Opportunity Information: Apply for 11 567
Apply for 11 567
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050 Geosciences 47.074 Biological Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 19, 2012 and posted on Jul 29, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2012 Full Proposal Deadline(s) October 19, 2012 Third Friday in October, Annually Thereafter. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. State and Local Governments State educational offices or organizations and local school districts. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections" (Funding Opportunity Number 11-567) focuses on strengthening the United States' national capacity to digitize and share data from existing vouchered biological and paleontological specimens held in scientific collections. The core aim is to enhance and expand a nationwide digital resource that captures high-value specimen information and images, making these materials easier for researchers and the public to discover, access, and use. By improving access to digitized collection data across the country, the program is designed to accelerate scientific research, support new technology-enabled analyses, and help address major biodiversity questions with more complete and usable baseline evidence.
A major emphasis of the program is the scientific importance of the information associated with physical specimens. Beyond simply recording that a specimen exists, the digitized records can include geographic location data, paleogeographic and stratigraphic context for paleontological materials, habitat and environmental details, phenology (timing of life cycle events such as flowering or migration), information on associated organisms, collector field notes, and even links to tissues and molecular data derived from specimens. Collectively, these types of data provide a foundational reference for studying biodiversity patterns, environmental change, evolution, species distributions, and other biological and geoscience topics. The program also highlights that digitization can reveal and help prioritize gaps in current knowledge about life on Earth, guiding future collecting, research, and conservation efforts.
The opportunity describes the national digitization effort as being organized at three interconnected levels: a central coordinating organization, multiple thematic networks built around major research themes, and the many physical collections where specimens are curated. This structure is intended to connect institutions and datasets into a more unified national resource rather than leaving digitized information scattered across isolated databases. The program explicitly builds on the significant prior national investment in the long-term curation of physical scientific collections and positions digitization as a way to multiply the impact of those collections for research and education. The resulting digital infrastructure is framed as an important tool for responding to contemporary biological challenges, including those that require large-scale data synthesis across regions, time periods, and organism groups.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, with ties to CFDA program areas 47.050 (Geosciences) and 47.074 (Biological Sciences). The estimated total funding referenced is $10,000,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $3,000,000 up to a ceiling of $10,000,000, and an expectation of around 12 awards. Cost sharing or matching is not required, which reduces barriers for institutions that may not have large pools of unrestricted funds to contribute.
Eligibility is broad across several types of U.S.-based organizations involved in research and education. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) applying on behalf of faculty; state and local government entities such as state education offices, related organizations, and local school districts; and non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with educational or research activities. The solicitation notes that additional eligibility details appear in the full announcement (NSF Publication 11-567), which applicants would need to consult to confirm organizational fit and any limitations on submissions.
Key dates in the source information indicate the opportunity was posted July 29, 2011, with proposal deadlines including October 31, 2011 and October 19, 2012, and a pattern of recurring deadlines on the third Friday in October annually thereafter (as stated in the notice). The archive date is October 19, 2012, reflecting the original lifecycle of that specific announcement record. For access issues with the announcement through Grants.gov, the notice provides NSF Grants.gov support via grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NSF program?
The opportunity is titled "Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections" and is identified as NSF Funding Opportunity Number 11-567.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is intended to strengthen the United States' national capacity to digitize and share data from existing vouchered biological and paleontological specimens held in scientific collections. The goal is to expand a nationwide digital resource that makes high-value specimen information and images easier to discover, access, and use for both researchers and the public.
What kinds of collections does the program focus on?
It focuses on scientific collections that hold vouchered biological specimens and paleontological specimens. The emphasis is on digitizing information from existing specimens already curated in collections.
What types of specimen information can be included in digitized records under this program?
Beyond confirming that a specimen exists, digitized records can include a wide range of associated data, such as:
- Geographic location data
- Paleogeographic and stratigraphic context (for paleontological materials)
- Habitat and environmental details
- Phenology information (for example, timing of flowering or migration)
- Information on associated organisms
- Collector field notes
- Links to tissues and molecular data derived from specimens
Why does NSF emphasize specimen-associated data, not just specimen images or counts?
The opportunity highlights that the scientific value of collections often comes from the rich information tied to physical specimens. Those data provide foundational reference evidence for research on biodiversity patterns, environmental change, evolution, species distributions, and other biological and geoscience topics.
How does digitization support scientific research and public use?
By improving access to digitized collection data nationwide, the program is designed to accelerate scientific research, support new technology-enabled analyses, and enable broader discovery and use of specimen-based evidence by researchers and the public.
How is the national digitization effort described as being organized?
The opportunity describes three interconnected levels:
- A central coordinating organization
- Multiple thematic networks built around major research themes
- The many physical collections where specimens are curated
This structure is meant to connect institutions and datasets into a more unified national resource rather than leaving digitized data in isolated databases.
What are "thematic networks" in the context of this program?
Thematic networks are described as networks organized around major research themes. They are part of the national structure linking the central coordinating organization with the physical collections that hold specimens.
How does the program relate to prior investments in physical collections?
The program explicitly builds on significant prior national investment in the long-term curation of physical scientific collections. Digitization is positioned as a way to multiply the impact of those collections for research and education by making specimen-based information broadly accessible.
What broader challenges or scientific questions does this program aim to help address?
The program frames digitized collection data as important baseline evidence for addressing major biodiversity questions and contemporary biological challenges, particularly those requiring large-scale data synthesis across regions, time periods, and organism groups.
Does the program mention benefits beyond making data more accessible?
Yes. It notes that digitization can reveal and help prioritize gaps in current knowledge about life on Earth, which can help guide future collecting, research, and conservation efforts.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding referenced is $10,000,000.
What is the expected range for individual award amounts?
Individual awards are referenced as ranging from a floor of $3,000,000 up to a ceiling of $10,000,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of around 12 awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this opportunity.
What type of NSF program is this from an administrative standpoint?
It is described as a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
Which CFDA program areas are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity notes ties to CFDA program areas 47.050 (Geosciences) and 47.074 (Biological Sciences).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad across several U.S.-based organization types involved in research and education, including:
- Accredited U.S. universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) applying on behalf of faculty
- State and local government entities, such as state education offices, related organizations, and local school districts
- Non-profit, non-academic organizations, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with educational or research activities
Are there additional eligibility details applicants should confirm?
Yes. The solicitation notes that additional eligibility details appear in the full announcement (NSF Publication 11-567). Applicants are expected to consult the full announcement to confirm organizational fit and any limitations on submissions.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 29, 2011.
What proposal deadlines are listed in the opportunity information?
The listed proposal deadlines include October 31, 2011 and October 19, 2012. The notice also describes a pattern of recurring deadlines on the third Friday in October annually thereafter.
What does the archive date mean for this announcement record?
The archive date is October 19, 2012, and it reflects the original lifecycle of that specific announcement record.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov access issues related to this announcement?
For access issues through Grants.gov, the notice provides NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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