The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has made an amendment to the ROSES-2024 annual solicitation seeking proposals for a consortium in biological sciences. This amendment is following the recommendation from a Senate Joint Explanatory Statement (JES) in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This consortium should be focused on biological science research with demonstrated expertise in space-relevant human health, animal, and plant sciences.

The Biological and Physical Science (BPS) Division recently published their decadal survey “Thriving in Space: Ensuring the Future of Biological and Physical Sciences Research: A Decadal Survey for 2023-2032.” Within this decadal survey, BPS has been directed to support certain key research themes, including:

• Adapting to Space;
• Living and Traveling in Space; and
• Probing Phenomena Hidden by Gravity or Terrestrial Limitations.

Applicants should follow these themes when submitting their proposals for the consortium. According to the JES, in the selection process of this consortium, NASA will consider institutions that have a demonstrated ability to execute federal research awards, particularly from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Applicants should also have a demonstrated federal research enterprise that could include the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Laboratories and Technology Centers. Proposals in response to this program element may be for ground-based research investigations, for collaborations that will promote research efforts to obtain funding from NASA or other organizations including other federal agencies, and/or for other activities that advance NASA’s established science interests in space-relevant human health, animal, and plant sciences. This program element requires an Inclusion Plan and proposals will be evaluated using dual anonymous peer review.

Eligibility: Academic institutions as well as non-profit organizations are eligible to submit a proposal. The consortium should include at least one Space Grant Consortia member. Ineligible applicants include those that reside in a state that is currently host to a NASA facility.

Award Information: A single award will be made of $2.5 million over five years.

Deadlines and Key Dates: Notices of Intent are required and must be submitted by June 17, 2024. Full proposals must be submitted by July 17, 2024. A pre-proposer’s town hall was held virtually on May 29, 2024 at 3:00PM ET. Details of this virtual meeting is posted on the NSPIRES homepage for this program element under “Other Documents.”

Source:
Lewis-Burke Associates – May 31, 2024