NSF 25-525: Antarctic Research Requiring U.S. Antarctic Program Support for Fieldwork

Program Solicitation NSF 25-525

U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences      Office of Polar Programs

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

     June 02, 2025

     June 1, Annually Thereafter

Prior to submission of full proposals, investigators are required to submit a Concept Outline, which is due January 31, 2025 and January 15 Annually Thereafter.

Important Information And Revision Notes

1. This solicitation invites proposals that require U.S Antarctic Program (USAP) logistical support for fieldwork. Proposers that do not require USAP logistical support should consult the Antarctic Sciences web page for current opportunities.
2. Guidance is provided on the USAP logistical support that may be requested through this solicitation. Opportunities include new projects to start no sooner than the 2026-2027 season at the NSF McMurdo Station, NSF Palmer Station, and on-board the NSF Research Vessel Icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer. Renewal and non-deployment proposals may be accepted for the NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
3. The proposal deadline has been updated to June 2, 2025 and June 1 annually thereafter.
4. The deadline for submission of Concept Outlines has been updated to January 31, 2025 and January 15 annually thereafter.
5. The requirement to submit a Concept Outline before developing/submitting a full proposal applies to all projects involving USAP supported fieldwork, including any proposals submitted to other NSF programs where submission has been agreed in advance.
6. Guidance relating to the preparation of proposals and budgets has been updated.
7. Results of Prior NSF Support should now be provided in a Supplementary Document, not in the Project Description.
8. Proposers who include off-campus or off-site research as part of their project must submit, as supplementary documentation, a Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan. For this solicitation, this document replaces the required plan associated with the certification in Chapter II.E.9 of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Instructions for inclusion of the SAIF Plan can be found in additional proposal preparation instructions in this solicitation.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

Antarctic Research Requiring U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Support for Fieldwork

Synopsis of Program:

Through this solicitation, the Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funds cutting-edge research that requires logistical support from the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) and:

• Improves understanding of interactions among the Antarctic region and global systems.
• Improves understanding of the dynamic linkages among processes operating in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and linkages to global Earth systems, which helps inform decision making regarding environmental change.
• Advances fundamental understanding of Earth systems and the biological, geochemical, and physical processes in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean as drivers and responders to changes on a global scale.
• Expands fundamental knowledge of Antarctic systems, biota, and processes.
• Utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic region as a science observing platform.
• Builds capacity and enhances diversity in the US workforce for polar-related science.

Antarctic fieldwork is supported only for research that must be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica. Proposers that do NOT require USAP logistical support should consult the Antarctic Sciences web page for current opportunities.

NSF is currently undertaking a planned multi-year program of essential maintenance and upgrade projects, with the goal of ensuring that researchers continue to have access to world-leading Antarctic facilities. The need to support this important work necessarily places some limitations on the logistical support that can currently be provided for new projects. Proposers should comply with the guidance set out below in the Program Description regarding the USAP logistical support that is available. No other USAP resources may be requested.

Broadening Participation In STEM

NSF recognizes the unique lived experiences of individuals from communities that are underrepresented and/or under-served in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the barriers to inclusion and access to STEM education and careers. NSF highly encourages the leadership, partnership, and contributions in all NSF opportunities of individuals who are members of such communities supported by NSF. This includes leading and designing STEM research and education proposals for funding; serving as peer reviewers, advisory committee members, and/or committee of visitor members; and serving as NSF leadership, program, and/or administrative staff. NSF also highly encourages demographically diverse institutions of higher education (IHEs) to lead, partner, and contribute to NSF opportunities on behalf of their research and education communities. NSF expects that all individuals, including those who are members of groups that are underrepresented and/or under-served in STEM, are treated equitably and inclusively in the Foundation's proposal and award process.

NSF encourages IHEs that enroll, educate, graduate, and employ individuals who are members of groups underrepresented and/or under-served in STEM education programs and careers to lead, partner, and contribute to NSF opportunities, including leading and designing STEM research and education proposals for funding. Such IHEs include, but may not be limited to, community colleges and two-year institutions, mission-based institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), women's colleges, and institutions that primarily serve persons with disabilities, as well as institutions defined by enrollment such as Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

