Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science

The Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science (FAIROS) Program, led by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), is designed to advance sustainable, multidisciplinary research data management (RDM) and open science practices. This initiative builds upon the FAIR principles and broader open science values, including transparency, accessibility, and reusability of research outputs such as data, software, and code. By supporting socio-technical cyberinfrastructure development and collaborative community-based efforts, the FAIROS Program aims to strengthen the ecosystem supporting public access to research results. This program is aligned with NSF’s broader mission and the Public Access Initiative, which seeks to improve the discoverability and usability of federally funded research. FAIROS proposals must choose one of two tracks: "Disciplinary Improvements" focused on specific scientific communities or "Cross-Cutting Improvements" applicable across multiple disciplines. Projects should be interdisciplinary in nature and are encouraged to include collaborative research efforts involving multiple institutions. Proposals must demonstrate alignment with FAIR, CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics), and TRUST (Transparency, Responsibility, User Focus, Sustainability, and Technology) principles. NSF emphasizes the importance of integrating these principles throughout the research lifecycle, from data creation to dissemination and preservation. Activities supported include developing data portals, piloting new models for scientific communication, and enhancing access to and management of data across domains and disciplines. Applications are open to a wide range of U.S.-based organizations including accredited institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, Tribal Nations, and federally funded research and development centers. There are no restrictions on who may serve as Principal Investigator (PI), but each individual may only participate in one proposal per cycle. PIs are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate program officer prior to submission to confirm the relevance and scale of their proposed project. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following the guidelines in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) current at the time of submission. Each award under this solicitation will be in the form of a standard grant, continuing grant, or cooperative agreement, with a maximum budget of $600,000 over three years (up to $200,000 per year). Approximately 4 to 10 awards are expected annually, depending on the quality of submissions and availability of funding. Cost sharing is not required and is not permitted as a voluntary commitment. All proposals must be submitted by April 9, 2025, at 5 p.m. local time of the submitting institution. The solicitation indicates that this deadline recurs annually on the second Wednesday of April. Evaluation of proposals will follow NSF's merit review criteria, including intellectual merit and broader impacts, along with solicitation-specific criteria emphasizing open science impact, leveraging of existing cyberinfrastructure, and articulation of measurable outcomes. PIs should describe in detail how the proposed activities will address RDM challenges, improve coordination, and result in tangible advancements in research capabilities. The projects are expected to demonstrate long-term impact and sustainability beyond the grant period. Awardees will also be required to participate in an annual PI meeting and comply with standard NSF reporting requirements through Research.gov. Program inquiries may be directed to the designated program officers across various NSF directorates, with a central contact at [email protected]. While no pre-application steps such as a Letter of Intent are required, early communication with program staff is advised. The program’s broad disciplinary scope and emphasis on collaborative, international, and community-driven approaches highlight NSF’s commitment to fostering a more transparent and accessible research landscape across science and engineering.

Proposals must specify track (Disciplinary or Cross-Cutting), align with FAIR/CARE/TRUST principles, and show measurable outcomes and long-term impact.