Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 535
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF) is designed to strengthen the broader atmospheric sciences community by expanding access to specialized research instrumentation and facilities. Instead of funding a single research project centered on one team, this program supports organizations that already operate unique instruments or facilities and are willing to make them available for use by the wider NSF-sponsored community. The overall goal is to increase the range and availability of tools that researchers can access for field campaigns and laboratory studies, which in turn supports new science, training opportunities, and public or community-facing outreach aligned with NSF priorities in atmospheric and geospace sciences.
CIF specifically targets instrument and facility providers, meaning the proposal focus is on operating and sharing an instrument or facility for community benefit rather than developing an entirely new instrument for one lab's exclusive use. Award support can cover limited technician time to help operate or maintain the equipment, minor upgrades that improve usability or reliability, and travel related to outreach and community engagement. A central expectation is that the instrument or facility will be made accessible through an NSF-defined request process, so the provider must be prepared to handle external requests, schedule usage, and enable equitable community access. Proposals funded under this solicitation are expected to promote research, education, and outreach in areas supported by the Atmosphere Section within NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), and applicants are encouraged to align their community-use instrument capabilities with the scientific needs represented in those AGS programs.
In terms of eligibility, proposals may only be submitted by US-based Institutions of Higher Education, including both two-year and four-year colleges and universities (community colleges are explicitly included), as long as the institution is accredited and has a campus located in the United States. Proposals are submitted by the institution on behalf of faculty members. If the proposed work includes funding that would flow to an international branch campus of a US institution (including via subawards or consultant arrangements), the proposal must clearly explain why activities at the international branch campus are beneficial and must also justify why those same activities cannot be performed at the US campus. There are no restrictions on who may serve as Principal Investigator (PI), which gives institutions flexibility in choosing the most appropriate leader for the instrument or facility effort.
Key funding details from the opportunity listing include an NSF opportunity number of 24-535, a grant funding instrument type, and a science and technology research and development activity category (CFDA 47.050). The original closing date listed is May 1, 2024. NSF anticipates making about 4 awards under this solicitation, with an award ceiling of $2,500,000, indicating that proposals may be substantial in scope when justified by community impact, operational needs, and the value of the instrument or facility being provided.Apply for 24 535
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences Community Instruments and Facilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF)
What is the NSF Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF) program?
The CIF program is an NSF funding opportunity designed to strengthen the broader atmospheric sciences community by expanding access to specialized research instrumentation and facilities. Rather than supporting a single research project run by one team, CIF supports organizations that already operate unique instruments or facilities and are willing to make them available to the wider NSF-sponsored community.
What is the main goal of CIF?
The main goal is to increase the range and availability of research tools that community researchers can access for field campaigns and laboratory studies. By expanding community access to instruments and facilities, CIF is intended to enable new science, training opportunities, and outreach aligned with NSF priorities in atmospheric and geospace sciences.
Who is CIF intended to support: researchers or instrument/facility providers?
CIF specifically targets instrument and facility providers. The proposal focus is on operating and sharing an instrument or facility for community benefit, rather than developing an entirely new instrument for one lab's exclusive use.
Does CIF fund a single research project for one team?
No. CIF is structured to support community access rather than a single, team-centered research project. The expectation is that the instrument or facility will serve a broader NSF-sponsored user community.
What kinds of instruments or facilities does CIF support?
Based on the program description, CIF supports specialized research instrumentation and facilities relevant to atmospheric and geospace sciences. The emphasis is on unique instruments or facilities that a provider already operates and can make available for broader community use.
What activities can CIF award funds be used for?
The opportunity indicates that award support can cover limited technician time to help operate or maintain the instrument or facility, minor upgrades that improve usability or reliability, and travel related to outreach and community engagement.
Can CIF funds be used for technician support?
Yes. CIF award support can include limited technician time to help operate or maintain the equipment.
Are upgrades to the instrument or facility allowed under CIF?
Yes, but the upgrades described are minor upgrades intended to improve usability or reliability of the community-use instrument or facility.
Can CIF funding support travel?
Yes. The solicitation notes that travel related to outreach and community engagement may be supported.
What is the expectation for community access to the instrument or facility?
A central expectation is that the instrument or facility will be made accessible through an NSF-defined request process. This means the provider must be prepared to handle external requests, schedule usage, and enable equitable community access.
Does CIF require an external request process for using the instrument or facility?
Yes. The description specifies that accessibility will be managed through an NSF-defined request process, and the provider should be ready to receive and manage requests from the broader community.
What does the provider organization need to be prepared to do if funded?
The provider should be prepared to (1) make the instrument or facility available to the broader NSF-sponsored community, (2) handle external requests, (3) schedule usage, and (4) support equitable access. The proposal should be oriented around these community-service expectations.
What research areas should proposals align with?
Funded proposals are expected to promote research, education, and outreach in areas supported by the Atmosphere Section within NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS). Applicants are encouraged to align the community-use instrument capabilities with the scientific needs represented in those AGS programs.
Is education and outreach part of the CIF program goals?
Yes. The program description highlights training opportunities and outreach (including public- or community-facing outreach) aligned with NSF priorities in atmospheric and geospace sciences.
Who is eligible to submit a proposal to CIF?
Eligibility is limited to US-based Institutions of Higher Education, including both two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Community colleges are explicitly included. The institution must be accredited and have a campus located in the United States.
Can a community college apply?
Yes. Community colleges are explicitly included among eligible US-based Institutions of Higher Education.
Does the institution need to be accredited and located in the United States?
Yes. The institution must be accredited and have a campus located in the United States.
Who submits the proposal?
Proposals are submitted by the institution on behalf of faculty members.
Are there restrictions on who can serve as Principal Investigator (PI)?
No. The opportunity states there are no restrictions on who may serve as PI, giving institutions flexibility in selecting the most appropriate leader for the instrument or facility effort.
What if the proposal includes work at an international branch campus of a US institution?
If the proposed work includes funding that would flow to an international branch campus of a US institution (including via subawards or consultant arrangements), the proposal must clearly explain why the international branch campus activities are beneficial and must justify why those activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
Does CIF allow subawards or consultant arrangements involving an international branch campus?
The information provided indicates that if funding would flow to an international branch campus through subawards or consultant arrangements, the proposal must include specific justification for why those activities are beneficial and why they cannot be performed at the US campus.
What is the NSF opportunity number for this solicitation?
The NSF opportunity number is 24-535.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The listing indicates the funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category/CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is science and technology research and development, and the CFDA number listed is 47.050.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is May 1, 2024.
How many awards does NSF expect to make under CIF?
NSF anticipates making about 4 awards under this solicitation.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling) under CIF?
The award ceiling is $2,500,000.
Does the award ceiling mean every award will be $2,500,000?
No specific requirement is stated that all awards must be at the ceiling. The listing indicates an award ceiling of $2,500,000, suggesting proposals may be substantial in scope when justified by community impact, operational needs, and the value of the instrument or facility being provided.
What makes a CIF proposal competitive based on the description?
Based on the information provided, strong proposals would emphasize community benefit by expanding access to specialized instruments or facilities, demonstrate readiness to manage an NSF-defined request process (including scheduling and equitable access), and clearly connect the instrument or facility capabilities to research, education, and outreach needs aligned with NSF AGS Atmosphere Section priorities.
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