ROSES 2014 Advanced Information Systems Technology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is ROSES 2014 AIST?

ROSES 2014 Advanced Information Systems Technology (AIST) is a program element within NASA Headquarters' Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2014 omnibus solicitation. ROSES is issued by NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) under Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) NNH14ZDA001N.

2) What is the overall purpose of the ROSES solicitation?

The overall purpose of ROSES is to fund a wide range of basic and applied research and technology efforts that support NASA science across both space science and Earth science.

3) Is this opportunity only about AIST, or does ROSES include other topics too?

While AIST is the titled program element referenced here, ROSES is broader and also includes areas such as theory, modeling, data analysis, instrument and experiment development, mission concepts, advanced technologies, sample analysis, field campaigns, Earth system modeling, and applied systems that help turn Earth science research data into societal benefits.

4) What kinds of projects does NASA expect to fund under ROSES?

ROSES is designed to support a wide range of work, from narrowly scoped studies (for example, focused data analysis tasks) to major development activities (for example, building complex science experiment hardware).

5) What are typical award sizes?

NASA notes that yearly award sizes can be under $100,000 per year for focused tasks like data analysis, and can exceed $1 million per year for large, complex efforts such as building science experiment hardware.

6) How much funding is available?

Funding availability varies by ROSES program element. Each element may have anywhere from under $1 million to several million dollars available, which can result in selection of only a few proposals or several dozen, depending on program goals and proposal quality.

7) What types of award mechanisms might NASA use?

Awards may be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The mechanism depends on the proposer type and the nature of the work to be performed.

8) How long are projects typically funded?

Projects are typically funded for four years. Some program elements may specify shorter or longer periods, with an upper limit of five years.

9) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.

10) What is the CFDA number and activity category for this opportunity?

The primary CFDA listing is 43.001 (Science). The activity category is science and technology and other research and development.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open by organization type. Domestic and foreign entities, government and private, for-profit and non-profit organizations can submit.

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

No restriction is stated on the number of proposals that may be submitted.

13) Are teaming arrangements allowed?

Yes. The opportunity states there is no restriction on teaming arrangements.

14) Will NASA fund non-U.S. organizations?

NASA's standard policy generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations may participate on a "no exchange of funds" basis, meaning NASA does not provide funding to the non-U.S. entity. Special rules apply, and proposers are directed to consult NASA's Guidebook for Proposers for details.

15) What if a non-U.S. proposal involves U.S. personnel who need NASA support?

The solicitation notes that special rules apply in this situation and directs proposers to consult the NASA Guidebook for Proposers (including the referenced appendix and sections) for the applicable requirements.

16) How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is electronic only. Proposals must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative by the due date applicable to the relevant ROSES program element.

17) What systems can be used to submit (NSPIRES or Grants.gov)?

Submissions can be made through NASA's NSPIRES system or through Grants.gov. Registration requirements apply for both pathways.

18) Do organizations have to register in NSPIRES even if they submit through Grants.gov?

Yes. Any organization planning to apply must be registered in NSPIRES. If using Grants.gov, the organization must be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES.

19) Who must be registered in NSPIRES?

NSPIRES registration must identify the authorized representatives permitted to submit proposals. In addition, all principal investigators and co-investigators must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

20) Why does NASA recommend registering early?

NASA strongly encourages applicants to start registration and system familiarization early to avoid last-minute problems.

21) What are the key dates for this specific listing?

The listing was posted April 14, 2014. The original and current closing date is July 11, 2014. The archive date is August 10, 2014.

22) Are all ROSES deadlines the same as the closing date shown here?

No. ROSES is organized into many separate program elements, and proposers must consult the ROSES appendices and ROSES Tables 2 and 3 to find the correct element-specific instructions, contacts, and deadlines.

23) Where can applicants find the correct due date and instructions for their topic area?

Applicants are instructed to consult the ROSES appendices and ROSES Tables 2 and 3 (organized by due date and by subject area, respectively) for element-specific requirements, deadlines, and points of contact.

24) How should applicants track updates or clarifications to ROSES?

NASA advises applicants to monitor NSPIRES and the ROSES amendment archive (including RSS updates) for clarifications, corrections, and newly added program elements through February 2015, when the next ROSES solicitation was planned.

25) Who should applicants contact with questions?

Applicants are directed to the individual program officers listed for each program element in the ROSES appendices. For general policy and procedure questions within SMD, the solicitation identifies Max Bernstein via the SARA mailbox at sara@nasa.gov.