ROSES 2015 Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is ROSES 2015 Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science?

ROSES 2015 Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science (Funding Opportunity Number NNH15ZDA001N) is a NASA Headquarters Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitation under NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD). It is an umbrella-style call that supports a wide range of research and enabling technology aligned with NASA science priorities, with this named opportunity emphasizing stronger collaborative links across Earth system science efforts.

2) Is this a single program or multiple programs?

It is not a single narrow program. ROSES is organized into many program elements listed in the solicitation appendices. Each element has its own goals, due dates, and points of contact, and proposers are expected to apply to the element that best fits their work.

3) What kinds of activities and research does this opportunity support?

The scope is intentionally broad and covers the full pipeline of SMD-supporting research and development, including basic and applied research and enabling technology connected to NASA science priorities.

4) Does the solicitation support theory, modeling, and data analysis?

Yes. The opportunity includes theory, modeling, and data analysis using NASA science data.

5) Are airborne and suborbital projects included (aircraft, balloons, sounding rockets)?

Yes. The scope includes work tied to airborne and suborbital platforms such as aircraft, scientific balloons, and sounding rockets.

6) Can projects involve the International Space Station (ISS)?

Yes. Investigations that use the International Space Station are included in the scope.

7) Are smallsats and technology demonstrations (e.g., CubeSats) supported?

Yes. The solicitation includes smallsat and technology-demonstration approaches such as CubeSats and suborbital reusable launch vehicles.

8) Does ROSES 2015 support development of experimental methods and techniques for future NASA missions?

Yes. It supports the development of experimental methods and techniques that could feed into future NASA missions.

9) Can proposals focus on concept development for future missions?

Yes. The solicitation supports concept development for future missions and advanced technologies relevant to SMD objectives.

10) Is laboratory and sample analysis work allowed?

Yes. Laboratory and analytical work on samples is included in the scope.

11) What types of samples are covered (extraterrestrial vs. terrestrial)?

Sample-related work can involve extraterrestrial materials returned by spacecraft as well as terrestrial samples used to ground-truth, validate, or otherwise strengthen interpretations of Earth system observations.

12) Does the scope include measurement/parameter determination to interpret observations?

Yes. It includes determining key atomic or compositional parameters needed to interpret measurements.

13) Are Earth surface observations and field campaigns supported?

Yes. The solicitation includes Earth surface observations and field campaigns that complement or verify NASA missions.

14) Are integrated Earth system models part of the scope?

Yes. Developing integrated Earth system models is explicitly included.

15) Does the opportunity support applied systems that translate Earth science data into societal applications?

Yes. It supports building systems that translate Earth science research data into societal applications, including applied information systems aligned with NASA data and objectives.

16) How much funding is available per award?

Funding levels vary widely depending on the nature and scale of the effort. Focused tasks such as targeted data analysis may be under $100,000 per year, while larger efforts such as developing science experiment hardware can exceed $1 million per year.

17) Is there a single fixed budget for the entire ROSES 2015 solicitation?

No. The amount available is not fixed across the entire NASA Research Announcement (NRA). Each program element typically has its own budget range, which can run from less than $1 million to several million dollars.

18) How many proposals might NASA fund within a program element?

Because budgets and needs vary by element, NASA may select anywhere from a handful to several dozen proposals within a given element, depending on element objectives and the quality and volume of submissions.

19) What funding instruments might NASA use (grant, contract, etc.)?

NASA indicates it may make awards using multiple instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. The instrument used depends on the proposing organization type and the specific program requirements.

20) What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance is four years, though some elements may specify shorter or longer durations.

21) Is there a maximum project duration?

The overall maximum period is generally capped at five years.

22) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

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

23) Is there a limit on the number of proposals an organization can submit?

No restriction on the number of proposals is stated in the provided information.

24) Are teaming arrangements allowed?

Yes. The information provided states there is no stated restriction on teaming arrangements.

25) Can non-U.S. organizations participate, and will NASA fund them?

Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but NASA policy is highlighted: investigations involving non-U.S. organizations are generally conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, meaning NASA typically does not transfer funds to non-U.S. institutions.

26) Where can applicants find details and special cases for non-U.S. participation?

The opportunity points to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for specific rules and special cases, including cases where a non-U.S. organization proposes work involving U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested, or where a program element is jointly issued with a non-U.S. partner organization.

27) How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is electronic and must be completed by an authorized official of the proposing organization by the due date set for the relevant program element.

28) What submission systems can be used?

Proposals can be submitted through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or through Grants.gov.

29) Is NSPIRES registration required even if submitting through Grants.gov?

Yes. In either case, the organization must be registered in NSPIRES. Organizations using Grants.gov must be registered in both NSPIRES and Grants.gov.

30) Who needs NSPIRES accounts (PI, co-Is, etc.)?

All principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) must have NSPIRES registrations regardless of which submission portal is used.

31) Who is allowed to officially submit the proposal?

The proposal must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization.

32) What does NASA recommend regarding registration and system readiness?

NASA recommends starting registration and system familiarization well ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute access or data-entry problems.

33) What were the key posting and closing dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted March 2, 2015. The original closing date was June 3, 2015, later extended to July 24, 2015. It was archived August 23, 2015.

34) What CFDA number applies to this opportunity?

This opportunity falls under CFDA 43.001 (Science).

35) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The information provided states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

36) Can requirements change after the solicitation is posted?

Yes. ROSES is updated through amendments and additional element releases. Interested teams are instructed to monitor NSPIRES for updates and to use NASA's ROSES 2015 web archive and FAQ pages for clarifications, corrections, and policy guidance during the amendment window (noted as running through February 2016).

37) Where should applicants look for element-specific requirements like due dates and evaluation criteria?

Applicants should consult the specific program element listed in the solicitation appendices, since each element can differ materially in goals, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.

38) Who should applicants contact to confirm fit for a specific program element?

NASA directs proposers to the program officers listed in the appendices and on the SARA program officer list for proposal fit and element-specific questions.

39) Who should be contacted for general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General policy and procedure questions for ROSES are directed to the SMD Research lead, with contact information provided in the announcement.

40) What is the main emphasis of this named ROSES 2015 opportunity?

While ROSES broadly supports NASA science priorities, this named opportunity places particular emphasis on strengthening collaborative connections across Earth system science efforts.