Answers to frequently asked questions about Applicant workflows:

GRID Questions

Q1: Can I request an extension for submitting my proposal?

A1: Extensions will not be given. TRISH suggests that you begin your proposal preparation early, familiarize yourself with the solicitation, and ensure that your authorized organizational representative (AOR or the PI) will be available to submit your proposal by the deadline.

Q2: Can a foreign citizen who is part of the faculty of a U.S. institution propose to the solicitation?

A2: Yes. The eligibility requirements of the solicitation apply to the proposing organization and not to the individual. However, it is possible that export control requirements must be taken into account for members of a proposing organization who are not U.S. citizens or do not have permanent resident status.

Q3: What do the various “proposal status” types mean?

A3: There are four different proposal status types.

• In progress, not yet submitted is a proposal that is in process. Only the PI (and any team member who has been granted privileges) can edit the cover page or upload documents in this status.
• An awarded proposal has been selected for funding.
• A declined proposal is returned by the organization to the PI.
• A submitted proposal has been submitted to TRISH by the PI/AOR.
• An under review proposal has been submitted to TRISH by the PI/AOR and is under programmatic Tier 1 or Tier 2 or external peer review.

Q4: What are the Guidelines regarding Intellectual Property for NASA and TRISH?

A4: TRISH does not retain intellectual property of any kind. Institutions awarded TRISH funding must report each invention disclosure or patent application resulting from their TRISH research grant to both TRISH and NASA within 60 days of 45 investigator disclosure to the home institution. For NASA: Submit either a hard copy of Form 1679 (see https://invention.nasa.gov/assets/downloads/nf1679.doc) to NASA Innovative Partnerships Office, Mail Code AF2, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058 OR submit online at https://ntr.ndc.nasa.gov. In the field designating contract number, please cite NNX16AO69A. For TRISH: In addition to reporting on intellectual property on the annual project report, please also send copies of the institutional invention disclosure AND NASA Form 1679 or the summary from the online disclosure at https://invention.nasa.gov via email to emmanueo@bcm.edu.

General Submission Questions 

Q1: How long until I hear back from TRISH regarding my proposal?

A1: TRISH will usually contact you within 8 weeks with our decision.

Q2: Who participates in the peer-review process?

A2: The reviewers are scientists that are scientific/technical subject matter experts in the research areas covered in the proposal.

Q3: How many times can I resubmit my proposal?

A3: TRISH may allow for one resubmission of the proposal, if programmatically relevant. The resubmission will also undergo peer-review. A score of NRFC (Not Recommended for Further Consideration) will not be allowed resubmission.

Budget Questions 

Q1: How can cost-sharing be contributed?

A1: Cost-sharing (at least 10%) may be contributed in cash or in-kind (non-cash contributions) provided by non-Federal third parties.

Q2: What can be covered under cost-sharing?

A2: Cost-Sharing examples:

• Salaries & benefits.
• Value of additional % effort contributed by PI.
• Equipment purchases.
• Supplies.
• Travel.
• Tuition fees.
• Indirect costs.
• Value of volunteer services towards the project.

Q3: What is the maximum indirect cost?

A3: Indirect costs are capped at the Federal negotiated rate (Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) negotiated rate).

Team members Questions

Q1: Is there a limit on the number of TRISH proposals on which I can be a PI or Co-I?

A1: There is no limit on the number of proposals submitted as PI or Co-I.

Q2: Is there a minimum acceptable time fraction for the PI and Co-Is?

A2: TRISH does not require a minimum time allocation from the PI but efforts must be clearly stated and justified in the proposal.

Guidelines for International Participation

a. Guidelines for International Team Members on U.S. Proposals

TRISH welcomes international team members on U.S. proposals. International collaborations that demonstrate clear scientific benefits or cost savings are particularly encouraged. Proposals with international participation that do not include an endorsement from a respective government agency or sponsoring institution in the foreign country may be declined without further review.

TRISH funding through this TRISH Research Announcement may not be used to support research efforts by non-U.S. organizations at any level; however, the direct purchase of supplies and/or services that do not constitute research from non-U.S. sources by U.S. award recipients is permitted. Additional information on international participation can be referenced at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf.

b. Guidelines for International Proposals

TRISH welcomes proposals from outside the U.S. However, foreign entities are generally not eligible for funding from TRISH. Therefore, unless otherwise noted in the solicitation, proposals from foreign entities should not include a cost plan unless the proposal involves collaboration with a U.S. institution, in which case a cost plan for only the participation of the U.S. entity must be included. Proposals from foreign entities and proposals from U.S. entities that include foreign participation must be endorsed by the respective government agency or sponsoring institution in the country from which the foreign entity is proposing. Such endorsement should indicate that the proposal merits careful consideration by TRISH, and if the proposal is selected, sufficient funds will be made available to undertake the activity as proposed.

All foreign proposals must be printed in English and comply with all other submission requirements stated in the solicitation. All foreign proposals will undergo the same evaluation and selection process as those originating in the U.S. All proposals must be received before the submission deadline. Those received after the submission deadline will be treated in accordance with NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Supplement 1852.235-72, paragraph (g) (https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf). Sponsoring foreign government agencies or funding institutions may, in exceptional situations, forward a proposal without endorsement if endorsement is not possible before the announced submission deadline. In such cases, the NASA sponsoring office should be advised before the relevant submission deadline when a decision on endorsement can be expected.

Successful and unsuccessful foreign entities will be contacted directly by the NASA sponsoring office. Copies of these letters will be sent to the foreign sponsor. Should a foreign proposal or a U.S. proposal with foreign participation be selected, NASA's Office of External Relations will arrange with the foreign sponsor for the proposed participation on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, in which NASA and the non-U.S. sponsoring agency or funding institution will each bear the cost of discharging their respective responsibilities.

