Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) (nsf24518)

Nationwide Science Basis

Directorate for Geosciences Division of Analysis, Innovation, Synergies, and Schooling

Directorate for Laptop and Data Science and Engineering Division of Data and Clever Techniques Workplace of Superior Cyberinfrastructure

Directorate for Mathematical and Bodily Sciences Division of Mathematical Sciences

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):

March 15, 2024

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

Proposers are strongly inspired to contact program director(s) from the listing of Cognizant Program Officers, within the Division(s)/Workplace(s) related to the scientific self-discipline(s) for which the proposed AI developments can be relevant, to determine the suitable focus and scope of supposed proposal submissions. Proposers also needs to rigorously assessment program necessities for this solicitation. These embody (however usually are not restricted to) the next:

Awards are anticipated to fund interdisciplinary groups of 2-3 lead collaborating Senior Personnel and related college students, postdoctoral researchers, analysis software program engineers, and/or comparable employees (see Part III, Award Data).
Tasks could also be as much as 3 years in length (see Part III, Award Data).
A person could also be designated as Senior Personnel (which incorporates however shouldn’t be restricted to PI or co-PI) on at most two proposals (see Part IV, Eligibility Data).
The solicitation limits eligible proposing organizations (see Part IV, Eligibility Data).
To appropriately determine proposal submissions related to this program, proposal titles ought to embody “CAIG:” (see Part V.A, Proposal Preparation Directions).
Proposals submitted to this solicitation should deal with three Particular Necessities (see Part II, Program Description). Textual content addressing these Particular Necessities must be offered within the Venture Description part of the proposal and must be organized below a single subheading for “Program Particular Necessities” or particular person subheadings for every of the three necessities listed (see Part V.A, Proposal Preparation Directions). Along with being evaluated for Mental Benefit and Broader Impacts, proposals will likely be evaluated on how efficiently they meet these three Particular Necessities (see Part VI.A, Benefit Evaluate Ideas and Standards).

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation must be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) that’s in impact for the related due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is commonly revised and it’s the duty of the proposer to make sure that the proposal meets the necessities specified on this solicitation and the relevant model of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal previous to a specified deadline doesn’t negate this requirement.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Normal Data

Program Title:

Collaborations in Synthetic Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG)

Synopsis of Program:

The Collaborations in Synthetic Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) program seeks to advance the event and adoption of progressive synthetic intelligence (AI) strategies to extend scientific understanding of the Earth system. This system helps initiatives that advance AI methods and/or progressive makes use of of refined or novel AI strategies to allow important breakthroughs in addressing geoscience analysis query(s). This system additionally helps efforts that improve adoption of progressive AI-driven approaches amongst geoscientists, together with by increasing entry to cyberinfrastructure (CI) and by constructing capability to be used of AI strategies amongst various teams and establishments.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please observe that the next data is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.

Raleigh L. Martin, GEO/RISE, phone: (703) 292-7199, e mail: [email protected]
Sylvia J. Spengler, CISE/IIS, phone: (703) 292-7347, e mail: [email protected]
Marlon Pierce, CISE/OAC, phone: (703) 292-7743, e mail: [email protected]
Jodi Mead, MPS/DMS, phone: (703) 292-7212, e mail: [email protected]
Eva E. Zanzerkia, GEO/EAR, phone: (703) 292-4734, e mail: [email protected]
Joseph Carlin, GEO/OCE, phone: (703) 292-8562, e mail: [email protected]
Maria P. Womack, GEO/AGS, phone: (703) 292-2620, e mail: [email protected]
Marc Stieglitz, GEO/OPP, phone: (703) 292-4354, e mail: [email protected]
Sean C. Kennan, GEO/OCE, phone: (703) 292-7575, e mail: [email protected]
Eric DeWeaver, GEO/AGS, phone: (703) 292-8527, e mail: [email protected]

Relevant Catalog of Federal Home Help (CFDA) Quantity(s):

47.049 — Mathematical and Bodily Sciences
47.050 — Geosciences
47.070 — Laptop and Data Science and Engineering

Award Data

Anticipated Kind of Award: Commonplace Grant or Persevering with Grant

Estimated Variety of Awards: 10 to fifteen

The estimated variety of awards signifies the variety of initiatives (together with collaborative awards) anticipated to be supported.

Anticipated Funding Quantity: $6,000,000 to $10,000,000

The anticipated funding quantity is the full for all awards by means of this program solicitation. Estimated program funds, variety of awards, and common award measurement/length are topic to the provision of funds.

Eligibility Data

Who Might Submit Proposals:

Proposals might solely be submitted by the next:

Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with group faculties) accredited in, and having a campus positioned within the US, appearing on behalf of their school members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal consists of funding to be offered to a global department campus of a US establishment of upper training (together with by means of use of subawards and advisor preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the undertaking of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the undertaking actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Impartial museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and comparable organizations positioned within the U.S. which might be immediately related to academic or analysis actions.
Different Federal Businesses and Federally Funded Analysis and Improvement Facilities (FFRDCs): Proposers should contact a program director from the listing of Cognizant Program Officers earlier than getting ready a proposal for submission. NSF-sponsored FFRDCs might submit, offered that they don’t seem to be together with prices for which federal funds have already been awarded or are anticipated to be awarded.

