Announcements of Opportunity

Space Life Sciences Concept and Feasibility Studies 2004

No. 3 Release Date: October 10, 2004

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is pleased to announce opportunities for Canadian researchers to participate in a research program aimed at understanding the effects of the space environment on life. Specifically, research should be aimed at addressing the objectives of the Space Life Sciences program, which are:

• to use the unique environment of space to explore basic principles of biology and better understand life processes
• to better understand how biological systems and whole organisms, including humans, function, respond and adapt to the environment of space and readapt to conditions on Earth
• to obtain knowledge and develop technology to improve life on Earth and produce safer space travel

Please read the instructions concerning proposals carefully, as there are several changes from previous Space Life Sciences Announcements of Opportunity.

Areas of Interest and Eligibility

The Canadian Space Agency will accept proposals only in the following areas of interest:

• Bone demineralization
• Muscle loss
• Cardiovascular physiology or metabolism
• Developmental biology
• Radiation biology or dosimetry
• Neurophysiology
• Isolation or Multicultural Psychology

This opportunity is open to researchers from academia and industry in Canada. Academia includes universities, hospitals and non-governmental research institutes. Applications from other government departments will be considered provided that a mutually beneficial collaboration can be established between the Canadian Space Agency and the investigator's department.

Types of Studies

We recognize that the best place to study how life functions, responds, and adapts to the space environment is in space. It is vital to ensure that an internationally competitive Canadian research community is able to participate when opportunities arise for research in space. To encourage and nurture this research community, we support both concept and feasibility studies.

Concept studies acquire important background information that paves the way to a flight study or strengthens one. Such studies may be designed to test whether there is a gravity or space component to a biological phenomenon, or whether space is an appropriate environment for specific experiments.

Feasibility studies are the bridge between concept and space flight studies. They often involve experiments conducted in microgravity/space analogues or simulations. Feasibility studies test whether a question should be addressed in the space environment. Researchers may propose the use of simulations or analogues that are considered to be a ground facility, e.g., parabolic flight, clinostats, tumbling room and water immersion.

While there is no space flight component to these studies, all proposals must demonstrate a direct relationship to the use of space to answer critical scientific questions in one of the eligible areas of interest (below). Experiments utilizing Space Shuttle, Space Station or other space access are addressed in Announcements of Opportunity for International Flight Experiments that are periodically issued by the Canadian Space Agency.

Duration and Budgetary Guidelines

Financial support is available up to $85,000 ( which includes all costs, such as overhead, equipment, etc.) annually for a maximum of four years. Note that while the project may be up to four years long, the duration proposed must be appropriate for the work proposed.

Equipment may be included, if it is essential to the project, and may not exceed $50,000 for the duration of the contract. At the end of the contract, ownership of any purchased equipment will revert to the Crown.

All costs of producing anticipated contact deliverables (see below) should be included.

Principal investigators from universities may not include personal salary support in the budget although support for co-investigators and other personnel is permitted, and support for students and young researchers is encouraged.

Travel costs to attend conferences must not be included. The funding of graduate students under this Announcement of Opportunity will be permitted only if their supervisors write a letter to guarantee that the students will have the continuous support necessary to complete their graduate studies.

Deadlines

• The Letter of Intent must be received by November 15, 2004.
• Proposals must be received by December 17, 2004, 2:00 p.m. ET .
• Proposals will not be accepted after this time.
• Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile or electronic transmission.
• All proposals must be delivered to the proposal submission address (see below) on or before the due date. Receipt will be confirmed within three business days.
• Proposals received late will be returned unopened by post.

Deliverables

All contracts resulting from this Announcement of Opportunity shall include at least the following deliverables:

• three quarterly reports and one Annual Progress Report per year (five paper copies).
• a final report (five paper copies and one electronic copy).

In addition, although the following cannot logistically be included as contract deliverables, the Canadian Space Agency requests the receipt of the following, whether they occur during the term of the contract/study, or after its completion:

• copy of scientific papers subsequently published in peer-reviewed journals that may result from work done under this contract.
• description of awards resulting in whole or in part from work conducted under this contract.
• names of persons receiving post-graduate degrees using results wholly, or in part, conducted under this contract, and type of degree.

Letter of Intent

To facilitate processing, potential Principal Investigators are required to send a letter of intent confirming plans to submit a proposal. Please note that this letter of intent is not binding but must be received by November 15, 2004. A letter of intent of no more than two pages must contain:

• the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of a single principal investigator and all co-investigators
• a descriptive title of the research
• the area of focus of the research and whether a concept study or feasibility study is being proposed
• a brief summary of the proposed research
• the major participating institutions
• up to six key words that best describe the research area of the pending proposal
• the names and contact information for two potential reviewers

Letters of intent must be submitted electronically via e-mail to the following address: lifesciences@space.gc.ca.

The subject heading of the e-mail message should read "Space Life Sciences 2004 #3".

Proposal Requirements

Proposal format

1. Proposals should be prepared in 8.5" x 11" format with minimum 2 cm borders and 12 pt type.
2. The name of the principal investigator should appear on the upper right-hand corner of each page of the proposal.
3. Proposals may be submitted in either English or French.
4. Electronic submissions: PDF, MS Word, or ASCII documents are required. A single pdf file would be appreciated. Submission can be sent either as mail attachments or via ftp. For e-mail submissions, or for questions relating to electronic submission, please use: lifesciences@space.gc.ca. Please allow three business days for response to these emails.
5. In addition, six paper copies, including all elements such as figures and personal data forms, and containing all original signatures, are also required. Paper and electronic submissions must arrive by the proposal deadline.

Proposal elements

The following is a list of nine elements that each proposal must contain.

