Opportunity Information: Apply for 13 503
Apply for 13 503
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ice Coring and Drilling Program for the Office of Polar Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.078 Polar Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 17, 2012 and posted on Oct 17, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 22, 2013 Full Proposal Deadline(s) January 22, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,750,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
This National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funding opportunity supports the planning, coordination, engineering, and field execution needed to keep U.S. ice coring and drilling capabilities operating and evolving. The core aim is to ensure NSF-funded polar researchers have reliable access to drilling systems and expert support for collecting ice cores, placing instruments in ice, conducting borehole logging, and reaching the base of ice sheets, including projects that must drill through complex materials such as mixed ice, rock, and sediment. In practical terms, the award is meant to function as the backbone organization that helps the science community turn drilling ideas into feasible, well-managed operations and then delivers those operations safely and effectively in the field.
The solicitation specifically calls for continuing two closely linked functions under one coordinated umbrella: the Ice Drilling Program Office (IDPO) and the Ice Drilling Development Office (IDDO). The IDPO role is centered on community-facing coordination and strategy. It is expected to work directly with scientists to develop both long-range and near-term plans for drilling and coring activities, identify emerging needs, and serve as the primary source of drilling and coring expertise for NSF-funded research teams. A key expectation is that IDPO will be proactive, not just reactive, by encouraging innovation in drilling technology and helping guide the development of new drill designs when the research community and NSF identify capability gaps. The IDDO function is more engineering- and operations-focused: it provides the design and development support for new drilling systems and is responsible for operating, maintaining, and sustaining existing drilling assets so they remain mission-ready for NSF projects.
A central requirement is that applicants propose a structure that covers both IDPO and IDDO responsibilities together, either by having a single organization perform both roles or by organizing them through subawards or subcontract arrangements while still presenting a unified, integrated program. The two entities are expected to work tightly as a coordinated team and, when appropriate, partner directly with scientists as they develop and submit NSF research proposals that depend on drilling. The successful awardee is also expected to collaborate closely with NSF itself, since drilling priorities and deployments will be driven by a combination of the long-range science plan developed through the IDPO process and specific NSF-funded research projects that require drilling support. The solicitation explicitly encourages collaboration with international partners and with researchers supported by other funding sources, reflecting the reality that major polar drilling efforts often benefit from shared expertise, logistics, and cost sharing across national programs (even though this particular award does not require formal cost sharing).
Administratively, this opportunity was issued as NSF Publication 13-503 under Funding Opportunity Number 13-503. It is a discretionary competition using a cooperative agreement, which signals that NSF expects substantial involvement and coordination with the awardee rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and it falls under CFDA 47.078 (Polar Programs). NSF anticipated making a single award, with an estimated total funding level of $3,750,000 and an award floor listed at the same amount, indicating one primary recipient responsible for delivering the full scope described. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from a wide range of entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted on October 17, 2012, with a full proposal deadline of January 22, 2013, and it was archived on February 22, 2013. For access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main purpose of this NSF Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funding opportunity?
This opportunity supports the planning, coordination, engineering, and field execution required to keep U.S. ice coring and drilling capabilities operating and evolving. The goal is to ensure NSF-funded polar researchers can reliably access drilling systems and expert support for collecting ice cores, placing instruments in ice, conducting borehole logging, and reaching the base of ice sheets, including drilling through complex materials like mixed ice, rock, and sediment.
Which NSF program is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP).
What kinds of activities and services are expected to be supported by the award?
The award is intended to support the full lifecycle of polar drilling support, including community planning and coordination, engineering and development of drilling systems, maintenance and sustainment of existing drilling assets, and safe and effective execution of drilling and coring operations in the field. It also covers support for related activities such as instrument placement in ice and borehole logging.
Is this award meant to fund a specific science project?
No. Based on the description, the award is designed to function as a backbone organization that helps the NSF-funded science community turn drilling concepts into feasible, well-managed operations and then delivers those operations effectively in the field.
What are IDPO and IDDO, and why are they important in this solicitation?
The solicitation calls for continuing two closely linked functions under one coordinated umbrella: the Ice Drilling Program Office (IDPO) and the Ice Drilling Development Office (IDDO). Together, they represent the community-facing planning and coordination function (IDPO) and the engineering/operations function (IDDO) needed to provide end-to-end drilling capability for NSF-funded polar research.
What is the role of the Ice Drilling Program Office (IDPO) under this opportunity?
IDPO is expected to be the community-facing coordination and strategy hub. It works directly with scientists to develop long-range and near-term plans for drilling and coring, identify emerging needs, and serve as a primary source of drilling and coring expertise for NSF-funded research teams. A key expectation is that IDPO is proactive in encouraging innovation and helping guide development of new drill designs when capability gaps are identified.
What is the role of the Ice Drilling Development Office (IDDO) under this opportunity?
IDDO is responsible for the engineering and operational side of the program. It provides design and development support for new drilling systems and operates, maintains, and sustains existing drilling assets so they remain mission-ready for NSF projects.
Do applicants have to cover both IDPO and IDDO responsibilities in a single proposal?