Who Might Function PI:

There are not any restrictions or limits.

Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:

There are not any restrictions or limits.

Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 2

A person could also be designated as Senior Personnel (which incorporates however shouldn’t be restricted to PI or co-PI) on at most two proposals. NSF’s definition for “Senior Personnel” is offered in PAPPG Exhibit II-3.

These eligibility constraints will likely be strictly enforced in an effort to deal with everybody pretty and persistently. Within the occasion that a person exceeds this restrict, proposals obtained inside the restrict will likely be accepted primarily based on earliest date and time of proposal submission (i.e., the primary proposal obtained will likely be accepted, and the rest will likely be returned with out assessment). No exceptions will likely be made.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions

A. Proposal Preparation Directions

Letters of Intent: Not required

Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required

Full Proposals:

B. Budgetary Data

C. Due Dates

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):

March 15, 2024

Proposal Evaluate Data Standards

Benefit Evaluate Standards:

Nationwide Science Board accredited standards. Extra benefit assessment standards apply. Please see the complete textual content of this solicitation for additional data.

Award Administration Data

Award Circumstances:

Commonplace NSF award circumstances apply.

Reporting Necessities:

Commonplace NSF reporting necessities apply.

Abstract of Program Necessities

Introduction
Program Description
Award Data
Eligibility Data
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
Proposal Preparation Directions
Budgetary Data
Due Dates
Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities

NSF Proposal Processing and Evaluate Procedures
Benefit Evaluate Ideas and Standards
Evaluate and Choice Course of

Award Administration Data
Notification of the Award
Award Circumstances
Reporting Necessities

Company Contacts
Different Data

I. INTRODUCTION

The NSF Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), in partnership with the Directorate for Laptop and Data Science and Engineering (CISE) and the Directorate for Mathematical and Bodily Sciences (MPS), seeks to handle grand problem issues throughout the geosciences by means of improvements in synthetic intelligence (AI) strategies. On this solicitation, the geosciences collectively check with the tutorial analysis communities supported within the Divisions of Ambiance and Geospace (AGS), Earth (EAR), and Ocean (OCE) Sciences, and within the Workplace of Polar Packages (OPP), inside GEO.

AI is intelligence that comes from any computational software, together with logic and resolution timber. AI approaches embody machine studying (ML) strategies that use optimization and statistical methods to allow machines to carry out duties and make discoveries after publicity to information. These are highly effective instruments for analyzing giant and sophisticated datasets, growing bodily fashions, expediting computation or scaling between fashions, or designing and deploying sensor networks.

AI strategies have been recognized as more and more necessary instruments for addressing grand problem issues within the geosciences. The 2022 Nationwide Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Drugs (NASEM) report, Subsequent Technology Earth Techniques Science on the Nationwide Science Basis, identifies the necessity for an built-in method to remark, computation, and modeling to speed up convergence for important scientific, societal, and academic targets. The NASEM report identifies alternatives and challenges in making use of AI approaches to evaluation of “huge information” from observations and mannequin outputs to advance understanding of complicated Earth methods. Distinct methodological wants related to understanding Earth methods and utilizing geosciences information also can inform and encourage new developments in AI, and AI-enabled analysis would require a workforce ready to know, use, and develop applicable AI methods.

One other set of rising points for progressive use of AI within the geosciences is bottlenecks to accessing these methods. On a technical stage, AI fashions are sometimes skilled and examined on giant datasets, which require information curation, storage, and specialised computational sources, resembling graphics processing models (GPUs). The Workplace of Superior Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the CISE Directorate helps shared cyberinfrastructure (CI) sources on this space (e.g., by means of the Superior Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Companies & Help (ACCESS) program and its related useful resource suppliers) and appears to tell a potential future Nationwide AI Analysis Useful resource (NAIRR). Geoscientists haven’t but realized the complete potential of those shared and current sources to hold out their AI purposes. Motivated by this subject, NSF’s Nationwide Discovery Cloud for Local weather (NDC-C) initiative is searching for to federate superior computing, information, software program, and networking sources in an effort to democratize entry to and enhance the usability of CI for climate-related science and engineering.

These useful resource entry challenges are compounded by restricted availability of academic alternatives for geoscientists in any respect profession levels to construct capability for adopting quickly evolving AI capabilities into their analysis workflows. These technical and capability bottlenecks could also be having the impact of proscribing use of superior AI to solely essentially the most well-resourced people and establishments. These bottlenecks might also hinder the power of geoscientists to understand and consider AI-enabled analysis outcomes, with potential implications for interpretability and reproducibility.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Collaborations in Synthetic Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) program seeks to advance the event and adoption of progressive synthetic intelligence (AI) strategies to extend scientific understanding of the Earth system. This system helps initiatives that advance AI methods and/or progressive makes use of of refined AI strategies to allow important breakthroughs in addressing geoscience analysis query(s). This system additionally helps efforts that overcome technical and/or capability bottlenecks to extend adoption of progressive AI-driven approaches amongst geoscientists, together with by increasing entry to cyberinfrastructure (CI) for AI-ready analyses, and by constructing capability to be used of AI strategies amongst various teams and establishments.