"Broadening participation in STEM" is the comprehensive phrase used by NSF to refer to the Foundation's goal of increasing the representation and diversity of individuals, organizations, and geographic regions that contribute to STEM teaching, research, and innovation. To broaden participation in STEM, it is necessary to address issues of equity, inclusion, and access in STEM education, training, and careers. Whereas all NSF programs might support broadening participation components, some programs primarily focus on supporting broadening participation research and projects. Examples can be found on the NSF Broadening Participation in STEM website.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• William G. Ambrose, Jr., Program Director, Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems, telephone: (703) 292-8048, email: wambrose@nsf.gov
• Kelly M. Brunt, Program Director, Antarctic Glaciology, telephone: (703) 292-8457, email: kbrunt@nsf.gov
• Marion I. Dierickx, Program Director, Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Science, Polar Cyberinfrastructure, telephone: (703) 292-2319, email: mdierick@nsf.gov
• Rebecca Gast, Program Director, Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems, telephone: (703) 292-2356, email: rgast@nsf.gov
• Vladimir O. Papitashvili, Program Director, Astrophysics and Geospace Science, and Antarctic Instrumentation, telephone: (703) 292-7425, email: vpapita@nsf.gov
• David F. Porter, Program Director, Antarctic Oceans and Atmosphere, telephone: (703) 292-2930, email: dporter@nsf.gov
• Elizabeth L. Rom, Program Director, Polar Education, telephone: (703) 292-7709, email: elrom@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

• 47.050 --- Geosciences

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 50

Anticipated Funding Amount: $60,000,000

The Antarctic Sciences Section anticipates committing annually up to approximately $60 million across all Antarctic Sciences programs, for an estimated up to 50 standard or continuing awards, contingent upon the availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
• Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131.

Who May Serve as PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not required
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
• Full Proposals:
  • Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
  • Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide).

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements:

  Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

• Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

  Not Applicable

• Other Budgetary Limitations:

  Not Applicable

C. Due Dates

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

       June 02, 2025

       June 1, Annually Thereafter

  Prior to submission of full proposals, investigators are required to submit a Concept Outline, which is due January 31, 2025 and January 15 Annually Thereafter.

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements:

Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

I. Introduction

The Antarctic region is a critical frontier for exploration and discovery. NSF investments in Antarctic Science support a broad portfolio of cutting-edge and transformative research across a spectrum of interlinked disciplinary areas. ANT supports research programs across all major areas of Antarctic and Southern Ocean science that seek to improve understanding of the wide range of environments, organisms, and processes that shape this unique continent, its surrounding continental shelves and adjacent ocean basins. A key component of this research is the identification and characterization of processes, feedbacks, and responses of the Antarctic system to physical, geochemical, and biological drivers. ANT also supports transformative astrophysics and geospace science that uses Antarctica as an observing platform.

ANT welcomes proposals that leverage international and inter-agency collaborations and coordinates with programs across NSF and with other federal and international partners to co-review and co-fund Antarctic-related proposals as appropriate.

ANT encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer, which includes underrepresented and under-served communities.

II. Program Description

This solicitation supports research that advances understanding of the biota and physical systems operating in the Antarctic region and adjacent seas that research that must be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica and requires logistical support from USAP.

Updates on the status of USAP logistical support are posted on the Antarctic Sciences web page. Proposers are strongly encouraged to review this information and to contact a cognizant Program Officer during the concept formation stage to discuss plans for field proposals.

Protection of the Antarctic environment is a fundamental consideration in all Antarctic field activities as described in the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (https://www.ats.aq/e/protocol.html). Antarctic fieldwork must be planned to minimize adverse impacts on the environment.

Proposers who do not require USAP logistical support should consult the Antarctic Sciences web page for current opportunities. For projects that have fieldwork but deploy solely with another Antarctic program or other non-USAP entity, the proposer must reach out to contact the cognizant Program Officer during the concept formation stage to discuss deployment details. The Program Officer will provide guidance on the most appropriate ANT solicitation to use.

Core Program

The ANT programs support research that:

• Improves understanding of interactions among the Antarctic region and global systems.
• Improves understanding of the dynamic linkages among processes operating in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and linkages to global Earth systems, which helps inform decision making regarding environmental change.
• Advances fundamental understanding of Earth systems and the biological, geochemical, and physical processes in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean as drivers and responders to changes on a global scale.
• Expands fundamental knowledge of Antarctic systems, biota, and processes.
• Utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic region as a science observing platform.
• Builds capacity and enhances diversity in the US workforce for polar-related science.

Program Priority Areas

Research investments are guided, in part, by the National Academies of Sciences August 2015 report entitled "A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research" (https://www.nap.edu/catalog/21741/a-strategic-vision-for-nsf-investments-in-antarctic-and-southern-ocean-research). This report affirmed the need to maintain strong core research programs and identified the following three major themes as drivers for Antarctic Research Priority Areas:

• The Changing Antarctic Ice Sheets Initiative - How fast, and by how much, will sea level rise?
• Decoding the genomic and transcriptomic bases of biological adaptation and response across Antarctic organisms and ecosystems - How have Antarctic biota evolved and adapted to the polar environment, and how might changing systems impact their populations?
• A next-generation cosmic microwave background program - How did the Universe begin and what are the underlying physical laws that govern its evolution and ultimate fate?

