Status Report

NASA Solicitation: Research Opportunities in Fundamental Physics 9 Jul 2013

By SpaceRef Editor
July 9, 2013
Filed under , ,

Synopsis – Jul 09, 2013

General Information

Solicitation Number: NNH13ZTT002N
Posted Date: Jul 09, 2013
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jul 09, 2013
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
FedGrants Posted Date: Jul 09, 2013
Application Due Date Explanation: Notices of Intent are due on August 15, 2013, and proposals are due on September 25, 2013.
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712

Grant Specific Information

Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Funding Instrument Type: Procurement Contract
CFDA Number: 43.003
Cost Sharing or Matching Required: No
Estimated Total Program Funding: not available
Expected Number of Awards: 5
Ceiling Amount: none
Floor Amount: none
Funding Activity: Science and Technology and other Research and Development (ST)
Eligible Applicants: 99 – Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Link to Full Announcement: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/”>http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

Description This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits research proposals from Principal Investigators from U.S. institutions to participate in NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory facility on the International Space Station. The solicitation (NRA NNH13ZTT002N), entitled “Research Opportunities in Fundamental Physics,” will be available on or about July 11, 2013. The solicitation will be found by opening the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/”>http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and then linking through the menu listings “Solicitations” to “Open Solicitations.”

NASA’s fundamental physics research activities have been guided by recommendations from the National Research Council (NRC). The 2011 report “Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era” recommended a set of high priority areas in Fundamental Physics. In particular, “Recommended Program Element 3” of the report was for “Research Related to the Physics and Applications of Quantum Gases.” Another recommendation was for research that “expands understanding of the fundamental forces and symmetries of nature,” and such research may also benefit from ultra-cold atom sources. To address these recommendations, this NRA solicits fundamental physics research proposals from Principal Investigators from U.S. institutions to participate in NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) facility on the International Space Station (ISS) and engage in related research activities. CAL is a multi-user facility designed to study ultra-cold atoms and degenerate quantum gases in microgravity. Submitted research proposals are expected to propose activities related to:

1) flight research on ultra-cold atoms and degenerate quantum gases using the Cold Atom Laboratory; the flight investigation will have to be consistent with the flexibility and capability anticipated for CAL in its present design configuration, though minor modifications to the design suggested by PIs will be accommodated to the extent feasible;

2) ground research on ultra-cold atoms and quantum gases that can lead to future flight experiments with an upgraded CAL facility, as well as to future follow-on missions utilizing ultra-cold atoms and Bose-Einstein Condensates for fundamental physics measurements, especially atom interferometer experiments using ultra-cold atoms; or

3) collaboration with European scientists to use the German Aerospace Center (DLR) drop tower facilities in Bremen, Germany, to conduct experiments that will advance science and technology for future ultra-cold atoms research in space for both scientific investigations and technology validation relevant to CAL, cold atom physics, and future cold atom experiments in space.

Notices of Intent are due on August 15, 2013, and must be submitted electronically via the NSPIRES proposal data system (http://nspires.nasaprs.com/”>http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ ). Proposals are due on September 25, 2013, and they must be submitted electronically by an authorized official of the proposing organization using either NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com/”>http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ ) or Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/ ).

All categories of U.S. institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to this NRA. Principal Investigators (PIs) may collaborate with investigators from universities, Federal Government laboratories, the private sector, state and local government laboratories and other countries. Collaborative proposals from U.S. institutions that include international participation are eligible, provided NASA policies regarding the conduct of research with non-U.S. organizations are met.

Every organization that intends to submit a proposal in response to this NRA must be registered with NSPIRES, and such registration must identify the authorized organization representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal. Instructions on how to register in NSPIRES are provided in the NRA. Each electronic proposal system places requirements on the registration of principal investigators and other participants (e.g., co-investigators). Potential proposers and proposing organizations are urged to access the system(s) well in advance of the proposal due date(s) to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information. Questions with regard to responding to this NRA may be addressed to the contacts referenced in the full solicitation document.

This is a broad agency announcement as specified in FAR 6.102 (d)(2). Notwithstanding the posting of this opportunity at FedBizOpps.gov, nspires.nasaprs.com, or Grants.gov, NASA reserves the right to determine the appropriate award instrument for each proposal selected pursuant to this announcement.

For programmatic information for the NASA Fundamental Physics NRA: Name: Dr. Mark Lee Title: Senior Program Executive, ISS Fundamental Physics Program NASA Headquarters Email: mark.c.lee@nasa.gov Phone: 202-358-0816

For contract information for the NASA Fundamental Physics NRA: Name: Ken Albright Title: Contracting Officer Email: kenneth.e.albright@nasa.gov Phone: 228-813-6127

Point of Contact

Name: Mark Lee
Title: Senior Program Executive, ISS Fundamental Physics
Phone: 202-358-0816
Fax: 202-358-2886
Email: mark.c.lee@nasa.gov

Name: Kenneth Albright
Title: Grants Officer
Phone: 228-813-6127
Fax: 228-813-6434
Email: kenneth.e.albright@nasa.gov

SpaceRef staff editor.