A main aim of this solicitation is to advertise partnership between geoscientists and consultants in mathematical sciences or laptop science to handle cutting-edge analysis that pushes the boundaries of the geosciences and AI. As such, this solicitation is a partnership between GEO’s Division of Analysis, Innovation, Synergies, and Schooling (GEO/RISE), CISE’s Division of Data and Clever Techniques (CISE/IIS) and Workplace of Superior Cyberinfrastructure (CISE/OAC), and MPS’s Division of Mathematical Sciences (MPS/DMS).

Main Priorities

This solicitation encourages submission of proposals in response to a number of of the next Main Priorities:

Enabling important breakthroughs in geosciences analysis query(s) by means of development in AI methods and/or progressive makes use of of refined AI strategies to beat geoscience analysis problem(s) or bottleneck(s).
Increasing entry to and usefulness of geosciences information and current cyberinfrastructure (CI), together with for coaching datasets and benchmarking, to allow progressive AI-driven approaches within the geosciences. This consists of (however shouldn’t be restricted to) efforts to federate and supply entry to CI for analysis on the intersection of AI and local weather science.
Constructing workforce capability for utilizing superior AI strategies within the geosciences by means of academic and broadening participation actions, with an emphasis on inclusion of traditionally underrepresented teams in science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) and under-served establishments, e.g., “non-R1” minority serving establishments (MSIs), two-year faculties (2YCs), primarily undergraduate establishments (PUIs), and rising analysis and masters stage establishments (see Carnegie Classification and Built-in Postsecondary Schooling Information System). Actions might deal with geoscience workforce growth throughout a variety of profession levels for which elevated experience on AI strategies will contribute to geoscience analysis discoveries. Capability-building actions must be pursued in tandem with actions for AI innovation and/or accessibility for the geosciences.

Past these main priorities, proposers might want to think about various applications:

Proposers pursuing easy purposes of current or “off the shelf” AI strategies to handle geoscience questions ought to think about proposal submission to the suitable disciplinary science applications inside GEO.
Proposers specializing in foundational AI analysis that makes use of geoscience purposes or datasets just for testing functions ought to think about proposal submission to applications inside CISE/IIS or MPS/DMS, relying on the particular use circumstances.
Proposers searching for to construct new CI ought to think about proposal submission to Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) or associated applications in CISE/OAC.
Proposers primarily targeted on enhancing CI literacy and expertise growth ought to think about proposal submission to the Coaching-based Workforce Improvement for Superior Cyberinfrastructure (CyberTraining) program.

For additional data on associated alternatives, see the GEO Cyberinfrastructure (GEO CI) internet web page: https://www.nsf.gov/geo/geo-ci/index.jsp.

Particular Necessities:

Along with responding to a number of of the Main Priorities described above, proposals submitted to this solicitation should deal with all three of the next Particular Necessities. Textual content addressing these Particular Necessities must be offered within the Venture Description part of the proposal and must be organized below a single subheading for “Program Particular Necessities” or particular person subheadings for every of the three necessities listed (see Part V.A, Proposal Preparation Directions). Along with being evaluated for Mental Benefit and Broader Impacts, proposals will likely be evaluated on how efficiently they meet these necessities (see Part VI.A, Benefit Evaluate Ideas and Standards):

Geosciences Development: Proposals should explicitly determine motivating science drivers and deal with how the proposed actions will advance geosciences analysis and/or training in response to those drivers. Tasks ought to reveal the potential to enhance understanding of the Earth system by means of the usage of AI approaches and/or to decrease boundaries for utilizing these approaches by others within the geosciences.
AI Impression: Proposals should describe the novel integration of AI strategies, together with any growth of latest strategies, and justify how proposed actions overcome important methodological and/or capability bottlenecks that inhibit analysis progress within the geosciences.
Partnerships: Proposed initiatives ought to include interdisciplinary groups of 2-3 lead collaborating Senior Personnel and related college students, postdoctoral researchers, analysis software program engineers, and/or comparable employees (see Part III, Award Data). Venture groups ought to represent significant partnerships between geoscientists and consultants in AI, arithmetic, statistics, laptop science, and/or cyberinfrastructure. Proposals ought to determine deliberate mechanisms for growing these partnerships, how partnerships will help the supposed Geosciences Development and AI Impression, and the way the partnerships will profit all undertaking contributors, together with pathways for cross-training college students and different researchers within the strategies to be pursued.

Using Shared Computing Assets:

This solicitation doesn’t help the event of latest laptop {hardware} capabilities or important {hardware} acquisition, nor does it help initiatives which might be primarily supposed to develop new CI. PIs are inspired to think about using the big selection of NSF-supported superior shared computing sources for his or her computational wants, together with the Superior Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Companies & Help (ACCESS) program and its related useful resource suppliers; the Partnership to Advance Throughput Computing (PATh) (https://path-cc.io/); and associated initiatives by means of NSF’s Workplace of Superior Cyberinfrastructure. PAPPG Chapter II.E.7 gives further data on accessing high-performance, cloud, and high-throughput computing sources, information infrastructure, or superior visualization sources. Along with these broadly accessible computing sources, proposers might also request particular allocations for high-throughput computing and/or cloud computing in tandem with their proposal submission. That is described in additional element within the Proposal Preparation Directions of this solicitation (Part V.A).