ANT also supports field proposals that promote effective collaboration between Polar and cyberinfrastructure researchers. Such proposals should provide significant benefit to the Antarctic research community including: (i) cost-effective transfer of data from remote field locations; (ii) long-term sustainable curatorship, standardization, management and discovery of data and metadata; (iii) visualization, manipulation, and analysis, particularly for understanding complexity; (iv) access and interoperability across scientific disciplines; (v) promotion of effective use of High Performance Computing (HPC) for direct and sustainable advances in current Antarctic research; and (vi) e-learning and educational tools based on cyberinfrastructure components. Proposals that establish or enhance Virtual Organizational resources for Antarctic research, and its broader impacts, are also encouraged. The Program works collaboratively with NSF's Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure and NSF's GEO Cyberinfrastructure Working Group for reviewing and funding purposes.

Available USAP Logistical Support

Proposers may request USAP logistical support as follows:

NSF McMurdo Station

NSF will consider proposals for field work starting no sooner than 2026-2027 through 2028-2029 (unless otherwise noted) that require:

• Research facilities at McMurdo Station, including Crary Laboratory and Arrival Heights, during both summer and winter.
• Sea ice- and ground-based research in the immediate Ross Island region.
• Small field activities supported from McMurdo using Twin Otter and Basler aircraft
• Field activities using helicopters:
  • Small activities starting in 2027-28
  • Larger activities starting in 2028-29
• Small projects coordinated with ice core drilling at Hercules Dome no sooner than 2027-2028 and 2028-2029

LC-130 airlift support and both science traverse platforms are highly constrained through the 2026-2029 seasons, due to support of already-funded deep field and South Pole Station activities. Support from these resources is not available through this solicitation.

NSF South Pole Station

USAP is currently addressing a backlog of already-funded projects and critical infrastructure and maintenance activities. At this time, NSF will only consider proposals for:

• Renewals of existing South Pole projects. Prior to submission, PIs must contact their cognizant program officer to discuss logistics needs and availability of resources during the above-cited periods.
• Collecting additional samples and/or data through existing USAP-supported activities at South Pole; these proposals must not include additional deploying personnel or additional logistical support.

NSF Palmer Station

NSF will consider proposals for research at Palmer Station in both summer and winter, starting in April 2027 through the 2029 austral winter.

NSF R/V Icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer (NBP) has availability starting in the 2026-27 season for new science proposals:

• For austral summer cruises (i.e. October through December) that are 65 days or less (i.e., including transit to and from study site), sailing from either Hobart, Tasmania or Lyttleton, New Zealand.
• Requiring winter and summer cruises that both leave from and return to Punta Arenas, Chile starting in 2027
• Not requiring additional personnel sailing on the NBP (e.g., underway data collection, deployment of autonomous platforms needing bare minimum of ship time, or collection of additional water samples by USAP personnel during scheduled cruises).
• Utilizing open berths on scheduled cruises. More information on the NBP's schedule can be found at https://www.usap.gov/usapgov/vesselScienceAndOperations/documents/NBP_Sched.pdf.

Proposals requesting resources not identified above will be returned without review.

Existing Sample/Data Use and Modeling

To help derive the full benefits from prior efforts and investments, ANT encourages proposals that seek to address pressing Antarctic science questions through using or reprocessing existing data and samples. Proposers should investigate the utility of samples available from individual researchers and sample/data facilities such as the Polar Rock Repository (http://research.bpcrc.osu.edu/rr/), Marine Geology Repository (http://osu-mgr.org), National Ice Core Laboratory (https://icecores.org/), Polar Geospatial Center (https://www.pgc.umn.edu/), USAP Data Center (http://www.usap-dc.org/), Antarctic Meteorological Research and Data Center (https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/), Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (https://www.bco-dmo.org/), and the EarthScope Consortium (https://www.earthscope.org/).

Instrumentation and Research Facilities

ANT encourages and supports development and field testing of scientific instrumentation for use in polar regions to: (1) enable multi-disciplinary research; (2) reduce the on-ice footprint of research and/or operations in Antarctica; and (3) to enhance capabilities for in situ observing on the continent and in the surrounding ice-covered waters.

There are specific proposal preparation requirements for instrument development (see Section V, Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions) and additional merit review criteria apply (see Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria in Section VI). It is recommended that investigators contact a relevant Antarctic Sciences Program Director prior to submission. It is also recommended that investigators review opportunities as part of NSF's Major Research Instrumentation Program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5260) to determine whether work to be proposed is suitable for submission to that program.

Broadening Participation in STEM

ANT encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer, which includes underrepresented and underserved communities. ANT promotes and expects that all individuals, including those from groups that are underrepresented and/or underserved in STEM are treated equitably and inclusively throughout the Foundation's proposal and award process.

