Facilitator of Marine Seismic Capabilities for the U. S. Research Community

Proposals are solicited to support needs of the marine seismic research community for access to acquisition of long-offset and deep-imaging 3D seismic data using a large tuned source. These needs are currently provided by the specialized, seismic research vessel R/V Marcus G. Langseth (Langseth). The R/V Langseth is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University. NSF has determined that it cannot adequately invest in the R/V Langseth or replace the vessel at the end of service life.  Therefore, alternative approaches are necessary for providing the marine seismic research capability to support high priority research proposals. R/V Langseth will continue operations through September 2021, or no later than the Fall 2021 regulatory dry-docking, and will be divested.

This NSF solicitation seeks proposals for a Facilitator of Marine Seismic Capabilities, herein referred to as a "Facilitator" or Facilitator Support Office" to work with researchers in identifying suitable vessels (commercial, foreign academic, or other) to support NSF-funded seismic research projects. The Facilitator will also be responsible for arranging and negotiating  competitive lease agreements for marine seismic research activities that have been determined by NSF to be high priority projects following the merit review process. The Facilitator may also be asked to help support access to additional subsurface imaging techniques.

The successful proposal for the Facilitator of Marine Seismic Capabilities will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement (CA) over a five-year period of performance.