Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 612
Apply for 12 612
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Operations and Management of the Drilling Vessel JOIDES Resolution for the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)" 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 Sep 19, 2012 and posted on Sep 19, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 22, 2013 Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposers local time) October 30, 2012 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 $70,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit 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 institutions. For profit U.S. organizations partnered with U.S. academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
This National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 12-612) seeks a single qualified organization to take on the technical, scientific, and operational management of the scientific drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution in support of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning NSF expects to have substantial involvement in oversight and coordination while the selected operator runs day-to-day vessel operations, science support, and the broader management functions needed to deliver successful ocean drilling expeditions aligned with IODP priorities.
The solicitation is framed within the long trajectory of NSF-supported scientific ocean drilling, beginning with the Deep Sea Drilling Project in the 1960s (notably contributing to testing plate tectonics), followed by the Ocean Drilling Program starting in 1985 (expanding focus to Earth, ocean, and climate processes), and then the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program that began in 2003. The next phase, the International Ocean Discovery Program, was anticipated to start October 1, 2014 under the 2013-2023 science plan "Illuminating Earths Past, Present, and Future." Unlike the prior "integrated" model, the new IODP is described as multi-platform and international, organized around cooperation rather than full integration. A key operational detail in this announcement is that planning and oversight for JOIDES Resolution operations will be handled under a Facilities Governing Board, and that management and funding for JOIDES Resolution activities will proceed independently from other drilling platforms used by IODP partners.
NSF highlights that it acquired and converted the JOIDES Resolution into an enhanced research drilling vessel as the U.S. operational contribution to ocean drilling, with the conversion completed in 2009. NSF emphasizes that this investment strengthened U.S. leadership in scientific ocean drilling and broadened international participation. The solicitation also points to favorable independent reviews of both the then-current program performance and the new 2013-2023 Science Plan, using those reviews to justify continued ocean drilling and the need for a capable operator to execute the plan through JOIDES Resolution expeditions.
From an operational and contractual standpoint, the JOIDES Resolution was, at the time of posting, being run under the IODP System Integration Contract held by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research, with Texas A&M University serving as the science operator as a prime subcontractor. The vessel itself was being provided through a long-term lease from Overseas Drilling, Limited under a contract with the Texas A&M University Research Foundation. Importantly for prospective applicants, the lease includes options for one-year extensions through September 30, 2023 and can be reassigned to a new operator, subject to approval by the vessel owner. The NSF award described here was intended to begin October 1, 2014 and initially cover a five-year operating period, with a comprehensive management review after the first three years. The results of that review would inform NSF's decision to recompete the effort or renew the Cooperative Agreement, and any renewal would depend on the operator submitting a strong, meritorious proposal.
Financially, NSF anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding level of about $70 million. The stated award range runs from a floor of $50 million to a ceiling of $70 million. The opportunity falls under CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences) and does not require cost sharing or matching.
Eligibility is targeted but broad within the research ecosystem. Proposals could be submitted by non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations tied to education or research. U.S.-accredited universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) with a U.S. campus were also eligible. In addition, for-profit U.S. organizations could apply if partnered with a U.S. academic institution.
Key dates reflect a standard NSF competition timeline for a large operations award. The solicitation was posted September 19, 2012. A Letter of Intent was required by October 30, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer), and full proposals were due January 22, 2013. The opportunity was archived March 22, 2013. Overall, the announcement is essentially a competition to select the next organization responsible for running one of the world's premier scientific ocean drilling platforms, ensuring it is operated safely and effectively and that it delivers the science support needed to execute IODP drilling expeditions under the 2013-2023 science plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NSF funding opportunity?
This is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 12-612) to select a single qualified organization to provide the technical, scientific, and operational management of the scientific drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution in support of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
How many awards does NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated making one award.
What kind of award mechanism will be used?
The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement. This means NSF expects to have substantial involvement in oversight and coordination, while the selected operator is responsible for day-to-day vessel operations, science support, and the management functions required to deliver successful ocean drilling expeditions aligned with IODP priorities.
What is the main purpose of the award?
The purpose is to identify an operator capable of safely and effectively running the JOIDES Resolution and providing the science support and management needed to carry out IODP drilling expeditions under the 2013-2023 IODP science plan, "Illuminating Earths Past, Present, and Future."
Which vessel is covered by this opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on the scientific drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution, which NSF acquired and converted into an enhanced research drilling vessel as the U.S. operational contribution to scientific ocean drilling. The conversion was completed in 2009.
What program does JOIDES Resolution support under this solicitation?
The vessel supports the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), which was anticipated to start on October 1, 2014 under the 2013-2023 science plan.
