ROSES 2015 Planetary Protection Research | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - ROSES 2015 Planetary Protection Research (PPR)

1) What is the ROSES 2015 Planetary Protection Research (PPR) opportunity?

Planetary Protection Research (PPR) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity offered as a program element within the larger Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2015 omnibus solicitation. ROSES 2015 was formally issued as NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH15ZDA001N. The PPR element funds basic and applied research that supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), specifically research that advances planetary protection science, methods, and technologies.

2) What is the main purpose of the Planetary Protection Research (PPR) element?

The PPR element focuses on advancing the science, methods, and technologies needed to prevent harmful biological contamination during robotic and human exploration. This includes preventing contamination of other worlds by Earth life (forward contamination) and preventing potential contamination of Earth by returned materials (backward contamination). The work supports NASA planetary protection requirements for missions that may access potentially habitable environments, return samples, or operate where terrestrial microbes could affect science integrity or pose safety concerns.

3) What kinds of research topics fit under PPR based on this notice?

Based on the description provided, proposals aligned with PPR would generally fit into areas such as contamination control; microbial detection, characterization, and related methods; bioburden assessment; sterilization and cleanliness approaches; planetary protection modeling and risk assessment; and other enabling capabilities that support compliant mission design and mission operations.

4) How broad is the overall ROSES 2015 solicitation, and how does PPR fit within it?

ROSES 2015 is intentionally broad and can include theory, modeling, data analysis, laboratory work, and technology development that supports NASA science goals. The broader ROSES scope includes, for example, analysis of SMD science data; investigations using aircraft, balloons, sounding rockets, the International Space Station, CubeSats, and other suborbital platforms; development of techniques and instrumentation for future missions; maturation of advanced technologies relevant to SMD missions; and laboratory methods for analyzing extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft as well as terrestrial analog samples. PPR is the portion of that umbrella where the work is specifically centered on planetary protection and contamination-related needs.

5) What funding levels are described for this opportunity?

Funding can vary widely depending on the proposed work. The notice describes that awards may be under $100,000 per year for narrow, focused tasks (such as certain data analyses) and can exceed $1 million per year for large-scale efforts (such as development of science or flight-relevant hardware). The budget for each ROSES program element (including PPR) can range from under $1 million to several million dollars.

6) How many awards might NASA make under a ROSES program element like PPR?

The notice indicates that the number of selections per element typically ranges from a handful to several dozen proposals. Selections depend on proposal quality, program priorities, and how requested costs are distributed across the element's available budget.

7) What types of award instruments might NASA use?

NASA states that awards may be issued using different legal instruments depending on the work and the proposing organization. Instruments referenced include grants and cooperative agreements (both explicitly listed for this opportunity), and may also include contracts or inter- or intra-agency transfers when appropriate.

8) What is the typical project period, and is there a maximum length?

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

9) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad: domestic and foreign entities, government or private, and for-profit or nonprofit organizations can submit proposals.

10) Is there a limit on the number of proposals an organization can submit or the teaming arrangements it can use?

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

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

Non-U.S. entities may participate, but NASA highlights policy constraints on funding. In general, NASA funding is provided to U.S. institutions, and participation by non-U.S. organizations is normally expected to be on a "no exchange of funds" basis (meaning NASA does not transfer funds to the non-U.S. partner). The notice points to the NASA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed rules and special cases, including cases where non-U.S. proposals involve U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.

12) Is cost sharing required?

No. The notice specifies there is no cost-sharing requirement.

13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH15ZDA001N (PPR), and it is part of the ROSES 2015 omnibus solicitation.

14) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 43.001 (Science).

15) How do applicants submit proposals?

Submission is entirely electronic and must be submitted by an authorized organizational official by the program element due date. Proposals can be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system or through Grants.gov. However, organizational registration in NSPIRES is required in all cases.

16) If submitting through Grants.gov, is NSPIRES registration still required?

Yes. The notice indicates that even if an organization submits via Grants.gov, it must be registered in both Grants.gov and NSPIRES. In addition, all principal investigators and co-investigators must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of the submission portal used.

17) Who must be identified in the registration process to submit the proposal?

The registration process must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who can submit proposals. The notice also states that principal investigators and co-investigators must be registered in NSPIRES.

18) What does NASA recommend regarding registrations and learning the submission systems?

NASA advises applicants to begin registration and become familiar with the electronic systems well ahead of the deadlines to avoid last-minute technical or compliance issues.

19) What was the closing date for this opportunity?

The notice lists an original and current closing date of September 4, 2015. The posting date is June 18, 2015, and it is shown as archived on October 4, 2015.

20) Where were the most detailed PPR requirements provided (for example, evaluation factors and page limits)?

The notice states that the most detailed requirements (including what PPR specifically sought, evaluation factors, page limits, and element-specific instructions) were provided in the ROSES appendices and in tables listing program elements and their due dates.

21) Could NASA issue amendments or clarifications after the solicitation was posted?

Yes. NASA highlighted that amendments and clarifications could be issued through roughly February 2016 and directed applicants to NSPIRES and NASA SARA ROSES web pages (including an amendments archive and FAQs) for updates.

22) Who is the point of contact for ROSES policy and procedural questions?

For policy and procedural questions about ROSES, the notice identifies Dr. Max Bernstein (SMD Lead for Research) as a point of contact via sara@nasa.gov.

23) Who should applicants contact for element-specific questions about PPR?

The notice indicates that element-specific questions should be directed to the relevant Program Officers listed in the ROSES appendices.