Education and Outreach

The integration of research and education is essential to NSF's mission, and NSF strives to broaden participation in science and to make the results of research projects widely accessible to students and the public. ANT seeks to meet these objectives by supporting the engagement of diverse students, educators, and the public in Antarctic research projects.

Proposals can take advantage of existing sample/data collections to offer opportunities for graduate or undergraduate thesis work and/or Postdoctoral researchers to provide a means to expose under-represented groups to Antarctic research. Teams may also consider submitting proposals under this general theme to NSF's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program solicitation or engaging with the Polar STEAM program (https://polarsteam.info/) to work with an educator, artist or writer.

Investigators who wish to propose projects that are primarily education and outreach efforts are encouraged to contact the Polar Education Program Director for the Office of Polar Programs and to submit proposals via other relevant solicitations in the Directorate of Geosciences and the Directorate fir STEM Education. ANT encourages scientists to partner with education researchers when submitting proposals focused primarily on education, and to consider efforts that make use of innovative technologies and pedagogies to provide large groups of students, educators, and the public remote access to research in the Antarctic. Proposals that engage audiences with long-term investments in Antarctic research and logistics, with databases that have extended lifespans, or with public participation in scientific research, such as crowdsourcing or citizen science related to the Antarctic, are also encouraged.

Investigators proposing projects involving fieldwork should also note the following:

Facilities, Logistics, and Support: Proposals involving fieldwork in the Antarctic must describe the field activities and include a schedule of proposed work in the Project Description of the proposal. USAP maintains a web portal with information about research stations, ships, field camp support, and logistics (https://www.usap.gov/). NSF assigns a support level to each proposal based on the logistics required. Time to earliest possible deployment depends on the support level. Information about the logistics assessment process and the timeline is available at https://www.usap.gov/proposalInformation/.For further information, investigators may contact their cognizant Program Director or the Research Support Managers in the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section.

Polar Physical Qualification Process: Any individual seeking to travel to Antarctica under sponsorship of the United States Antarctic Program must undergo a medical and dental examination to determine whether the individual is physically qualified for deployment to Antarctica. This requirement applies to all Antarctic personnel - governmental, military, award recipient, contractor, and distinguished visitors - proposed for deployment to USAP stations and vessels south of 60° south latitude. Further information on these requirements is available at the https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/soh/.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA): Field use of autonomous platforms, regardless of size, weight or form, requires explicit approval by NSF prior to use in USAP. For further information, investigators should contact their cognizant Program Director. Use of UAV requires operators with an FAA-certified UAV pilot license.

Environmental Stewardship: The U.S. Antarctic Conservation Act (ACA) requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA) in advance of USAP research and operational activities. Permits are required for the taking of fauna and flora, entry into protected areas, introduction of non-native species, waste disposal, use of designated pollutants, and other actions. For further information contact the ACA Permit Officer at acapermits@nsf.gov or visit the U.S. Antarctic Environmental Stewardship web page. Permits are not required at the time of proposal submission, but investigators are responsible for obtaining the necessary permits if an award is made.

Transshipment/importation of scientific samples: Transshipment and importation of Antarctic samples are governed by regulations of the countries involved (e.g., New Zealand, Chile, and the U.S.). Permits are not required at the time of proposal submission, but investigators are responsible for obtaining the necessary permits if an award is made. Further information is available at USAP.gov.

Insurance: NSF does not provide insurance for award recipient personnel in Antarctica, and NSF funding, as a direct cost, cannot be used for the acquisition of insurance for health care, property loss, workers compensation or survivor benefits. Persons needing hospital care beyond the limited capabilities in Antarctica will be transported to the nearest appropriate health care facilities in New Zealand, South America, or the United States, at which point they will be responsible for medical costs. Investigators are encouraged to ensure that their health and life insurance policies cover flights aboard scheduled military aircraft. Investigators are also encouraged to ensure that their medical insurance covers medical transportation cost for return to the U.S. from health care facilities in New Zealand, South America, or other Antarctic access points that may be utilized for medical evacuation, if that service is needed.

III. Award Information

The Antarctic Sciences Section anticipates committing up to approximately $60 million annually across all Antarctic Sciences programs (to include all projects and activities) as either standard or continuing awards, contingent upon the availability of funds.

IV. Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
• Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131.

Who May Serve as PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

• Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov. The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number.
• Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions.

