Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II) | 80GSFC21R0003

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - GESTAR II (NASA GSFC Cooperative Agreement Notice)

1) What is the GESTAR II opportunity?

Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II) is a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) intended to select one partner to provide ongoing, long-term support for Earth science research programs within the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED) at GSFC.

2) Which NASA organization is running this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and supports work within the Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED), with the primary collaborator being the Earth Sciences Division (ESD) (Code 610).

3) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The funding opportunity number is 80GSFC21R0003, and the CFDA listing provided is 43.001.

4) What funding mechanism is being used?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism. That structure is intended to support substantial NASA involvement in the planning and execution of the work, with close collaboration and shared technical direction between the awardee and NASA scientists.

5) How many awards does NASA expect to make?

NASA indicated the intent to select one partner (a single award).

6) What is the overall purpose of GESTAR II?

The core purpose is to create a structured collaboration where the selected recipient works closely with NASA scientists to carry out investigations, studies, and related activities that advance NASA Earth Science strategic mission objectives, particularly focused on Earth science work at GSFC.

7) What kinds of work are supported under GESTAR II?

The emphasis is broad but centered on improving understanding of the Earth system and the processes that drive it, and strengthening the ability to observe, model, and predict how the Earth system evolves over time. The opportunity also highlights informational and computational sciences and technology development aligned to Earth science challenges and societal benefits.

8) What Earth system components are included in the scope?

The scope explicitly includes work related to key components of the Earth system, including the atmosphere, oceans, land, ice, and biosphere.

9) Does GESTAR II include Earth observations and modeling?

Yes. The opportunity includes improving Earth observations and modeling capabilities and advancing predictive skill as part of the overall research and support emphasis.

10) What is meant by “informational and computational sciences” in this opportunity?

Within the GESTAR II framing, informational and computational sciences refers to efforts that improve how Earth science data are managed, analyzed, assimilated, and used.

11) Is technology development part of GESTAR II?

Yes. Technology development is identified as a major pillar, including developing or maturing technologies needed to meet Earth science challenges and moving products and methodologies toward practical readiness so they can deliver public value and societal benefits.

12) Which NASA labs and offices can the recipient work with?

The opportunity is designed so the recipient can work across multiple ESD laboratories and offices, including:

• Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (Code 610.1)
• Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory (612)
• Climate and Radiation Laboratory (613)
• Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory (614)
• Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory (615)
• Ocean Ecology Laboratory (616)
• Hydrological Sciences Laboratory (617)
• Biospheric Sciences Laboratory (618)
• Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory (619)
• Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory (61A)

13) Are proposers expected to align their work to specific NASA needs?

Yes. NASA indicated that additional detail on objectives and research areas for each participating organizational element is provided in an attachment to the announcement. This implies proposers are expected to align their approach and staffing to those specific needs, rather than proposing unrelated or purely independent work.

14) What does NASA mean by “relationship-building” in GESTAR II?

NASA describes GESTAR II as a vehicle to strengthen cooperative relationships between the selected recipient and government scientists in the Goddard SED, and to broaden participation by the external science community in achieving NASA goals.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is open to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

16) Are Notices of Intent (NOIs) requested?

No. The notice specifies that Notices of Intent are not requested.

17) Is this a Request for Proposals (RFP)?

No. The notice stresses that it is not a Request for Proposals.

18) How can applicants submit questions?

All questions must be submitted in writing to the Contract Specialist, Joel Rivera, at Joel.Rivera@nasa.gov.

19) Are phone calls or oral communications allowed for questions?

No. The notice specifies that oral communications are not acceptable for questions, and telephone questions are explicitly not accepted.

20) When was NASA planning to release the CAN?

NASA planned to release the Cooperative Agreement Notice around October 15, 2020.

21) What was the original closing date shown for this opportunity?

The opportunity record shows an original closing date of October 12, 2020.

22) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The opportunity record lists an award ceiling of 0. In summary records, this often indicates that funding details are defined elsewhere in the notice or are not represented by a simple capped amount in the summary listing.

23) Where should applicants look for detailed objectives by lab or office?

NASA indicated that additional detail on objectives and research areas for each participating organizational element is provided in an attachment to the announcement.

24) What is the primary science focus area for GESTAR II?

The opportunity is specifically focused on Earth science work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), supporting research programs within SED and aligned to NASA Earth Science strategic mission objectives.