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Tasks could also be as much as 3 years in length. This program solicitation publicizes an preliminary 2024 competitors for Collaborations in Synthetic Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) proposals. Outcomes of this preliminary competitors, together with early outcomes from funded initiatives, will inform potential future funding alternatives for CAIG.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Who Might Submit Proposals:

Proposals might solely be submitted by the next:

Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with group faculties) accredited in, and having a campus positioned within the US, appearing on behalf of their school members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal consists of funding to be offered to a global department campus of a US establishment of upper training (together with by means of use of subawards and advisor preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the undertaking of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the undertaking actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Impartial museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and comparable organizations positioned within the U.S. which might be immediately related to academic or analysis actions.
Different Federal Businesses and Federally Funded Analysis and Improvement Facilities (FFRDCs): Proposers should contact a program director from the listing of Cognizant Program Officers earlier than getting ready a proposal for submission. NSF-sponsored FFRDCs might submit, offered that they don’t seem to be together with prices for which federal funds have already been awarded or are anticipated to be awarded.

Who Might Function PI:

There are not any restrictions or limits.

Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:

There are not any restrictions or limits.

Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 2

A person could also be designated as Senior Personnel (which incorporates however shouldn’t be restricted to PI or co-PI) on at most two proposals. NSF’s definition for “Senior Personnel” is offered in PAPPG Exhibit II-3.

These eligibility constraints will likely be strictly enforced in an effort to deal with everybody pretty and persistently. Within the occasion that a person exceeds this restrict, proposals obtained inside the restrict will likely be accepted primarily based on earliest date and time of proposal submission (i.e., the primary proposal obtained will likely be accepted, and the rest will likely be returned with out assessment). No exceptions will likely be made.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Directions

Full Proposal Preparation Directions: Proposers might decide to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation by way of Analysis.gov or Grants.gov.

Full Proposals submitted by way of Analysis.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation must be ready and submitted in accordance with the overall pointers contained within the NSF Proposal and Award Insurance policies and Procedures Information (PAPPG). The whole textual content of the PAPPG is out there electronically on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected]. The Put together New Proposal setup will immediate you for this system solicitation quantity.
Full proposals submitted by way of Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation by way of Grants.gov must be ready and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information: A Information for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Functions by way of Grants.gov. The whole textual content of the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information is out there on the Grants.gov web site and on the NSF web site at: (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). To acquire copies of the Utility Information and Utility Varieties Bundle, click on on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov website, then click on on the Apply Step 1: Obtain a Grant Utility Bundle and Utility Directions hyperlink and enter the funding alternative quantity, (this system solicitation quantity with out the NSF prefix) and press the Obtain Bundle button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Utility Information additionally could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected].

In figuring out which methodology to make the most of within the digital preparation and submission of the proposal, please observe the next:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from a number of organizations have to be submitted by way of Analysis.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 gives further data on collaborative proposals.

See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for steerage on the required sections of a full analysis proposal submitted to NSF. Please observe that the proposal preparation directions offered on this program solicitation might deviate from the PAPPG directions.

The next gives further steerage past that contained within the PAPPG or NSF Grants.gov Utility Information.

Title:

To appropriately determine proposal submissions related to this program, proposal titles ought to embody “CAIG:”.

Venture Abstract:

If high-throughput computing (HTC) sources are being requested, then the key phrase “HTCAccess” (one phrase with out house) must be included on the finish of the Overview part (earlier than the part on Mental Benefit) of the Venture Abstract web page. Equally, if cloud computing sources are being requested from CloudBank.org, then the key phrase “CloudAccess” (one phrase with out house) must be included on the finish of the Overview part (earlier than the part on Mental Benefit) of the Venture Abstract web page. Extra data on Excessive-Throughput and Cloud Computing Useful resource requests, together with further proposal preparation necessities for these requests, is offered beneath.

Venture Description:

All proposals should explicitly deal with inside the Venture Description how the undertaking meets all three Particular Necessities listed within the Program Description of this solicitation (Part II). Textual content addressing these Particular Necessities must be offered within the Venture Description part of the proposal and must be organized below a single subheading for “Program Particular Necessities” or particular person subheadings for every of the three necessities listed.

Supplementary Documentation:

Excessive-Throughput Computing Assets:

Proposals might request high-throughput computing (HTC) sources by means of the Partnership to Advance Throughput Computing (PATh) undertaking supported by NSF.

Proposers ought to describe the request in a Supplementary Doc not than two pages with a technical description of, and justification for, the requested HTC sources that features (a) the anticipated variety of self-contained duties per ensemble – observe that every job will be packaged into a number of batch job; (b) the useful resource necessities for every job kind within the ensemble – for instance, necessities for cores, reminiscence, wall-time, and scratch house; (c) the anticipated variety of ensembles; (d) the anticipated enter and output information necessities for every job kind; and (e) the anticipated quantity and measurement of shared enter recordsdata inside an ensemble – anticipated variety of occasions every file is learn per ensemble.

