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The following guidelines apply to the preparation of proposals in response to an AO. The material is a guide for the proposer and not intended to be encompassing or directly applicable to the various types of proposals which can be submitted. The proposer should provide information relative to those items applicable or as required by the AO.

I. Cover Letter.
A letter or cover page should be forwarded with the proposal signed by the investigator and an official by title of the investigator's organization who is authorized to commit the organization responsible for the proposal.

II. Table of Contents.
The proposal should contain a table of contents.

III. Identifying Information.
The proposal should contain a short descriptive title for the investigation, the names of all investigators, the name of the organization or institution and the full name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator.

INVESTIGATION AND TECHNICAL PLAN

(a) Investigation and Technical Plan

The investigation and technical plan generally will contain the following:
(1) Summary. A concise statement about the investigation, its conduct, and the anticipated results.
(2) Objective and Significant Aspects. A brief definition of the objectives, their value, and their relationships to past, current, and future effort. The history and basis for the proposal and a demonstration of the need for such an investigation. A statement of present development in the discipline field.
(3) Investigation Approach
(i) Fully describe the concept of the investigation.
(ii) Detail the method and procedures for carrying out the investigation.
(b) Instrumentation
This section should describe all information necessary to plan for experiment development, integration, ground operations, and flight operations. This section must be complete in itself without need to request additional data. Failure to furnish complete data may preclude evaluation of the proposal.
(1) Instrument Description-This section should fully describe the instrumentation and indicate items which are proposed to be developed as well as any existing instrumentation. Performance characteristics should be related to the experiment objectives as stated in the proposal.
(2) Instrument Integration-This section should describe all parameters of the instrument pertinent to the accommodation of the instrument in the spacecraft, Spacelab, Shuttle Orbiter, Space Station, etc. These include, but are not limited to, volumetric envelope; weight; power requirements; thermal requirements; telemetry requirement; sensitivity to or generation of contamination (e.g., EMI gaseous effluent); data processing requirements.
(3) Ground Operations-This section should identify requirements for pre-launch or post-launch ground operations support.
(4) Flight Operations-This section should identify any requirements for flight operations support including mission planning. Operational constraints, viewing requirements, and pointing requirements should also be identified. Details of communications needs, tracking needs, and special techniques, such as extravehicular activity or restrictions in the use of control
thrusters at stated times should be delineated. Special communications facilities that are needed must be described. Any special orbital requirements, such as time of month, of day, phase of moon, and lighting conditions are to be given in detail. Describe real-time ground support requirements and indicate any special equipment or skills required of ground personnel.
(c) Data Reduction and Analysis
A discussion of the data reduction and analysis plan including the method and format. A section of the plan should include a schedule for the submission of reduced data to the receiving point. In the case of Space Science programs, the National Space Science Data Center, Greenbelt, MD, will be the repository for such data and the Department of Interior, Sioux Falls, SD, for earth observations data.

(d) Orbiter Crew and/or Payload Specialist Training Requirement

A description of the tasks required of each crew member (Commander, Pilot, Mission Specialist) or payload specialist should be provided, including the task duration and equipment involved. Indicate special training necessary to provide the crew members or payload specialist(s) with the capability for performing the aforementioned tasks.

MANAGEMENT PLAN AND COST PLAN

(a) Management Plan
The management plan should summarize the management approach and the facilities and equipment required. Additional guidelines applicable to non-U.S. proposers are contained herein:
(1) Management
(i) The management plan sets forth the approach for managing the work, the recognition of essential management functions, and the overall integration of these functions.
(ii) The management plan gives insight into the organization proposed for the work, including the internal operations and lines of authority with delegations, together with internal interfaces and relationships with the NASA major subcontractors and associated investigators. Likewise, the management plan usually reflects various schedules necessary for the logical and timely pursuit of the work accompanied by a description of the investigator's work plan and the responsibilities of the co-investigators.
(iii) The plan should describe the proposed method of instrument acquisition. It should include the following, as applicable.
(A) Rationale for the investigator to obtain the instrument through or by the investigator's institution.
(B) Method and basis for the selection of the instrument fabricator.
(C) Unique capabilities of the instrument fabricator that are not available from any other source.
(D) Characteristics of the proposed fabricator's instrument that make it an inseparable part of the investigation.
(E) Availability of personnel to administer the instrument contract and technically monitor the fabrication.
(F) Status of development of the instrument.
(G) Method by which the investigator proposes to:
(a) Prepare instrument specifications.
(b) Review development progress.
(c) Review design and fabrication changes.
(d) Participate in testing program.
(e) Participate in final checkout and calibration.
(f) Provide for integration of instrument.
(g) Support the flight operations.
(h) Coordinate with co-investigators, other related investigations, and the payload integrator.
(i) Assure safety, reliability, and quality.
(j) Provide required support for Payload Specialist(s), if applicable.
(H) Planned participation by small and/or minority business in any subcontracting for instrument fabrication or investigative support functions.
(2) Facilities and Equipment
All major facilities, laboratory equipment, and ground-support equipment (GSE) (including those of the investigator's proposed contractors and those of NASA and other U.S. Government agencies) essential to the experiment in terms of its system and subsystems are to be indicated, distinguishing insofar as possible between those already in existence and those that will be developed in order to execute the investigation. The outline of new facilities and equipment should also indicate the lead time involved and the planned schedule for construction, modification, and/or acquisition of the facilities.
(3) Additional Guidelines Applicable to Non-U.S Proposers Only
The following guidelines are established for foreign responses to NASA's AO. Unless otherwise indicated in a specific announcement, these guidelines indicate the appropriate measures to be taken by foreign proposers, prospective foreign sponsoring agencies, and NASA leading to the selection of a proposal and execution of appropriate arrangements. They include the following:

