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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR)

What is the NSF Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR) program?

CSBR is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity intended to strengthen and safeguard biological research collections that are important to the NSF Biological Sciences (BIO) research community. It focuses on practical, concrete work that protects existing collections, improves organization and curation, and makes associated data more reliably accessible for long-term scientific use.

Is CSBR meant to fund new biological research projects?

No. Based on the solicitation summary, CSBR is less about funding new research projects and more about ensuring that existing physical specimens and the information tied to them are secure, well-managed, and usable by researchers now and in the future.

What kinds of activities does CSBR fund?

CSBR supports three main categories of activities: (1) improving the security and organization of significant biological collections, particularly when there is an urgent need to prevent loss, degradation, or reduced usability; (2) securing and improving collections-related data so specimen information can be maintained accurately and accessed efficiently over the long term; and (3) transferring ownership of collections when collections are at risk due to institutional or operational challenges.

What does "improving security and organization" of collections mean in this program?

The program description emphasizes upgrades and improvements that stabilize collections and improve stewardship, especially where there is a clear and urgent need to prevent loss, degradation, or reduced usability. The goal is to keep materials scientifically valuable over time.

What does CSBR mean by improving collections-related data?

CSBR supports efforts to secure and improve collections-related data so specimen information remains accurate and can be accessed efficiently over the long term. This reflects the program's emphasis on the value of high-quality, well-structured metadata and digitized records that modern biological research depends on.

Does CSBR support transferring collections between institutions?

Yes. The program allows support for transferring ownership of collections, which may be critical if a collection is at risk due to institutional changes, funding gaps, staffing transitions, or facility constraints.

What kinds of biological collections are eligible under CSBR?

Eligible collections are broad and include both living and non-living resources that serve as foundations for biological research. Examples named in the opportunity include established living stock or culture collections, vouchered non-living natural history collections, and jointly curated ancillary collections such as preserved tissue collections and DNA libraries.

Are living collections eligible for CSBR funding?

Yes. The program includes established living stock or culture collections, such as maintained lines of organisms, microbial cultures, or other living materials that require sustained care and controlled conditions.

Are non-living natural history collections eligible?

Yes. CSBR includes vouchered, non-living natural history collections, such as preserved plants, animals, fossils, or other curated specimens where vouchers provide verifiable documentation and long-term reference value.

Do ancillary collections like tissues and DNA libraries qualify?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly recognizes jointly curated ancillary collections that are increasingly central to biological science, including preserved tissue collections and DNA libraries that complement traditional specimen holdings and support genetic, genomic, and evolutionary analyses.

What does CSBR expect proposals to demonstrate?

Proposals are expected to make a compelling case for why the work is necessary and why it is time-sensitive. They should also show that the proposed activities directly address the stated risks or vulnerabilities affecting the collections or their associated data.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for CSBR?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 15-577.

Which NSF directorate/community is this opportunity tied to?

The program is designed to support collections important to the NSF Biological Sciences (BIO) research community.

What is the activity category for this grant opportunity?

The activity category listed is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 47.074 (Biological Sciences).

How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?

NSF anticipated making about 20 awards.

What was the estimated total funding amount for CSBR?

The estimated total funding amount stated was $4,500,000.

Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement as a condition of eligibility. Applicants were not required to provide institutional matching funds, although proposers could still describe complementary support if relevant to feasibility and sustainability.

Who is eligible to apply for CSBR funding?

Eligibility includes several U.S.-connected organizational types involved in education and research. Eligible applicants include non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies associated with educational or research activities), state and local government entities (including state education offices or organizations and local school districts), and U.S.-accredited colleges and universities (including two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges) with a U.S.-located campus that submit proposals on behalf of their faculty members.

Can independent museums apply?

Yes. Independent museums are listed among the eligible non-profit, non-academic organizations associated with educational or research activities.

Can state or local government organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility description includes state and local government entities, including state education offices or organizations and local school districts.

Can community colleges or two-year institutions apply?

Yes. Eligibility includes U.S.-accredited colleges and universities, including two-year institutions and community colleges, as long as they have a U.S.-located campus and submit proposals on behalf of their faculty members.

Which agency administers CSBR?

The program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Where can applicants find the official publication details for this opportunity?

The full details were published in NSF Publication 15-577.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posted date was June 10, 2015. The original and current closing date was September 10, 2015.

Was this opportunity archived, and if so, when?

Yes. The archive date listed was September 9, 2020.

Who should applicants contact for help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov?

The notice referenced NSF Grants.gov support via grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for applicants needing help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov.