Opportunity Information: Apply for 13 589
Apply for 13 589
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support" 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 6, 2015 and posted on Aug 20, 2013.
- 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.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 75 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Who May Submit Proposals Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in, the US acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic in
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Opportunity Summary:
Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support (NSF Funding Opportunity 13-589) is a National Science Foundation grant program run through the Integrative Programs Section (IPS) in the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO). The core idea is to keep the U.S. academic ocean research enterprise properly equipped by funding the acquisition, upgrade, enhancement, conversion, and operation of major oceanographic platforms and related shared-use capabilities. The focus is on infrastructure that serves many NSF-supported investigators and educators across a wide range of federally funded research and training activities, including work conducted in the open ocean, coastal and nearshore settings, and the Great Lakes. A key point in this opportunity is that it is not meant for one-off, single-lab tools or project-specific gear used by only one or a small group of investigators; those kinds of needs are expected to be handled through regular research grant programs rather than through IPS facilities programs.
A major theme throughout the solicitation is shared use and community benefit. NSF expects these facilities to be available and useful to the broader research community, and it is common for the same platforms to be partially supported by a mix of funding sources. The solicitation notes that other federal agencies, as well as state and local governments and private sources, often contribute support proportionally, frequently using a daily rate structure tied to facility use. The primary objective is straightforward: ensure that appropriate, safe, and capable oceanographic facilities are available so federally funded science and education projects can actually be carried out.
The solicitation is organized into several program areas that cover different parts of the oceanographic facilities ecosystem. Ship Operations (Ship Ops) supports the day-to-day costs of operating and maintaining academic research vessels when those operations are directly tied to NSF-sponsored science. Allowable costs include crew and marine operations staff salaries and associated expenses, minor or expendable equipment, maintenance and repairs (including overhauls), insurance, and direct operating expenses such as fuel, food, supplies, travel, and pilot or agent fees. Shoreside support is allowable only insofar as it directly supports ship operations. The emphasis is on paying for real operational needs that keep a vessel safely running and mission-ready for NSF-funded work.
Oceanographic Technical Services (OTS) funds the technical support backbone that makes major facilities, especially research vessels, scientifically productive for a wide range of users. This includes institutional technical support services that help multiple projects succeed by providing quality assurance, logistics, and hands-on expertise. Typical supported costs include staff salaries and benefits, maintenance and calibration of sensors and instrumentation, and travel. The services themselves can include scheduling technical support, coordinating and assisting with logistics, and providing at-sea supervision of shared instrumentation and common-use equipment. As with Ship Ops, requests must be clearly attributable to NSF-sponsored science rather than general institutional support.
Oceanographic Instrumentation (OI) is aimed at improving the scientific capability of seagoing research by funding shared-use research instrumentation that can be cooperatively utilized across multiple projects. Supported items can span the collection, processing, and analysis of oceanographic data. Examples listed in the opportunity include sensors, acoustic systems, data loggers, water sampling rosettes, biological net systems, coring equipment, and auto-analyzers. The central requirement is that the instrumentation be justified as shared infrastructure, meaning the proposal should demonstrate multi-project utility rather than a narrow, single-investigator purpose.
Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment (SSSE) targets equipment that improves safety and boosts the scientific productivity of vessel-based ocean research, again primarily in the context of major facilities like research vessels. This can include both permanent and portable equipment used to outfit a vessel for oceanographic work, as well as overhauls of previously SSSE-funded equipment. The solicitation highlights science handling systems such as winches, frames, and cranes, plus navigation and communication systems, and safety or regulatory compliance items. SSSE also covers support for UNOLS equipment pools (including wires, vans, and winches). Proposals can request replacement equipment as well as installation of new systems.
Ship Acquisition and Upgrade (SAU) covers the largest-scale facility actions, including acquiring, designing, and constructing research vessels, as well as modifying or converting vessels. Modifications can include capability enhancements or Service Life Extension efforts. These awards are described as periodic and dependent on the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, and they require strong evidence of scientific need for a new vessel or for reconditioning an existing one. This program is also framed as coordinated with broader interagency agreements and academic fleet modernization priorities, reflecting the long-term planning typically involved in fleet-level investments.
