NASA Astrobiology Institute Offers the Cycle 7 Cooperative Agreement Grant for Interdisciplinary Astrobiology Teams

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Cycle 7 Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) provides an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the NAI. The goal of CAN Cycle 7 is to maintain a multidisciplinary institute by selecting focused, interdisciplinary teams that complement without replicating the strengths of the continuing teams. The teams selected in Cycle 7 will replace the teams selected in Cycle 5, whose five-year Cooperative Agreements are expiring.

Now that the Government shutdown has ended, it is possible to identify new due dates that will ensure that Government proposers have time to prepare a response. The Step-1 proposal due date is changed to November 18, 2013. The Step-2 proposal due date is changed to February 19, 2014. The full text of the CAN is available electronically at http://nspires.nasaprs.com .

On or about October 18, 2013, this Amendment to the NAI Cycle 7 CAN will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com , or more directly at the NAI CAN NSPIRES homepage.

Questions specifically regarding this solicitation should be directed to: Dr. Mary Voytek, Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546; Phone: (202) 358-1577; E-mail: mary.voytek-1@nasa.gov

The full text of the CAN can be found at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/ and by going to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ choosing Solicitations, then Open Solicitations, and searching for NNH13ZDA017C or NASA Astrobiology Institute.

The goal of CAN Cycle 7 is to maintain a multidisciplinary institute by selecting focused, interdisciplinary teams that complement without replicating the strengths of the continuing teams. The teams selected in Cycle 7 will replace the teams selected in Cycle 5, whose five-year Cooperative Agreements are expiring.

Unlike previous CANs for the NAI, Cycle 7 will require a brief Step-1 proposal to be submitted by the Step-1 proposal due date. Based on a programmatic review of these Step-1 proposals, proposers will be encouraged to or discouraged from submitting a full proposal. Other changes to previous solicitations are described in sections 1.7 Open Access to Research Materials and Results and 4.6 Education and Public Outreach (E/PO).

Issuance of this CAN is dependent on programmatic factors, including NASA receiving an appropriation and operating plan containing adequate funding within the NASA Planetary Science Division budget. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this CAN are incurred completely at the submitter’s own risk.

A preproposal conference will be held on September 30, 2013, at 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT) to provide interested parties with the opportunity to better understand the intent, scope, and selection criteria of this CAN. Information about the preproposal conference will be posted at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/. Programmatic questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing or via E-mail no later than 10 days prior to the proposal due date to:

Dr. Mary Voytek
Senior Scientist for Astrobiology/NAI Program Scientist
Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Phone: (202) 358-1577
E-mail: CAN7@nasa.gov

Note that where appropriate, questions and answers will be made publicly available at the web site on which this CAN is posted. It is the responsibility of interested proposers to check for such information prior to the submission of their proposals.

The full text of the CAN can be found at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/ and by going to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ choosing Solicitations, then Open Solicitations, and searching for NNH13ZDA017C or NASA Astrobiology Institute.

The goal of CAN Cycle 7 is to maintain a multidisciplinary institute by selecting focused, interdisciplinary teams that complement without replicating the strengths of the continuing teams. The teams selected in Cycle 7 will replace the teams selected in Cycle 5, whose five-year Cooperative Agreements are expiring.

Unlike previous CANs for the NAI, Cycle 7 will require a brief Step-1 proposal to be submitted by the Step-1 proposal due date. Based on a programmatic review of these Step-1 proposals, proposers will be encouraged to or discouraged from submitting a full proposal. Other changes to previous solicitations are described in sections 1.7 Open Access to Research Materials and Results and 4.6 Education and Public Outreach (E/PO).

Issuance of this CAN is dependent on programmatic factors, including NASA receiving an appropriation and operating plan containing adequate funding within the NASA Planetary Science Division budget. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this CAN are incurred completely at the submitter’s own risk.

A preproposal conference will be held on September 30, 2013, at 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT) to provide interested parties with the opportunity to better understand the intent, scope, and selection criteria of this CAN. Information about the preproposal conference will be posted at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/. Programmatic questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing or via E-mail no later than 10 days prior to the proposal due date to:

Dr. Mary Voytek
Senior Scientist for Astrobiology/NAI Program Scientist
Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Phone: (202) 358-1577
E-mail: CAN7@nasa.gov

Note that where appropriate, questions and answers will be made publicly available at the web site on which this CAN is posted. It is the responsibility of interested proposers to check for such information prior to the submission of their proposals.