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ROSES 2013 Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) - FAQs

1) What is ROSES 2013 Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT)?

Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity offered as one program element within the broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2013 (ROSES 2013) umbrella solicitation. ROSES is NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD)'s primary annual call for competed research and technology proposals, and SAT specifically focuses on technology development and maturation that enables future astrophysics science missions.

2) What is the official funding opportunity number for ROSES 2013?

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

3) Is SAT the only topic area under ROSES 2013?

No. ROSES 2013 spans multiple NASA SMD science areas, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. SAT is one program element (within the ROSES appendices) focused on astrophysics technology development.

4) What types of work does ROSES 2013 generally support?

ROSES 2013 is intentionally broad and may include (depending on the specific appendix and program element):

• Theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data
• Suborbital investigations (aircraft, balloons, sounding rockets, and commercial reusable vehicles)
• Development of experiment techniques and instrumentation suitable for future space missions
• Mission formulation and concept development
• Advancement of technologies applicable to SMD missions
• Laboratory and analytical work related to extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft
• Supporting terrestrial samples used to validate Earth observing missions
• Determination of atomic and compositional parameters needed to interpret measurements and returned samples
• Earth science field campaigns, integrated Earth system modeling, and applied information systems that translate results into societal benefit

5) What is the focus of SAT within ROSES 2013?

Based on the opportunity description, SAT emphasizes the development and maturation of technologies that enable future astrophysics science missions. The specific goals, deliverables, and evaluation considerations for SAT are described in the SAT appendix within the ROSES appendices.

6) Where do I find the specific requirements for SAT?

NASA directs applicants to the ROSES appendices for program-element-specific goals, required deliverables, evaluation considerations, and schedules. SAT proposers are expected to rely on the SAT appendix rather than general ROSES narrative text.

7) How much funding can a ROSES 2013 award provide?

Award sizes can vary widely depending on what is being proposed. The opportunity notes that funding can be under $100,000 per year for narrow, focused efforts (such as targeted data analysis) and can exceed $1 million per year for larger, more complex activities (such as building and demonstrating science experiment hardware).

8) How much total funding is available?

The amount available differs by program element and is described as generally ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars. As a result, NASA may select only a handful of proposals in some areas or several dozen in others, depending on priorities and proposal quality.

9) What types of award mechanisms might NASA use?

NASA may issue awards as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or interagency/intraagency transfers. The mechanism depends on the nature of the proposed work and the proposing organization.

10) What is the typical project period for ROSES 2013 awards?

The typical performance period is four years. Some program elements may be shorter or longer, with a maximum performance period of up to five years.

11) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

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

12) Are there limits on the number of proposals an organization can submit or on teaming arrangements?

No explicit restrictions are stated in the provided description on the number of submissions or teaming arrangements.

13) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

Yes, non-U.S. organizations may participate, but the solicitation emphasizes NASA policy that collaborations with non-U.S. organizations are generally conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. In practical terms, NASA funding typically goes to U.S. institutions, while foreign partners participate using their own resources unless a specific jointly issued NRA states different rules.

14) If a non-U.S. organization wants NASA support, are there special rules?

Non-U.S. organizations are directed to follow the NASA NRA Guidebook provisions for compliance and budgeting rules that apply when U.S. personnel are included and NASA support is requested.

15) Do organizations and team members need to register in NSPIRES?

Yes. Proposers are expected to be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES. Additionally, all principal investigators and co-investigators must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov.

16) How do proposals get submitted?

ROSES 2013 is managed electronically. Proposals can be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system or via Grants.gov. In either case, the organization must be registered in NSPIRES, and the submission must be made by an authorized organizational representative.

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

NASA requests Notices of Intent for most program elements. The opportunity narrative mentions early NOI dates beginning around mid-March 2013, but actual requirements and dates vary by program element and should be verified in the relevant appendix tables.

18) When are proposals due for SAT?

Deadlines vary by program element. SAT proposers are expected to use the appendix-specific schedule rather than relying on a single universal ROSES deadline.

19) Why do different systems show different posted and closing dates?

The provided description notes a Grants.gov style record with a posted date of December 20, 2013 and closing dates in March 2014 (including an original closing date of March 19, 2014 and a current closing date of March 21, 2014, with an archive date of April 20, 2014). This reflects how ROSES opportunities and amendments can appear in different systems and timeframes.

20) Are amendments possible, and how do applicants track them?

Yes. ROSES is updated through amendments, and NASA advises applicants to monitor NSPIRES for new program elements, clarifications, and corrections. NASA also points to a NASA SARA web page that hosts an archive and RSS feed for ROSES 2013 updates.

21) Who should applicants contact with questions about SAT fit or requirements?

NASA directs proposers to the Program Officers listed in each ROSES appendix. Those appendix-specific Program Officers are described as the most reliable source for SAT-specific fit, expectations, and any special instructions.

22) Who should applicants contact for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General policy and procedure questions for ROSES are directed to the SARA contact at NASA Headquarters. The opportunity text identifies Max Bernstein as the lead contact.

23) What is NASA trying to achieve through this opportunity overall?

The opportunity is designed to fund a pipeline of research and technology work that strengthens NASA's future mission capabilities across SMD. Within that larger portfolio, SAT is positioned as the astrophysics technology development component.

24) What are common administrative pitfalls mentioned or implied in the opportunity?

The description notes that NASA strongly encourages teams to complete registrations and become familiar with NSPIRES and related systems well before deadlines, since administrative registration issues are common failure points near closing dates.