The goal of NASA's Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology (EXOB) program is to understand the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe. Research is centered on the origin and early evolution of life, the potential of life to adapt to different environments, and the implications for life elsewhere. This research is conducted in the context of NASA's ongoing exploration of our stellar neighborhood and the identification of biosignatures for in situ and remote sensing applications.

This amendment delays the proposal due date for C.17 Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology (EXOB). To better synchronize the EXOB evaluation and selection cycle with the Federal budget process, Exobiology grants should start near the beginning of the Federal fiscal year (October 1). To achieve this, the Exobiology proposal due date will be moved to the June time frame. To minimize the impact of this move, it will be done in two steps. The first step is to move the due date for ROSES 2011 (this solicitation) to early March. NASA's ROSES-2012 call will not include a solicitation for Exobiology proposals. EXOB solicitations will resume in ROSES-2013, with a proposal due date of June 2013.