Proposers ought to embody “HTCAccess” (one phrase with out areas) as a key phrase on the Venture Abstract web page, on the finish of the Overview part (earlier than the part on Mental Benefit) if incorporating this request into the proposal. Proposers might go to the PATh credit score accounts internet web page (see https://path-cc.io/companies/credit-accounts/) for extra data on the accessible HTC sources which will be allotted by means of this program.

Cloud Computing Assets:

Proposals might request cloud computing sources to make use of public clouds resembling Amazon Net Companies (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Cloud computing sources described in proposals could also be obtained by means of an exterior cloud entry entity (CloudBank) supported by NSF’s Enabling Entry to Cloud Computing Assets for CISE Analysis and Schooling (Cloud Entry) program.

Proposers ought to describe this request in a Supplementary Doc together with: (a) which public cloud suppliers will likely be used; (b) anticipated annual and whole prices for accessing the specified cloud computing sources, primarily based on pricing presently accessible from the general public cloud computing suppliers; and (c) a technical description of, and justification for, the requested cloud computing sources. The proposal funds mustn’t embody the prices for accessing public cloud computing sources by way of CloudBank.

Proposers searching for CloudBank funds ought to embody “CloudAccess” (one phrase with out house) on the finish of the listing of key phrases within the Venture Abstract (earlier than the part on Mental Benefit). Proposers might contact CloudBank (see https://www.cloudbank.org/faq/) for session on estimating the prices for utilizing cloud computing sources.

B. Budgetary Data

Value Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary dedicated value sharing is prohibited.

C. Due Dates

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):

March 15, 2024

D. Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities

For Proposals Submitted By way of Analysis.gov:

To organize and submit a proposal by way of Analysis.gov, see detailed technical directions accessible at: https://www.analysis.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission.html. For Analysis.gov consumer help, name the Analysis.gov Assist Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected]. The Analysis.gov Assist Desk solutions common technical questions associated to the usage of the Analysis.gov system. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation must be referred to the NSF program employees contact(s) listed in Part VIII of this funding alternative.

For Proposals Submitted By way of Grants.gov:

Earlier than utilizing Grants.gov for the primary time, every group should register to create an institutional profile. As soon as registered, the applicant’s group can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov web site. Complete details about utilizing Grants.gov is out there on the Grants.gov Applicant Assets webpage: https://www.grants.gov/internet/grants/candidates.html. As well as, the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information (see hyperlink in Part V.A) gives directions relating to the technical preparation of proposals by way of Grants.gov. For Grants.gov consumer help, contact the Grants.gov Contact Middle at 1-800-518-4726 or by e mail: [email protected]. The Grants.gov Contact Middle solutions common technical questions associated to the usage of Grants.gov. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation must be referred to the NSF program employees contact(s) listed in Part VIII of this solicitation.

Submitting the Proposal: As soon as all paperwork have been accomplished, the Licensed Organizational Consultant (AOR) should submit the applying to Grants.gov and confirm the specified funding alternative and company to which the applying is submitted. The AOR should then signal and submit the applying to Grants.gov. The finished software will likely be transferred to Analysis.gov for additional processing.

The NSF Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov informational web page gives submission steerage to candidates and hyperlinks to useful sources together with the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information, Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov how-to information, and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Regularly Requested Questions. Grants.gov proposals should move all NSF pre-check and post-check validations in an effort to be accepted by Analysis.gov at NSF.

When submitting by way of Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends candidates provoke proposal submission a minimum of 5 enterprise days upfront of a deadline to permit enough time to handle NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting group’s native time on the deadline. Please observe that some errors can’t be corrected in Grants.gov. As soon as a proposal passes pre-checks however fails any post-check, an applicant can solely right and submit the in-progress proposal in Analysis.gov.

Proposers that submitted by way of Analysis.gov might use Analysis.gov to confirm the standing of their submission to NSF. For proposers that submitted by way of Grants.gov, till an software has been obtained and validated by NSF, the Licensed Organizational Consultant might examine the standing of an software on Grants.gov. After proposers have obtained an e-mail notification from NSF, Analysis.gov must be used to examine the standing of an software.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals obtained by NSF are assigned to the suitable NSF program for acknowledgement and, in the event that they meet NSF necessities, for assessment. All proposals are rigorously reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and normally by three to 10 different individuals exterior NSF both as advert hoc reviewers, panelists, or each, who’re consultants within the specific fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are chosen by Program Officers charged with oversight of the assessment course of. Proposers are invited to recommend names of individuals they imagine are particularly effectively certified to assessment the proposal and/or individuals they would favor not assessment the proposal. These recommendations might function one supply within the reviewer choice course of on the Program Officer’s discretion. Submission of such names, nonetheless, is non-obligatory. Care is taken to make sure that reviewers don’t have any conflicts of curiosity with the proposal. As well as, Program Officers might receive feedback from website visits earlier than recommending remaining motion on proposals. Senior NSF employees additional assessment suggestions for awards. A flowchart that depicts your entire NSF proposal and award course of (and related timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.

A complete description of the Basis’s benefit assessment course of is out there on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/merit_review/.