Other Facility Activities (OFA) is a catch-all category for specialized facility operations and community functions that strengthen shared-use capabilities. Examples include deep submergence operations, UNOLS functions, workshops, and other enhancement or developmental activities. The unifying requirement is that the supported activity must focus on shared-use capabilities for the ocean sciences research community rather than serving a narrow internal audience.
Compliance and safety standards are treated as non-negotiable. The solicitation states that compliance with the UNOLS Research Vessel Safety Standards (RVSS) is mandatory for these programs, and that the specific requirements will be spelled out in the cooperative agreement or grant terms and conditions. This underscores that NSF is not just funding capability, but also safe and standardized operations across the community fleet and associated infrastructure.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the NSF Geosciences CFDA listing (47.050). The posting information shows an estimated total funding level of about $8,000,000 and an expected number of awards around 75, with the listed award ceiling and floor both reflecting the overall program scale in the source data. Cost sharing is not required. Proposal timing is described as flexible in practice, with proposals accepted anytime and applicants directed to the solicitation for specific target dates and deadline details.
Eligibility includes U.S.-based universities and colleges (including accredited two-year and four-year institutions such as community colleges) applying on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations tied to education or research activities, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies. Overall, the program is designed for institutions that operate, host, or manage shared oceanographic facilities and equipment that enable broad access for NSF-supported research and education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support (NSF 13-589)
1) What is the Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support opportunity (NSF 13-589)?
It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity in the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE), run through the Integrative Programs Section (IPS). Its purpose is to keep the U.S. academic ocean research enterprise properly equipped by supporting major oceanographic platforms and related shared-use capabilities.
2) What is the main goal of this program?
The main goal is to ensure appropriate, safe, and capable oceanographic facilities and equipment are available so federally funded ocean science and education projects can be carried out in settings such as the open ocean, coastal and nearshore environments, and the Great Lakes.
3) What types of activities does the program support overall?
The program supports the acquisition, upgrade, enhancement, conversion, and operation of major oceanographic platforms and related shared-use capabilities that serve many NSF-supported investigators and educators.
4) What does NSF mean by “shared-use” in this solicitation?
Shared-use means the facilities, platforms, services, and equipment are intended to benefit the broader research community rather than a single laboratory or a small set of investigators. The solicitation emphasizes community benefit and multi-project utility as a core expectation.
5) Is this funding intended for a single lab or one project’s specialized equipment?
No. A key point is that this opportunity is not meant for one-off, single-lab tools or project-specific gear used by only one or a small group of investigators. Those needs are expected to be addressed through regular research grant programs rather than IPS facilities programs.
6) What kinds of facilities and platforms are in scope?
The solicitation focuses on major oceanographic platforms and related shared-use capabilities that support many NSF-funded users. The program areas include ship operations, technical services, instrumentation, shipboard scientific support equipment, ship acquisition and upgrade, and other facility activities.
7) What NSF unit administers this program?
The program is run through the Integrative Programs Section (IPS) in the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) at NSF.
8) What is the CFDA listing for this NSF program?
The opportunity is listed under NSF Geosciences CFDA 47.050.
9) How much funding is expected to be available, and how many awards are anticipated?
The posting information shows an estimated total funding level of about $8,000,000 and an expected number of awards around 75.
10) Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity.
11) Can these facilities be supported by multiple funding sources?
Yes. The solicitation notes it is common for the same platforms to be partially supported by a mix of funding sources. Other federal agencies, state and local governments, and private sources often contribute proportionally, frequently using a daily rate structure tied to facility use.
12) What is the Ship Operations (Ship Ops) program area?
Ship Ops supports the day-to-day costs of operating and maintaining academic research vessels when operations are directly tied to NSF-sponsored science. The emphasis is on real operational needs that keep a vessel safe, running, and mission-ready for NSF-funded work.
13) What costs are allowable under Ship Operations (Ship Ops)?
Allowable costs include crew and marine operations staff salaries and associated expenses, minor or expendable equipment, maintenance and repairs (including overhauls), insurance, and direct operating expenses such as fuel, food, supplies, travel, and pilot or agent fees. Shoreside support is allowable only insofar as it directly supports ship operations.
14) What is Oceanographic Technical Services (OTS)?
OTS funds the technical support backbone that makes major facilities, especially research vessels, scientifically productive for a wide range of users. It supports institutional technical services that help multiple projects succeed through quality assurance, logistics, and hands-on expertise.
15) What costs and activities are typical under OTS?
