NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) Administrative Support Office | 24 557

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 557

The National Science Foundation is seeking proposals to run an Administrative Support Office for the NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB). The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is a large, community-driven research facility made up of instrumented arrays in coastal and open-ocean locations. These arrays continuously collect oceanic and marine atmospheric measurements, and the data are archived and distributed for broad use across the ocean and Earth science communities. NSF uses the OOIFB as a formal bridge to the research community, with the goal of making sure OOI continues to evolve in ways that match current and emerging scientific needs and opportunities, including needs tied to new technologies and innovation enabled by the facility.

The funded organization would not be operating the observatory infrastructure itself; instead, it would provide the administrative backbone that allows the OOIFB to function effectively and consistently. The core duties include planning and running workshops and meetings that bring together users and stakeholders, coordinating schedules and logistics, and supporting travel arrangements for OOIFB members as well as for community participants involved in board activities. The Support Office is also expected to maintain and update the OOIFB website and handle other coordination and communications activities laid out in the solicitation's program description. In practice, this role is about keeping engagement mechanisms working smoothly so the board can gather input, synthesize community perspectives, and communicate priorities and recommendations to NSF and to the OOI program.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations directly tied to education or research (for example, independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies), as well as accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, including two-year and four-year colleges. If a proposal would route funds to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that overseas performance is beneficial and why the activities cannot be done at the U.S. campus.

There is also a conflict-of-interest style restriction on who can serve as Principal Investigator. The PI must not be someone currently serving as PI, co-PI, or senior/key personnel on active or pending OOI Operations and Maintenance awards or related subawards. This is meant to preserve independence between the facility operations function and the community engagement and advisory function supported by the OOIFB.

This opportunity is an NSF discretionary grant in the science and technology research and development category (CFDA 47.050). The funding opportunity number is NSF 24-557, it was created on March 13, 2024, and the original closing date listed is June 10, 2024. The solicitation text provided does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the excerpt, so applicants would need to consult the full announcement for budget expectations, period of performance, and any additional deliverables or reporting requirements.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) Administrative Support Office" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 557

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: