Grants / National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF 22-577: Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF 22-577 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

• Award ceiling$4.0 million
• Award floor$1
• Total funding$10.0 million
• Expected awards40
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. - Consortia as follows: a) legally incorporated, not-for-profit consortium that includes two or more submission-eligible organizations as described in the two bulleted items above. Such a consortium is one with an independent administrative structure (e.g., a sponsored projects office) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions and has 501(c)(3) status. b) Submission-eligible organizations as described in the two bulleted items above, on behalf of an informal consortium. These consortium proposals may also include as partners, via subawards, other U.S. and non-U.S. organizations that are not otherwise eligible to submit directly to this solicitation. In either case, the proposal title should indicate that a consortium is proposing. While for-profit commercial organizations, especially U.S. small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education, are eligible for participatory support through subawards/subcontracts as private sector partners with submitting organizations; they may not submit independent proposals. Such partnerships must be substantive and meaningful. In addition, the value added by the for-profit commercial organization should be justified as a unique contribution that is otherwise unavailable within organizations described in the two bulleted items above.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Geosciences awards averaged $710,829; this notice allows up to $4.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (71% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The NSF Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) hereby solicits proposals for research infrastructure that is necessary to advance understanding of the Earth System including: the structure, properties and dynamics of the solid Earth and the interactions between the solid Earth and its biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere; the history and evolution of life; and the history and dynamics of Earth’s climate. The EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program (EAR/IF) will support meritorious requests for instrument-based and human research infrastructure that will advance understanding of the Earth system, contribute toward training a diverse geoscience workforce, and encourage efforts to support belonging, accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (BAJEDI). EAR/IF will consider proposals for: 1) Equipment Acquisition or Upgrade 2) Instrumentation and/or Technique Development 3) Technician Support 4) Community Facility Support 5) Continental Drilling Planning EAR seeks proposals that prioritize support for the U.S. Earth science community supported by EAR core or special programs (see https://www.nsf.gov/funding/programs.jsp?org=EAR for a current list of funding programs in EAR).

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.