Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System – Appendix B | Apply Online

FAQs: NASA "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System (PSI) - Appendix B"

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System (PSI) - Appendix B." It funds ground-based research projects that reuse and analyze existing experimental datasets from physical sciences experiments flown on the International Space Station (ISS) and stored in NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system.

2) What is the main goal of Appendix B?

The goal is to generate new scientific results, new interpretations, or technology-relevant insights by directly using ISS physical sciences datasets already available in PSI, without flying a new space experiment.

3) What is PSI and where is it located?

PSI is NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics system that hosts datasets from ISS physical sciences experiments. It is available at http://psi.nasa.gov.

4) Does this opportunity fund new ISS experiments or new flights?

No. The opportunity is focused on reusing and analyzing existing microgravity experimental data that has already been collected and is hosted in PSI.

5) What program within NASA is this under?

This opportunity sits under NASA's Physical Sciences Research Program, which supports both fundamental and applied research intended to improve space systems and enable advances that can also translate to benefits on Earth.

6) Why does NASA emphasize microgravity for these studies?

In microgravity, gravity is no longer the dominant force, and effects that are often minor on Earth (such as surface tension, diffusion, weak body forces, small thermal gradients, and subtle instabilities) can become the primary drivers of system behavior. This can reveal behaviors and physics that are difficult to observe under normal gravity.

7) What research areas are in scope for Appendix B?

Appendix B focuses on five areas where PSI data were expected to be available by the due date: Combustion Science, Complex Fluids, Fluid Physics, Fundamental Physics, and Materials Science.

8) What does NASA require proposals to demonstrate about the use of PSI data?

Proposals must make a compelling case that PSI-hosted experimental data will be directly used to advance research in one of the Appendix B focus areas. NASA emphasizes the need for a clear, logical path from specific PSI datasets to the research tasks and expected outcomes, and that the work should address an important problem and measurably advance scientific understanding or technology.

9) Are there specific ISS investigations whose data are considered eligible for Appendix B proposals?

Yes. At the time of the synopsis, NASA listed eligible investigations with data already available in PSI for Appendix B proposal use, noting that the list could be updated by amendment before the deadline.

10) Which datasets were listed as eligible in Combustion Science?

The eligible Combustion Science investigations included DAFT and DAFT-2 (Dust and Aerosol Measurement Feasibility Test and follow-on), FLEX (Flame Extinguishment Experiment), SAME and SAME-R (Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment and reflight), and SPICE (Smoke Point in Coflow Experiment).

11) Which datasets were listed as eligible in Complex Fluids?

The eligible Complex Fluids investigations included ACE-M1 (Advanced Colloids Experiment - Microscopy 1), BCAT-3 through BCAT-6 (Binary Colloidal Alloy Test series), InSPACE-3 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Ellipsoids), PHaSE-PCS (Physics of Hard Spheres Experiment - Physics of Colloids in Space), and the SHERE series (Shear History Extensional Rheology Experiment, including SHERE II and SHERE-R).

12) Which datasets were listed as eligible in Fluid Physics?

The eligible Fluid Physics investigations included CCF (Capillary Channel Flow), CFE (Capillary Flow Experiment), CVB (Constrained Vapor Bubble), MABE (Microheater Array Heater Boiling Experiment), and NPBX (Nucleate Pool Boiling Experiment).

13) Which dataset was listed as eligible in Fundamental Physics?

The eligible Fundamental Physics investigation listed was GRADFLEX (Gradient Driven Fluctuation Experiment).

14) Which datasets were listed as eligible in Materials Science?

The eligible Materials Science investigations included CSLM, CSLM-2, CSLM-2R, and CSLM-3 (Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures series), ISSI (In-Space Soldering Investigation), and PFMI (Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation).

15) Can researchers start reviewing PSI datasets before the appendix is formally released?

Yes. NASA encouraged potential proposers to begin exploring PSI data even before Appendix B was formally released, implying that competitive proposals should be grounded in an actual understanding of what the PSI datasets contain.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad. The opportunity is open to established researchers across U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, and other U.S. government agencies.

17) Are graduate students allowed to apply?

Yes, proposals from graduate students are explicitly invited, with the constraint that the proposal must be submitted by the student's faculty advisor. Students must be affiliated with accredited U.S. postsecondary institutions and programs.

18) Are collaborations across sectors and with international partners allowed?

Yes. NASA allows collaboration across academia, federal labs, private sector, state and local labs, and international partners, as long as NASA policies for working with non-U.S. organizations are followed.

19) How must proposals be submitted?

Proposals must be submitted electronically by an authorized official of the proposing organization.

20) What submission systems does NASA allow for this opportunity?

NASA allows submission through either NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com/) or Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

21) What registrations or setup steps are required before submitting?

Organizations intending to submit must be registered in NSPIRES and must identify authorized organization representatives permitted to submit proposals. NASA also notes that NSPIRES and Grants.gov involve registration and profile requirements for PIs and other team members (including co-investigators), and advises starting registration and system familiarization well before the deadline.

22) What were the key anticipated dates mentioned in the synopsis?

The synopsis listed an anticipated solicitation release around January 19, 2016, and an anticipated proposal due date around March 17, 2016.

23) Will NASA host a proposers conference for this appendix?

Yes. NASA planned to host an online proposers conference via WebEx shortly after the appendix release to walk through details of the NRA and the PSI system and to answer questions.

24) What type of solicitation is this under federal acquisition rules?

The opportunity is identified as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2).

25) What types of awards might NASA use for selected proposals?

NASA indicated it may select the appropriate award mechanism for chosen proposals, including grants, cooperative agreements, or procurement contracts.

26) Is this a stand-alone solicitation or part of a larger NASA NRA?

Appendix B is the second appendix under a larger, multi-year umbrella NRA. The main NRA was planned to remain open for two years and be refreshed through appendices A, B, C, and so on.

27) What is the opportunity number and CFDA number listed?

The synopsis listed opportunity number NNH15ZTT001N15PSIB and CFDA 43.003.

28) How many awards were expected?

The synopsis stated an expected number of awards of about 10.

29) Was an award ceiling specified?

No. The synopsis stated that the award ceiling was not specified.

30) Can the list of eligible investigations change?

Yes. NASA noted that the list of eligible investigations could be updated via amendment before the proposal deadline.