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Living Stock Collections for Biological Research (LSCBR) - FAQs

What is the NSF Living Stock Collections for Biological Research (LSCBR) program?

LSCBR is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity designed to strengthen existing living stock collections used as shared resources for basic biological research. The program focuses on practical improvements and partial operational support that make collections more reliable, more accessible, and more scientifically valuable for NSF-supported research and the broader biological sciences community.

What counts as a "living stock collection" under this program?

In LSCBR, "living stock collections" can include a wide range of maintained biological materials. The description explicitly includes viruses and bacteriophages, as long as the collection is an established resource intended to support the broader research community rather than a single laboratory.

What is the main purpose of LSCBR funding?

The program’s core purpose is to fund upgrades, innovations, and partial operational support that improve how living stocks are handled, curated, preserved, characterized, documented, and distributed. The overall goal is to improve reliability, accessibility, and scientific value of established community resources.

What types of projects does LSCBR support?

LSCBR supports two main project types: (1) short-term, one-time awards (up to 36 months) intended for clearly defined improvements or innovations, and (2) longer-term awards (up to 60 months) aimed at sustaining ongoing operations of collections that are demonstrably significant to the NSF research community.

How long can a short-term LSCBR award last?

Short-term projects are structured as one-time awards lasting up to 36 months.

What is the focus of short-term (up to 36 months) projects?

Short-term awards are meant to support clearly defined upgrades or innovations in handling, curation, preservation, characterization, documentation, or distribution of living stocks. They may also strengthen collections that are not otherwise supported by LSCBR, indicating flexibility for targeted modernization efforts or fixes that meaningfully improve a collection’s utility.

How long can a longer-term LSCBR award last?

Longer-term projects can last up to 60 months.

What is the focus of longer-term (up to 60 months) projects?

Longer-term awards are intended to help sustain the ongoing operation of collections that are demonstrably significant to the NSF research community. NSF describes this support as partial rather than full underwriting of operations.

Does NSF cover the full operating costs of a collection under LSCBR?

No. For longer-term support, NSF makes clear that its funding is partial and not intended to fully underwrite operations. Collections are expected to secure substantial non-NSF revenue.

Is financial sustainability expected for collections receiving longer-term support?

Yes. The program emphasizes sustainability, and collections are expected to secure substantial non-NSF revenue, commonly through user fees or other cost-recovery and revenue-generating mechanisms.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should be prepared to explain how they will meet cost sharing expectations and how the collection will remain viable beyond the NSF award period.

Who is eligible to apply for LSCBR?

Eligibility is geared toward U.S.-based organizations that maintain living collections as research infrastructure. Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions (accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges) acting on behalf of faculty. Proposals may also be submitted by U.S. non-profit, non-academic organizations associated with educational or research activities, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations.

Can non-academic organizations apply?

Yes. Non-profit, non-academic U.S. organizations associated with educational or research activities (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies) are included among eligible applicant types.

What kind of collections is LSCBR intended to support: a single lab or a broader community resource?

LSCBR is intended to support established collections that serve as shared resources for the broader research community, not collections intended to support only a single laboratory.

What NSF portfolio and CFDA number is associated with LSCBR?

The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant in NSF’s science and technology research and development portfolio and is associated with CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences).

How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity, and how many awards are expected?

The archived listing indicates an estimated total funding level of about $1,000,000 with an expectation of roughly four awards, suggesting a competitive program with awards likely sized to meaningfully impact operations or major improvements.

Is this a competitive program?

Based on the archived estimate of about $1,000,000 total funding and roughly four expected awards, the program appears competitive and oriented toward proposals with meaningful impact on collection improvements or operations.

What are the stated target dates or deadlines for proposals?

The timeline in the provided information reflects an older NSF publication (NSF 09-550) posted February 10, 2011, with a full proposal target date of July 6, 2011, described as the first Wednesday in July annually thereafter.

Are those deadlines still current?

The listing also states that the current closing date is "waiting for new publication" and directs applicants to the NSF website for a replacement when available. Deadlines and solicitation details should be verified in the most current NSF postings before planning a submission.

Where should applicants look to confirm the current solicitation and deadlines?

Applicants are directed to check the NSF website for a replacement solicitation when available, since the listing indicates it is waiting for a new publication.

Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov?

For access issues with the announcement, the provided support contact is Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What kinds of improvements does NSF want to see funded through LSCBR?

The program description highlights improvements and innovations in how living stocks are handled, curated, preserved, characterized, documented, and distributed, with the intent of strengthening reliability, accessibility, and scientific value for the research community.

What does NSF mean by "partial operational support" in this program?

The program frames longer-term support as helping sustain ongoing operations for major community collections, while making clear that NSF funding is partial and collections should rely on substantial non-NSF revenue sources as part of a sustainable model.

What is the overarching goal of LSCBR for the biological sciences community?

The overarching goal is to keep living biological resource collections scientifically strong, operationally reliable, and broadly available to researchers, while encouraging sustainable access and business models for long-term viability.