ROSES25: A.13 Accelerating Earth Solutions

The Accelerating Earth Solutions program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under its Earth Action initiative within the Earth Science Division. The program is designed to accelerate the practical application of Earth observing satellite data into real world decision making processes that address national priorities. It represents a consolidation of several previously separate program elements, including agriculture, disaster resilience, natural resources, health and air quality, water resources, wildland fire, energy systems, and infrastructure. The initiative emphasizes translating scientific advancements and remote sensing capabilities into actionable solutions that support resilience, economic growth, environmental stewardship, and public health across the United States. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that bridge the gap between Earth science data and operational decision making. Proposals are solicited across three distinct sub elements based on application maturity. The Needs and Opportunities track focuses on early stage engagement and identification of user needs and solution feasibility. The Solutions Development track supports the co development and validation of tools and applications ready for operational integration. The Scaling Impact track aims to expand and enhance existing decision support systems to reach broader audiences or incorporate additional capabilities. Each sub element has defined Application Readiness Level thresholds and varying project durations ranging from one to three years. Funding under this program is structured with maximum annual award limits depending on the sub element. Needs and Opportunities projects may receive less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year, Scaling Impact projects may receive less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars per year, and Solutions Development projects may receive less than four hundred thousand dollars per year. The overall program anticipates approximately ten million dollars in new awards annually with an estimated thirty to thirty five awards. Award durations are limited to one year for Needs and Opportunities, two years for Scaling Impact, and three years for Solutions Development. There is no stated cost sharing or matching requirement. All funded projects must comply with NASA open science policies, requiring that resulting data, software, and publications be made publicly available by the end of the performance period. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive of United States based institutions of all types, including academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, private sector for profit entities, and other non governmental organizations. Non United States organizations may participate only on a no exchange of funds basis, meaning they must secure separate funding for their portion of the work. Federal agencies other than NASA are not eligible to receive funding but may participate as unfunded collaborators. Projects must primarily benefit the United States, focusing on domestic applications or demonstrating clear relevance to national priorities. Additionally, proposals involving proprietary data or methods that cannot be publicly shared are explicitly ineligible. The application process requires submission through the NSPIRES system using anonymized proposal documents to support dual anonymous peer review. The central science technical management section is limited to ten pages and must adhere to strict formatting and anonymization guidelines. Required components include a detailed description of methodology, alignment with NASA Earth Action priorities, user engagement strategies, and plans for transitioning solutions into operational use. Additional documents include a budget narrative, open science and data management plan, and a separate non anonymized expertise and resources document. Proposals must also include participation from at least one end user representative for certain sub elements, ensuring alignment with real decision making needs. Applications are evaluated based on intrinsic merit, relevance to program objectives, and cost. Review criteria emphasize the potential for meaningful improvements in decision making, the quality of user engagement and solution design, technical feasibility, and alignment with national priorities. The program uses a dual anonymous peer review process to ensure fairness and reduce bias. Continued funding beyond the first year for multi year projects depends on performance assessments, including progress reports and demonstrated alignment with user needs and expected outcomes. The proposal deadline for the current cycle is October 15, 2026, with a pre proposal teleconference scheduled for August 31, 2026. Projects are expected to begin approximately three months after submission. The program is part of the broader NASA Science Mission Directorate strategy and aligns with the Earth Science to Action framework. The funding opportunity is expected to recur as part of the annual ROSES solicitation cycle, supporting ongoing advancement of Earth science applications in service of societal challenges.

Focus on strong alignment with decision making impact and user engagement demonstrate feasibility and scalability ensure compliance with anonymization and formatting requirements