Opportunity Information: Apply for 06 569
Apply for 06 569
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biological Research Collections" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074 Biological Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2009 and posted on Mar 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Full Proposal Target Date(s) Fourth Friday in July, Annually. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 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 Proposals are accepted from U.S. organizations, including colleges and universities that maintain research collections, natural history museums including herbaria, and other collections administered by independent organizations or by state, county, or local governments non federal and non profit research organizations that maintain collections and field stations, marine laboratories, botanical gardens, zoological parks, and aquaria that maintain research collections that document biological diversity. The size of an organization is not a factor in determining eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Research Collections program is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category aimed at strengthening and modernizing biological research collections in the United States. Its main purpose is to ensure that collections documenting biological diversity remain well cared for, useful, and accessible for current and future research across the biological sciences. The program recognizes that specimens and associated physical and digital resources are core research infrastructure, supporting fields such as systematics, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, genomics, environmental change studies, and many other areas that rely on verified, well-documented biological materials.
The opportunity funds several major types of activities. One central area is collection enhancement, which can include improving the physical condition, organization, and long-term preservation of specimens and associated materials. Another major emphasis is the computerization of specimen-related data, reflecting the need to convert legacy records into usable digital formats and to strengthen the links between specimens and their metadata (such as taxonomy, locality, collection date, collector information, and other research-relevant attributes). The program also supports research that develops better methods for specimen curation and collection management, meaning it is not limited to routine digitization or storage improvements; it can also fund work that advances best practices, tools, and workflows for maintaining and managing collections. In addition, NSF allows proposals for community-oriented activities such as symposia and workshops that focus on the broader challenges of supporting, coordinating, and managing biological collections.
The scope of eligible collections is broad and includes traditional natural history collections (for example, museum specimens and herbaria) as well as jointly curated and specialized collections that complement specimen holdings. Examples specifically noted include frozen tissue collections and other physical samples, DNA libraries, and digital images. This framing signals that NSF is interested not only in the specimens themselves, but also in the related physical and digital resources that extend specimen value, enable new analytical techniques, and make collections more widely discoverable and reusable by the scientific community.
The estimated total funding for the program is about $6,000,000, with an expectation of around 25 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for institutions that may not have substantial non-federal funds available to contribute. The program is tied to CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences), indicating its placement within NSF's broader biology portfolio.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations that maintain qualifying research collections. This includes colleges and universities with research collections, natural history museums and herbaria, and collections operated by independent organizations or by state, county, or local governments. It also includes non-federal, non-profit research organizations that maintain collections and field stations, as well as marine laboratories, botanical gardens, zoological parks, and aquaria, provided they maintain research collections that document biological diversity. Importantly, the size of the organization does not affect eligibility, so smaller institutions can compete on the same basis as larger ones as long as they meet the collections and organizational requirements.
The proposal timing is structured around an annual target date: full proposals are due the fourth Friday in July each year. The source record lists an original closing date of July 24, 2009, but also clarifies the ongoing annual target date approach, which implies the opportunity functions as a recurring program rather than a one-time solicitation. The posting and creation dates in the record are March 2009, and the opportunity is associated with NSF publication 06-569 for the full program announcement and detailed guidance.
For access or technical issues, the listing directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, which is the primary contact route mentioned for problems accessing the announcement electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF Biological Research Collections program?
The NSF Biological Research Collections program is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category. It is designed to strengthen and modernize biological research collections in the United States so they remain well cared for, useful, and accessible for current and future research across the biological sciences.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program aims to ensure that collections documenting biological diversity are preserved and managed as core research infrastructure. NSF emphasizes that specimens and their associated physical and digital resources support a wide range of research areas that rely on verified, well-documented biological materials.
Why does NSF consider biological collections to be research infrastructure?
The program recognizes that specimens and associated resources are foundational inputs for research in areas such as systematics, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, genomics, and environmental change studies, among other fields. These materials provide verified references that can be revisited as methods and scientific questions evolve.
What kinds of projects or activities can be funded under this program?
The opportunity funds several major types of activities, including collection enhancement (improving physical condition, organization, and long-term preservation), computerization of specimen-related data (digitizing legacy records and strengthening links between specimens and metadata), research that develops improved methods for specimen curation and collection management, and community-oriented activities such as symposia and workshops focused on broader collections challenges.
What does "collection enhancement" mean in this program?
Collection enhancement can include efforts to improve the physical condition of specimens, increase organization and usability, and support long-term preservation of specimens and associated materials so they remain viable for research use.
What does NSF mean by "computerization" of specimen-related data?
Computerization refers to converting legacy specimen records into usable digital formats and improving connections between specimens and their metadata. Examples of metadata described include taxonomy, locality, collection date, collector information, and other research-relevant attributes.
Does the program support research on better curation and collection management methods?
Yes. The program is not limited to routine digitization or storage improvements. It also supports research that develops better methods, tools, best practices, and workflows for specimen curation and collection management.
Are workshops or symposia eligible for support?
Yes. NSF allows proposals for community-oriented activities such as symposia and workshops that address broader challenges related to supporting, coordinating, and managing biological collections.
What types of collections are included in the program's scope?
The scope is broad. It includes traditional natural history collections (such as museum specimens and herbaria) and also jointly curated and specialized collections that complement specimen holdings.
Are non-traditional or specialized collection resources eligible (for example, tissues or DNA libraries)?
Yes. Examples specifically noted include frozen tissue collections and other physical samples, DNA libraries, and digital images. This indicates NSF is interested in both specimens and related physical and digital resources that extend specimen value and enable reuse.
Is the program focused only on physical specimens?
No. The description highlights both physical specimens and associated physical and digital resources, including digital images and specimen-related data. The goal is to make collections more discoverable, usable, and accessible for research.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations that maintain qualifying research collections. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities with research collections, natural history museums and herbaria, and collections operated by independent organizations or by state, county, or local governments.
Are non-profit research organizations eligible?
Yes. Non-federal, non-profit research organizations that maintain collections and field stations are included among eligible applicants.
Can institutions like marine labs, botanical gardens, zoos, or aquaria apply?
Yes, provided they maintain research collections that document biological diversity. The eligible organization list explicitly includes marine laboratories, botanical gardens, zoological parks, and aquaria when they maintain qualifying research collections.
Does the size of the organization affect eligibility?
No. The size of the organization does not affect eligibility. Smaller institutions can compete on the same basis as larger institutions as long as they meet the organizational and collections requirements.
What is the total estimated funding available?
The estimated total funding for the program is about $6,000,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make?
NSF expects to make around 25 awards.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When are full proposals due?
Full proposals are due the fourth Friday in July each year, based on the annual target date described.
The record lists a July 24, 2009 closing date. Is this a one-time opportunity?
The source record lists an original closing date of July 24, 2009, but also explains that the program uses an ongoing annual target date (the fourth Friday in July). This implies it functions as a recurring program rather than a one-time solicitation.
Where can applicants find the full program announcement and detailed guidance?
The opportunity is associated with NSF publication 06-569, which is referenced as the source for the full program announcement and detailed guidance.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is tied to CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences).
What should I do if I have trouble accessing the announcement electronically?
For access or technical issues, applicants are directed to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
What kinds of specimen information does NSF expect to be linked during digitization/computerization?
The description specifically mentions strengthening links between specimens and metadata such as taxonomy, locality, collection date, collector information, and other research-relevant attributes.
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