This Call for Proposals solicits General Investigator proposals for the analysis of Roman data (including calibration data and data obtained by the WFI in parallel when the Coronagraph Instrument is prime), for new General Astrophysics Survey Observations, for theoretical or laboratory astrophysics research, and for analysis of publicly accessible ancillary data with direct relevance to Roman science. All proposals can contain a combination of the different types of analysis and /or new data described above. This section describes the different proposal types as well as the different proposal elements that each proposal needs to contain.

Proposal Categories

Proposals are categorized by the type of effort required, which should be commensurate with the level of funding requested. Cycle 1 proposals will be categorized as Small, Medium, or Large, corresponding to a funding request less or equal to $150K (Small), larger than $150K and less or equal to $450K (Medium), and larger than $450K (Large). For Cycle 1, the funding cap for Large proposals will be $1.2M.

The overall funding availability and the corresponding number of expected awards in each category is dependent on the final NASA funding availability.

Proposal Types

A proposal may contain any combination of the types of analysis and/or new observations, as described below.

Analysis of Roman WFI Data 

Analysis of Roman data from previously defined surveys is an integral part of the Roman project and is expected to provide substantial scientific returns. Proposals can request funding for the analysis of data that will be obtained in the first two years of operations. This includes the Core Community Surveys, the Galactic Plane Survey, the Touchstone Calibration Fields, and the WFI parallel fields observed when the Coronagraph Instrument is used as prime. The specific WFI pointings during parallel operations are not known prior to Cycle 1, though they are expected to use multiple filters and sum to roughly 90 days of data. Proposals may not request changes to the baseline parallel-observing plan. Science observations for a single target typically span one or more calendar days; the specifications of these observations will be made available in the Late Breaking News section of this Call. 

Proposers should familiarize themselves with the high level timeline for the execution of the different surveys during the first two years of observations; proposals to analyze data to be obtained beyond the first two years of operations will not be accepted. Proposals should take into account the availability of data products and lay out the scientific purpose of the investigation, the data that would be analyzed, the ability of the data to answer the science questions, and the proposed science returns. It is expected that most proposals accepted in Cycle 1 will fall into this category. 

New General Astrophysics Survey 

Proposals may also request new Roman WFI observations. These General Astrophysics Surveys can enhance/complement an existing survey or be a completely new survey. Up to six programs are expected to be selected from this category in Cycle 1. The following sub-sections contain references to the Roman Space Telescope observing guidelines, which can be found in Appendix: Additional Observing Guidelines.

Observing Time Available

About 25% of the science observing time available during the 5-year prime mission is devoted to new peer-reviewed or community-defined General Astrophysics Surveys. While the detailed timeline is not yet final and subject to change, the SSC expects to release three solicitations for new General Astrophysics Surveys among five calls for proposals during Cycles 1, 3, and 4. Roman is expected to carry out both Core Community and General Astrophysics Surveys starting in Cycle 1. It is expected that up to ~1200 hours of Roman observing time will be available for new GAS programs. We expect that no more than ~ six GAS programs will be selected.  

Targets of Opportunity

Targets of Opportunity (ToO) are transient phenomena whose timing and/or location on the sky are unpredictable. They include objects that can be generically identified before the onset of such phenomena (e.g., recurrent novae, variable stars) and predictable phenomena that can be expected, although whose precise timing cannot be specified a priori (e.g., newly discovered comets, novae, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts). Observations of such phenomena must be submitted as a Target of Opportunity (ToO) proposal in response to this Call. Observations of completely unanticipated phenomena can be requested through Discretionary Research (DR) procedures.

A ToO proposal must include an APT file with observation specifications for each ToO observation. The observation specifications in APT must be completed in as much detail as possible. The proposal must present a detailed plan of observations that will be implemented if the specific event occurs. Because of the significant impact that ToO observations place on telescope scheduling, no more than four ToO activations will be allowed in one year. Up to eight ToOs may be selected in Cycle 1.

It is expected that the time between a ToO activation and the execution of the ToO observations is up to two weeks, assuming the ToO observation does not have a conflict with other constrained programs planned for execution in the same timeframe. In cases where there is a conflict the PSO and the science centers will work with the PI to resolve it.

Additional information on Targets of Opportunity activation can be found in the Appendix.

Coordinated Observations

There is no opportunity in Cycle 1 to propose joint and coordinated observations with other observatories. The Roman Project is examining the feasibility of offering these options in the future.

Theoretical and Laboratory Astrophysics Investigations

The Roman project accepts proposals for Roman-related theoretical and laboratory astrophysics research. The proposed program should address a topic that is of direct relevance to Roman observational programs, providing a lasting benefit for current or future observational programs with Roman. The proposers are encouraged to make clear the direct relevance of the proposed investigation to Roman science, or to the interpretation of specific survey(s) where applicable. The results of the investigation should be made available to the community in a timely fashion. 

Analysis of Public Ancillary Data

The Roman project supports analysis of publicly accessible ancillary data with a direct connection to Roman science. The analysis of non-Roman data is allowable as a focus of the proposal, but only as needed to interpret and analyze Roman data. In this case, the proposer should clearly establish that the ancillary data are vital to the analysis of the Roman data, and are not themselves the primary object of the investigation.

Discretionary Research

Observations of unanticipated phenomena that cannot be proposed as a Target of Opportunity can be requested through the Discretionary Research (DR) time allocation. The primary utilization of DR time will be in support of exceptional, time-critical observing opportunities that cannot be accommodated within regular cycles. Other DR time usage may include unexpected transient phenomenon or other scientifically urgent case developed since the last proposal cycle. However, DR proposals will not be accepted before Roman launches. All questions should be sent to the Help Desk.

Scientists wishing to request DR observations can do so at any time after launch through the online DR proposal submission form on RTPS: http://rtps-roman.ipac.caltech.edu. The DR time requests must include a strong scientific justification, completed observation specifications produced by APT and must specify why the request could not be submitted as a proposal in the regular Call for Proposals cycle. Check the Late Breaking News for the latest policy regarding DR proposals after launch.