Management and Operation of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (ICNO) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF "Management and Operation of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (ICNO)" (NSF 15-587)

1) What is this NSF funding opportunity about?

This opportunity (NSF Publication / Funding Opportunity Number 15-587) sought proposals to perform the day-to-day management and operations (MampO) of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (ICNO), a U.S. national scientific facility located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station within the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP).

2) What is IceCube, in practical terms?

IceCube is a large scientific observatory that collects high-quality observational data to support an internationally collaborative research program in neutrino astrophysics. It is operated at the South Pole and provides data products to the scientific community.

3) Is this funding for scientific research projects and data analysis?

No. The solicitation emphasized that it was not aimed at funding individual science analyses. Those typically come through separate research proposals. This opportunity focused on the operational backbone that keeps the facility functioning, keeps data flowing, and provides the services that enable research across many institutions and countries.

4) What are the main components of the IceCube system described in the opportunity?

The physical system was described as having four major pieces: (1) a deep in-ice detector array, (2) a surface detector array called IceTop, (3) South Pole Station data acquisition plus local computing and communications systems, and (4) a U.S.-hosted computing environment for data management and analysis operated by the awardee institution (noted as then being the University of Wisconsin-Madison).

5) What kinds of operational responsibilities was the awardee expected to handle?

The awardee was expected to take responsibility for the full suite of administrative, technical, and coordination activities required to keep ICNO operational at the South Pole and to run supporting operations at the awardee's home institution. This includes management systems, staffing plans, schedules, oversight, and the operational interface with USAP.

6) Why is the operational interface with the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) important?

The solicitation highlighted that logistics, station operations, and Antarctic deployment realities strongly shape what can be done and when. Because IceCube is located at the South Pole Station within USAP, the MampO organization must coordinate operations in a way that fits those constraints.

7) What data volume and data transfer expectations were mentioned?

A key operational detail was that the South Pole segment supports data collection and initial handling and transmits on the order of 110 GB per day to the U.S.-based data system. Dependable computing, storage, and communications were described as essential to the facility mission.

8) Who conducts the science using IceCube data?

IceCube science is carried out by the IceCube Collaboration, an international group of scientists spanning more than 40 institutions across over 10 countries.

9) If the Collaboration does the science, what is the role of the MampO awardee in relation to the Collaboration?

The MampO awardee was expected to coordinate and integrate operational activities in alignment with Collaboration-defined science priorities. This included maintaining the observatory and its operational parameters, providing data management and reduction services, and coordinating service work contributed by Collaboration members.

10) What is "service work" in the context of this opportunity?

Service work refers to contributions by Collaboration members that support facility operations and data readiness for science. The solicitation indicated that, in addition to performing scientific analyses, Collaboration members contribute service work that helps keep operations and data products on track.

11) Were in-kind contributions by partner institutions part of the model?

Yes. The opportunity noted that some partner institutions contribute in-kind computing and database services, and that the overall operational model depends on coordinated contributions across the international Collaboration.

12) What is the IceCube "Common Fund" and what would the awardee do with it?

The Collaboration participants contribute to a Common Fund (on a per-person basis) that helps pay for shared needs such as computing equipment and software development. The MampO awardee was expected to administer the Common Fund in a transparent and accountable way.

13) What management and coordination capabilities were emphasized as central?

The solicitation emphasized workforce and task management: organizing a multidisciplinary operations team (scientists, engineers, technicians, administrators); defining and assigning tasks; ensuring tasks are properly resourced; monitoring progress and efficiency; and aligning operational priorities with scientific objectives and Collaboration governance expectations.

14) What is the core mission of ICNO as NSF framed it?

NSF framed ICNO's core mission as providing researchers access to a unique observational capability and to the resulting scientific data products.

15) What scientific topics and phenomena were highlighted as being enabled by IceCube data?

The opportunity described a broad scope, including neutrinos produced by cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere, neutrinos originating from the Sun, the Milky Way, and distant extragalactic sources, and studies of extreme astrophysical phenomena such as active galactic nuclei and black holes. It also referenced indirect searches related to dark matter and dark energy.

16) Was the awardee expected to propose only a maintenance plan?

No. The solicitation stated that proposals were expected to present a forward-looking operational vision, not just a maintenance plan.

17) What forward-looking elements were proposers expected to address?

Proposals were expected to explain how the organization would: provide access to ICNO research capabilities and data; support an integrated program spanning research, education, training, and outreach; maintain and sustain instruments, facilities, and infrastructure; build and retain a skilled and diverse workforce; and form appropriate partnerships with academia, industry, and nonprofit entities.

18) Who was eligible to apply?

Proposals could be submitted only by U.S. universities and colleges and other U.S. nonprofit, non-academic organizations. Applicants could apply as standalone entities or as identifiable operating units of a larger parent organization.

19) Could a consortium apply, and could it include international partners?

Yes. Consortia could include international partners, but NSF funds would be awarded only to U.S.-based organizations, and NSF expected the U.S. organization to serve as the lead.

20) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation explicitly stated that no cost sharing or matching was required.

21) How did the opportunity describe the role of international partners in funding and staffing?

The announcement noted that international partners provide additional funding and personnel support that approximately matches anticipated NSF support for the U.S.-based MampO awardee. This reinforced that the operational model depends on coordinated international contributions even though the NSF award is held by a U.S. organization.

22) What type of NSF award mechanism and category was this listed under?

The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary NSF grant in Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

23) What CFDA numbers were associated with this opportunity?

The record tied the opportunity to CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences) and 47.050 (Geosciences).

24) What was the posted application timeline shown in the record?

The posted and closing timeline in the provided record was July 9, 2015 to October 7, 2015, with an archive date of November 6, 2015.

25) How much funding was indicated?

The estimated total funding listed was $35,000,000, and an award floor was also shown as $35,000,000, indicating the solicitation was aimed at supporting the full management-and-operations function at a scale consistent with a major national facility.

26) Where were applicants directed for full details and official requirements?

NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 15-587 for full details. The announcement also provided Grants.gov support contact information for access issues.

27) What did NSF indicate about governance documents for the Collaboration?

The solicitation referenced Collaboration governance expectations and noted that governance documents were available in the solicitation resource library.

28) What is the relationship between the South Pole systems and the U.S.-hosted computing environment?

The South Pole segment collects and initially handles data, performing limited filtering/analysis for event detection, and then transmits data (on the order of 110 GB/day) to the U.S.-based data system. The U.S.-hosted computing environment supports data management and analysis and is operated by the awardee institution.

29) What kinds of staffing were implied by the operational scope?

The solicitation described a multidisciplinary operations team that includes scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrators, with an emphasis on clear task definition, resourcing, progress monitoring, and efficient execution.

30) What is the overall purpose of funding management and operations rather than individual research?

The purpose was to ensure the observatory remains reliable, productive, and able to deliver well-managed data streams and operational services that enable frontier research across many institutions and countries.