Management and Operation of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory  (NAIC)  

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PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Solicitation  10-562

Important Notice to Proposers

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 13-1, was issued on October 4, 2012 and is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 14, 2013. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 13-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.

Please be aware that significant changes have been made to the PAPPG to implement revised merit review criteria based on the National Science Board (NSB) report, National Science Foundation's Merit Review Criteria: Review and Revisions. While the two merit review criteria remain unchanged (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), guidance has been provided to clarify and improve the function of the criteria. Changes will affect the project summary and project description sections of proposals. Annual and final reports also will be affected.

A by-chapter summary of this and other significant changes is provided at the beginning of both the Grant Proposal Guide and the Award & Administration Guide.

DUE DATES

Archived

SYNOPSIS

Proposals are solicited to manage and operate the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) through cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF).  NAIC is a center of excellence for multidisciplinary research and education, as enabled by the world-class observational facilities of the Arecibo Observatory (AO). AO's cornerstone research instrument is a 305-meter diameter, fixed, spherical reflector, located on approximately 120 acres of U.S. Government-owned land near Arecibo, Puerto Rico. As the world's largest single-dish radio telescope and most powerful scientific radar system, AO is unique in its sensitivity for passive radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy and space and atmospheric sciences.

The awardee will work closely with NSF and the scientific community to ensure that NAIC continues to support, sustain and advance frontier science as enabled by AO's unique research capabilities and as promoted through a culture of excellence. In cooperation with NSF and within available resources, NAIC will plan and execute a viable, coherent and inclusive program of research and education, consistent with the objectives and priorities of the scientific community. The awardee will manage facilities and equipment provided by NSF, will provide additional facilities and equipment as necessary to fulfill the proposed programmatic scope, and will provide support and technical personnel to manage AO as a well integrated research and education facility. The Observatory is a multidisciplinary resource; as such, a significant portion of the NAIC research and education program should be carried out in collaboration with its stakeholder communities.

Proposals should describe how the proposing institution(s) will provide observing capabilities and scientific data; conduct a competitive research program and an integrated program of education, training and outreach; maintain instruments, facilities and infrastructure; manage and develop a skilled and diverse workforce; and establish appropriate partnerships with universities, industry, private organizations and the international community to support the NAIC mission.

The successful proposal will be awarded as a cooperative agreement(s) with a duration of five years beginning October 1, 2011.

RELATED URLS

National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center

National Science Foundation Strategic Plan

National Science Foundation, Astronomical Sciences

National Science Foundation, Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences

National Science Foundation, Geosciences

National Science Foundation, Mathematical and Physical Sciences

What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)

Map of Recent Awards Made Through This Program