Important information about NSF’s implementation of the revised 2 CFR

NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website. These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Dear Colleague Letter

Opportunities to Participate in the Construction and Operation of a new Antarctic Research Vessel


Dear Colleagues:

The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to announce the opportunity to participate in a developing project, and to invite statements of interest and capability that will inform future plans for an Antarctic Research Vessel (ARV).

The Southern Ocean and Antarctic continental margin play critical roles in the global distribution of heat, the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, and the cycling nutrients that support living marine resources. In addition, ocean-ice interactions and ice sheet loss in the West Antarctic region are key determinants of global sea level rise that will affect coastal communities and economies worldwide. These thematic areas and related questions are critical to U.S. research interests and inform policy decisions both nationally and internationally.

For nearly thirty years, the U.S. Antarctic Program's (USAP) icebreaking research vessel, the Nathaniel B. Palmer, has successfully supported critical research in this region; however, it is nearing the end of its service life. The USAP intends to uphold its longstanding commitment to support cutting-edge marine science, provide crucial scientific access to remote and otherwise inaccessible regions around the Antarctic Continent, and maintain U.S. leadership in the region. Accordingly, the NSF Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has funded preliminary design[1] of a replacement vessel for possible future funding as a Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) project.

This announcement invites participation in the development and operation of this prospective ARV, through the issue of two Requests for Information, or RFIs. RFIs are used by federal agencies to gather information about the capabilities available in the marketplace - i.e., educational and research institutions, contractors, vendors. The RFIs can be found at the following links:

https://sam.gov/opp/879507ad46a444329946a46f4e2d1003/view (for the vessel integrator)

https://sam.gov/opp/4f0500a831934c83b4ff38765c103bb4/view (for the vessel operator)

We invite organizations to review the RFIs and express their interest in partnering with us on this effort. Please provide responses to one or both RFIs according to the instructions described therein by June 6, 2022. Responses to the RFIs will be used to plan the future path for constructing and operating the vessel, and it is important that we hear from all interested parties at this early planning stage. Please note that this Dear Colleague Letter is a supplement to a previous announcement, and organizations that have already responded need not submit additional information. Responding to the RFI does not obligate your organization in any way.

Responses and any questions regarding this DCL should be submitted to arv.procurement@nsf.gov, consistent with the above RFIs.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Isern
Assistant Director, Directorate for Geosciences

Roberta Marinelli
Director, Office of Polar Programs

References

[1] https://future.usap.gov/new-antarctic-vessel-approved/