(i) Where a "Notice of Intent" to propose is requested, prospective foreign proposers should write directly to the NASA official designated in the AO.

(ii) Unless otherwise indicated in the AO, proposals will be submitted in accordance with this Appendix. Proposals should be typewritten and written in English. Foreign entities are generally not eligible for funding from NASA. Therefore, 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 (unless otherwise noted in the AO).
(iii) Persons planning to submit a proposal should arrange with an appropriate foreign governmental agency for a review and endorsement of the proposed activity. Such endorsement by a foreign organization indicates that the proposal merits careful consideration by NASA and that, if the proposal is selected, sufficient funds will be available to undertake the activity envisioned.

(iv) Proposals including the requested number of copies and letters of endorsement from the foreign governmental agency must be forwarded to NASA in time to arrive before the deadline established for each AO.

(v) Those proposals received after the closing date will be treated in accordance with NASA's provisions for late proposals. Sponsoring foreign government agencies may, in exceptional situations, forward a proposal directly to the above address if review and endorsement is not possible before the announced closing date. In such cases, NASA should be advised when a decision on endorsement can be expected.
(vi) Shortly after the deadline for each AO, the Program Office will advise the appropriate sponsoring agency which proposals have been received and when the selection process should be completed. A copy of this acknowledgment will be provided to each proposer.
(vii) Successful and unsuccessful proposers will be contacted directly by the NASA Program Office coordinating the AO. Copies of these letters will be sent to the sponsoring Government agency.
(viii) NASA's Office of External Relations will then begin making the arrangements to provide for the selectee's participation in the appropriate NASA program. Depending on the nature and extent of the proposed cooperation, these arrangements may entail:
(A) An exchange of letters between NASA and the sponsoring foreign governmental agency.
(B) An agreement or Memorandum of Understanding between NASA and the sponsoring foreign governmental agency.
(b) Cost Plan (U.S. Investigations Only)
The cost plan should summarize the total investigation cost by major categories of cost as well as by function.
(1) The categories of cost should include the following:
(i) Direct Labor-List by labor category, with labor hours and rates for each. Provide actual salaries of all personnel and the percentage of time each individual will devote to the effort.
(ii) Overhead-Include indirect costs. Usually this is in the form of a percentage of the direct labor costs.
(iii) Materials-This should give the total cost of the bill of materials including estimated cost of each major item. Include lead time of critical items.
(iv) Subcontracts-List those over $25,000, specify the vendor and the basis for estimated costs. Include any baseline or supporting studies.
(v) Special Equipment-Include a list of special equipment with lead and/or development time.
(vi) Travel-List estimated number of trips, destinations, duration, purpose, number of travelers, and anticipated dates.
(vii) Other Costs-Costs not covered elsewhere.
(viii) General and Administrative Expense-This includes the expenses of the institution's general and executive offices and other miscellaneous expenses related to the overall business.
(ix) Fee (if applicable).
(2) Separate schedules, in the above format, should be attached to show total cost allocable to the following:
(i) Principal Investigator and other Investigators' costs.
(ii) Instrument costs.
(iii) Integration costs.
(iv) Data reduction and analysis including the amount and cost of computer time.
(3) If the effort is sufficiently known and defined, a funding obligation plan should provide the proposed funding requirements of the investigations by quarter and/or annum keyed to the work schedule.
(4) Use of NASA funds. NASA funding may not be used for foreign research efforts at any level, whether as a collaborator or a subcontract. The direct purchase of supplies and/or services, which do not constitute research, from non-U.S. sources by U.S award recipients is permitted. Additionally, in accordance with the National Space Transportation Policy, use of a non-U.S. manufactured launch vehicle is permitted only on a no-exchange-of-funds basis.