ROSES 2019: Gravity/Radio Science Team for the Europa Clipper Mission | NNH19ZDA001N ECGRST

FAQs: NASA ROSES 2019 Europa Clipper Gravity/Radio Science Team (ECGRST)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a targeted call under NASA's ROSES 2019 omnibus solicitation: the "Gravity/Radio Science Team for the Europa Clipper Mission" element (element ECGRST) under Funding Opportunity Number NNH19ZDA001N. It is intended to build the Europa Clipper Gravity/Radio Science team for an active NASA planetary mission.

Is this a standard NASA grant opportunity?

No. Although ROSES opportunities often result in grants or cooperative agreements, this specific Europa Clipper gravity/radio science team element is expected to result in contract awards rather than grants.

How must proposals be submitted for this element?

Proposals must be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system. The solicitation notes this submission requirement in connection with the contracting approach for this element.

What is the relationship between this element and ROSES?

This opportunity is one program element within NASA's larger ROSES 2019 omnibus solicitation managed by the Science Mission Directorate (SMD). ROSES includes many different research areas, with program elements listed in appendices and due dates summarized in ROSES tables.

What is the main purpose of the Europa Clipper Gravity/Radio Science Team element?

The element is aimed at selecting and organizing a mission-focused science team to support Europa Clipper gravity and radio science activities, including a Lead Scientist role and additional team member or Co-Investigator roles.

What roles are being solicited under this call?

The call includes a Lead Scientist role and additional team member/Co-Investigator roles for the Europa Clipper Gravity/Radio Science team.

What kinds of science activities does "gravity/radio science" typically involve?

Based on the posting description, gravity/radio science typically involves analysis of spacecraft tracking and radio/telecommunications data to infer properties such as Europa system gravity fields, interior structure, and related geophysical parameters.

Is this a mission-focused team selection effort?

Yes. The posting emphasizes that this is connected to an active NASA planetary mission. Proposers should expect mission-focused responsibilities, coordination with NASA and the broader project science structure, and deliverables aligned with mission timelines and data analysis needs.

Where are the detailed expectations and requirements described?

The notice indicates that detailed expectations for the team roles and responsibilities are provided in the full NSPIRES posting for this program element.

Was a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

Yes. A mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI) was required for this element.

When was the Notice of Intent (NOI) due?

The NOI had to be submitted via NSPIRES by October 21, 2019.

Were there different proposal deadlines depending on the role?

Yes. The solicitation listed separate proposal due dates depending on whether the proposer sought to serve as Lead Scientist or as a team member/Co-Investigator.

When were Lead Scientist proposals due?

Proposals to serve as the Lead Scientist were due November 6, 2019.

When were team member proposals due?

Proposals to serve as a team member were due January 24, 2020.

What was the Co-Investigator proposal deadline?

An amendment dated December 10, 2019 updated the schedule for Co-Investigator proposals, aligning them with the January 24, 2020 deadline.

Why was the team member/Co-Investigator deadline extended or updated?

The stated reason was to allow NASA time to select and announce the Lead Scientist before the team member/Co-Investigator proposals were due, so potential team members could tailor submissions with a clearer understanding of the leadership selection outcome.

Who can participate (what types of organizations are eligible)?

Under ROSES 2019 general eligibility rules referenced in the posting, a wide range of organization types can participate, including government, private, for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations, both domestic and foreign.

Are teaming arrangements allowed?

Yes. The solicitation indicates that teaming arrangements are generally allowed.

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

NASA notes its standard policy that research involving non-U.S. organizations is typically conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, meaning foreign organizations generally participate without receiving NASA funding directly.

Is NASA funding generally limited to U.S. institutions?

Yes. The posting reiterates that NASA funding is generally provided only to U.S. institutions unless specific ROSES program element guidance states otherwise.

Is NSPIRES registration required?

Yes. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES.

Where can non-U.S. or cross-border teams find compliance guidance?

For organizations outside the U.S. or proposals involving cross-border participation, the posting points proposers to NASA's NRA Guidebook for Proposers for detailed compliance instructions.

How can applicants track amendments and updates to this opportunity?

NASA encourages interested parties to monitor amendments and updates through NSPIRES email subscriptions, the ROSES RSS feed, and the ROSES due-date calendar, since individual program elements can be clarified or revised over time.

When was ROSES 2019 released?

The notice situates ROSES 2019 as an omnibus announcement released around March 14, 2019.

Where are program elements and due dates summarized within ROSES?

The posting notes that ROSES program elements are listed in appendices and that due dates are summarized in ROSES tables.

Who should be contacted for general ROSES policy questions?

For general ROSES policy questions, the notice points to the SMD research contact at sara@nasa.gov.

Who handles element-specific questions?

Element-specific questions are typically handled by the program officers listed in the detailed program element write-up within NSPIRES.

What is the key administrative difference between this element and many other ROSES elements?

The key difference highlighted is that selections for this element are expected to result in contract awards (not grants), and proposals must be submitted through NSPIRES consistent with that approach.