Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support

The Oceanographic Facilities and Equipment Support program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a key funding opportunity under the Directorate for Geosciences’ Division of Ocean Sciences. Its primary objective is to ensure the availability and advancement of shared-use oceanographic platforms, facilities, and scientific equipment in support of federally funded marine research and education programs. The solicitation, NSF 23-525, outlines a comprehensive framework for the provision of operational support, instrumentation upgrades, and safety enhancements to vessels and shore-based research environments, excluding ship operations and ship acquisition, which are handled under separate solicitations. Three major components define this solicitation: Oceanographic Technical Services (Tech Services), Oceanographic Instrumentation (OI), and Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment (SSSE). The Tech Services program supports the baseline operations and logistical needs of research vessels, including at-sea instrumentation services, equipment maintenance, and coordination of shared-use facilities. The OI program enhances the scientific capabilities of sea-going and shore-based operations through the acquisition of shared-use instruments, such as sensors, acoustic systems, and core samplers, that support multiple research projects. The SSSE program improves the safety and productivity of scientific operations by funding permanent or portable equipment installations, including load-handling systems, communication tools, and navigation systems. The program invites proposals from U.S.-based institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic research organizations. These institutions must demonstrate a substantial ocean science research program and the capacity to support shared-use infrastructure. Eligibility includes both two- and four-year colleges as well as independent observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies associated with education or research. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals an institution or principal investigator may submit. Proposals must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov and must comply with the applicable version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). For each of the three components, specific templates and budgetary formats must be followed. The Tech Services component has a five-year funding model, while the OI and SSSE components typically support one- to two-year standard grants. Indirect costs and cost-sharing are governed by standard NSF policies, with voluntary committed cost-sharing prohibited. Applications are evaluated based on NSF’s core merit review criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—as well as program-specific criteria. For Tech Services, the evaluation focuses on service effectiveness, scope alignment with vessel operations, and cost efficiency. For OI and SSSE proposals, the review emphasizes multi-project use, enhancement of research capabilities, safety and regulatory needs, and technical sufficiency. The anticipated total funding available annually under this program is approximately $47.5 million, with an estimated 25 to 50 awards issued based on available funds. The current target deadline is January 10, 2024, and the program is expected to recur annually on this date. Cognizant program officers include Timothy M. McGovern, Laura W. Stolp, and Brian P. Midson, with contact details available through NSF. All documentation, including specific proposal templates and budget tables, can be accessed via the program’s official page. Successful applicants will be notified following NSF’s review process, which typically concludes within six months of the submission deadline.

Highlight shared-use benefits, alignment with NSF science programs, and multi-project applicability; avoid project-specific justifications.