With the expectation of re-installing RSS on SALT in March 2010, we are proceeding with plans for the subsequent initial commissioning phase, expected to take several months. The initial modes to be commissioned, in order of priority, are: long-slit, multi-object and Fabry-Perot spectroscopy. Polarimetric modes will only be commissioned later, following the repair of the beam-splitter mosaic.

While the RSS Instrument Team, in consultation with SALT Ast Ops, have put together a detailed commissioning plan with a variety of targets chosen to exercise the various instrument modes, we would like to expand the target list in order to always have the ability to have a target for any potential SALT observing window. For this reason, and also in recognition of the fact that astronomers in the consortium are champing at the bit to obtain data, we are making this current call for commissioning/performance verification proposals. Like for the previous calls for PV programs, these will be chosen by the Commissioning Team (including the instrument Principal Investigator and SALT Scientist) mostly on the basis of the following criteria:

• Applicability for "exercising" the respective instrument modes
• Object position(s) and how well filled an observing queue will be
• Practicality

As for the previous PV phase, the accepted proposals will be done on a "best-efforts" basis, without formally "charging" partners for the observations. In return we require the PIs of the proposals to provide rapid feedback to the Commissioning Team on their results, quantifying the relevant instrument mode performance. As with the previous policy regarding refereed science publications resulting from commissioning/performance verification observations, the instrument and commissioning teams should be include as co-authors. Details of these will be supplied shortly.

Note that the previous PV programs which were accepted, but not undertaken due to various reasons (mode unavailability, instrument or telescope under performance), or not completed, will not be carried over into this new commissioning/PV phase. Therefore PIs will need to resubmit such proposals with the new proposal submission tool (PIPT) if they wish these programs to be considered. The new tool will allow target, instrument and observation information to be populated in the science database, which is required for scheduling and conducting the observations.

The call for RSS commissioning/performance verification proposals opens on 15 Oct 2009 and the submission deadline is Friday 12 Feb midnight SAST 2010. Targets covering the entire sky may be chosen under the assumption that the observations will begin no earlier than April 2010.

To create and submit proposals, version 1.052 of the PIPT is needed, which is available at http://www.salt.ac.za/wm/ for downloading. The RSS Simulator and the Visibility Tool are available at http://www.salt.ac.za/proposing/observation-planning-tools/ as before. These applications require that Java 1.5 or higher is installed on your computer. An account on the Web Manager is necessary in order to submit proposals. If you haven`t got one already, you may register at https://www.salt.ac.za/wm/Register/

After proposal submission, you will need to use the Web Manager (http://www.salt.ac.za/wm/) to check your proposal and approve it. As always, your feedback on any of the above will be welcome and very much appreciated. Of course, help is only an email away. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please feel free to contact salthelp(at)salt.ac.za with your issue!

Special Concessions for Commissioning Proposals:

• MOS proposers do not need to include the slitmask file with their proposal. However, the onus will be on the PI to supply this file in a timely manner upon proposal acceptance, well in advance (at least two weeks) of the expected observation dates.
• It is strongly encouraged to include finding charts with the proposals. If PIs find this to be too onerous in their particular proposal, they may submit a dummy finding chart. In this case, as with MOS slitmask files, the onus will be on the PI to supply adequate finding charts in a timely manner upon proposal acceptance.
• All observations will come with a set of Default Calibrations. Additional calibrations may be requested in the PIPT using the "Comments" box in each Block.