Competition for the Management of Operation and Maintenance of the National Geophysical Facility | 23 623

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this NSF funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a competition to select a single organization to manage, operate, and maintain the National Geophysical Facility (NGF), an NSF-funded major facility that supports a broad range of Earth science research.

2) What is the official title and opportunity number?

The funding opportunity title is "Competition for the Management of Operation and Maintenance of the National Geophysical Facility" and the funding opportunity number is 23-623.

3) Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).

4) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 47.050.

5) What is the purpose of the National Geophysical Facility (NGF)?

NGF is intended to support Earth science research by enabling the research community to investigate Earth processes at local, regional, and global scales through sensor networks, shared instrumentation, operational field support, and end-to-end data services.

6) What kinds of services and capabilities is NGF expected to provide?

Based on the information provided, NGF is expected to provide:

• Operation of global and regional sensor networks
• A lending library of geophysical instrumentation
• Operational support for PI-led field experiments
• End-to-end data services (archiving, quality control, and distribution of geophysical data)
• Development of data products
• Education, outreach, workforce development, and community engagement

7) How will NGF relate to existing NSF geophysical facilities like SAGE and GAGE?

NGF will consolidate and replace NSF's current separate geophysical facilities, specifically the Seismological Facility for the Advancement of GEoscience (SAGE) and the Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of GEoscience (GAGE). NSF intends NGF to operate as a single integrated facility under a single operator.

8) Is NSF planning to make more than one award?

No. NSF anticipates making a single award.

9) What type of award will NSF use?

The expected award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.

10) What does it mean that the award will be a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial NSF involvement during the period of performance. Proposers should expect ongoing coordination, reporting, and joint planning with NSF rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

11) What is the anticipated award period?

NSF anticipates an initial period of five years.

12) Is renewal possible after the initial period?

Yes. NSF may renew the cooperative agreement for an additional five years if funds are available, performance is satisfactory, and the recipient submits and passes review of a cost proposal for the second period.

13) How will NSF approach recompetition and oversight for a major facility like NGF?

NSF notes that its decision-making will be informed by the National Science Board statement on recompetition of major facilities (NSB 2015-45 or any successor). This signals expectations around competition, accountability, and performance review consistent with major-facility stewardship.

14) Which NSF unit will provide primary programmatic oversight?

Programmatic oversight will sit primarily with NSF's Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) in the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO).

15) Will the NGF operator need to coordinate with other NSF divisions or offices?

Yes. The work is expected to be coordinated across other NSF units with overlapping interests, including the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE), the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP).

16) What does cross-directorate coordination suggest about NGF users and environments?

It suggests NGF services and data will likely be important across multiple research environments, including marine, atmospheric, geospace, and polar contexts, and that the operator should be prepared to engage stakeholders and requirements spanning these communities.

17) What are the expectations for aligning NGF capabilities with community needs?

The selected organization will be expected to work closely with NSF and the broader scientific community to ensure NGF capabilities remain aligned with community needs and continue to advance Earth sciences and related disciplines.

18) What management and modernization outcomes does NSF expect from the operator?

Within available resources and in coordination with NSF, the operator will be responsible for building and executing a coherent program that:

• Brings existing capabilities together into a streamlined management and operations structure
• Strengthens and modernizes instrumentation services
• Strengthens and modernizes data and cyberinfrastructure services

19) What are the expectations for education, outreach, and workforce development?

Education, outreach, workforce development, and community engagement are described as core parts of the facility mission, with an emphasis on serving diverse audiences and expanding who participates in Earth sciences.

20) How central is broadening participation to the NGF mission?

Broadening participation is framed as a central performance expectation. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes fostering a culture of equity and inclusion across Earth sciences and allied fields, not treating it as a side activity.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to U.S.-based organizations in these categories:

• U.S. for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong scientific or engineering research or education capabilities
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies) located in the United States and closely tied to research or education
• U.S.-accredited two- or four-year Institutions of Higher Education (including community colleges) with a U.S. campus, applying on behalf of their faculty

22) Can a U.S. institution include activities at an international branch campus?

It can be included, but if a proposal includes funding that would flow to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why activities need to occur at that international location, what benefit it provides, and why the work cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.

23) Does the Principal Investigator (PI) have to be employed by the lead organization?

Yes. The PI must be an employee of the proposing organization, meaning the lead applicant must directly employ the person responsible for overall project leadership and accountability.

24) What is NGF expected to support in terms of research operations?

NGF is expected to provide the operational support needed for PI-led field experiments, alongside instrumentation access and data services.

25) What data services are explicitly mentioned?

The facility is expected to provide end-to-end data services, including archiving, quality control, distribution of geophysical data, and development of data products.

26) What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is June 13, 2024.

27) Is the funding amount or award ceiling specified in the provided information?

No. The notice indicates a single expected award but does not provide an award ceiling in the provided text. Interested organizations would need to consult the full solicitation and related NSF documents for budget expectations, required cost structure, and detailed performance and reporting requirements.

28) How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity under NSF, aligned with science and technology and other research and development.

29) What does NSF expect regarding engagement with the scientific community?

The operator is expected to work closely with NSF and the broader scientific community and to engage stakeholders whose needs span multiple Earth and environmental research contexts.

30) What is the overall operational model NSF is aiming for with NGF?

NSF intends NGF to function as a single integrated facility, consolidating prior separate facilities into a streamlined management and operations structure under one operator, with modernized instrumentation and data/cyberinfrastructure services and a strong, central emphasis on equity, inclusion, and broadening participation.