Concept Outline (required)

• Prior to submission of a full proposal, prospective proposers of projects that require U.S. Antarctic Program support for fieldwork must submit a Concept Outline using the Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) website (https://suitability.nsf.gov/s/) by January 31, 2025, and January 15 annually thereafter. This allows for a preliminary assessment of the logistics feasibility of the proposed activities and for feedback to the PI about potential supportability for proposed activities prior to the development of a full proposal. For questions regarding the Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) for this solicitation please contact ANTProSPCT@nsf.gov.
• The Concept Outline form requests a project title, list of team members, a summary of the project science and logistic concept (up to 6,000 characters), and a short description of why the research can only be done, or is best done, in Antarctica. To ensure proper processing, the submitter should select "Other Proposal" from the Select Proposal Type dropdown and enter "USAP Support for Fieldwork" as the Other Proposal Name. Then, be sure to identify Directorate for Geosciences and Office of Polar Programs as the Target Unit. To get started, users are required to provide their Login.gov credentials to complete and submit the form.
• The Concept Outline requires the same information as the Logistics Requirements and Field Plan described below under Additional Information for Full Proposals. Prospective PIs or teams are strongly encouraged to contact a cognizant program officer if they have questions prior to submission of the Concept Outline.
• Concept Outlines will be reviewed by Program Officers and logistics staff with relevant expertise. Program feedback will occur no later than 4 weeks after the Concept Outline deadline. Once reviewed, the prospective PIs will receive an email from the cognizant NSF Program Officer with written feedback. The required full proposal Logistics Requirements and Field Plan must be responsive to the NSF feedback received from the required Concept Outline review.

Additional Instructions for Full Proposal Submission:

Proposals must adhere strictly to the specified page limitations. Proposals that are not compliant with the guidelines will be returned without review. The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring compliance with the guidelines.

1. The statement "This proposal requires fieldwork in the Antarctic." must be included as the last line of the Project Summary.
2. A Logistics Requirements and Field Plan must be included as a Supplementary Document and will be subject to peer review. This document must be responsive to NSF feedback received from the required Concept Outline review. This document is limited to two pages including text and figures, and must contain:
   • A brief statement of research objectives and why the research can only be done, or is best done, in Antarctica;
   • A description of the geographic region and field sites to be investigated, including GPS coordinates of sites, where possible;
   • Desired deployment schedule, team size, and a justification for the requested field team members;
   • A description of field and laboratory activities, including types of samples to be collected and collection methods;
   • A description of scientific diving activities;
   • A description of resources needed such as station facilities use, field camp and field facility requirements, vehicles, etc. Any known and necessary modifications to existing USAP resources must be identified;
   • A description of instrumentation to be deployed on aircraft, autonomous platforms, scientific instruments, or equipment with special support requirements;
   • A description of utility requirements (power, water, heat, etc.) beyond normal office/laboratory/dorm needs and a description of data communications/network requirements beyond routine email and telephone services;
   • An estimate of the amount of cargo and gear, associated with the project;
   • A summary of any education or outreach activities requiring support from the field or main stations;
   • Inclusion of the following statement "This Logistics Requirement and Field Plan incorporates NSF feedback from the Concept Outline submission".

   NSF reserves the right to seek institutional verification for appropriate qualifications of all field participants. NSF encourages projects that require additional field labor to add students who come from historically underrepresented groups to the field team.

   For further information, investigators may contact their cognizant Program Director or the Research Support Managers in the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section. USAP maintains a web portal with information about research stations, ships, field camp support, and logistics (https://www.usap.gov/). Information about the science support process, and associated timeline is available at (https://www.usap.gov/proposalInformation/).

   • Projects requiring research vessel support must submit a UNOLS ship request form as a Supplementary Document.
   • Projects requesting services from NSF-supported research support facilities (such as PGC, IDP, NCALM, etc.) must include a letter from the facility as a Supplementary Document indicating feasibility and additional costs needed to support the proposed research.
3. Data Management and Sharing Plan: The Data Management and Sharing Plan, provided in a Supplementary Document, must be compliant with NSF's policy on dissemination and sharing of samples and research results (https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp) and the additional Dear Colleague Letter: Office of Polar Programs Data, Code, and Sample Management Policy (NSF 22-106) Investigators are strongly encouraged to use a data management plan (DMP) creation program such as the California Digital Library DMP Tool (https://www.cdlib.org/services/uc3/dmpt.html) or ezDMP (https://ezdmp.org/index).
4. Results from Prior NSF Support. Results from Prior NSF Support to the PI and Co-PIs should be provided in a Supplementary Document, and not in the Project Description. The information provided should follow the guidance for this section in the PAPPG.
5. Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan. All proposals submitted to this solicitation that include research that will be conducted off-campus or off-site must submit a plan for safe and inclusive fieldwork as a Supplementary Document that will be considered under the broader impacts review criterion. This supplemental document is in lieu of the required plan associated with the certification called for in the PAPPG. More information regarding review of the plan is provided under Solicitation Specific Review Criteria.

   It is NSF policy to foster safe and harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted. Work conducted off-campus or off-site should be an enriching experience for everyone and help draw researchers to geological sciences research. By requiring advanced planning and attention to maintaining an inclusive environment, NSF is working to ensure that off-campus or off-site research is safe and inclusive for all participants.

