ROSES 2015: Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ROSES 2015 Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQST) opportunity?

HAQST is a program element within NASA's ROSES 2015 (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences) omnibus solicitation. It supports research and applied science activities that connect NASA Earth observations and related science to health and air quality applications, with an emphasis on turning NASA data and capabilities into decision-relevant information, tools, and services.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The overall purpose of ROSES is to fund basic and applied research that strengthens NASA's space and Earth science goals. For HAQST specifically, the purpose is to support applied work that improves understanding of air quality and related environmental conditions and their impacts, and that helps translate Earth science research into practical products or decision-support approaches for health and air quality stakeholders.

What kinds of projects are within scope for ROSES and HAQST?

The scope is intentionally broad and can include theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data; projects involving airborne platforms (aircraft), scientific balloons, sounding rockets, the International Space Station, CubeSats, and suborbital reusable launch vehicles; and development of new experimental techniques or concepts that could inform future NASA missions. It can also include advanced technology development relevant to SMD missions, laboratory analysis methods for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft, terrestrial sample analysis used to validate or complement Earth-observing mission data, field campaigns and Earth surface observations, development of integrated Earth system models, and systems that apply Earth science outputs to real societal needs. For HAQST, the emphasis is on applied sciences efforts that integrate NASA Earth observations (often with models and ground-based information) into usable health and air quality products, assessments, or decision-support tools.

Does HAQST require using NASA Earth observation data?

Based on the description provided, HAQST emphasizes projects that make meaningful use of NASA science data and capabilities, particularly Earth observation assets, to support health and air quality applications.

How broad is the research and technology scope under ROSES 2015?

ROSES 2015 covers a wide spectrum of research and technology activities tied to NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) objectives, ranging from data analysis and modeling to field observations, integrated Earth system models, applied information systems, and certain forms of mission-relevant technology development.

What are typical funding levels for awards under this opportunity?

Funding can vary significantly depending on the scale and nature of the work. NASA notes that awards can be under $100,000 per year for targeted efforts such as focused data analysis, and can exceed $1 million per year for large, resource-intensive efforts such as development of science experiment hardware. The amount available is described at the level of each ROSES program element and can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars overall.

Is there an award ceiling listed for HAQST?

No specific award ceiling is listed in the summary information provided. NASA indicates a wide achievable scale, from small analytical studies to major development efforts, depending on the program element and proposed work.

How many awards might NASA make?

The number of awards may vary. NASA states that available funding can range from less than $1 million to several million dollars by program element, so NASA may select only a few proposals or several dozen, depending on objectives and proposal quality.

What is the typical period of performance?

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

What types of award instruments can NASA use?

NASA may make awards as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the proposer and program needs. The instrument types explicitly associated with this posting include grants and cooperative agreements.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 43.001.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Organizations of every type may submit proposals, including domestic and foreign entities, government and private organizations, for-profit and nonprofit institutions.

Are there restrictions on the number of proposals an organization can submit?

No restriction on the number of proposals is stated in the information provided, and there is no stated restriction on teaming configurations.

Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but NASA's policy requires that collaborations involving non-U.S. organizations be conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. This means NASA generally will not transfer funds to non-U.S. partners even if they participate in the work.

How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is electronic and must be completed by an authorized organizational representative. Proposals may be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system or through Grants.gov, but NSPIRES registration is required in all cases.

If an organization submits through Grants.gov, what registrations are required?

Organizations submitting through Grants.gov must be registered in Grants.gov and in NSPIRES. NSPIRES registration is required regardless of the submission portal used.

Do principal investigators and team members need NSPIRES accounts?

Yes. NASA requires that all principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) be registered in NSPIRES regardless of whether the proposal is submitted via NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

Why does NASA recommend starting the registration process early?

NASA notes that registration and system familiarity can take time. Applicants are encouraged to start early and ensure accounts and authorizations are in place well before the relevant due date.

Where can applicants find the detailed HAQST requirements and instructions?

NASA states that detailed requirements, including the specific HAQST program element description, evaluation factors, and any element-specific instructions, are located in the ROSES 2015 appendices.

Where can applicants find due dates and links for ROSES 2015 program elements?

NASA directs applicants to Tables 2 and 3 of the ROSES NRA for the list of individual calls, links, and due dates.

Can NASA issue amendments or clarifications to ROSES 2015?

Yes. NASA notes that amendments and clarifications may be issued through February 2016.

How can applicants stay current on updates to ROSES 2015?

NASA recommends monitoring NSPIRES or subscribing to its notification system, and also checking the ROSES 2015 web archive and FAQ pages hosted on NASA's Science website.

Who should applicants contact with questions about a specific program element like HAQST?

Questions about particular program elements are handled by the program officers listed in the ROSES 2015 appendices.

Who should applicants contact with general ROSES policy and procedure questions?

General ROSES policy and procedure questions can be sent to the SMD research contact at sara@nasa.gov. Max Bernstein is identified as the lead contact for general ROSES NRA policies.

What is the funding opportunity number for this HAQST posting?

The funding opportunity number provided is NNH15ZDA001N (HAQST).

Which NASA office is listed as the agency for this opportunity?

The agency is listed as NASA Headquarters (NASA-HQ).

What are the posted closing date and posting date for this opportunity?

The original and current closing date is March 11, 2016. The opportunity was created and posted on December 17, 2015.

Is this opportunity discretionary?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as discretionary.