Geoinformatics

The Geoinformatics (GI) Program is an active funding opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically through its Directorate for Geosciences and the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR). The program aims to support the development and maintenance of cyberinfrastructure (CI) that enables data access, management, and computational modeling within the Earth Sciences. The initiative directly supports NSF’s broader strategic priorities of promoting open science, reproducibility, and the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) principles for data stewardship. The solicitation supersedes NSF 21-583, and reflects updates in funding tracks and budget constraints for the Innovative Resources track. The GI program offers two funding tracks: Innovative Resources and Sustained Resources. The Innovative Resources track supports early-stage development, deployment, and community-building activities for CI that enhance research and education across Earth Sciences disciplines. Projects under this track can receive up to $200,000 annually for up to three years. On the other hand, the Sustained Resources track is tailored to support mature CI resources, including sustained operations and community engagement. Proposals under this track must be submitted with a Concept Outline at least three months prior to the full proposal due date. These projects may receive funding for up to four years, depending on the year of submission, with no stated maximum award ceiling, as it is based on the scope and community served. The anticipated total annual funding for this solicitation is $5.6 million, with an expected 6 to 8 awards across both tracks. Awards may take the form of standard or continuing grants, or cooperative agreements. Cost sharing is not permitted, and indirect cost limitations do not apply. Proposal submissions are accepted through Research.gov and Grants.gov, and applicants are required to adhere to the current NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education and nonprofit, non-academic organizations that are directly associated with research or education. This includes accredited two- and four-year institutions, research laboratories, observatories, museums, and professional societies. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals per PI, organization, or co-PI, and individuals from U.S. institutions are eligible regardless of career stage. International branch campuses of U.S. institutions may be included if appropriately justified. Applications are evaluated on both NSF’s standard merit review criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) and additional solicitation-specific criteria. The latter includes detailed assessment metrics, sustainable management and governance structures, scalability, and alignment with NSF principles. For Sustained Resources proposals, Concept Outlines must include expected personnel, user community descriptions, scope of work, and budget estimates. Letters of Collaboration are required for any partner not requesting funding. Projects may also request supplemental cloud computing or high-throughput computing resources as specified under special submission instructions. Submission deadlines recur annually, with future target dates identified as December 6, 2024, for Sustained Resources proposals and December 5, 2025, for Innovative Resources proposals. Each year, Sustained Resources applicants must submit their Concept Outline at least three months before the proposal due date. For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the Cognizant Program Officer, Raleigh L. Martin, via email at geoinformatics@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-7199.

Proposers are encouraged to contact the program officer before submission and submit a required Concept Outline (for Sustained Resources) three months in advance of the deadline.