Proposers also needs to pay attention to core methods which might be important to the success of NSF’s mission, as articulated in Main the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Expertise Improvement and the Supply of Advantages from Analysis – NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 – 2026. These methods are built-in in this system planning and implementation course of, of which proposal assessment is one half. NSF’s mission is especially well-implemented by means of the combination of analysis and training and broadening participation in NSF applications, initiatives, and actions.

One of many strategic goals in help of NSF’s mission is to foster integration of analysis and training by means of the applications, initiatives, and actions it helps at tutorial and analysis establishments. These establishments should recruit, practice, and put together a various STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and take part within the U.S. technology-based financial system. NSF’s contribution to the nationwide innovation ecosystem is to offer cutting-edge analysis below the steerage of the Nation’s most inventive scientists and engineers. NSF additionally helps growth of a powerful science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) workforce by investing in constructing the data that informs enhancements in STEM educating and studying.

NSF’s mission requires the broadening of alternatives and increasing participation of teams, establishments, and geographic areas which might be underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is crucial to the well being and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is dedicated to this precept of range and deems it central to the applications, initiatives, and actions it considers and helps.

A. Benefit Evaluate Ideas and Standards

The Nationwide Science Basis strives to put money into a strong and various portfolio of initiatives that creates new data and permits breakthroughs in understanding throughout all areas of science and engineering analysis and training. To determine which initiatives to help, NSF depends on a benefit assessment course of that comes with consideration of each the technical points of a proposed undertaking and its potential to contribute extra broadly to advancing NSF’s mission “to advertise the progress of science; to advance the nationwide well being, prosperity, and welfare; to safe the nationwide protection; and for different functions.” NSF makes each effort to conduct a good, aggressive, clear benefit assessment course of for the collection of initiatives.

1. Benefit Evaluate Ideas

These rules are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when getting ready proposals and managing initiatives, by reviewers when studying and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program employees when figuring out whether or not or to not advocate proposals for funding and whereas overseeing awards. On condition that NSF is the first federal company charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in primary analysis and training, the next three rules apply:

All NSF initiatives must be of the best high quality and have the potential to advance, if not rework, the frontiers of data.
NSF initiatives, within the mixture, ought to contribute extra broadly to reaching societal targets. These “Broader Impacts” could also be completed by means of the analysis itself, by means of actions which might be immediately associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by means of actions which might be supported by, however are complementary to, the undertaking. The undertaking actions could also be primarily based on beforehand established and/or progressive strategies and approaches, however in both case have to be effectively justified.
Significant evaluation and analysis of NSF funded initiatives must be primarily based on applicable metrics, preserving in thoughts the doubtless correlation between the impact of broader impacts and the sources offered to implement initiatives. If the dimensions of the exercise is restricted, analysis of that exercise in isolation shouldn’t be more likely to be significant. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of those actions might greatest be executed at a better, extra aggregated, stage than the person undertaking.

With respect to the third precept, even when evaluation of Broader Impacts outcomes for specific initiatives is finished at an aggregated stage, PIs are anticipated to be accountable for finishing up the actions described within the funded undertaking. Thus, particular person initiatives ought to embody clearly acknowledged targets, particular descriptions of the actions that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to doc the outputs of these actions.

These three benefit assessment rules present the premise for the benefit assessment standards, in addition to a context inside which the customers of the standards can higher perceive their intent.

2. Benefit Evaluate Standards

All NSF proposals are evaluated by means of use of the 2 Nationwide Science Board accredited benefit assessment standards. In some cases, nonetheless, NSF will make use of further standards as required to focus on the particular goals of sure applications and actions.

The 2 benefit assessment standards are listed beneath. Each standards are to be given full consideration throughout the assessment and decision-making processes; every criterion is critical however neither, by itself, is ample. Due to this fact, proposers should totally deal with each standards. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). comprises further data to be used by proposers in growth of the Venture Description part of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly inspired to assessment the standards, together with PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), previous to the assessment of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will likely be requested to think about what the proposers need to do, why they need to do it, how they plan to do it, how they may know in the event that they succeed, and what advantages might accrue if the undertaking is profitable. These points apply each to the technical points of the proposal and the way in which through which the undertaking might make broader contributions. To that finish, reviewers will likely be requested to judge all proposals towards two standards:

Mental Benefit: The Mental Benefit criterion encompasses the potential to advance data; and
Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to learn society and contribute to the achievement of particular, desired societal outcomes.

The next components must be thought of within the assessment for each standards:

What’s the potential for the proposed exercise to
Advance data and understanding inside its personal discipline or throughout totally different fields (Mental Benefit); and
Profit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?

To what extent do the proposed actions recommend and discover inventive, unique, or doubtlessly transformative ideas?
Is the plan for finishing up the proposed actions well-reasoned, well-organized, and primarily based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to evaluate success?
How effectively certified is the person, group, or group to conduct the proposed actions?
Are there enough sources accessible to the PI (both on the dwelling group or by means of collaborations) to hold out the proposed actions?