Yes. A central requirement is that applicants propose a structure that covers both IDPO and IDDO responsibilities together, either by having one organization perform both roles or by organizing them through subawards or subcontract arrangements while still presenting a unified, integrated program.
Can multiple organizations be involved, and if so, how?
Yes. The solicitation allows the two functions to be organized through subawards or subcontract arrangements, as long as the application presents a unified and integrated program and the two entities work tightly as a coordinated team.
How is the awardee expected to work with scientists proposing NSF drilling-dependent research?
The IDPO and IDDO functions are expected to partner directly with scientists as they develop and submit NSF research proposals that depend on drilling, when appropriate, and to provide drilling and coring expertise that helps make proposed field operations feasible and well managed.
How does NSF expect to be involved during the award?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, indicating NSF expects substantial involvement and coordination with the awardee rather than a hands-off relationship. Drilling priorities and deployments are expected to be driven by a combination of the long-range science plan developed through the IDPO process and specific NSF-funded research projects that require drilling support.
Does the solicitation emphasize innovation or new drilling technology?
Yes. The IDPO function is expected to be proactive in encouraging innovation in drilling technology and in helping guide the development of new drill designs when the research community and NSF identify capability gaps.
What challenging drilling environments or materials are explicitly mentioned?
The solicitation highlights reaching the base of ice sheets and supporting projects that must drill through complex materials such as mixed ice, rock, and sediment.
Does this opportunity include support for borehole logging and instrument placement?
Yes. The description explicitly includes expert support for placing instruments in ice and conducting borehole logging, in addition to collecting ice cores.
Is international collaboration encouraged?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly encourages collaboration with international partners and with researchers supported by other funding sources, reflecting that major polar drilling efforts often benefit from shared expertise, logistics, and cost sharing across national programs.
Is cost sharing required to apply?
No. The description notes that formal cost sharing is not required for this award, even though international and cross-program collaborations may involve shared logistics or costs in practice.
What is the funding opportunity number and NSF publication number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 13-503, and it was issued as NSF Publication 13-503.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA 47.078 (Polar Programs).
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial NSF involvement and coordination with the awardee.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated making a single award.
What is the estimated total funding level for the award?
The estimated total funding level is $3,750,000.
What does it mean that the award floor is listed as $3,750,000?
Based on the information provided, the award floor is listed at $3,750,000, the same as the estimated total funding level. This indicates one primary recipient is expected to be responsible for delivering the full scope described at that funding level.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from a wide range of entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the proposal deadline?
The opportunity was posted on October 17, 2012, and the full proposal deadline was January 22, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on February 22, 2013.
Where should applicants go for technical access issues related to submission?
For access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Previous opportunity: Collaborative Forest Restoration Program
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 13 503
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (13 503) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Apply for 13 504 Funding Number: 13 504 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ocean Sciences Research Initiation Grants Apply for 13 505 Funding Number: 13 505 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| JCSDA 2013 Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Environmental Prediction Apply for NOAA NESDIS NESDISPO 2013 2003497 Funding Number: NOAA NESDIS NESDISPO 2013 2003497 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| ROSES 2012 Astrophysics Explorer U.S. Participating Investigator Apply for NNH12ZDA001N APEXUSPI Funding Number: NNH12ZDA001N APEXUSPI Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR/STTR FY 2013 Phase II Release 1 Apply for DE FOA 0000782 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000782 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fiscal Year 2014 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2014 2003518 Funding Number: NOAA OAR SG 2014 2003518 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $56,500 |
| EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track 2 Apply for 13 509 Funding Number: 13 509 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Division of Environmental Biology Apply for 13 508 Funding Number: 13 508 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Research Units Program FY 2013 Apply for G13AS00008 Funding Number: G13AS00008 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Provide technical assistance and acquire, refine, analyze, and summarize data for the USFWSs Comprehensive Assessment and Monitoring Program requirementss pursuant to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act Apply for F13AS00006 Funding Number: F13AS00006 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $149,000 |
| Autonomous Diagnostics to Enable Prevention and Therapeutics Prophylactic Options to Environmental and Contagious Threats (ADEPT PROTECT) Apply for DARPA 13 03 Funding Number: DARPA 13 03 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tranexamic Acid Clinical Research Apply for W81XWH 12 CCCJPC TACR Funding Number: W81XWH 12 CCCJPC TACR Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Platelet Storage Technologies Apply for W81XWH 12 CCCJPC PST Funding Number: W81XWH 12 CCCJPC PST Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Apply for 12 583 Funding Number: 12 583 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Investigator initiated research projects Apply for 13 510 Funding Number: 13 510 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Apply for 13 506 Funding Number: 13 506 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploiting Parallelism and Scalability Apply for 13 507 Funding Number: 13 507 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks Apply for 13 512 Funding Number: 13 512 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Center of Excellence (CoE) in Guided Wave Infrared Sources Apply for FOA RQKS 2013 02 Funding Number: FOA RQKS 2013 02 Agency: Air Force Research Lab Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Long Term Resource Monitoring Program FY 2013 Apply for G13AS00010 Funding Number: G13AS00010 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "13 503", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.