Cyberinfrastructure for Public Access and Open Science

The Cyberinfrastructure for Public Access and Open Science (CI PAOS) program is managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically through the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). This initiative aligns with NSF's ongoing priorities to expand public access and promote open science through robust research data infrastructure and collaborative ecosystems. The program supports the NSF Public Access Initiative and reinforces national commitments to ensuring the accessibility, reliability, and reusability of federally funded research data. The CI PAOS program is designed to facilitate early-stage socio-technical partnerships across multiple disciplines. It encourages collaboration among cyberinfrastructure researchers, research computing experts, data scientists, university libraries, research labs, and various communities of practice. These partnerships aim to explore and develop frameworks, standards, and tools that advance the discoverability, sustainability, and reproducibility of open science data. Applicants must propose projects under one or more of three major thematic areas: Competency Building, Capability Building, or Community Building. Under Competency Building, proposals should address challenges in open science and data lifecycle management through socio-technical collaboration across domestic and international boundaries. These projects should inform the principles and practices that underpin good data stewardship and highlight transformative potential and broader scientific impacts. Capability Building supports early-stage efforts like exploratory analysis, community planning, or pilot testing that could later evolve into full-scale infrastructure. These projects should leverage existing cyberinfrastructure and related resources. Community Building encourages proposals aimed at cross-disciplinary coordination, reducing barriers to open science adoption, and enhancing integrative CI approaches across domains. Proposals must include interdisciplinary teams and show evidence of strong collaboration among science and engineering researchers, data scientists, and cyberinfrastructure professionals. International collaboration is encouraged to address global challenges in data policy and implementation. A key requirement is that all applicants must consult with a CI PAOS Program Officer and any relevant disciplinary NSF Program Officers prior to submission to ensure alignment with program goals and funding scope. Failure to do so may result in proposals being returned without review. There are no formal application deadlines, as CI PAOS accepts proposals on a rolling basis through NSF’s Research.gov or Grants.gov portals. The solicitation is currently listed under Program Description PD 24-7414. However, the program may periodically release Dear Colleague Letters inviting targeted proposals for special themes. Proposals previously declined by CI PAOS or other NSF programs must undergo substantial revision before resubmission. Awards are governed by NSF’s revised financial assistance terms effective October 1, 2024, consistent with new OMB federal assistance guidance. The program contact for CI PAOS is Plato Smith, who can be reached via email at plsmith@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-4278. There is no specified award ceiling or floor indicated in the source documentation, and the total funding allocation is not disclosed. Proposers are expected to determine if their scope aligns with CI PAOS’s early-stage collaborative focus. Award information and previously funded projects can be explored through the NSF’s database of funded awards.