Broader impacts could also be completed by means of the analysis itself, by means of the actions which might be immediately associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by means of actions which might be supported by, however are complementary to, the undertaking. NSF values the development of scientific data and actions that contribute to achievement of societally related outcomes. Such outcomes embody, however usually are not restricted to: full participation of girls, individuals with disabilities, and different underrepresented teams in science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM); improved STEM training and educator growth at any stage; elevated public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and expertise; improved well-being of people in society; growth of a various, globally aggressive STEM workforce; elevated partnerships between academia, business, and others; improved nationwide safety; elevated financial competitiveness of the USA; and enhanced infrastructure for analysis and training.

Proposers are reminded that reviewers may also be requested to assessment the Information Administration Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as applicable.

Extra Solicitation Particular Evaluate Standards

Proposals may also be evaluated on how efficiently they meet the Particular Necessities of the Program Description for this solicitation (Part II):

Geosciences Development: How do the proposed actions contribute to advancing geosciences analysis and/or training in response to motivating science drivers?
AI Impression: What novel integration of AI is proposed and does it overcome important methodological and/or capability bottlenecks that inhibit analysis progress within the geosciences?
Partnerships: Does the proposal embody mechanisms to develop significant interdisciplinary partnerships to help the supposed Geosciences Development and AI Impression? Will partnerships profit all undertaking contributors, together with pathways for cross-training college students and different researchers within the strategies to be pursued?

B. Evaluate and Choice Course of

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will likely be reviewed by Advert hoc Evaluate and/or Panel Evaluate.

Reviewers will likely be requested to judge proposals utilizing two Nationwide Science Board accredited benefit assessment standards and, if relevant, further program particular standards. A abstract score and accompanying narrative will usually be accomplished and submitted by every reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to handle the proposal’s assessment will think about the recommendation of reviewers and can formulate a suggestion.

After scientific, technical and programmatic assessment and consideration of applicable components, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether or not the proposal must be declined or really helpful for award. NSF strives to have the ability to inform proposers whether or not their proposals have been declined or really helpful for funding inside six months. Massive or significantly complicated proposals or proposals from new recipients might require further assessment and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or goal date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer’s suggestion.

After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals really helpful for funding will likely be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Help for assessment of enterprise, monetary, and coverage implications. After an administrative assessment has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers carry out the processing and issuance of a grant or different settlement. Proposers are cautioned that solely a Grants and Agreements Officer might make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No dedication on the a part of NSF must be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or group that makes monetary or personnel commitments within the absence of a grant or cooperative settlement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their very own danger.

As soon as an award or declination resolution has been made, Principal Investigators are offered suggestions about their proposals. In all circumstances, critiques are handled as confidential paperwork. Verbatim copies of critiques, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying data, are despatched to the Principal Investigator/Venture Director by the Program Officer. As well as, the proposer will obtain a proof of the choice to award or decline funding.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting group by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. Organizations whose proposals are declined will likely be suggested as promptly as potential by the cognizant NSF Program administering this system. Verbatim copies of critiques, not together with the identification of the reviewer, will likely be offered robotically to the Principal Investigator. (See Part VI.B. for added data on the assessment course of.)

B. Award Circumstances

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award discover, which incorporates any particular provisions relevant to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the funds, which signifies the quantities, by classes of expense, on which NSF has primarily based its help (or in any other case communicates any particular approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced within the award discover; (4) the relevant award circumstances, resembling Grant Normal Circumstances (GC-1)*; or Analysis Phrases and Circumstances* and (5) any announcement or different NSF issuance which may be integrated by reference within the award discover. Cooperative agreements are also administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Settlement Monetary and Administrative Phrases and Circumstances (CA-FATC) and the relevant Programmatic Phrases and Circumstances. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the group by way of e-mail.

*These paperwork could also be accessed electronically on NSF’s Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected].

Extra complete data on NSF Award Circumstances and different necessary data on the administration of NSF awards is contained within the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) Chapter VII, accessible electronically on the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

Administrative and Nationwide Coverage Necessities

Construct America, Purchase America

As expressed in Govt Order 14005, Guaranteeing the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Staff (86 FR 7475), it’s the coverage of the manager department to make use of phrases and circumstances of Federal monetary help awards to maximise, according to regulation, the usage of items, merchandise, and supplies produced in, and companies provided in, the USA.

In line with the necessities of the Construct America, Purchase America Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Division G, Title IX, Subtitle A, November 15, 2021), no funding made accessible by means of this funding alternative could also be obligated for an award except all iron, metal, manufactured merchandise, and building supplies used within the undertaking are produced in the USA. For added data, go to NSF’s Construct America, Purchase America webpage.

C. Reporting Necessities

For all multi-year grants (together with each normal and persevering with grants), the Principal Investigator should submit an annual undertaking report back to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days previous to the tip of the present funds interval. (Some applications or awards require submission of extra frequent undertaking stories). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI is also required to submit a remaining undertaking report, and a undertaking outcomes report for most of the people.

Failure to offer the required annual or remaining undertaking stories, or the undertaking outcomes report, will delay NSF assessment and processing of any future funding increments in addition to any pending proposals for all recognized PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs ought to study the codecs of the required stories upfront to guarantee availability of required information.

