Title: Changing Seasonality in the Arctic System (CSAS)
       Arctic System Science Program
Date: 06/03/08






Changing Seasonality in the Arctic System (CSAS)
Arctic System Science Program

Program Solicitation
NSF 08-567



[NSF Logo]  National Science Foundation

            Office of Polar Programs
                 Division of Arctic Sciences



Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     October 10, 2008

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Changing Seasonality in the Arctic System  (CSAS)
     Arctic System Science Program

Synopsis of Program:

     This solicitation is for research aimed at understanding changing
     seasonality in the arctic system. There now exists abundant
     evidence that pervasive changes are underway in the patterns of
     seasonality in the Arctic. The timing and dynamics of key events
     such as spring melt and fall freeze-up are shifting in response
     to a changing arctic climate, impacting the interconnected
     physical, biological, and human components and processes of the
     arctic system. Interdisciplinary proposals are sought that employ
     field studies, retrospective investigation, modeling, or
     synthesis to explore how changes in succession (here, the
     sequence, nature, and timing of critical seasonal events, to
     include but not be limited to ecological succession) affect the
     linkages between, and feedbacks among, components and processes
     of the arctic system, thus altering the characteristics and
     functioning of the system as a whole.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Neil   R Swanberg, telephone: (703) 292-8029, email: nswanber@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

   * 47.078 --- Office of Polar Programs

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards:    10 to  20   - the number of awards depends
on the scope and size of highly competitive propoals, available funds and
the match of logistics capability to research needs.

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $5,000,000  to $10,000,000  pending
availability of funds

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Academic Institutions located in the U.S.: U.S. universities
          and colleges located in the U.S.
        * Foreign organizations: For cooperative projects involving
          U.S. and foreign organizations, support will only be
          provided for the U.S. portion.
        * Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums,
          observatories, research labs, professional societies and
          similar organizations in the U.S. associated with
          educational or research activities.
        * Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and
          Development Centers (FFRDCs): Contact the appropriate
          program before preparing a proposal for submission.

PI Limit:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     None Specified

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

   * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

   * Full Proposals:

        * Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award
          Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
          Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available
          electronically on the NSF website at:
          http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.

        * Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov
          Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of
          NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF
          Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov
          website and on the NSF website at:
          http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)

B. Budgetary Information

   * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required under this
     solicitation.

   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  Not Applicable

   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please
     see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

          October 10, 2008

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:   National Science Board approved criteria.
Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of
this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:   Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full
text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements:   Additional reporting requirements apply. Please
see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     Summary of Program Requirements

  I. Introduction

 II. Program Description

III. Award Information

 IV. Eligibility Information

  V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
       A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
       B. Budgetary Information
       C. Due Dates
       D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

 VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
       A. NSF Merit Review Criteria
       B. Review and Selection Process

VII. Award Administration Information
       A. Notification of the Award
       B. Award Conditions
       C. Reporting Requirements

VIII.Agency Contacts

 IX. Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

The goal of the NSF Arctic System Science (ARCSS) Program is to answer the
following question: What do changes in the arctic system imply for the
future?

To address this question the ARCSS research community is striving to:

   * Advance from a component understanding to a system understanding of
     the Arctic.
   * Understand the behavior of the arctic system, past, present, and
     future.
   * Understand the role of the Arctic as a component of the global system.
   * Include human dimensions as an integral part of the arctic system.

A critical aspect of system-level understanding concerns patterns of change
and variability within the system. Over the past decade the ARCSS research
community has identified patterns of temporal variability and seasonality
as an important scientific focus, especially given the rapid and extreme
changes in seasons that characterize the Arctic. This research solicitation
provides an opportunity for the research community to engage in a
coordinated effort on studies of changing seasonality.