How is IODP described in this announcement (organizationally)?
IODP is described as multi-platform and international, organized around cooperation rather than full integration. This is contrasted with the prior "integrated" model used in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.
How will planning and oversight for JOIDES Resolution operations be handled?
Planning and oversight for JOIDES Resolution operations will be handled under a Facilities Governing Board, according to the announcement.
Is JOIDES Resolution managed and funded together with other IODP drilling platforms?
No. The announcement states that management and funding for JOIDES Resolution activities will proceed independently from other drilling platforms used by IODP partners.
What is the anticipated start date for the award?
The NSF award described in the solicitation was intended to begin on October 1, 2014.
How long is the initial operating period?
The solicitation describes an initial five-year operating period.
Is there a program review built into the operating period?
Yes. A comprehensive management review is planned after the first three years. NSF indicated that the results of this review would inform whether NSF would recompete the effort or renew the Cooperative Agreement.
Is renewal automatic after the initial period?
No. Any renewal would depend on the operator submitting a strong, meritorious proposal, and NSF would consider the outcome of the comprehensive management review after the first three years.
What is the expected funding level for the award?
NSF anticipated an estimated total funding level of about $70 million for the single award.
What is the stated award range?
The stated range runs from a floor of $50 million to a ceiling of $70 million.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The solicitation states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences).
Who is eligible to submit a proposal?
Eligibility includes multiple types of U.S. organizations within the research and education ecosystem. Proposals could be submitted by non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations tied to education or research). U.S.-accredited universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) with a U.S. campus were also eligible. For-profit U.S. organizations could apply if partnered with a U.S. academic institution.
Can a for-profit organization apply on its own?
No. The solicitation specifies that for-profit U.S. organizations could apply if partnered with a U.S. academic institution.
What types of non-profit organizations are mentioned as eligible?
The announcement lists examples including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with education or research.
Are community colleges eligible?
Yes. Two- and four-year colleges, including community colleges, were eligible as long as they are U.S.-accredited and have a U.S. campus.
What are the key submission dates listed in the solicitation?
The solicitation was posted September 19, 2012. A Letter of Intent was required by October 30, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer). Full proposals were due January 22, 2013. The opportunity was archived March 22, 2013.
Was a Letter of Intent required?
Yes. The solicitation states that a Letter of Intent was required by October 30, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer).
When were full proposals due?
Full proposals were due January 22, 2013.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The information provided states that the opportunity was archived on March 22, 2013.
Who was operating JOIDES Resolution at the time this solicitation was posted?
At the time of posting, JOIDES Resolution was being run under the IODP System Integration Contract held by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research, with Texas A&M University serving as the science operator as a prime subcontractor.
How was the vessel being provided at the time (ownership/lease arrangement)?
The vessel was being provided through a long-term lease from Overseas Drilling, Limited under a contract with the Texas A&M University Research Foundation.
Can the JOIDES Resolution lease be extended?
Yes. The lease includes options for one-year extensions through September 30, 2023.
Can the lease be reassigned to a new operator?
Yes. The solicitation notes that the lease can be reassigned to a new operator, subject to approval by the vessel owner.
What is NSF's role during the award period?
Because this is a Cooperative Agreement, NSF expects substantial involvement in oversight and coordination. The operator would run the day-to-day vessel operations, science support, and broader management activities needed to deliver expeditions consistent with IODP priorities.
How does this solicitation connect to earlier NSF-supported ocean drilling programs?
The solicitation places IODP and JOIDES Resolution operations within a long NSF-supported trajectory that includes the Deep Sea Drilling Project (beginning in the 1960s, with notable contributions to testing plate tectonics), the Ocean Drilling Program (starting in 1985, expanding focus to Earth, ocean, and climate processes), and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (beginning in 2003).
Why does NSF emphasize the 2009 conversion of JOIDES Resolution?
NSF highlights that it acquired and converted the JOIDES Resolution into an enhanced research drilling vessel, completed in 2009, and emphasizes that this investment strengthened U.S. leadership in scientific ocean drilling and broadened international participation.
What justification is provided for continuing ocean drilling operations?
The solicitation points to favorable independent reviews of program performance and the new 2013-2023 Science Plan, using those reviews to justify continued ocean drilling and the need for a capable operator to execute the plan through JOIDES Resolution expeditions.
What is the overall goal of selecting a new operator?
The announcement describes this as a competition to select the next organization responsible for running one of the world's premier scientific ocean drilling platforms, ensuring it is operated safely and effectively and that it delivers the science support needed to execute IODP drilling expeditions under the 2013-2023 science plan.
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