ROSBio Appendix C: Solicitation of Proposals for Possible Inclusion in a Russian Bion-M2 Mission | NNH16ZTT001N BION

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ROSBio Appendix C (Solicitation Number NNH16ZTT001N-BION) is a NASA Research Announcement appendix under the broader Research Opportunities in Space Biology (ROSBio) 2016 Omnibus NRA (NNH16ZTT001N). Released around July 14, 2017, it seeks U.S.-led space biology flight investigations that could be integrated into the Russian Bion-M2 biosatellite mission, anticipated for a 2020 or 2021 launch timeframe. The core purpose is to let NASA put forward candidate experiments from U.S. investigators that match the flight experiment opportunities and constraints defined by Russia's Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) and the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), as described in Appendix C. In practical terms, NASA is looking for space biology studies that can fit within pre-defined Russian hardware, animal or biological model support, and mission operations concepts, so that selections can realistically be incorporated into Bion-M2 planning.

A major feature of this opportunity is its two-phase submission and review structure. Phase 1 requires a short preliminary submission (a pre-proposal) intended to screen ideas for mission compatibility before investigators invest the time and resources needed for a full proposal. NASA evaluates these pre-proposals, and IBMP/RAS may also review them to confirm they are suitable for the mission architecture and experiment designs. Only those pre-proposals that meet the Appendix C evaluation criteria are expected to receive an invitation to Phase 2. Phase 2 then consists of full proposals submitted at a later date, after additional Bion-M2 mission details become available. Those full proposals undergo NASA review focused on both scientific merit and technical feasibility, reflecting the reality that flight opportunities are constrained not just by science quality, but also by integration complexity, safety, schedule, and hardware/operations fit.

NASA notes that final project selection will be guided by the National Research Council's 2011 Decadal Survey, "Recapturing a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical Sciences Research for a New Era." This signals that the agency intends to prioritize research aligned with widely endorsed strategic needs in space life sciences, such as understanding biological responses to spaceflight stressors and generating knowledge relevant to long-duration exploration. While the summary text does not enumerate specific topical areas or model organisms, it makes clear that proposals must be tailored to the specific IBMP-provided experiment designs and Bion-M2 mission constraints laid out in Appendix C, rather than being open-ended space biology concepts.

For logistics, proposals must be submitted electronically by an authorized official of the proposing organization, using either NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or Grants.gov. Organizational registration in NSPIRES is required, and each submission depends on having the organization properly set up with identified authorized organizational representative(s). Principal investigators and all other participants must also be registered in the system. NASA emphasizes starting registration and system familiarization early, because missing registrations or incomplete participant profiles can delay or block submission close to the deadline. The solicitation is categorized as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2), and any resulting funding instruments would be grants or cooperative agreements rather than procurement contracts.

The key dates provided include the release date of July 14, 2017, and a pre-proposal deadline listed in the text as August 24, 2017 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with a later full proposal deadline "to be determined" (because it depends on when mission planning information matures). The accompanying source data also references an original closing date of September 21, 2017, reflecting that the posting contains multiple deadline references and that applicants needed to rely on the official Appendix C instructions in NSPIRES for the controlling dates. The appendix itself is accessed through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage in NSPIRES by navigating to open solicitations. Eligibility is described as "unrestricted" in the listing, but NASA points applicants back to the ROSBio-2016 Omnibus document for the full set of eligibility and participation requirements that apply across the ROSBio umbrella.

Finally, the solicitation provides points of contact for both programmatic and contracting questions. Scientific and program content is handled through NASA Headquarters by Dr. David L. Tomko, Program Scientist for Space Biology within the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division. Contracting and award administration questions are directed to Benjamin S. Benvenutti at the NASA Shared Services Center. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted call: it is not simply funding for general space biology, but a mechanism for NASA to identify U.S. investigations that can realistically fly on a specific international partner mission, using a phased process to ensure early alignment with Bion-M2 integration realities before full proposals are requested.

• The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ROSBio Appendix C: Solicitation of Proposals for Possible Inclusion in a Russian Bion-M2 Mission" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.003.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-07-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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