Much of the attention on environmental and climate change in the Arctic has
focused on state changes such as loss of sea ice, thawing of permafrost,
changes in moisture and general warming. These are very important phenomena
that will disrupt the system, but in addition many events, particularly
those governed by biological and chemical processes, are tightly coupled in
time to, and dependent on, other events, and may actually be more sensitive
to changes in their critical linkages than to more general state changes.
Shifts in the timing, length, and pattern of individual seasonal events are
occurring throughout the arctic system, including physical events (e.g.
ocean and atmospheric circulation and fluxes, precipitation, sudden thaws,
presence of ice and snow, etc.), biological events (e.g., plant phenology,
animal life history events, etc.) and human activities (e.g., resource use,
industrial activities, etc.). The physical processes driving these shifts
do not affect all parts of the system equally, and the resulting asynchrony
of interdependent events may decouple some of the linkages.

For example, the ice pack north of Alaska now forms several months later in
winter than it has in the past, while the spring melt arrives several weeks
earlier, and people and animals with behavior that is tied to these
processes must either adapt to the changes or cease the behavior
pattern. Examples are hunters that use the ice pack as a platform in
autumn, and caribou that calve when the snow has melted and high quality
forage becomes available for a brief period in spring. Seasonal events are
not all shifting in synchrony nor at the same rate, but rather respond
variously to their drivers and show different patterns in the various parts
of the system and in different regions of the Arctic. In many cases,
through serendipity or evolution, these events are timed relative to one
another in ways that may be optimal for some triggered event or at least
such that the outcome is predictable. Shifts in that timing (and possible
changes in sequence) of seasonal events change the nature of interactions
among components of the arctic system, with consequences for the overall
system functioning and for life in the Arctic as we know it. While the
altered timing of events is of increasing concern globally (e.g., a
potential breakdown in crop production because flowers and insect
pollinators may no longer be synchronized), the extreme speed of seasonal
transitions and the high sensitivity of the biological and human components
to changes in the Arctic means that even relatively small shifts may have
strong influences there.  Many of these transitions are regulated by the
timing of the autumn freeze-up and the spring thaw, as the presence of snow
and ice is a defining characteristic of the Arctic. Consequently, changes
in seasonal timing of these key events may be among the most important
mechanisms driving change in the Arctic over the next decades. Some
examples of changing seasonality can be found at
http://www.arcus.org/ARCSS/seasonality.html.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Better predictability and understanding of the Arctic as a system will
require more knowledge of changes in the seasonal timing and synchrony of
events that are critical to the functioning of the system. The goal of this
solicitation is to improve our understanding of key linkages that are time
sensitive and to begin to identify patterns in the kinds of processes that
are vulnerable to changes in synchrony. Priority will be on proposals that
explore time sensitive linkages among parts of the system, particularly in
cases where environmental changes may perturb the synchrony of linked
events, resulting in a structural change in the interactions among system
components. Proposals are sought that address one or more of the following
broad questions:

  1. What seasonal events in the arctic system are key to its functioning
     as it does now, how are they changing and what is changing them?
  2. How do shifts in seasonal events alter linkages among system
     components and how do these changes alter the functioning of the
     arctic system as a whole?
  3. How do seasonal shifts in the biological, chemical and physical
     elements of the system affect subsistence systems (use of Arctic
     resources for food, fiber and water)?
  4. How do seasonal changes within the arctic system alter linkages
     between the arctic and larger scale Earth systems?

Following are examples of the types of detailed questions related to
specific seasonal linkages that could be addressed by proposals under this
solicitation. These are only examples and the list is not intended to be
complete:

   * How does an earlier melt and later re-appearance of sea ice and
     terrestrial snow alter climate and ecosystem dynamics and the
     feedbacks between them?
   * How do changes in the timing of sea ice and snowmelt alter vertical
     fluxes of heat and water, and what are the consequent impacts on
     atmospheric and oceanic processes?
   * How do changes in the timing of freshwater runoff into the arctic
     peripheral seas affect marine productivity, ocean stratification, and
     sea ice production?
   * How do changes in the timing of snowmelt on land alter the functioning
     of aquatic systems through changing carbon and nutrient supply
     relative to the demand for these resources?
   * How do changes in the timing of plant production relative to animal
     migration patterns alter food chain dynamics?
   * How do changes in the seasonal properties of cloud cover affect
     air-sea and air-land energy exchange, marine productivity, and
     terrestrial vegetation?
   * How do changes in the seasonal absorption of solar radiation at the
     surface alter photochemical reactions that affect atmospheric
     chemistry, physics, or the biosphere?
   * How do changes in the timing of freeze-up and thaw affect human
     activities and how does this affect other components of the arctic
     system?
   * How do changes in the biological and/or physical components of the
     system affect human activities and how do changes in the timing of
     human activities amplify or dampen changes in the biological and/or
     physical components of the system?

