On or about March 11, 2016, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a draft solicitation for community review and comment entitled Draft 2016 Small Heliophysics Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO). Upon the release date, the full text will be available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.

The Heliophysics Explorers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations relevant to SMD's astrophysics programs. Explorer investigations must address NASA's goals to understand the sun and its interactions with the Earth and solar system, including space weather.

Participation is open to all categories of organizations or institutions, U.S. or non-U.S., including educational, industrial, and not-for-profit institutions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies.

The comment period for the Draft 2016 SMEX AO ends on April 8, 2016.

The issuance of the Draft 2016 Small Heliophysics Explorer AO does not obligate NASA to issue the 2016 Small Explorer AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to any of these draft solicitations are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.

Comments on the draft may be addressed in writing or by E-mail to the Heliophysics Explorer Program Scientist: Dr. Jeffrey Newmark, Heliophysics Division, Mail Suite 3M81, Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-0001, E-mail: [email protected] (subject line to read "SMEX AO"). Responses to all inquiries will be answered by E-mail and also posted weekly at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) location of the Heliophysics Explorer Program Acquisition website at http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/HPSMEX/; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.

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