ROSES25: B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research

The Heliophysics Foundational Research program is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of its broader Heliophysics Research Program. The program is designed to support foundational scientific investigations that deepen understanding of the Sun-Heliosphere-Planetary system. Rather than focusing on operational forecasting or applied modeling, the program emphasizes first principle science, including uncovering physical mechanisms, system connectivity, and emergent behavior across spatial and temporal scales. The initiative aligns with priorities outlined in the Heliophysics Decadal Survey and supports NASA broader goals related to space exploration, including missions beyond low Earth orbit. The program specifically solicits Strategic Science Teams that address complex, high priority scientific challenges requiring coordinated, multidisciplinary collaboration. These teams are expected to integrate observational data, theoretical modeling, and simulation approaches to address key knowledge gaps. Research may include analysis of spacecraft data, ground based observations, or publicly available datasets, and may incorporate artificial intelligence or modeling tools when tied to observational validation. The program defines three primary research tracks, each with distinct scientific objectives and funding scales, focusing on solar dynamo processes, cross regime coupling in heliophysical systems, and the lunar working environment. Funding is structured around multi year awards with anticipated totals varying by research track. Awards are approximately 3 million dollars over three years, 4 million dollars over four years, or 1 million dollars over two years depending on the selected scientific team focus. Annual funding per award is approximately 1 million dollars or 500000 dollars for smaller tracks. Awardees are required to include a designated travel budget for a science showcase event and must comply with reporting requirements, including annual progress summaries and participation in program level dissemination activities. Eligibility is broadly defined to include organizations capable of assembling qualified multidisciplinary teams, including academic institutions, research organizations, and potentially other entities participating in federally funded research. Teams must demonstrate appropriate expertise and commit specified levels of effort, including minimum time commitments for principal investigators and co investigators. The program enforces strict rules on proposal submission, including limitations on the number of proposals per principal investigator and requirements for clearly defined team roles and responsibilities. The application process follows a two step submission model consisting of an initial Step 1 proposal followed by an invitation only Step 2 full proposal. The Step 1 proposal is a short, anonymized submission focused on scientific objectives, relevance, and methodology. Only selected applicants are invited to submit Step 2 proposals, which include detailed technical, management, and budget components. All submissions must comply with dual anonymous peer review requirements, ensuring that reviewer bias is minimized by withholding identifying information during evaluation. Evaluation criteria include scientific merit, methodological feasibility, and relevance to NASA strategic priorities. Proposals are assessed based on their potential to advance foundational heliophysics knowledge, the robustness of their methodology, and their alignment with specific strategic science team goals. Additional considerations include cost reasonableness and the ability of the team to achieve defined success metrics. Selected projects are expected to begin approximately six months after the proposal due date and must adhere to NASA reporting and data management requirements throughout the project lifecycle. The timeline for this opportunity includes a Step 1 proposal deadline of May 1, 2026, and a Step 2 deadline of September 25, 2026 for invited applicants. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle as part of the NASA ROSES solicitation framework. Interested applicants must submit proposals electronically through the NSPIRES system and follow all guidance provided in the solicitation documentation. Program contacts are available via a shared NASA email address for inquiries related to the opportunity.

Ensure strong alignment with SST objectives demonstrate clear scientific impact define measurable success metrics and maintain strict compliance with anonymization requirements