Cyberinfrastructure for Public Access and Open Science (CI PAOS)

The Cyberinfrastructure for Public Access and Open Science (CI PAOS) program is a funding initiative led by the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). This program is designed to catalyze transformative socio-technical partnerships that advance research data infrastructure across scientific and engineering domains. CI PAOS aligns with NSF’s broader Public Access Initiative, reflecting national priorities to improve accessibility, discoverability, reliability, reproducibility, sustainability, and utility of data products in the open science ecosystem. The program builds on prior NSF efforts such as Dear Colleague Letters NSF19-069, NSF20-068, NSF23-018, and the FAIROS Research Coordination Networks program solicitation (NSF 22-553). The primary objective of CI PAOS is to support early-stage collaborative projects that foster integration between cyberinfrastructure (CI) researchers, research computing and data management professionals, domain scientists, university libraries, and other stakeholders. Through its funding, the program encourages innovation in data infrastructure that supports public access and open science goals, both domestically and internationally. Proposals must align with one or more of three themes: Competency Building, Capability Building, and Community Building. These themes encompass open science-driven collaborations, exploratory pilot activities, and community integration efforts respectively. For Competency Building, proposals should address socio-technical approaches to data lifecycle challenges across disciplinary and interdisciplinary lines, and across domestic and international settings. Proposals must articulate clear goals and rationales, as well as broader impacts on the open science ecosystem. Capability Building emphasizes pilot-level and exploratory activities aimed at informing future larger-scale developments, while leveraging existing infrastructure and resources. Community Building proposals should focus on integrating or accelerating existing CI efforts, addressing cross-cutting needs, building international collaboration, and reducing barriers to broader adoption of CI-supported research. Applicants are required to consult with both CI PAOS cognizant program officers and relevant disciplinary program officers at NSF before submitting a proposal. This consultation ensures proper alignment with the program’s collaborative nature and disciplinary scope. Proposals may be submitted at any time throughout the year via Research.gov or Grants.gov, following NSF's Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Additionally, NSF may occasionally issue Dear Colleague Letters to encourage proposals related to special topics under CI PAOS. The program is open-ended with no fixed deadline, allowing proposals to be submitted year-round. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers, but due to the collaborative and co-funded nature of the projects, early discussion with NSF is mandatory. All proposals must comply with the guidelines outlined in the PAPPG. Contact for the program is Plato Smith, reachable at [email protected] or (703) 292-4278. CI PAOS projects are intended to be transformative and exploratory rather than for mature deployment of data infrastructure, making this program ideal for early-stage socio-technical partnerships looking to shape the future of open science. International collaboration is encouraged, provided the proposals advance shared norms and strategies for public access. While specific award sizes and performance periods are not listed, successful proposals must demonstrate meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration, connection to existing cyberinfrastructure investments, and clear potential for broader impacts across science and engineering disciplines.