ROSES25: B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), has released a funding opportunity under its Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025 omnibus solicitation. This specific program element, titled "B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research," is part of the broader ROSES initiative which aims to support a diverse array of basic and applied scientific research in space and Earth sciences. Administered by NASA Headquarters, this program falls under CFDA 43.001 and offers funding via grants or cooperative agreements to eligible institutions, primarily within the United States. The purpose of the B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research program is to advance the understanding of fundamental physical processes that drive the behavior of the heliosphere and its interaction with planetary environments. It supports studies that enable scientific exploration of the Sun and its influence on the solar system, particularly the Earth. Proposals should align with NASA’s heliophysics science objectives and demonstrate potential to contribute meaningfully to foundational knowledge. This program welcomes a range of investigations, from theory and modeling to analysis of observational data, as long as they support the program's core scientific goals. Eligibility for this opportunity is primarily limited to U.S.-based institutions registered with NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). While foreign institutions are not broadly eligible for funding, they may participate under a strict no-exchange-of-funds basis. Exceptions include specific instances where NRAs (NASA Research Announcements) are issued jointly with international organizations, particularly those involving coordinated space science programs. Proposals from non-U.S. institutions involving U.S.-based personnel may be considered if those personnel are requesting support from NASA, but must follow special instructions detailed in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). The application process for this program is structured in two steps. Step-1 proposals, which are required in order to advance to Step-2, are due on May 1, 2026. Step-2 proposals cannot be submitted without prior Step-1 submission, and the Step-2 due date will be announced at least 60 days in advance. Proposals will be evaluated using a dual-anonymous review process to minimize bias. Applicants must follow proposal formatting and content guidelines outlined in Section 2.4.2 of the ROSES solicitation and in the document "Guidelines for Proposers to ROSES DAPR Programs" available via the NSPIRES system. Although the final submission deadline for this program element is August 31, 2026, the Step-1 requirement serves as a gating mechanism for full proposal consideration. The standard period of performance for awards is three years, though specific durations may vary depending on the nature of the work proposed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use NASA’s standard Open Science Data Management Plan template to facilitate proper handling and sharing of scientific data. Funding will generally be awarded as grants, with cooperative agreements or contracts used only in specific cases depending on the scope and implementation needs of the proposed work. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review the final text of the call, which was officially released on February 3, 2026. Proposers may access program-specific documents by navigating to Tables 2 or 3 on the ROSES 2025 page. For additional guidance or to resolve questions, applicants can reach out to program officers Michele Cash, Galen Fowler, Reinhard Friedel, or Katya Verner via the shared email address [email protected]. General inquiries regarding the broader ROSES-2025 solicitation can be directed to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at [email protected].