Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC) is a program element in Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES). ROSES, an "omnibus" solicitation, provides common guidelines and information in the 2022 Summary of Solicitation. Proposals submitted fewer than 90 days prior to the requested start date for the period of performance, i.e., when NASA funds will be needed to support the event, may be returned as noncompliant unless authorized prior to submission by the reviewing program(s).
reviewing program(s). Through TWSC, the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) solicits proposals from eligible organizations for their events, including asynchronous and virtual workshops, etc., that contribute to SMD's science, technology and exploration research goals. Proposal submission requires designation of at least one reviewing division or office. However, proposals that are relevant to more than one division are welcome.
TWSC awards primarily are grants made under the authority of 2 CFR 200. If necessary, as described in Section 3.4 of the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) "Determining Whether to Issue a Grant or Cooperative Agreement", NASA may choose to issue cooperative agreements. TWSC proposals align to 2 CFR § 200.432 Conferences, which includes meetings, retreats, seminars, symposiums, workshops or events with a primary purpose to disseminate technical information beyond SMD. Requesting support for ground transportation, meals or other sustenance may be allowable only when 1) reasonable and necessary to complete or deliver the event and 2) justified with evidence, e.g., meets an accessibility or a safety need. As needed, the costs of identifying, but not providing, locally available dependent-care resources are allowable.
Where other ROSES program elements specifically solicit for events, proposals must be submitted in response to those program elements instead of this one. The TWSC program element primarily solicits non-federal proposals for topical workshops, symposia, conferences, and other scientific or technical meetings (herein referred to as "events"). By definition TWSC events 1) are sponsored or hosted by a non-federal agency. (Note: examples of federal agencies include NASA centers and facilities) and 2) advance or align to the goals and objectives of one or more SMD funding Division or Office. Proposals that contribute to SMD's cross-divisional science, technology, and exploration goals also are solicited. When NASA and other civil servants propose to TWSC, the event that they proposed may be subject to limitations described in Section 4.7 "Within NASA, Inter-Agency and NASA-as Primary Sponsor Awards".
Proposals are not limited to traditional, e.g., in-person, meetings. Multi-faceted events 1) focused on or related to the application of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) or 2) that are culturally relevant to and focused on targeted populations, such as women, ethnic minorities, rural populations, persons with disabilities, etc. may be eligible when the proposal documents a specific contribution to SMD's goals. Nontechnical or general audience events that integrate NASA Science content into the arts or are science literacy focused are not eligible.
Proposals may be submitted at any time until May 12, 2023.
