ROSES 2013 Planetary Astronomy | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2013 Planetary Astronomy (NNH13ZDA001N)

What is this funding opportunity?

ROSES 2013 Planetary Astronomy is a program listing within NASA Headquarters' broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2013 solicitation. The overall solicitation is identified by Funding Opportunity Number NNH13ZDA001N and is issued as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA).

Which NASA organization is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is issued by NASA Headquarters and supports priorities of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

What areas of science does ROSES 2013 cover?

ROSES 2013 is intentionally broad and supports SMD priorities across multiple science areas, including Planetary Science (with this listing framed under "Planetary Astronomy"), Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics.

Where do applicants find the program details?

Applicants access the solicitation through NASA's NSPIRES portal and use the ROSES appendices for detailed program descriptions. Due dates and element-specific information are referenced in ROSES Tables 2 and 3 and in the relevant appendix sections.

What types of work are considered in-scope?

The solicitation spans a wide range of basic and applied research and technology work, including theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; development and use of airborne, balloon, suborbital rocket, and commercial reusable rocket investigations; new experimental techniques that may feed future space missions; early mission concept development; and advanced technology development relevant to future SMD missions.

Does ROSES support laboratory and sample-related research?

Yes. It includes laboratory and analytical work tied to samples, including extraterrestrial materials returned by spacecraft and terrestrial analog or validation samples used to interpret mission observations.

Does the solicitation support establishing reference parameters for interpreting data and samples?

Yes. It covers work to establish atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret space-based data and returned samples.

Are field campaigns and Earth surface observations included?

Yes. ROSES also covers field campaigns and Earth surface observations that directly support NASA Earth system science missions.

Does ROSES include applied Earth science work aimed at societal benefits?

Yes. On the applied side, it invites integrated modeling efforts and development of systems that translate Earth science research data into societal benefits and usable information systems aligned with SMD objectives and datasets.

How much funding is available per award?

Funding varies substantially by program element and project scope. As described, some awards may be under $100,000 per year for narrowly focused efforts like targeted data analysis, while larger activities such as science hardware development can exceed $1,000,000 per year.

How much total funding is available within a program element?

The total funds available within each program element range from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

How many proposals are typically selected?

The number of selections varies by element and can range from only a few proposals to several dozen, depending on objectives, available funds, and the quality of submissions.

What award instruments might NASA use?

NASA expects to make awards using different legal instruments depending on the applicant and the nature of the work, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.

What is the typical period of performance?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open: organizations of all types may submit, including government or private entities, for-profit or nonprofit, and both domestic and foreign organizations.

Is there a limit on how many proposals an organization can submit?

No limit is stated in the provided information. The solicitation notes there is no stated limit on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Can foreign organizations participate?

Yes, foreign organizations may submit. However, the solicitation emphasizes NASA's standard policy on international participation: in general, NASA funds U.S. institutions, and when non-U.S. organizations participate, the work is typically conducted on a "no exchange of funds" basis.

What does "no exchange of funds" mean for international participation?

It means NASA does not transfer funds to the non-U.S. entity. The non-U.S. participant typically supports its work without receiving NASA funding.

Where can non-U.S. proposers find guidance on international participation rules?

The announcement points non-U.S. proposers to the NRA Guidebook and to specific sections addressing situations where non-U.S. proposals involve U.S. personnel who request NASA support.

How do applicants submit a proposal?

Submission is electronic and requires advance registration. Proposals must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative, and applicants can submit through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

Do applicants need to register in NSPIRES if submitting through Grants.gov?

Yes. Regardless of the submission route, the organization must be registered in NSPIRES. If using Grants.gov, it must also be registered there.

Do principal investigators and co-investigators need NSPIRES accounts?

Yes. Principal investigators and all other participants (including co-investigators) must have NSPIRES registrations.

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

Proposals must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.

Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) required?

NOIs are requested for most program elements. NOI due dates are element-specific.

How are due dates determined?

ROSES uses a staggered schedule with due dates that vary by program element. Due dates are listed in ROSES Tables 2 and 3 and in the relevant appendix sections for each element.

What are the key dates for this posting?

For the funding opportunity record associated with this posting, the opportunity was posted on April 2, 2013. The original and current closing date is June 7, 2013, and the archive date is July 7, 2013.

Does ROSES have multiple deadlines beyond the single closing date shown in the record?

Yes. The broader ROSES timeline includes multiple due dates across the solicitation, and applicants are directed to element-specific schedules in the tables and appendices.

How will applicants learn about amendments or corrections to the solicitation?

Applicants are encouraged to monitor NSPIRES and subscribe to updates because NASA issues amendments, clarifications, and corrections during the open period. An archive and RSS feed are provided on NASA's SARA ROSES 2013 webpage.

Who should applicants contact with questions about a specific scientific program element?

For help interpreting specific scientific program elements, applicants are directed to the Program Officers listed in the appendices under each element's summary information.

Who is the general point of contact for ROSES policy and procedure questions?

For general policy and procedure questions about ROSES, the listed point of contact is Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (email: sara@nasa.gov; phone: 202-358-0879).

What is the best way to avoid last-minute submission issues?

The announcement strongly advises organizations and investigators to register and familiarize themselves with NSPIRES and (if applicable) Grants.gov well before deadlines to avoid submission problems.