Projects may address any of the components of the arctic system, including
land, atmosphere, the cryosphere, freshwater, oceans, and human dimensions.
Priority will be placed on proposals that involve interdisciplinary
research, including fieldwork, synthesis, and modeling, as appropriate, to
develop a novel, integrated understanding of how shifts in the timing of
important events alter arctic system functioning, how changes in this
system interact with the larger global system, and how they affect people
who live and work in the Arctic. Since the ARCSS Program supports research
that contributes to broad system-level understanding, projects that
consider multiple components and that consider interactions among human,
biological, chemical, and/or physical aspects of the arctic system are
particularly encouraged. Proposals must address explicitly how the proposed
activities will improve system-level understanding, either as stand alone
projects or in coordinated collaboration with other projects. Researchers
engaged in successful proposals will be expected to participate in a group
effort aimed at improving our understanding of the impact of environmental
forcing of time-critical events on the functioning of the system.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 10 to 20 - the number of awards depends on the
scope and size of highly competitive propoals, available funds and the
match of logistics capability to research needs.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $5,000,000 to $10,000,000

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration
are subject to the availability of funds.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Academic Institutions located in the U.S.: U.S. universities
          and colleges located in the U.S.
        * Foreign organizations: For cooperative projects involving
          U.S. and foreign organizations, support will only be
          provided for the U.S. portion.
        * Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums,
          observatories, research labs, professional societies and
          similar organizations in the U.S. associated with
          educational or research activities.
        * Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and
          Development Centers (FFRDCs): Contact the appropriate
          program before preparing a proposal for submission.

PI Limit:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     None Specified

Additional Eligibility Info:

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit
proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via
the NSF FastLane system.

   * Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response
     to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in
     accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant
     Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available
     electronically on the NSF website at:
     http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies
     of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
     telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are
     reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program
     solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National
     Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to
     determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to
     submit this information may delay processing.

   * Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in
     response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be
     prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov
     Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF
     Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov
     Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the
     NSF website at:
     (http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf). To
     obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package,
     click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply
     Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application
     Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the
     program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the
     Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application
     Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
     telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and
submission of the proposal, please note the following:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate
submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via the NSF
FastLane system. Chapter II, Section D.3 of the Grant Proposal Guide
provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

Address Arctic System Relevance

Proposals must state explicitly how the proposed activities will improve
arctic system-level understanding, either as stand alone projects or in
coordinated collaboration with other projects.

Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic

Researchers should conform to the Principles for the Conduct of Research in
the Arctic, prepared by the Social Science Task Force of the U.S.
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) and approved by IARPC
in 1990. These principles apply to all researchers and are listed at
http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.jsp. Proposers may also find the
"Guidelines for Improved Cooperation between Northern Communities and
Arctic Researchers" helpful (http://www.arcus.org/guidelines).

Proposals Involving Human Subjects

The NSF Grant Proposal Guide
(http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg) provides
procedural information for projects with human subjects in the section
Projects Involving Human Subjects. Investigators must ensure that human
subjects are protected from research risks in conformance with the relevant
federal policy known as the Common Rule (Federal Policy for the Protection
of Human Subjects, 45 CFR 690). Additional information is available at
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/human.jsp. Letters of permission or
approval, such as those from Native organizations or communities in which
the work will take place, should be included in the Supplementary Documents
section of proposal.

