The new ROSES-25 program element D.9 Habitable Worlds Observatory Instrument Concept Assessments (HWO-ICA), solicits proposals to support maturation of the HWO mission concept. The objective of HWO-ICA is to expand and deepen exploration of the HWO instrument trade space by developing and/or analyzing innovative instrument concepts and their scientific opportunity and performance, engineering feasibility and footprint, technology maturity and gaps, and associated risks

This program is intended to support the ongoing pre-formulation activities being conducted by the HWO Technology Maturation Project Office (HTMPO); the scope, deliverables, and timelines of HWO-ICA activities are therefore aligned to HTMPO’s concurrent mission concept maturation activities. This opportunity does not support development of flight hardware or support tools/systems and does not imply participation in future HWO mission development.

D.9 HWO-ICA  supports two categories of proposals:

• Category 1: Proposals led by U.S.-based institutions to conduct instrument concept assessments over a nominal ~2-year period (see Section 3.2.1)
• Category 2: Proposals to support U.S.-based individuals participating in currently ongoing instrument concept programs led and funded by non-U.S. institutions, for nominally up to ~2 years (see Section 3.2.2)

Selected proposals will be funded by firm-fixed-priced contracts or Interagency Agreements (see Section 3.7) to fulfill the obligations outlined in this opportunity (see Section 4) in the file starting “D.9” that is posted on the NSPIRES landing page for D.9 HWO-ICA.

Neither Notices of Intent (NOIs) nor Step-1 proposals are requested. Proposals are due by 14 October 2026. Proposals submitted to this program will be evaluated using dual anonymous peer review.

Please direct questions concerning D.8 HWO-ICA to Megan Ansdell at Megan.C.Ansdell@nasa.gov.