PIs are required to make use of NSF’s digital project-reporting system, accessible by means of Analysis.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and remaining undertaking stories. Such stories present data on accomplishments, undertaking contributors (particular person and organizational), publications, and different particular merchandise and impacts of the undertaking. Submission of the report by way of Analysis.gov constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are correct and full. The undertaking outcomes report additionally have to be ready and submitted utilizing Analysis.gov. This report serves as a short abstract, ready particularly for the general public, of the character and outcomes of the undertaking. This report will likely be posted on the NSF web site precisely as it’s submitted by the PI.

Extra complete data on NSF Reporting Necessities and different necessary data on the administration of NSF awards is contained within the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) Chapter VII, accessible electronically on the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Please observe that this system contact data is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.

Normal inquiries relating to this program must be made to:

For questions associated to the usage of NSF methods contact:

NSF Assist Desk: 1-800-381-1532
Analysis.gov Assist Desk e-mail: [email protected]

For questions regarding Grants.gov contact:

Grants.gov Contact Middle: If the Licensed Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not obtained a affirmation message from Grants.gov inside 48 hours of submission of software, please contact by way of phone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [email protected].

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

The NSF web site gives essentially the most complete supply of data on NSF Directorates (together with contact data), applications and funding alternatives. Use of this web site by potential proposers is strongly inspired. As well as, “NSF Replace” is an information-delivery system designed to maintain potential proposers and different events apprised of latest NSF funding alternatives and publications, necessary adjustments in proposal and award insurance policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences. Subscribers are knowledgeable by means of e-mail or the consumer’s Net browser every time new publications are issued that match their recognized pursuits. “NSF Replace” additionally is out there on NSF’s web site.

Grants.gov gives a further digital functionality to seek for Federal government-wide grant alternatives. NSF funding alternatives could also be accessed by way of this mechanism. Additional data on Grants.gov could also be obtained at https://www.grants.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The Nationwide Science Basis (NSF) is an unbiased Federal company created by the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the aim of the NSF is “to advertise the progress of science; [and] to advance the nationwide well being, prosperity, and welfare by supporting analysis and training in all fields of science and engineering.”

NSF funds analysis and training in most fields of science and engineering. It does this by means of grants and cooperative agreements to greater than 2,000 faculties, universities, Ok-12 college methods, companies, casual science organizations and different analysis organizations all through the US. The Basis accounts for about one-fourth of Federal help to tutorial establishments for primary analysis.

NSF receives roughly 55,000 proposals every year for analysis, training and coaching initiatives, of which roughly 11,000 are funded. As well as, the Basis receives a number of thousand purposes for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The company operates no laboratories itself however does help Nationwide Analysis Facilities, consumer amenities, sure oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic analysis stations. The Basis additionally helps cooperative analysis between universities and business, US participation in worldwide scientific and engineering efforts, and academic actions at each tutorial stage.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) present funding for particular help or gear to allow individuals with disabilities to work on NSF-supported initiatives. See the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information Chapter II.F.7 for directions relating to preparation of these kinds of proposals.

The Nationwide Science Basis has Telephonic Machine for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Data Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that allow people with listening to impairments to speak with the Basis about NSF applications, employment or common data. TDD could also be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The Nationwide Science Basis Data Middle could also be reached at (703) 292-5111.

The Nationwide Science Basis promotes and advances scientific progress in the USA by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for analysis and training within the sciences, arithmetic, and engineering.

To get the newest details about program deadlines, to obtain copies of NSF publications, and to entry abstracts of awards, go to the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314

For Normal Data(NSF Data Middle):

(703) 292-5111

TDD (for the hearing-impaired):

(703) 292-5090

To Order Publications or Varieties:

Ship an e-mail to:

[email protected]

or phone:

(703) 292-8134

(703) 292-5111

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The data requested on proposal kinds and undertaking stories is solicited below the authority of the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended. The data on proposal kinds will likely be utilized in reference to the collection of certified proposals; and undertaking stories submitted by proposers will likely be used for program analysis and reporting inside the Govt Department and to Congress. The data requested could also be disclosed to certified reviewers and employees assistants as a part of the proposal assessment course of; to proposer establishments/grantees to offer or receive information relating to the proposal assessment course of, award choices, or the administration of awards; to authorities contractors, consultants, volunteers and researchers and educators as essential to finish assigned work; to different authorities companies or different entities needing data relating to proposers or nominees as a part of a joint software assessment course of, or in an effort to coordinate applications or coverage; and to a different Federal company, courtroom, or get together in a courtroom or Federal administrative continuing if the federal government is a celebration. Details about Principal Investigators could also be added to the Reviewer file and used to pick potential candidates to function peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See System of Report Notices, NSF-50, “Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Related Data,” and NSF-51, “Reviewer/Proposal File and Related Data.” Submission of the data is voluntary. Failure to offer full and full data, nonetheless, might scale back the potential of receiving an award.

An company might not conduct or sponsor, and an individual shouldn’t be required to reply to, an data assortment except it shows a legitimate Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB) management quantity. The OMB management quantity for this assortment is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this assortment of data is estimated to common 120 hours per response, together with the time for reviewing directions. Ship feedback relating to the burden estimate and every other side of this assortment of data, together with recommendations for decreasing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Stories Clearance Officer
Coverage Workplace, Division of Establishment and Award Help
Workplace of Price range, Finance, and Award Administration
Nationwide Science Basis
Alexandria, VA 22314

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