   Off-campus or off-site research is defined as data/information/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, such as fieldwork and research activities on vessels and aircraft.

   The SAIF Plan must be no more than two pages and include:

   • a brief description of the field setting and unique challenges for the team;
   • the steps the proposing organization will take to nurture an inclusive off-campus or off-site working environment, including processes to establish shared team definitions of roles, responsibilities, and culture, e.g., codes of conduct, trainings, mentor/mentee mechanisms and field support that might include regular check-ins, and/or developmental events;
   • communication processes within the off-site team and to the organization(s) that minimize singular points within the communication pathway (e.g., there should not be a single person overseeing access to a single satellite phone); and
   • the organizational mechanisms that will be used for reporting, responding to, and resolving issues of harassment if they arise.
6. Project Management: Proposals must articulate in the Project Description how activities will be managed toward a successful conclusion of the project. Proposers should carefully consider the project management needs of research activities and should include an appropriate management plan in the proposal with appropriate resources in the budget to support this plan. Complex projects may require dedicated project management expertise as part of the proposing team.
7. Instrument Development Proposals: Proposals for instrument development as part of the field proposal must demonstrate in the Project Description that project management best practices will be used to manage the activity. This includes defining milestones for development and testing, establishing criteria for evaluating whether milestones are met, and conducting readiness reviews prior to deployment. Proposals must also demonstrate that the design is optimized to reduce operations and maintenance costs, and maximize logistical efficiencies, during deployment, servicing, and recovery.
8. Revised Proposals: Programs will not accept proposal resubmissions that have not been substantially revised in accordance with policy outlined in the current PAPPG. Investigators are encouraged to contact a Program Director in Antarctic Sciences for guidance on their revised proposal prior to resubmission.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Budget Preparation Instructions:

1. Costs for the following items must be included in the proposal budget. Questions regarding budget preparation for projects with fieldwork should be directed to the cognizant Program Director or Research Support Managers in the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section.
   • Physical and dental examinations, for all persons deploying to Antarctica. NSF funding cannot be used to support additional medical or dental treatments that may be required to meet USAP physical qualification requirements or in support of a request for a waiver of physical qualification requirements.
   • Per diem for travel to the departure point to Antarctica (Christchurch, NZ, Punta Arenas, Chile or elsewhere) as "Foreign Travel." Do not include airfare costs to the departure point. NSF does not support airfare and travel expenses for foreign field participants to the departure point unless a compelling rationale exists for an exception.
   • Laboratory consumables and supplies above those normally stocked in reasonable quantities by the contractor, project- specific equipment, field supplies that the contractor does not have in inventory, batteries to operate remote equipment, and equipment and supplies required at home organizations. A list of available lab materials, supplies, and chemicals can be found at http://www.usap.gov/usapgov/proposalInformation/.
   • Non-recoverable, and potentially non-recoverable, equipment, such as moorings (except for the anchor mass), drifters, XCTDs, and satellite tracking tags.
   • Mountaineer/field safety personnel for research teams working in terrain requiring enhanced field skills to ensure the safety of the field party.
   • Technical support for measurement of nutrients on research cruises.
   • Certified explosives blaster support required for the detonation of explosives.
   • Equipment dedicated to a project for multiple years that cannot be supplied from a core equipment pool.
   • Cargo and sample shipping within the continental United States to/from the U.S. Antarctic Program cargo center in Pt. Hueneme, CA. Funds for shipment of temperature-sensitive samples from Antarctica to Pt. Hueneme should not be requested in the proposal.
   • Accompanied excess baggage costs required for transport of research-related equipment. Specialized packaging or preparation of equipment needed for transport of project-specific equipment to and/or from Antarctica.
   • Private medical evacuation insurance if a tour ship or other private transportation will be part of the field plan.
   • For any instrument or infrastructure deployed to Antarctica: the scope and cost for the demobilization or other disposal of the property.
2. USAP offers training to help researchers and their field teams prepare for fieldwork. PIs can also include technical training with third party vendors in their grant proposals for funding from NSF.
3. USAP issues, at no charge to the award, limited amounts of basic polar clothing (Emergency Cold Weather (ECW) gear) as described in the USAP Participant Guide. PIs who feel additional technical clothing, boots or gear are needed to conduct their fieldwork safely, may request these items as an allowable cost direct to grant.

C. Due Dates

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

       June 02, 2025

       June 1, Annually Thereafter

  Prior to submission of full proposals, investigators are required to submit a Concept Outline, which is due January 31, 2025 and January 15 Annually Thereafter.

D. Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements

For Proposals Submitted Via Research.gov:

To prepare and submit a proposal via Research.gov, see detailed technical instructions available at: https://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission.html. For Research.gov user support, call the Research.gov Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail rgov@nsf.gov. The Research.gov Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the Research.gov system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.

