ROSES 2015: Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ROSES 2015 APRA opportunity?

ROSES 2015: Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program (APRA) is a NASA Notice of Research Opportunity (NRA) issued under NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitation. It is released by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and seeks proposals for basic and applied research that strengthens current and future NASA science missions.

Which NASA organization is sponsoring this solicitation?

The solicitation is issued by NASA Headquarters under the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) as part of the ROSES framework.

What kinds of work does this opportunity support?

The scope is intentionally broad and supports the full pipeline of science and technology NASA relies on. That includes fundamental theory and modeling, analysis and interpretation of NASA science data, hands-on development of instruments and experiments, mission-enabling technologies, and activities that help mature concepts for future NASA missions or technologies that could be adopted by SMD missions.

Is the scope limited to astrophysics only?

The listing is for the Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program (APRA), but the provided description emphasizes that the ROSES solicitation broadly supports work across space and Earth sciences through its various program elements. Specific solicited topics and requirements are organized in ROSES appendices and tables by program element.

Does NASA accept proposals focused on data analysis and interpretation?

Yes. The opportunity specifically includes analysis and interpretation of NASA science data as part of the supported activities.

Can proposals include development of hardware or experimental techniques?

Yes. The solicitation welcomes development of new experimental techniques suitable for future missions, as well as larger efforts such as developing science experiment hardware.

What platforms or mission environments are mentioned as examples for investigations?

Examples called out include aircraft campaigns, scientific balloons, sounding rockets, the International Space Station (ISS), CubeSats, and suborbital reusable launch vehicles.

Are laboratory studies and sample analysis activities allowed?

Yes. The scope includes laboratory and analytical work on returned extraterrestrial samples, as well as terrestrial analog samples used to validate or interpret NASA Earth observation data.

Are Earth science field campaigns and Earth system modeling included?

Yes. Eligible areas described include Earth surface observations and field campaigns supporting NASA science goals, developing integrated Earth system models, and building systems that translate Earth science research data into applied tools and information systems aligned with NASA objectives and datasets.

How much funding is available per project?

Funding levels can vary widely based on the type and scale of work. Smaller focused projects (for example, targeted data analysis) may be under $100,000 per year, while large complex efforts (for example, developing science experiment hardware) can exceed $1 million per year.

How much funding is available overall?

NASA states that the amount available differs by specific ROSES program element and typically ranges from less than $1 million to several million dollars. Depending on element goals and proposal quality and quantity, an element may select only a few proposals or several dozen.

What types of award instruments might NASA use?

Selections may be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers. The posted grant listing includes grants and cooperative agreements among the listed instrument types.

What is the typical period of performance?

The usual period of performance is four years. Some program elements may specify shorter or longer periods, with an overall maximum of five years.

Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is broad. Organizations of all types may submit, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities, government and private institutions, for-profit and nonprofit organizations. No restriction is stated on the number of proposals or teaming arrangements.

Can non-U.S. organizations participate, and can they receive NASA funding?

Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but NASA policy requires that investigations involving non-U.S. organizations be conducted with no exchange of funds. In practice, NASA generally does not provide funding directly to non-U.S. participants.

How must proposals be submitted?

Proposals must be submitted electronically by an authorized organizational representative using either NASA's NSPIRES system or Grants.gov.

Do we need to register in NSPIRES if we submit through Grants.gov?

Yes. Any organization intending to apply must be registered in NSPIRES. If submitting through Grants.gov, the organization must also be registered in Grants.gov in addition to NSPIRES.

Who needs to be registered in NSPIRES?

The registrations must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) permitted to submit proposals. All principal investigators and other team members (such as co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

Why does NASA recommend starting registration early?

NASA strongly advises starting registrations and system familiarization early because ROSES includes multiple program elements with different deadlines and requirements, and registrations can take time to complete and validate.

Where do we find the detailed requirements, program elements, and due dates?

The detailed description of what is being solicited is organized in the ROSES appendices. Specific program element names, due dates, and links are listed in the solicitation tables (Tables 2 and 3).

Can program elements be added or changed after the solicitation is posted?

Yes. NASA indicates that amendments and new elements could be released up through February 2016, and applicants are encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications for updates.

Where can we track amendments, clarifications, and corrections?

NASA maintains an archive and RSS feed for amendments, clarifications, and corrections on the NASA SARA (Science and Research) website. NASA also references a ROSES 2015 FAQ page and a list of program officers for element-specific questions.

Who should we contact with general policy or procedure questions?

General policy and procedure questions for the ROSES NRA are directed to Max Bernstein at sara@nasa.gov.

What is the funding opportunity number for this APRA listing?

The funding opportunity number is NNH15ZDA001N (APRA).

How is this opportunity categorized in the grant listing?

It is categorized as discretionary and is listed under science and technology / research and development. The CFDA number provided is 43.001, with grants and cooperative agreements included among the instrument types.

What are the posted and closing dates in the listing?

The posting date is December 18, 2015, and the closing date shown is March 18, 2016. The description also notes that individual program elements may have their own due dates within the overall ROSES framework.

If the listing shows a single closing date, do all components use that same deadline?

Not necessarily. While the listing shows an overall closing date, ROSES includes multiple program elements and the solicitation tables and appendices contain element-specific due dates and requirements.