ROSES 2025: A.7 Water Quality Applications

The NASA A.7 Water Quality Applications opportunity, under the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES-2025) framework, invites proposals for the development of decision-support tools that improve inland and nearshore coastal water quality management. Administered by NASA’s Earth Science Division through the Earth Action: Water Resources Program and the Earth Science to Action (ES2A) strategy, this funding opportunity is focused on enhancing the integration of NASA Earth observation data into environmental management and policy decision-making. The program prioritizes projects that are co-developed with decision-makers and address pressing water quality challenges such as pollution monitoring, stormwater and wastewater management, risk assessment, and coordinated transboundary water management. To be eligible, proposals must include at least one end-user representative with direct water quality decision-making responsibilities. This representative must be listed as either a Co-Investigator or Collaborator and be actively involved in the co-design and implementation of the project. End-user organizations may include water utilities, public and private water management entities, non-governmental organizations, and disaster response teams. While proposals from non-U.S. organizations are permitted, they must operate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. Federal agencies other than NASA, and FFRDCs excluding JPL, are ineligible for funding but may participate without compensation. Funding will be distributed across two activity types. Type 1 targets early-stage projects aiming to reach ARL 4 by project end, starting from ARL 2–3. These include feasibility studies, proof-of-concepts, and prototype tools. Type 2 proposals should begin at ARL 5 or higher and aim to reach ARL 8–9. These projects are intended for applications ready to move into operational use and require a Transition Plan that outlines the path for sustained use within end-user organizations. All projects must address three core components: Engagement and Needs Assessment, Solution Development and Testing, and Implementation and Evaluation. Proposal requirements are extensive. Applicants must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) before submitting a full proposal. Proposals must follow dual-anonymous peer review guidelines and include documents such as an anonymized science/technical/management (S/T/M) section, Open Science and Data Management Plan (OSDMP), End-User Description Form, redacted budget, and a separate Expertise and Resources document with team bios and current/pending support statements. NASA places a strong emphasis on team expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the potential for sustainable impact. NASA expects to award approximately $1.5 million annually, supporting 6 to 8 projects with a maximum duration of three years. The due dates for the NOI and full proposal are published in Tables 2 and 3 of the broader ROSES NRA. The expected project start date is approximately four months after the proposal due date. Additional resources, including FAQs, application guidance, and pre-proposal teleconference details, are available through the NSPIRES platform. Teleconference participation is open and does not require advance registration. For questions, the primary point of contact is Erin Urquhart, NASA Headquarters, who can be reached via email at erin.urquhart.jephson@nasa.gov or by phone at 202-909-9823. Proposals must be submitted electronically via NSPIRES, with hard copies not accepted. Applications will be assessed for relevance to NASA objectives, intrinsic merit, and cost, including the feasibility of implementation and the likelihood of achieving sustained operational use.

Engage end users early and meaningfully, adhere to dual-anonymous proposal formatting, and clearly define decision-making improvements.