, and advanced technologies relevant to science missions.

5) Does the broader ROSES 2013 scope include work beyond spaceflight data analysis?

Yes. The described ROSES 2013 scope is intentionally broad and includes, for example, aircraft, balloon, suborbital rocket, and commercial reusable rocket investigations; laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft (and terrestrial analog samples used to verify or interpret mission observations); determination of atomic or compositional parameters needed to analyze space data and samples; Earth surface observations and field campaigns supporting NASA Earth missions; integrated Earth system modeling; and applied systems that translate Earth science data into societal benefit.

6) What is the emphasis for MDAP specifically (as described here)?

For MDAP, the emphasis is on rigorous analysis of Mars-related data products already collected by NASA missions. This may be paired with models, laboratory measurements, or cross-mission comparisons that increase the scientific value of archived Mars data.

7) Is MDAP about building new spacecraft instruments or flight hardware?

No. MDAP is described as being focused on analysis and interpretation of existing Mars mission data sets rather than building new flight hardware.

8) What are typical funding levels for ROSES awards?

NASA notes that award sizes can range widely: from under $100,000 per year for narrow, focused efforts such as data analysis to more than $1,000,000 per year for larger, more extensive activities such as development of science experiment hardware (more typical of other ROSES elements than MDAP).

9) How much total funding is available for a given program element?

The total amount available for any given ROSES program element generally ranges from less than $1 million to several million dollars in total.

10) About how many proposals might NASA select?

Because total funding and award sizes vary, NASA may select anywhere from a handful to several dozen proposals depending on merit, program priorities, and the number and quality of submissions.

11) What types of awards might NASA issue under this opportunity?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or interagency/intraagency transfers, depending on proposer type and specific program requirements.

12) What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance is about four years. Some program elements may allow shorter or longer periods, up to a five-year maximum.

13) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is broad. Domestic and foreign organizations, government and private entities, and for-profit and nonprofit institutions may submit proposals.

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

No limit is stated here on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

15) Can non-U.S. organizations participate and receive NASA funding?

NASA generally funds U.S. institutions, and participation by non-U.S. organizations is usually allowed only under NASA no-exchange-of-funds policy. In that common case, the non-U.S. participant supports its work without receiving NASA funds.

16) Where can applicants find detailed rules about non-U.S. participation?

The solicitation points proposers to the NASA NRA Guidebook for detailed rules affecting non-U.S. participation, including special cases where non-U.S. proposals involve U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

17) How do applicants submit a proposal?

The application process is handled electronically and revolves around NASA NSPIRES, with Grants.gov available as an alternate submission pathway.

18) What registrations are required to apply?

An organization planning to submit must be registered in NSPIRES. If submitting through Grants.gov, the organization must be registered in both NSPIRES and Grants.gov.

19) Who must be registered in NSPIRES?

All principal investigators and other named participants (such as co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov.

20) What is an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) and why does it matter here?

NSPIRES registrations must identify authorized organizational representative(s) who are permitted to submit proposals. Without the proper AOR setup, organizations can run into submission and authorization problems.

21) Does NASA recommend registering early?

Yes. NASA encourages prospective applicants to register and explore the system early to avoid last-minute access or authorization issues.

22) Is a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

Many ROSES program elements request a Notice of Intent (NOI) ahead of the full proposal to help NASA plan the review workload. For ROSES 2013, the earliest NOI date cited is March 16, 2013.

23) What are the key dates listed for the MDAP opportunity?

The MDAP opportunity was posted June 27, 2013. The original closing date is listed as September 20, 2013, with a current closing date of October 23, 2013. The archive date is November 22, 2013.

24) Are all ROSES 2013 proposal due dates the same?

No. The broader ROSES 2013 announcement describes proposal due dates spanning multiple elements and months. Applicants are directed to the ROSES tables and appendices for exact deadlines and requirements by program element.

25) Where do applicants find element-specific requirements like page limits and evaluation criteria?

Each ROSES appendix can have its own due date, page limits, content expectations, and evaluation criteria. The announcement directs applicants to the ROSES tables and appendices for those element-specific details.

26) Can the solicitation change after it is posted?

Yes. NASA highlights that amendments, corrections, and clarifications may be issued during the solicitation period and are tracked through NSPIRES and an online ROSES archive page. Applicants are expected to monitor updates.

27) Who should applicants contact for questions about MDAP specifically?

For element-specific questions, the announcement points applicants to the program officers listed in the relevant ROSES appendices.

28) Who should applicants contact for general ROSES policy or procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure questions are directed to the Science Mission Directorate ROSES contact at NASA Headquarters (Max Bernstein), with contact details provided in the notice.

29) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The umbrella ROSES 2013 solicitation is issued under Funding Opportunity Number NNH13ZDA001N.

30) What kind of research approach seems most aligned with MDAP based on this description?

Based on the description provided, MDAP-aligned approaches are those that use existing Mars mission data products to produce new scientific results, often strengthened by modeling, laboratory measurements, or cross-mission comparisons that increase the scientific value of archived data.