Fermi Science Support Center

Fermi Cycle 3: Proposals Due February 5, 2010

Appendix D.8 of ROSES-09, provides the definitive description the Fermi Cycle-3 Guest Investigator Program.

IMPORTANT! Properties of the Fermi GI Program

Investigations are to begin in the third year of Fermi's science observations, i.e., starting in mid August, 2010.

In Cycle 3 there will be two proposal classes: (1) Regular proposals with research plans that can be completed in one year and (2) Large proposals whose research plans are more expansive and may take up to three years to complete. Grants for regular proposals will be up to $100K with an average range of 50-80K, while large grants will be up to $200K per year with an average range of 100-200K per year. Large projects will be reviewed before each of the two cycles following the cycle of the initial award to determine if appropriate progress is being made toward the proposed objectives. It is anticipated that up to 3 new large projects will be selected for Cycle-3.

What the Fermi GI program is:

  • Fermi PIs can propose to:
    • Analyze GBM or LAT event data from the beginning of science operations.
    • Analyze higher level data released by the LAT: lightcurves and spectra of ~20 bright sources; light curves and spectra of transients; and a point source catalog.
    • Carry out pointed LAT observations. However, proposers should be aware that very strong science justifications will be required in view of the probable low additional scientific benefit of such observations—see the Fermi Users' Group (FUG) analysis at http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/proposals/pointing_analysis/. Pointed observations will follow the same open data policy as sky survey data, i.e., they will become public immediately.
    • Support correlated observations of gamma-ray sources at other wavelengths that are directly relevant to Fermi.
    • Perform theoretical studies of gamma-ray sources.
    • Observe Fermi-relevant sources on NRAO and NOAO facilities.
  • Fermi proposals may be submitted by investigators at both US and non-US institutions, but only PIs or Co-Is sited at US institutions may receive funding from NASA. Proposals without any investigators sited at a US institution will be evaluated (such an evaluation may assist an investigator obtain funding from a foreign funding agency), may result in a pointed LAT observation, or may be awarded NRAO and NOAO observing time.

Fermi's Cycle 3 proposal process will have two Phases. In Phase 1 you will submit a cover page and a scientific justification; the cover page (generated by a webform) will include a maximum budget cap and the scientific justification should include a brief management section that describes the resources required (e.g., FTE). The page limit for this section is 4 pages for a Regular proposal, and 6 pages for a Large proposal. An additional page describing proposed NRAO or NOAO observations must be added if you are applying under the 'joint proposal opportunity.' A peer review panel will review your Phase 1 proposal, and you will submit a Phase 2 budget proposal only if your Phase 1 proposal has been tentatively accepted.

PIs of Large projects approved in previous cycles must submit a progress report annually on the Phase 1 proposal due date (rather than on the anniversary of the award date). A Large project may be funded for a up to 3 years.

Proposal submission is fully electronic. No paper copies are required. For Fermi's Cycle 3, the Phase 1 (science/technical/management) proposals must be submitted via ARK/RPS. Phase 2 budget proposals will be submitted through NSPIRES. Both systems require simple registration before use—see below for details.