Arctic Research Support and Logistics Program

PROGRAM GUIDELINES


08-597  Program Solicitation

Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).

SYNOPSIS

The Arctic Research Support and Logistics (RSL) Program supports the field component of research projects funded through science programs in the Arctic Sciences Section of the Office of Polar Programs and through other programs at National Science Foundation (NSF). The program accepts proposals that

• support long-term observations of the Arctic, 
• support the acquisition of data sets useful to a broad segment of the arctic research community,
• will lead to Cooperative Agreements to operate multi-use arctic research facilities, or
• provide services that broadly support the arctic research community, such as facilitating communication, developing research ideas in an arctic-wide community setting, and cooperating with arctic communities.

Detailed information pertaining to proposal submission is included in the Arctic Research Opportunities solicitation (NSF 05-514).  The types of proposals considered by RSL are outlined below.  For detailed information on field support and logistics, please see the Arctic Research Support and Logistics web page.

Long-Term Observations

RSL will support  establishing or maintaining long-term observation data sets  that  provide critical data to regional or global modeling efforts and/or a framework for process studies. Investigators are encouraged to show strong community support for these measurements and to include mechanisms that engage stakeholders in providing guidance on collecting data sets. If appropriate, investigators should reference how the proposed activity fits into the SEARCH (Study of Environmental Arctic Change) implementation plan (see the SEARCH web site for more information http://psc.apl.washington.edu/search/). Development of robust instrumentation approaches is encouraged.  These can be developed in conjunction with support from the Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors (CIS) effort. Data sets from Long-Term Observatories are expected to be made publicly available immediately upon collection.            

Data Acquisitions or Collection

The RSL program  supports

• the acquisition of satellite and airborne imaging and mapping data and the production and dissemination of user-friendly data products that will be made available to the NSF research community 
• aspects of collecting underway data from ships. This includes documentation, quality control, and archiving.
• the development of components of geospatial information infrastructure to benefit the arctic research community. The Arctic GIS website, hosted by the Arctic Research Consortium of U.S. (ARCUS; http://www.arcus.org/gis), contains information about meetings, workshops, initiatives, and links to data and information about arctic geospatial information infrastructure.

Facility Operations

The operation of new or existing research facilities that support NSF-funded projects will be considered by RSL. If successful, awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements. 

Field Work

Field components of research funded by the Arctic Sciences Section, other directorates at NSF, and occasionally other federal agencies includes providing transportation, food and shelter while conducting field work, user and day-rate fees at field camps, salaries of staff hired specifically for field work, and activities such as travel to coordinate projects with permitting agencies and local communities.  Access to logistical support from the RSL program is through the regular proposal process.   For detailed information, please see the Arctic Research Support and Logistics web page.

RELATED URLS

ALIAS (Arctic Logistics Information and Support

ARCUS (Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S.

Barrow Arctic Science Consortium

Danish Polar Center

Toolik Field Station

VECO Polar Resources

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Arctic Research Opportunities

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

Discoveries