Cooperative agreement notice - NASA astrobiology institute cycle 7

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a Cooperative Agreement Notice (NNH13ZDA017C) entitled NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Cycle 7. <p> The full text of the CAN can be found at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/ and by going to http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ choosing Solicitations, then Open Solicitations, and searching for NNH13ZDA017C or NASA Astrobiology Institute. <p> The goal of CAN Cycle 7 is to maintain a multidisciplinary institute by selecting focused, interdisciplinary teams that complement without replicating the strengths of the continuing teams. The teams selected in Cycle 7 will replace the teams selected in Cycle 5, whose five-year Cooperative Agreements are expiring. <p> Unlike previous CANs for the NAI, Cycle 7 will require a brief Step-1 proposal to be submitted by the Step-1 proposal due date. Based on a programmatic review of these Step-1 proposals, proposers will be encouraged to or discouraged from submitting a full proposal. Other changes to previous solicitations are described in sections 1.7 Open Access to Research Materials and Results and 4.6 Education and Public Outreach (E/PO). <p> Issuance of this CAN is dependent on programmatic factors, including NASA receiving an appropriation and operating plan containing adequate funding within the NASA Planetary Science Division budget. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this CAN are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk. <p> A preproposal conference will be held on September 30, 2013, at 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT) to provide interested parties with the opportunity to better understand the intent, scope, and selection criteria of this CAN. Information about the preproposal conference will be posted at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/can7/ . Programmatic questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted in writing or via E-mail no later than 10 days prior to the proposal due date to: <p> Dr. Mary Voytek Senior Scientist for Astrobiology/NAI Program Scientist Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Phone: (202) 358-1577 E-mail: CAN7@nasa.gov <p> Note that where appropriate, questions and answers will be made publicly available at the web site on which this CAN is posted. It is the responsibility of interested proposers to check for such information prior to the submission of their proposals.