HerschelFORM PDFLaTeX package: This is the LaTeX package that must be used for OT2 proposal generation, this is mandatory. It consists of a template proposal form and associated LaTeX class and style files to ensure that all proposals will share a standard format and follow the page limit rules defined in this document. It is based on the ESOFORM LaTeX package, originally developed by the ESO User Support System (USS) Department, adapted to Herschel needs. The OT2 version 4.0 must be used.

HSpot: This is the software tool for planning Herschel observations and submitting proposals, which has been built starting from the tool originally developed for the Spitzer Space Telescope called 'Spot', thus 'Herschel-Spot' or simply 'HSpot'. HSpot allows you to design, plan, and optimise an observation, and to determine how much time will be required to execute it. In addition, it also includes visualisation tools to permit the general observer to see how proposed Herschel observations will be laid out on the sky. The look and feel of this tool is that of the Spitzer tool, but it has been fully adapted for Herschel. It also performs background and confusion noise estimation. HSpot can be downloaded from the HSC web pages.The OT2 version 6.0.0 must be used.

Herschel Reserved Observations Search Tool (HROST): This is a java-based web tool developed at the HSC to search the so-called 'Reserved Observations List'. This is a list consisting of those observations already accepted, which cannot be duplicated by OT2 proposals to be submitted (except for OT1p2 observations, see Section 5.5, “OT1p2 programmes”).

Herschel Duplication Checker (HDC): A standalone web-based tool that identifies all AORs in your proposal that potentially duplicate other approved science observations which are part of the ROL.