Depending on the nature and extent of the proposed cooperation, these arrangements may entail:
(i)An exchange of letters between TRISH and the foreign sponsor; or
(ii)A formal Agency-to-Agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

TRISH’s policy is to conduct research with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative, no exchange-of-funds basis. Although co-investigators or collaborators employed by non-U.S. organizations may be identified as part of a proposal submitted by a U.S. organization, TRISH funding may not be used to support research efforts by non-U.S. organizations at any level. However, the direct purchase of supplies or services that do not constitute research from non-U.S. sources by U.S. award recipients is permitted.

See NASA FAR Supplement Part 1835.016-70 for additional information on international participation, which can be referenced at https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf.
Also see NASA Policy Directive 1360.2B Initiation and Development of International Cooperation in Space and Aeronautics Programs, which is located at
https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPD&c=1360&s=2B 

c. Assurance of Compliance – China Funding Restriction

All submitted proposals must comply with the following: Assurance of Compliance with The Department of Defense and Full-Year Appropriation Act, Public Law 112-10 Section 1340(a); The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriation Act of 2012, Public Law 112-55, Section 539; and future-year appropriations herein after referred to as “the Acts,” whereas:

a) TRISH and NASA are restricted from using funds appropriated in the Acts to enter into or fund any grant or cooperative agreement of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally with China or any Chinese-owned company, at the prime recipient level and at all sub-recipient levels, whether the bilateral involvement is funded or performed under a no-exchange of funds arrangement.

b) Definition: “China or Chinese-owned Company” means the People’s Republic of China, any company owned by the People’s Republic of China, or any company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China

c) The restrictions in the Acts do not apply to commercial items of supply needed to perform a grant or cooperative agreement.

d) By submission of its proposal, the proposer represents that the proposer is not China or a Chinese-owned company, and that the proposer will not participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally with China or any Chinese-owned company, at the prime recipient level or at any sub-recipient level, whether the bilateral involvement is funded or performed under a no-exchange of funds arrangement.

d. Export and Trade Control Guidelines Applicable to Proposals Including Foreign

Participation Proposals including foreign participation (including deemed exports to foreign nationals participating in the project within the US) must include a section discussing compliance with all U.S. export and trade laws and regulations (e.g., 22 CFR Parts 120-130 and 15 CFR Parts 730-774) and U.S. economic sanctions and embargoes as applicable to the circumstances surrounding the particular foreign participation. The proposer bears sole responsibility for compliance with all such laws and regulations. The discussion must describe in detail the proposed foreign participation and is to include, but not be limited to, whether or not the foreign participation may require the prospective investigator to obtain the prior approval of the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, or the Department of Treasury via a technical assistance agreement or a license, or whether a license exemption/exception may apply. If prior approvals via licenses are necessary, proposers should discuss whether the license has been applied for or, if not, the projected timing of the application and any implications for the schedule.

GCAM Appendix D 36. Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment. (Nov 2021)
(a) Grant and cooperative agreement recipients and subrecipients are prohibited from obligating or
expending grant funds to:

(1) Procure or obtain,
(2) Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or
(3) Enter into contract (or extend or renew contract) to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As described in Pub. L.115-232, section 889, covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

i. For the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).
ii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.
iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise, connected to the government of a covered foreign country.

Publication Requirements by Sponsor
GCAM Appendix D34 Access to Research Results (Nov 2021)

(a) This award is subject to the requirements of the, “NASA Plan: Increasing Access to the Results of
Scientific Research,” which covers public access to digital scientific data and peer-reviewed
publications. For purposes of this term and condition, the following definitions apply:

(1) Awardee: Any recipient of a NASA grant or cooperative agreement, its investigators, and
subrecipient (subaward or contract as defined in 2 CFR 200.1, Definitions) at any level.
(2) Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscript: The final text version of a peer-reviewed article disclosing
the results of scientific research which is authored or coauthored by the Awardee or funded,
in whole or in part, with funds from a NASA award, that includes all modifications from the
publishing peer review process, and all graphics and supplemental material prepared by the
awardee.

(b) The recipient shall:

(1) Comply with their approved Data Management Plan submitted with its proposal, and as
modified upon agreement by the recipient and NASA from time to time during the course of
the period of performance.
(2) Ensure that any Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscript is submitted to the NASA-designated
repository, currently the PubMed Central system at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/. NASA’s
instructions for completing the submission process are available at
https://www.nasa.gov/open/researchaccess/pubspace. Ensure that the Final Peer-Reviewed
Manuscript is submitted to PubMed Central within one year of completion of the peer review
process.
(3) Ensure that any publisher's agreements entered into by an Awardee will allow for the
Awardee to comply with these requirements including submission of Final Peer-Reviewed
Manuscripts to the NASA-designated repository, as listed in paragraph (b)(2) of this term
and condition, with sufficient rights to permit such repository to use such Final Peer-
Reviewed Manuscript in its normal course, including rights to permit users to download
XML and plain text formats.
(4) Hereby represent and warrant that Awardee has secured for recipient the right to submit the
Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscript to the NASA designated repository for use as set forth
herein.
(5) Include in annual and final reports a list of Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts covered by this
term and condition.

NASA's Safety Policy

TRISH has elected to adopt NASA’s safety policy. Safety is NASA’s highest priority. Safety is the freedom from those conditions that can cause death, injury, occupational illness, damage to or loss of equipment or property, or damage to the environment. NASA’s safety priority is to protect: (1) the public; (2) astronauts and pilots; (3) the NASA workforce (including employees working under NASA instruments); and (4) high-value equipment and property. All research conducted with TRISH funding shall conform to this policy.