Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 04 1529

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050 Geosciences.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2015 and posted on Mar 13, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Proposals accepted anytime. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • 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.
Apply for PD 04 1529

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Opportunity Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) supports the geosciences research community by funding access to, planning for, and deployment of specialized observing facilities used for field-based atmospheric research. The program sits within NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) and is managed through the NCAR and Facilities Section (NFS), which serves as a central coordination point for planning, scheduling, and resource alignment across the facility portfolio. In practical terms, the LAOF program functions less like a typical single-project research grant and more like a mechanism that helps researchers carry out complex field campaigns by providing the tools, platforms, and operational support needed to observe and measure processes in the lower atmosphere.

A key feature of the LAOF program is that it oversees a portfolio of multi-user, national-scale facilities sponsored by NSF. These facilities are intended to be used broadly by the geosciences community rather than being tied to one institution or one research team. The emphasis is on enabling high-quality observations and measurements that individual investigators or small groups could not easily obtain on their own due to the cost, logistical complexity, or technical specialization involved. The opportunity is geared toward investigations of a wide range of geophysical and atmospheric phenomena, and it recognizes that many important scientific questions require real-world field observations supported by robust instrumentation and experienced field operations.

The types of support described for LAOF include specialized facilities and instrumentation, as well as field support services that make scientific field work feasible. Funding can cover planning activities that are essential to successful field programs, such as experimental design, development of operational plans, and logistical coordination. It also supports the actual deployment of NSF-sponsored facilities, meaning the program can help move from concept and planning into on-the-ground (or airborne, or site-based) observational operations. The program is also actively involved in lifecycle decisions for its facility assets, including acquisition, operations, maintenance, upgrades, and eventual replacement. Those decisions are informed by community input, reflecting the idea that these are shared national resources that should evolve in response to emerging scientific needs and technological advances.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, associated with CFDA number 47.050 (Geosciences). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated. The opportunity was posted on March 13, 2015, and it is structured as an open submission opportunity, with proposals accepted at any time rather than a single annual deadline. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility details that may appear in the full program description. For access issues related to the full announcement, the provided contact is NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and the listing references an additional information link to the NSF program description PD 04-1529.

Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) - FAQs

1) What is the NSF Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) opportunity?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) opportunity supports the geosciences research community by funding access to, planning for, and deployment of specialized observing facilities used for field-based atmospheric research in the lower atmosphere.

2) Which part of NSF runs the LAOF program?

LAOF sits within NSF's Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) and is managed through the NCAR and Facilities Section (NFS), which serves as a central coordination point for planning, scheduling, and resource alignment across the facility portfolio.

3) Is LAOF more like a typical research grant or something different?

Based on the description provided, LAOF functions less like a typical single-project research grant and more like a mechanism that helps researchers carry out complex field campaigns by providing tools, platforms, and operational support needed to observe and measure processes in the lower atmosphere.

4) What is the main purpose of LAOF funding?

The main purpose is to enable high-quality observations and measurements that individual investigators or small groups may not be able to obtain on their own due to cost, logistical complexity, or technical specialization.

5) What kinds of research does LAOF support?

The opportunity is geared toward investigations of a wide range of geophysical and atmospheric phenomena and emphasizes real-world, field-based observations supported by robust instrumentation and experienced field operations.

6) What types of facilities does LAOF oversee?

LAOF oversees a portfolio of multi-user, national-scale facilities sponsored by NSF. These facilities are intended to be used broadly by the geosciences community rather than being tied to one institution or one research team.

7) What types of support can LAOF provide to researchers?

The support described includes specialized facilities and instrumentation, plus field support services that make scientific fieldwork feasible. The opportunity also supports planning activities and the deployment of NSF-sponsored facilities for observational operations.

8) Can LAOF funding support planning for a field campaign?

Yes. Funding can cover planning activities essential to successful field programs, including experimental design, development of operational plans, and logistical coordination.

9) Can LAOF support the actual deployment of observing facilities?

Yes. The description states that LAOF supports the deployment of NSF-sponsored facilities, helping move from concept and planning into on-the-ground (or airborne, or site-based) observational operations.

10) Does LAOF get involved in facility lifecycle decisions?

Yes. LAOF is actively involved in lifecycle decisions for facility assets, including acquisition, operations, maintenance, upgrades, and eventual replacement.

11) How are decisions made about upgrades or replacement of LAOF facility assets?

Those decisions are informed by community input, reflecting the idea that these are shared national resources that should evolve in response to emerging scientific needs and technological advances.

12) What is the grant category for this opportunity?

Administratively, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

13) What CFDA number is associated with LAOF?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 47.050 (Geosciences).

14) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

15) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 13, 2015.

16) Is there a deadline to submit a proposal?

The opportunity is described as an open submission opportunity, with proposals accepted at any time rather than a single annual deadline.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility details that may appear in the full program description.

18) Where can applicants find the full program description?

The listing references an additional information link to the NSF program description PD 04-1529.

19) Who should be contacted if there are issues accessing the full announcement?

For access issues related to the full announcement, the provided contact is NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

20) What role does coordination and scheduling play in LAOF?

Management through the NCAR and Facilities Section (NFS) is described as a central coordination point for planning, scheduling, and resource alignment across the facility portfolio, which reflects the multi-user nature of the facilities and the operational complexity of field deployments.

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