For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/applicants. In addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (see link in Section V.A) provides instructions regarding the technical preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email: support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the use of Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.

Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application will be transferred to Research.gov for further processing.

The NSF Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov informational page provides submission guidance to applicants and links to helpful resources including the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide, Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide, and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Frequently Asked Questions. Grants.gov proposals must pass all NSF pre-check and post-check validations in order to be accepted by Research.gov at NSF.

When submitting via Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends applicants initiate proposal submission at least five business days in advance of a deadline to allow adequate time to address NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting organization's local time on the deadline. Please note that some errors cannot be corrected in Grants.gov. Once a proposal passes pre-checks but fails any post-check, an applicant can only correct and submit the in-progress proposal in Research.gov.

Proposers that submitted via Research.gov may use Research.gov to verify the status of their submission to NSF. For proposers that submitted via Grants.gov, until an application has been received and validated by NSF, the Authorized Organizational Representative may check the status of an application on Grants.gov. After proposers have received an e-mail notification from NSF, Research.gov should be used to check the status of an application.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or both, who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal. In addition, Program Officers may obtain comments from site visits before recommending final action on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards. A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award process (and associated timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.

A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/.

Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential to the fulfillment of NSF's mission, as articulated in Leading the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Talent Development and the Delivery of Benefits from Research - NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 - 2026. These strategies are integrated in the program planning and implementation process, of which proposal review is one part. NSF's mission is particularly well-implemented through the integration of research and education and broadening participation in NSF programs, projects, and activities.

One of the strategic objectives in support of NSF's mission is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions must recruit, train, and prepare a diverse STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to the national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research under the guidance of the Nation's most creative scientists and engineers. NSF also supports development of a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing in building the knowledge that informs improvements in STEM teaching and learning.

NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities and expanding participation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and diverse portfolio of projects that creates new knowledge and enables breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and engineering research and education. To identify which projects to support, NSF relies on a merit review process that incorporates consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and its potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive, transparent merit review process for the selection of projects.

1. Merit Review Principles

These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when preparing proposals and managing projects, by reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program staff when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for funding and while overseeing awards. Given that NSF is the primary federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in basic research and education, the following three principles apply:

• All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge.
• NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.
• Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated, level than the individual project.

With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader Impacts outcomes for particular projects is done at an aggregated level, PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the activities described in the funded project. Thus, individual projects should include clearly stated goals, specific descriptions of the activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document the outputs of those activities.

These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit review criteria, as well as a context within which the users of the criteria can better understand their intent.

2. Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), prior to the review of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to
   1. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
   2. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the United States; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

Proposers are reminded that reviewers will also be asked to review the Data Management and Sharing Plan and the Mentoring Plan, as appropriate.

Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria

1. Justification for access to Antarctica: NSF supports fieldwork in Antarctica for research that can only be done, or is best done, in Antarctica. Proposals must include an explanation that justifies fieldwork in the Antarctic. This statement will be evaluated to determine if it represents a compelling rationale that fieldwork in the Antarctic is required to accomplish the goals of the proposed investigation.
2. Operational feasibility: Proposals involving Antarctic fieldwork will be evaluated for operational feasibility, safety, and environmental impacts using the Logistics Requirement and Field Plan, the Concept Outline and Program Director feedback, an NSF environmental review, and an NSF safety review.
3. Instrumentation and technology development: The quality of development and testing plans, including milestones and criteria for acceptance, will be considered as an important criterion in the evaluation of proposals involving instrument development, or modification of instruments for polar work.
4. Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan: Is there a SAIF plan? Does it adequately address the emphasis areas listed in the plan description?

Reviewers will be instructed to evaluate the SAIF Plan within the Broader Impacts review criterion, specifically:

• Is there a compelling plan (including the procedures, trainings, and communication processes) to establish, nurture, and maintain inclusive off-campus or off-site working environment(s)?
• Does the proposed plan identify and adequately address the unique challenges for the team and the specific off-campus or off-site setting(s)?
• Are the organizational mechanisms to be used for reporting, responding to, and resolving issues of harassment, should they occur, clearly outlined?

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to evaluate proposals using two National Science Board approved merit review criteria and, if applicable, additional program specific criteria. A summary rating and accompanying narrative will generally be completed and submitted by each reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.

After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. NSF strives to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. Large or particularly complex proposals or proposals from new recipients may require additional review and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer's recommendation.

After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support for review of business, financial, and policy implications. After an administrative review has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers perform the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

Once an award or declination decision has been made, Principal Investigators are provided feedback about their proposals. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying information, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award notice, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award notice; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1)*; and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award notice. Cooperative agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Build America, Buy America

As expressed in Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers (86 FR 7475), it is the policy of the executive branch to use terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards to maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered in, the United States.