Proposals Involving Arctic Field Work

The Arctic Research Support and Logistics (RSL) program was created to
enhance access and safety in the Arctic and interactions with arctic
communities. Investigators are encouraged to propose effective and
efficient use of logistics resources to reach research goals and cooperate
with communities near field research sites. Support from the RSL program is
available to projects funded by the Arctic Sciences Division, pending
availability of funds. The program endeavors to leverage support to
projects funded by other divisions at NSF or other federal agencies also
pending availability of funds. More information is available on the RSL
program web site (http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/res_log_sup.jsp).

The Foundation and researchers to whom it makes awards are obliged to
conform to the various acts governing activities affecting the environment
and cultural or historic properties. Researchers should be aware of these
acts and adhere to their requirements. Further information concerning
environmental issues is provided below under the heading 'Environmental
Policy Considerations of Fieldwork'.

Requesting support

The Arctic Sciences Division does not require the use of logistics forms
for arctic fieldwork. However, for proper review of the proposed work and
to initiate logistics planning, the anticipated fieldwork should be
described in the proposal in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to
appreciate the scope of logistics requirements. Proposals are encouraged to
include a section in the Project Description outlining the planned
fieldwork, schedule, locations, required services and platforms, maps and
related information.

If a third-party is arranging logistics (a logistics contractor or provider
receiving funds directly from NSF), logistics costs should not be included
in the proposal budget request. Instead, a description of the support
required and cost if known should be included in the budget justification
to allow the logistics provider and reviewers to assess the scope, cost and
feasibility and initiate planning. Contact all third-party logistics
providers prior to proposal submission to let them know what you are
planning. If time allows, these providers should provide a letter to
include in the supplementary documents section that describes the scope of
logistics support required and estimates the cost.

Timing of Requests

Proposals requesting support for field work from the Arctic Division
science or logistics programs should be submitted a year or more in advance
of the field season to allow for logistics planning and budgeting. For
example, proposals submitted in November 2008 should not plan to go to the
field in summer of 2009, but rather in 2010. Third-party logistics
providers may be able to accommodate shorter planning times but should be
consulted prior to proposal submission to verify feasibility and
availability of funds to support the request.

Logistics Providers and Field Stations

The RSL program works with several organizations to meet the needs of
arctic field research. NSF's prime arctic logistics contractor is
CH2M Hill Polar Services (CPS; http://www.polar.ch2m.com), formerly known
as VECO Polar Resources. CPS can provide advanced planning for projects,
regardless of whether they ultimately provide the logistics services. CPS
supports projects throughout the Arctic, including Greenland, Russia,
Canada, Svalbard, Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. They are helpful in proposal
preparation and can provide logistics scope letters to establish the
feasibility and estimated cost of proposed logistics. They do not charge
proposers for this service. Investigators are encouraged to contact CPS to
develop a preliminary plan and to provide project support if appropriate.
The RSL program will work with CPS, the investigator and funding program
manager to determine if requests are supportable.

Barrow, Alaska
Researchers proposing to work near Barrow, Alaska are required to contact
the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (BASC) prior to submission of a
proposal. Please use the online logistics help form available on their
website (http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/basc/). BASC funding is through a
cooperative agreement with the RSL program. Support requested from BASC
must be approved by NSF through the cooperative agreement mechanism, thus
BASC cannot make commitments, but can scope out the type and cost of
support requested and provide it if approved by the RSL program or paid for
directly by the user.

Greenland
Principal investigators contemplating work in Greenland should obtain the
Danish Polar Center application form for research in Greenland. Application
forms are available at http://www.dpc.dk/sw6492.aspl. A copy of the
application should be included in the Supplementary Documents section of
the proposal.

Toolik Field Station, Alaska
Researchers proposing to work at Toolik Field Station are required to
contact the station prior to submission of a proposal to ensure the project
can be accommodated, see (http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/). Please use their
online reservations forms to request use of the facilities. Toolik is
funded by a cooperative agreement between the Institute of Arctic Biology
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the RSL program. The RSL program
will work with the investigator, funding program manager, Toolik and CH2M
Hill to determine if requests can be supported.

