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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Geotechnical Engineering (GTE) Program (Archived Solicitation PD 09 1636)

1) What is the NSF Geotechnical Engineering (GTE) program?

The NSF Geotechnical Engineering (GTE) program is a discretionary grant opportunity that supports fundamental, research-focused work in geotechnical engineering as it relates to civil infrastructure. The program’s focus is on advancing scientific and engineering understanding of how soil and rock interact with built systems, and how those interactions can be understood, predicted, and managed to improve infrastructure performance over its full life cycle.

2) What types of research does the program prioritize?

Based on the description provided, the program supports fundamental research that strengthens the underlying science and engineering of geotechnical systems, especially as they relate to civil infrastructure performance, sustainability, and resilience across the infrastructure life cycle.

3) Which geotechnical subfields are explicitly included in the scope?

The program description highlights multiple major subfields of geotechnical engineering, including:

• Foundation engineering
• Site characterization and subsurface investigation methods
• Underground construction
• Tunneling
• Drilling
• Mining engineering

4) Does the program include geoenvironmental engineering?

Yes. The scope explicitly includes geoenvironmental engineering. This reflects NSF interest in work connecting geotechnics with environmental protection, waste containment, remediation, and broader environmental impacts of subsurface systems.

5) Are geotechnical hazards and extreme events within the program scope?

Yes. A significant component of the scope is geotechnical hazards and extreme events, including research on hazards that can threaten infrastructure systems and community safety.

6) What specific hazards are mentioned in the program description?

The description explicitly lists several geohazards, including:

• Tsunamis
• Landslides
• Mudslides
• Debris flows
• Scour
• Erosion

7) Does the program support geotechnical earthquake engineering?

Yes, geotechnical earthquake engineering is included in the program scope, with an important limitation related to facility use (see the NEES question below).

8) Can proposals use the NEES facilities for geotechnical earthquake engineering research?

No. Projects in geotechnical earthquake engineering under this program should not involve the use of the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) facilities. Proposals that depend on NEES infrastructure would be directed elsewhere within NSF.

9) What kinds of infrastructure concerns does the program connect to hazards research?

The hazards and extreme events scope is framed around risks to transportation networks, coastal and riverine infrastructure, lifelines, and community safety.

10) How does the program address sustainability and resilience?

NSF emphasizes sustainability and resilience across the program areas described. This signals interest in research that not only improves technical performance, but also helps infrastructure systems endure, adapt, and recover under long-term environmental change, aging, increasing demand, and disruptive events.

11) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

12) What is the opportunity category?

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

13) What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The listing is associated with CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to a wide range of applicant types as allowed under NSF rules, subject to any additional eligibility language that may appear in the full program text.

15) Is this solicitation current or archived?

The opportunity shown (Funding Opportunity Number PD 09 1636) is an archived solicitation. It was posted March 23, 2009, and has an archive date of August 4, 2010.

16) Was this solicitation replaced by another version?

Yes. The archived solicitation includes a note indicating it was replaced by a later version identified as 10 1636.

17) What submission windows are listed for the archived version?

The archived record lists recurring proposal submission windows:

• September 1 to October 1 (annually thereafter)
• January 15 to February 15 (annually thereafter)

18) Are those deadlines guaranteed to be current?

No. Because the record described is an archived solicitation that was replaced, applicants are directed to consult the program description link for PD 09 1636 and, by implication, the replacement solicitation for current deadlines and requirements.

19) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The record indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

20) Does the record provide current expected award counts or total funding amounts?

No. The fields for expected awards and estimated total funding are shown as 0 in the source data. This typically reflects that the archived record is not providing current totals, rather than indicating the program did not make awards.

21) Where should applicants look for detailed proposal preparation rules and requirements?

For more detailed requirements, proposal preparation rules, and current deadlines, NSF points users to the program description link for PD 09 1636 and, by implication, the replacement solicitation.

22) Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to submission?

For technical access issues, the contact provided is NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.