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NSF EAR/IF (Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities) FAQs

1) What is the NSF Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities (EAR/IF) program?

EAR/IF is a National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity within the Division of Earth Sciences designed to strengthen the research infrastructure that supports basic Earth science discovery and education. It funds investigator-initiated proposals that build, modernize, or broaden access to tools, instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, and facilities needed for high-quality research and training in the geosciences.

2) What kinds of research does EAR/IF infrastructure need to support?

A central expectation is that the requested infrastructure will directly enable basic research on solid Earth and surface Earth processes. Proposals are also expected to show how the infrastructure will contribute to student training and broader human resource development in the geosciences.

3) What types of projects does EAR/IF support?

EAR/IF supports five main project types:

• Acquisition or upgrade of research equipment for laboratory or field investigations (including expanding hands-on student research training).
• Development of new instrumentation, analytical techniques, or software that extends capabilities beyond what currently exists.
• National or regional multi-user facilities that provide shared access to complex, expensive, or integrated instrument systems.
• Cyberinfrastructure (geoinformatics) projects applying/adapting/developing IT to enable advances in Earth science research and education (data systems, computing approaches, digital platforms).
• Early career investigator pathway to help emerging Earth science leaders bring new infrastructure online and operate it effectively.

4) What is the typical funding limit for equipment acquisition or upgrade proposals?

Equipment acquisition or upgrade requests are generally capped at $750,000. There is a separate, lower cap of $75,000 for upgrades specifically focused on research-group computing facilities.

5) What is the typical funding limit for developing new instrumentation, techniques, or software?

The development of new instrumentation, analytical techniques, or software also has a typical maximum request of $750,000.

6) Does EAR/IF support shared, multi-user facilities?

Yes. EAR/IF supports national or regional multi-user facilities that emphasize shared access to complex, expensive, or integrated instrument systems that are impractical for individual investigators or single institutions to maintain alone, but that can serve broad segments of the Earth science research and student communities.

7) What does EAR/IF mean by cyberinfrastructure (geoinformatics)?

In this program, cyberinfrastructure refers to geoinformatics projects that apply, adapt, or develop information technologies to enable transformative advances in Earth science research and education. Examples described at a high level include improved data systems, computing approaches, and digital platforms that make research more powerful, reproducible, and accessible.

8) What is the early career investigator pathway in EAR/IF?

EAR/IF includes a pathway for early career investigators intended to help the next generation of Earth science leaders bring new infrastructure online and operate it effectively. The opportunity description also highlights a special technical staffing option tied to certain equipment acquisition or upgrade proposals under this early career concept.

9) Can early career investigators request funding for a technician?

Yes. Under the early career investigator support concept tied to equipment acquisition or upgrade proposals, applicants may request funding for a new full-time technician dedicated to managing the instrument(s) being purchased or upgraded.

10) How long can the technician support last, and what are the annual limits?

Technician support is time-limited to three years and must follow a declining maximum annual schedule: up to $80,000 in Year 1, $60,000 in Year 2, and $40,000 in Year 3. The intent is to support rapid, reliable operation early on while encouraging planning for long-term sustainability beyond the initial ramp-up.

11) Are education and workforce development required parts of an EAR/IF proposal?

Yes. Education and workforce development are expected to be integrated into every proposal, not treated as optional add-ons. Proposals should include clear plans for training students and building skills in instrument use, data handling, and field or laboratory methods.

12) Does EAR/IF encourage broadening participation?

Yes. The program explicitly encourages efforts that broaden participation, including strategies to support underrepresented groups in gaining access to laboratory and field instrumentation, training opportunities, and facility resources.

13) Is outreach funding allowed, and if so, how much?

For certain proposal categories (equipment acquisition/upgrade, new instrumentation/techniques/software, and early career investigator proposals), applicants may include up to $10,000 for outreach activities. Examples mentioned include workshops, demonstrations, user training events, or public-facing engagement tied to the new infrastructure.

14) What award mechanisms can NSF use for EAR/IF?

Awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements. The mechanism depends on the nature of the project and the level of NSF involvement needed.

15) Can proposals be jointly reviewed or co-funded with other NSF units?

Yes. Proposals involving equipment, infrastructure, or personnel that significantly serve disciplines beyond Earth sciences may be jointly reviewed with other NSF programs. EAR/IF may also pursue co-funding with other NSF units when appropriate.

16) What is the estimated total funding and number of awards?

The archived opportunity information indicates an estimated total funding level of about $7,000,000 with an anticipated number of roughly 45 awards.

17) What are the minimum and maximum award sizes listed for the opportunity?

The archived listing reports an award floor of $1 and an award ceiling of $12,000,000. At the same time, specific category caps (such as the $750,000 limit for certain proposal types and the $75,000 cap for certain computing upgrades) may apply depending on what is being proposed.

18) Is cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant organization types may apply, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation.

20) When are proposals typically due?

The timeline information provided reflects target dates used during the active period of the solicitation, with recurring annual target dates historically centered around February and July (for example, the second Wednesday in February and a July date such as the third Monday or second Wednesday, depending on the year and category). The listing itself is archived, but it indicates the program has operated as a recurring infrastructure program with defined target dates.

21) Where were applicants directed for full solicitation details?

Applicants were directed to NSF Publication 09-517 for full details.

22) Who should applicants contact for access or submission issues?

For access or submission issues, applicants were directed to NSF's Grants.gov support contact.

23) What is the overarching purpose or expectation across all EAR/IF projects?

Across proposal types, the program emphasizes shared benefit through research enablement, education and training, and broader human resource development. The infrastructure requested should be clearly tied to enabling high-quality basic Earth science research (solid Earth and surface Earth processes) and expanding training and access for students and the broader community.