UNOLS, USCG, and other Vessel Requests

Researchers intending to use a vessel from the University-National
Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) or the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
vessels Healy or Polar Sea should follow the UNOLS procedure
(http://www.unols.org). If requesting use of a non-UNOLS or USCG vessel,
please include a letter from the vessel operator with an estimate of the
costs, supportability, and approximate schedule of the work in the proposal
supplementary documents. The RSL program will work with the vessel operator
and the investigator to determine if the request is supportable.

Additional Logistics Services

Drilling Services

For ice core and other drilling services, please select your preferred
provider and request an estimate to include in your proposal. Ice Core
Drilling Services (ICDS) has provided drilling support to arctic projects.
For drilling services through ICDS or any other provider, please contact
them during the proposal stage for an estimate of costs and include this
estimate and a letter from ICDS in the supplementary documents of your
proposal (http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/icds/). The RSL program will work with
the investigator, funding program manger, and their selected drilling
provider to determine if the request can be supported.

GPS and Ground-based LiDAR

UNAVCO (http://www.unavco.org) is a non-profit organization funded by a
cooperative agreement with NSF's Earth Sciences Division to support
and promote Earth science by advancing high-precision geodetic and strain
techniques such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). UNAVCO provides
state-of-the-art GPS equipment and field engineering support for projects,
by installing, operating and maintaining continuous GPS networks globally,
undertaking new technology development and evaluating commercially
available products for research applications, and by archiving GPS data and
data products for future applications. UNAVCO maintains Differential GPS
stations, has developed a ground-based LiDAR capability and provides other
services to arctic researchers. Investigators should contact Bjorn Johns at
UNAVCO (bjorn@unavco.org or 303-381-7470) for a proposal letter and budget
estimate to include in the supplementary documents section of the proposal.
NSF will work with the investigator and UNAVCO to determine if the request
can be supported.

NationalCenterfor Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM)

NCALM is supported through a cooperative agreement with NSF's Earth
Sciences Division to provide laser mapping services to projects. If you
need such services, please contact NCALM about your project needs and
include a letter with an estimate of costs from NCALM in the supplementary
documents of your proposal (http://www.ncalm.org/). NSF will work with the
investigator and NCALM to determine if the request can be supported.

Environmental Policy Considerations of Fieldwork

Federal agencies must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Most NSF awards support individual scientific research projects and
are not considered 'major Federal actions significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment'. Projects involving construction,
drilling or major disturbance to the local environment may require an
assessment of environmental impacts. See the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) pertaining to NSF  Title 45 Part 640 at:
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/guidance.jsp.

In addition to NEPA, all federal agencies are regulated under acts such as
the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the
National Historic Preservation Act. Researchers proposing work that may
affect cultural or historic properties, or whose work involves tribal lands
must cooperate with the agency in complying with the consultation
requirements of section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For
additional information on cultural or historic preservation issues, see the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's web site at
http://www.achp.gov/work106.html.

Researchers proposing projects with fieldwork involving perturbation of the
environment, excavation of archaeological sites, use of underwater seismic
air guns, drilling, construction, or other activity that may be considered
a major Federal action should contact the Environmental Officer of the
Office of Polar Programs, Dr. Polly Penhale (ppenhale@nsf.gov) for guidance
on environmental consultations, permitting, and NSF's obligations
under existing environmental laws.

Identify this Solicitation Number on the Proposal Cover Sheet

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:   Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.

Other Budgetary Limitations:  Proposals should be for a maximum duration of
three years.

Budget Preparation Instructions:  A science team meeting will most likely
be held before fieldwork commences, and at that time further integration of
projects will be implemented. Costs for that meeting will be met by NSF
through other means, but proposers should be prepared to attend this and an
annual investigators' meeting, and will be expected to coordinate and
integrate plans and results with other investigators supported in the
competition.

A brief section in the proposal and budget justification should outline the
field plan and associated costs (see Full Proposal Instructions, "Arctic
Research Support and Logistics").

