ROSES 2013 Terrestrial Hydrology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ROSES 2013 Terrestrial Hydrology (NNH13ZDA001N THP)

1) What is ROSES 2013 Terrestrial Hydrology?

ROSES 2013 Terrestrial Hydrology is a program element within NASA Headquarters' broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2013 (ROSES 2013) solicitation. It is issued under Funding Opportunity Number NNH13ZDA001N, with the terrestrial hydrology element identified as NNH13ZDA001N THP.

2) What type of funding announcement is this?

This opportunity is issued as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA). It seeks proposals for both basic and applied research, as well as related technology development, across NASA Science Mission Directorate programs.

3) Which NASA directorate and science area does terrestrial hydrology fall under?

Terrestrial hydrology sits within NASA's Earth Science program area, under the NASA Science Mission Directorate. ROSES as a whole also covers Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics, but this element is focused on terrestrial hydrology within Earth Science.

4) What kinds of topics does the terrestrial hydrology element support?

The terrestrial hydrology focus supports work that improves understanding of the movement, storage, and availability of water on land, and how those processes interact with weather, climate, ecosystems, hazards, and human use. Work is typically framed around NASA Earth observations and modeling capabilities.

5) What types of activities are within the scope of ROSES 2013 (as described in this posting)?

The ROSES 2013 scope is intentionally broad and includes theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; development of integrated Earth system models; and Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support or validate NASA mission data. It also allows technology and mission-enabling activities such as developing concepts and techniques for future missions, advancing relevant technologies, and improving experiment techniques and instrumentation approaches.

6) Are proposals limited to basic research, or is applied work allowed?

Both basic and applied research are included, along with related technology development. The posting also notes that applied information systems translating research and Earth science data into societal benefits can fit within the umbrella ROSES language when aligned with NASA objectives.

7) What are common terrestrial hydrology proposal approaches mentioned in the announcement?

While proposals can vary widely, many terrestrial hydrology proposals tend to center on data analysis, model development, algorithm improvement, data assimilation, validation, and applications.

8) Does the solicitation allow field campaigns and observations?

Yes. The scope includes Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support or validate NASA mission data.

9) Does ROSES 2013 allow aircraft or other suborbital investigations?

Yes. The umbrella ROSES language covers aircraft and suborbital investigations, including balloons and rockets.

10) Are technology development or mission-enabling efforts eligible?

Yes. The scope explicitly allows technology and mission-enabling activities, including developing concepts and techniques for future missions, advancing technologies relevant to NASA science missions, and building or improving experiment techniques and instrumentation approaches.

11) What kinds of societal benefit applications are mentioned?

The posting notes applied information systems that translate research results and Earth science data into societal benefits such as water resource decision support, drought monitoring, flood monitoring, and related services aligned with NASA objectives.

12) How much funding is available per award?

Funding levels vary widely depending on the nature of the effort. NASA states awards can range from under $100,000 per year for focused efforts (such as targeted data analysis) to more than $1,000,000 per year for large, complex activities (such as development of science experiment hardware).

13) How are budgets managed across ROSES program elements?

Funding availability is managed by program element, with budgets ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars per element. As a result, NASA may select only a handful of proposals in some areas or dozens in others depending on priorities and the quality and quantity of submissions.

14) What types of award instruments might NASA use?

Awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers. The instrument depends on the proposer type and the specific program requirements.

15) What is the typical project period of performance?

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

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to many types of organizations, including domestic and foreign; government and private; for-profit and non-profit organizations.

17) Are there restrictions on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements?

The posting states there is no stated restriction on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

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

Non-U.S. participation can be possible under specific conditions described in NASA guidance. The posting also notes that NASA generally funds U.S. institutions, and participation by non-U.S. organizations is usually handled under a "no exchange of funds" policy, meaning NASA does not transfer funding to the non-U.S. entity.

19) Where is the opportunity posted and how are proposals submitted?

ROSES 2013 is made available through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage in NSPIRES. Proposals are accepted electronically either through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov, although NSPIRES registration is required in all cases.

20) If submitting through Grants.gov, what registrations are required?

Organizations submitting through Grants.gov must be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES. The submission must be made by an authorized organizational representative identified during registration.

21) Do individual investigators need NSPIRES registration?

Yes. All proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES, and all investigators and key participants (PIs and co-investigators) must also be registered in NSPIRES regardless of the final submission route.

22) Does NASA recommend registering early?

Yes. NASA encourages applicants to start registration and system familiarization well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute administrative issues.

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

Many program elements request a Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to the full proposal. Requirements and due dates vary by element, so applicants are directed to the ROSES tables and appendices for exact instructions.

24) What are the key dates listed for this posting?

The posting lists a Posted Date of April 12, 2013; an Original Closing Date of July 15, 2013; a Current Closing Date of July 15, 2013; and an Archive Date of August 14, 2013.

25) Are deadlines the same for every ROSES element?

No. The full ROSES 2013 solicitation describes a rolling schedule of due dates across different program elements, with due dates spanning the 2013 cycle. Applicants are instructed to rely on the appendix for the specific element (here, terrestrial hydrology) to confirm required content, evaluation criteria, and the applicable deadline.

26) Where do applicants find element-specific instructions and due dates?

The solicitation points applicants to the ROSES tables and appendices for exact due dates and element-specific instructions. The terrestrial hydrology appendix is the place to confirm what is required for that element.

27) Can the solicitation be amended after it is posted?

Yes. NASA indicates that amendments and clarifications may be released. Applicants are advised to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications and consult the ROSES 2013 web archive for updates.

28) Who should applicants contact for questions about a specific program element?

For help interpreting program-element requirements, NASA directs inquiries to the relevant Program Officers listed in each appendix.

29) Who is the contact for general ROSES policies and procedures?

Questions about general ROSES policies and procedures are directed to Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (Science Mission Directorate). The posting provides contact information: sara@nasa.gov and 202-358-0879.

30) What is the main scientific emphasis described for terrestrial hydrology within ROSES 2013?

The emphasis is on advancing understanding of terrestrial water processes (movement, storage, availability) and their interactions with weather, climate, ecosystems, hazards, and human use, typically leveraging NASA Earth observations and modeling.