Integrated Data Systems Services

The U.S. National Science Foundation, through its Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, has released solicitation NSF 25-544 for the Integrated Data Systems and Services program. This program builds on a long history of NSF investment in cyberinfrastructure through initiatives such as the Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation and Campus Cyberinfrastructure programs. The IDSS program is designed to support the development, deployment, and operation of high-performing, national-scale systems and services that enable data-intensive and artificial intelligence-driven science, research, innovation, and education. It emphasizes broad accessibility and integration across diverse scientific domains, with the expectation that supported projects will enhance the overall research ecosystem in ways that extend beyond individual disciplines. The program accepts proposals in three categories. Category I supports the creation of novel national-scale integrated data systems and services, including projects that build upon or interface with other existing systems. Category II focuses on transitioning successful smaller-scale pilots, prototypes, or regional systems to national-level operations, as well as enhancing existing operational systems. Category III offers planning grants to prepare future proposals for development or transition projects. Each category has specific award levels, durations, and conditions. Category I awards range from $10 million to $30 million for up to five years, Category II awards may provide up to $9 million for up to three years, and Category III planning grants may provide up to $500,000 for up to two years. Renewal may be possible for Categories I and II based on successful evaluations and continued funding availability, but Category III grants are not renewable. The program emphasizes integration and interoperability, encouraging projects to connect with other cyberinfrastructure resources such as repositories, computing facilities, and scientific instrumentation. Projects must address one or more stages of the scientific data lifecycle, from acquisition and management to analysis, sharing, and archiving, while demonstrating their potential to broadly enable research and education. However, long-term storage, hosting, and curation of research data itself are not funded through this program. Instead, applicants are encouraged to explore partnerships and models to sustain those needs beyond the award period. Innovation and adaptability are key expectations, with each project expected to dedicate part of its work to continual improvement of operational services. Proposals that primarily serve a single discipline, domain, or project are not eligible. Eligibility for this program includes accredited two- and four-year U.S. institutions of higher education, including community colleges, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies based in the United States may also apply. Other federal agencies and federally funded research and development centers, including NSF-sponsored FFRDCs, may submit proposals if they follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide’s guidance on eligibility. There are no restrictions on who may serve as Principal Investigator. Institutions are limited to one submission per solicitation cycle for Categories I and II as the lead organization, though they may participate as subawardees on other proposals. This restriction does not apply to Category III planning grants. Applications must be submitted electronically through Research.gov or Grants.gov, in accordance with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Full proposals for this cycle are due December 4, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. in the submitting organization’s local time. Future deadlines fall on the fourth Tuesday in July each year, with the next being July 28, 2026. Proposals must be submitted as single, non-collaborative applications, although subawards may be used to support partnerships. Submissions exceeding the maximum award amounts or missing required supplementary documentation will be returned without review. Proposals will be reviewed under NSF’s standard merit review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional program-specific considerations. Reviewers will evaluate the vision, technical specifications, operations plan, performance objectives, project management, and risk management strategies, as well as alignment with the program’s emphasis on national-scale, integrative, and multi-disciplinary impact. For Categories I and II, projects must demonstrate readiness to transition to continuous operations by the end of the first year. Category III proposals must demonstrate robust planning and community engagement to support future submissions. Final award notifications will be made by NSF’s Division of Grants and Agreements following administrative and financial review. Agency contacts for the IDSS program include Program Officers Andrey Kanaev at (703) 292-2841 and Varun Chandola at (703) 292-2656, both reachable at idss@nsf.gov. Additional information, including the full solicitation text, is available through the NSF website. Awardees are required to participate in annual principal investigator meetings or relevant cyberinfrastructure conferences, with travel costs to be included in their budgets. Reporting requirements include annual project reports, a final project report, and a publicly accessible outcomes summary, all submitted through Research.gov. Oversight may also involve site visits, quarterly reporting, or other conditions as determined by NSF. The program thus provides a structured opportunity to build sustainable, operational-scale data systems and services that advance U.S. research and education across multiple scientific domains.