Consistent with the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Division G, Title IX, Subtitle A, November 15, 2021), no funding made available through this funding opportunity may be obligated for infrastructure projects under an award unless all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States. For additional information, visit NSF's Build America, Buy America webpage.

Special Award Conditions:

Projects receiving U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) support for fieldwork in the Antarctic are subject to the Antarctic Conservation Act (ACA), as amended, 16 U.S.C. § 2401, et seq. Violations of the ACA may result in civil penalties up to approximately $32,000 per occurrence, imprisonment for up to one year, and, where appropriate, administrative sanctions up to and including debarment. Please refer to https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/antarct/aca/aca.jsp for general guidance.

Projects receiving USAP support for fieldwork in the Antarctic shall include the following acknowledgement in publications resulting from the project (in addition to acknowledging NSF grant support as described in PAPPG Chapter XI.E.4): "Logistical support for this project in Antarctica was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation through the U.S. Antarctic Program."

The Polar Code of Conduct alerts participants to the NSF's expectations for professional conduct and acceptable behavior while deployed in Antarctica: (https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/documents/policy/polar_coc.pdf.) Participants in research supported by NSF are required to comply with this Code of Conduct. Participants are required to acknowledge receipt, acceptance and full understanding of the terms and expectations of the Polar Code of Conduct and to agree to abide by its terms and expectations. As noted in the Code, violations "may be shared with current and future Antarctic or Arctic program support contractors, federal agency partners, or grantee institutions" and "may result in adverse consequences to the individual, including, but not limited to, removal from a USAP or Arctic station, field camp, other facility, ship, or aircraft; termination of employment (by the employer); or other administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement actions, as appropriate." The Antarctic Program has zero tolerance for harassment of any kind.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require submission of more frequent project reports). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final annual project report, and a project outcomes report for the general public.

Failure to provide the required annual or final annual project reports, or the project outcomes report, will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for all identified PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through Research.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and final annual project reports. Such reports provide information on accomplishments, project participants (individual and organizational), publications, and other specific products and impacts of the project. Submission of the report via Research.gov constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report also must be prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website exactly as it is submitted by the PI.

More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

Principal investigators are required to comply with NSF 22-106, Dear Colleague Letter: Office of Polar Programs Data, Code, and Sample Management Policy (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22106) and evidence of compliance is required in all annual and final project reports. Within the first year of the award, investigators must register their projects with the USAP-Data Center (USAP-DC) at https://www.usap-dc.org/ and include the project USAP-DC website in the first annual report under the "Other Products" or "Website" sections. In all project reports submitted to NSF, principal investigators must address the status of storing metadata files, physical/biological samples, full data sets, and derived data products into long-lived and publicly accessible archive(s). Collaborative proposals can have a single website entry, but it must be referenced in each collaborative final report. USAP-DC personnel can assist with this step (info@usap-dc.org.)

Investigators are also expected to specifically address progress on activities related to proposed Broader Impacts in annual and final reports.

VIII. Agency Contacts

Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

• William G. Ambrose, Jr., Program Director, Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems, telephone: (703) 292-8048, email: wambrose@nsf.gov
• Kelly M. Brunt, Program Director, Antarctic Glaciology, telephone: (703) 292-8457, email: kbrunt@nsf.gov
• Marion I. Dierickx, Program Director, Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Science, Polar Cyberinfrastructure, telephone: (703) 292-2319, email: mdierick@nsf.gov
• Rebecca Gast, Program Director, Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems, telephone: (703) 292-2356, email: rgast@nsf.gov
• Vladimir O. Papitashvili, Program Director, Astrophysics and Geospace Science, and Antarctic Instrumentation, telephone: (703) 292-7425, email: vpapita@nsf.gov
• David F. Porter, Program Director, Antarctic Oceans and Atmosphere, telephone: (703) 292-2930, email: dporter@nsf.gov
• Elizabeth L. Rom, Program Director, Polar Education, telephone: (703) 292-7709, email: elrom@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of NSF systems contact:

• NSF Help Desk: 1-800-381-1532
• Research.gov Help Desk e-mail: rgov@nsf.gov

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

• Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: support@grants.gov.

IX. Other Information

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, "NSF Update" is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's website.

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at https://www.grants.gov.

About The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.F.7 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov. Location: 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314 For General Information (NSF Information Center): (703) 292-5111 TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090 To Order Publications or Forms:   Send an e-mail to: nsfpubs@nsf.gov or telephone: (703) 292-8134 To Locate NSF Employees: (703) 292-5111

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by proposers will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/recipients to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding proposers or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See System of Record Notices, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records.” Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Policy Office, Division of Institution and Award Support
Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management
National Science Foundation
Alexandria, VA 22314