Typical supported costs include staff salaries and benefits, maintenance and calibration of sensors and instrumentation, and travel. Supported services can include scheduling technical support, coordinating and assisting with logistics, and providing at-sea supervision of shared instrumentation and common-use equipment.
16) Does OTS pay for general institutional support?
No. As with Ship Ops, requests must be clearly attributable to NSF-sponsored science rather than general institutional support.
17) What is Oceanographic Instrumentation (OI)?
OI supports shared-use research instrumentation that improves the scientific capability of seagoing research and can be cooperatively utilized across multiple projects.
18) What kinds of instrumentation are examples under OI?
Examples include sensors, acoustic systems, data loggers, water sampling rosettes, biological net systems, coring equipment, and auto-analyzers, spanning the collection, processing, and analysis of oceanographic data.
19) What is the key requirement for Oceanographic Instrumentation (OI) requests?
The central requirement is shared infrastructure justification. Proposals should demonstrate multi-project utility rather than a narrow, single-investigator purpose.
20) What is Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment (SSSE)?
SSSE supports equipment that improves safety and increases the scientific productivity of vessel-based ocean research, primarily in the context of major facilities like research vessels. It can include permanent and portable equipment used to outfit a vessel for oceanographic work, as well as overhauls of previously SSSE-funded equipment.
21) What types of equipment are included under SSSE?
The solicitation highlights science handling systems such as winches, frames, and cranes, plus navigation and communication systems, and safety or regulatory compliance items. SSSE also covers support for UNOLS equipment pools (including wires, vans, and winches).
22) Can SSSE proposals request replacement equipment or only new installations?
Both are included. Proposals can request replacement equipment as well as installation of new systems, and may include overhauls of previously SSSE-funded equipment.
23) What is Ship Acquisition and Upgrade (SAU)?
SAU covers major facility actions such as acquiring, designing, and constructing research vessels, as well as modifying or converting vessels. Modifications can include capability enhancements or Service Life Extension efforts.
24) Are SAU awards offered every year?
The solicitation describes SAU awards as periodic and dependent on the availability of appropriated funds for this purpose.
25) What must applicants show for Ship Acquisition and Upgrade (SAU) projects?
SAU proposals require strong evidence of scientific need for a new vessel or for reconditioning an existing one, and are framed as coordinated with broader interagency agreements and academic fleet modernization priorities.
26) What is the Other Facility Activities (OFA) category?
OFA is a catch-all category for specialized facility operations and community functions that strengthen shared-use capabilities. Examples include deep submergence operations, UNOLS functions, workshops, and other enhancement or developmental activities.
27) What is the unifying requirement for Other Facility Activities (OFA)?
The supported activity must focus on shared-use capabilities for the ocean sciences research community, rather than serving a narrow internal audience.
28) Are there mandatory safety or compliance standards for funded facilities?
Yes. Compliance with the UNOLS Research Vessel Safety Standards (RVSS) is mandatory for these programs. The specific requirements are spelled out in the cooperative agreement or grant terms and conditions.
29) Does the solicitation emphasize safety as part of capability?
Yes. The solicitation frames safety and standardized operations as non-negotiable, indicating NSF is funding not just capability but safe and standardized operations across the community fleet and associated infrastructure.
30) When can proposals be submitted?
Proposal timing is described as flexible in practice, with proposals accepted anytime. Applicants are directed to the solicitation for specific target dates and deadline details.
31) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S.-based universities and colleges (including accredited two-year and four-year institutions such as community colleges) applying on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations tied to education or research activities (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies).
32) What kinds of organizations is this program designed for?
The program is designed for institutions that operate, host, or manage shared oceanographic facilities and equipment that enable broad access for NSF-supported research and education.
33) What research environments does the program explicitly cover?
The solicitation references work conducted in the open ocean, coastal and nearshore settings, and the Great Lakes.
34) How does NSF expect costs to relate to NSF-sponsored science?
Across categories like Ship Ops and OTS, the solicitation stresses that requests should be clearly attributable to NSF-sponsored science rather than general support unrelated to NSF-funded projects.
35) What is the overall emphasis of the solicitation across all program areas?
A consistent emphasis is shared use and community benefit: infrastructure and services should be broadly available and useful to the research and education community supported by NSF, rather than serving a single project or a narrow internal group.
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