Researchers intending to use a vessel from UNOLS or the USCG should follow
the UNOLS procedure (http://www.unols.org).

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

          October 10, 2008

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:

     Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of
     preparation and submission via FastLane are available at:
     https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user
     support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail
     fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical
     questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific
     questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to
     the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this
     funding opportunity.

     Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
     Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the
     proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications
     (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing
     of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic
     certifications within five working days following the electronic
     submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this
     process are available on the FastLane Website at:
     https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.

   * For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

     Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must
     register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the
     applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the
     Grants.gov website. The Grants.gov's Grant Community User Guide is a
     comprehensive reference document that provides technical information
     about Grants.gov. Proposers can download the User Guide as a Microsoft
     Word document or as a PDF document. The Grants.gov User Guide is
     available at: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. In addition, the
     NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical
     guidance regarding preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For
     Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at
     1-800-518-4726 or by email: support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact
     Center answers general technical questions related to the use of
     Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation
     should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in
     Section VIII of this solicitation.

     Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the
     Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the
     application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity
     and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then
     sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed
     application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane system for further
     processing.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where
they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements.
All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator
serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other
persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by
the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with
the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names
of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the
proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These
suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at
the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is
optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of
interest with the proposal.

A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science
Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the
broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF
will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific
objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria
include considerations that help define them. These considerations are
suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers
must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address
only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being
considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgements.

     What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
     How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
     understanding within its own field or across different fields?
     How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to
     conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment
     on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the
     proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or
     potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and
     organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to
     resources?

     What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
     How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
     while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does
     the proposed activity broaden the participation of
     underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability,
     geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the
     infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities,
     instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be
     disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological
     understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity
     to society?

Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are
available electronically on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.

NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in making
funding decisions:

     Integration of Research and Education
     One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to
     foster integration of research and education through the
     programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and
     research institutions. These institutions provide abundant
     opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume
     responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and
     where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with
     the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the
     diversity of learning perspectives.

     Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
     Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
     citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and
     persons with disabilities -- is essential to the health and
     vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this
     principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs,
     projects, and activities it considers and supports.

     Additional Review Criteria:

     Each proposal must include a data management plan that conforms to the
     OPP data management policy
     (http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=opp991, see also
     Special Award Conditions below). Proposals without a data management
     plan will be returned without review.

     In addition to external peer review, proposals will be evaluated both
     for their contribution to a systems level understanding of the
     functioning of the arctic system and for their potential synergy with
     other submitted proposals that create an integrated research program
     contributing directly to the interdisciplinary goals of ARCSS.

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or
decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the
proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate
a recommendation.

After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of
appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant
Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended
for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their
proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months.
The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date,
whichever is later.  The interval ends when the Division Director accepts
the Program Officer's recommendation.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted
by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential
documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the
Program Officer.  In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of
the decision to award or decline funding.

In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals
recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and
Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and
the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are
cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments,
obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of
funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical
or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal
Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments
in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants
and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a
Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations
whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the
cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of
reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided
automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for
additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special
provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2)
the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which
NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals
or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in
the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant
General Conditions (GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP)
Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that
may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative
agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative
Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and
the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are
electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and
transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/general_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper
copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone
(703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important
information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF
Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on
the NSF Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.

Special Award Conditions:

Group Effort

Principle Investigators will be expected to participate in a group effort
aimed at improving our understanding of the impact of environmental forcing
of time-critical events on the functioning of the system. The nature of
such effort will be determined by NSF and the group of awardees, and has
normally taken the form of annual PI meetings and some group synthesis
exercises.

Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic

Principal Investigators are expected to follow the Principles for the
Conduct of Research in the Arctic, prepared by the Social Science Task
Force of the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) and
approved by IARPC in 1990. These principles are listed at
http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.jsp. Investigators may find useful
the Guidelines for Improved Cooperation between Arctic Researchers and
Northern Communities (http://www.arcus.org/guidelines).