1. Cover pages / application form – Use the form provided in Appendix A-1 (pdf document or Word document). One of the paper copies must have original signatures.
   
   
2. Proposal abstract, 250 words, maximum.
   
   
3. Lay summary – A 250-word description of the proposal in lay terms that can be used to explain the project to the public.
   
   
4. Relevance to Space Life Sciences  – Indicate the area of focus. Note whether the proposal is a concept or feasibility study. Address specifically the relevance to space of the proposed research. One page, maximum
   
   
5. Experiment proposal – Describe the proposed study and include (nine pages, maximum):
   
   
   • a concise review of pertinent literature
   • the research objectives
   • the hypothesis
   • the experimental design
   • an analysis of design
   • the timeline including schedule and milestones
   • the references (not included in the page count for this section).
     
     
6. Facilities and equipment – List details on the facilities and equipment available to the investigators for the project. You must also list the equipment and facilities requested by the investigators for the project in the budget plan. One page, maximum.
   
   
7. Budget plan – The budget plan should cover the entire proposal. Use the form provided in Appendix A-2 (pdf document or Word document). Justify specific items as needed.
   
   
8. NSERC Personal Data form – A completed Personal Data Form 100 (PDF Document) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) should be provided for all research personnel. If possible, this should be submitted electronically as well as on paper, but paper-alone submissions of Form 100 are also acceptable.
   
   
9. Proof of approval or approval submission, if the research involves human or animal subjects, as follows:
   
   
   1. Human subjects:
      Proposals involving human subjects are required to include the approval of the review board of the researcher's institution. All such proposals should be in accordance with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. If approval cannot be obtained from the review board by the submission deadline then a letter from the review board must accompany the proposal, confirming receipt of the proposal and their intent to review. No proposal will be funded until all research reviews have been successfully completed and formal notification has been received by CSA.
      
      
   2. Vertebrate animals:
      Proposals involving vertebrate animals are required to include the approval of the review board of the researcher's institution. All such proposals should be in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines. If approval cannot be obtained from the review board by the submission deadline then a letter from the review board must accompany the proposal, confirming receipt of the proposal and their intent to review. No proposal will be funded until all research reviews have been successfully completed and formal notification has been received by CSA.

Contract Clauses

Due to the research and development nature of the proposed work, any contract that may result from this Announcement of Opportunity will be subject to the most recent General Conditions – Research and Development DSS-MAS 9624 (note that Employment Equity only applies to requirements over $200,000). Submission of a proposal acknowledges the Bidder's agreement with the application of the DSS-MAS 9624 General Conditions – Research and Development to the contract work. Any resultant contract will be negotiated and issued through Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

Any contract resulting from this Announcement of Opportunity will contain a clause pertaining to communications/public affairs defining contractor responsibilities and authorities. CSA retains the right to make primary contract announcements. Any subsequent contract-related announcements will be undertaken in cooperation with, and subject to, the approval of CSA.

The basis of payment for the contracts awarded from this Announcement of Opportunity will be firm, fixed-price, milestone payments. Annual milestones, such as the successful conclusion of the annual review and annual progress report, are preferable.

Proposals must identify any intellectual property that the proposed work is based on and any potential intellectual property that would result from the work.

Proposal Submission

All proposals should be submitted to:

Re: Space Life Sciences 2004, No. 3
Nicole D. Buckley, Director, Life and Physical Sciences
Space Science Program
Canadian Space Agency
6767 Route de l'Aeroport
Saint-Hubert, Quebec  J3Y 8Y9

Evaluation

1. Formal acceptance of the proposal and scientific review
   
   
   1. Acknowledgement of receipt of complete proposal
      
      CSA will perform an initial screening of the proposals received to ensure that they conform to the eligibility conditions, have arrived on or before the stated deadline, and meet the format and content requirements. The principal investigator will be informed whether the proposal has been accepted for formal review. Those whose proposals are not accepted will be informed of the reasons for not proceeding further.
      
      
   2. Science merit review
      
      The scientific merit of each proposal will be evaluated by external peer review. Subsequently, the final review panel will ensure consistency in review scoring and will either assign the proposal a numeric score from 0 to 4, based on the intrinsic scientific merit of the proposal, or determine that it is not recommended for further consideration. To determine that funded proposals will provide maximum benefit to Canadians, the final review panel will, in addition to scientific merit, also consider the following:
      
      • science team strength
      • relevance or requirement of the space environment
      • terrestrial application and benefits
      • efficiency and effectiveness
      • opportunities for students and young researchers
        
        
2. Programmatic review
   
   The cost and duration of the proposed study will be examined for appropriateness. Evaluation of the cost of a proposal includes reasonableness of the requested funds and whether these are available. Finally, CSA will determine the relevance of each proposal to specific program objectives and those of the Canadian Space Agency.

Proposal Checklist

Be sure to include:

• cover pages/application form with original signatures on one of the paper copies
• a proposal abstract
• a lay summary
• indications of the relevance to Space Life Sciences
  • specific area of focus 
  • whether proposal is a concept or feasibility study
  • relevance to space of proposed research
• the experiment proposal
• a list of facilities and equipment
• a budget plan (not exceeding $85,000 per year)
• an NSERC Personal Data Form 100 for each person involved
• the name of the principal investigator which must appear in the upper right of each proposal page
• six hard copies of the proposal
• an electronic copy of proposal on CD, or submitted via email
• approval for studies involving humans or animals, or confirmation that such a proposal has been submitted for approval.

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Nicole Buckley, Director, Life and Physical Sciences
Space Science Program
Canadian Space Agency
6767 Route de l'Aeroport
Saint-Hubert, Quebec  J3Y 8Y9

Telephone: (450) 926-4744
Fax: (450) 926-4766
Email: lifesciences@space.gc.ca