Guidelines for Scientific Data (OPP 9-91)

This statement provides guidelines from the Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and sets out special conditions
applicable to OPP grants to implement the Foundation's Sharing Policy by
assuring timely submission of OPP-award data to national data centers and
other OPP-specified repositories for secondary use by the scientific
community. The Office of Polar Programs, in conformance with NSF policy
(see Grant Proposal Guide, http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?gpg ),
expects investigators to share with other researchers, at no more than
incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the data, derived data
products, samples, physical collections and other supported materials
gathered or created in the course of the research project. The purpose of
this policy is to facilitate full and open access to data and materials for
polar research from projects supported by OPP.

General Guidelines

For all OPP supported projects:

   * All data and derived data products collected under OPP-awards which
     are appropriate for submission to a national data center or OPP
     specified data repository (OPP-approved web site) should be promptly
     submitted within a reasonable amount of time, as described below, in
     responsibilities of Principal Investigators of OPP-Awards.
   * OPP considers the documentation of data sets, known as metadata, as
     vital to the exchange of information on polar research and to a data
     set's accessibility and longevity for reuse.
   * Data archives of OPP-supported projects should include easily
     accessible information about the data holdings, including quality
     assessments, supporting ancillary information, and guidance for
     locating and obtaining the data.
   * National and international standards should be used to the greatest
     extent possible for the collection, processing and communication of
     OPP-sponsored data sets.

Special Note for Social Sciences Awards:

The ARCSS Program supports some social science disciplines. The nature of
the data, the way they are collected, analyzed, and stored, and the pace at
which this occurs, vary widely. Different storage facilities and access
requirements exist for different types of social science data, e.g.,
archaeological data, specimens from physical anthropology, large-scale
survey data, oral interviews, and field records. Where appropriate and
possible, grantees from all social science fields will develop and submit
specific plans to share materials collected with NSF support. These plans
should cover how and where these materials will be stored, at reasonable
cost, and how access will be provided to other researchers, at their cost.
Many complexities arise across the range of data collection supported by
the Program. Therefore, such unusual circumstances and any necessary
modifications or exemptions to the general policy of data sharing should be
described in the OPP-awardees sharing plans.

Responsibilities of Principal Investigators of OPP-Funded Awards

Principal investigators should make their data available to all reasonable
requests and where applicable the principal investigators should submit the
data collected to designated data centers as soon as possible, but no later
than two (2) years after the data are collected. Data sets from Long-Term
Observatories are expected to be made publicly available immediately upon
collection.

Principal investigators working in coordinated programs (multi-investigator
and/or multi-agency programs) may (in consultation with the OPP program
managers and other funding agencies involved) establish more stringent data
submission procedures to meet the needs of these larger coordinated
programs. Principal Investigators with OPP-funded awards should comply with
data policies established for these coordinated programs and submit their
data as required to the appropriate repository stipulated by the
coordinated program office.

Compliance with the data guidelines will be considered in the program
managers overall evaluation of a Principal Investigator's prior
support record.

Conditions for OPP Awards

Principal Investigators of OPP-funded awards are REQUIRED to submit to
appropriate electronic data directories, a description of their data (i.e.
metadata) resulting from OPP-funded research in the form of a Directory
Interchange Format (DIF) entry. Submission of the DIF may be at any time
during the tenure of the grant. At the time of submission of the Final
Report to NSF, a copy of the DIF must be sent to the cognizant program
officer in OPP. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF
review and processing of pending proposals for that Principal Investigator.
Principal Investigators should examine the formats of the required reports
in advance to assure availability of required data. Sample DIFs can be
found on the Global Change Master Directory web page at
http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov.

Data sets from OPP supported arctic scientific research should go to the
appropriate data center for the specific type of data collected. Any
questions concerning this policy should be directed to the cognizant
program officer in the Office of Polar Programs.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants),
the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the
cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current
budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project
reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is
required to submit a final project report.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay
NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any
pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the
required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system,
available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and
final project reports.  Such reports provide information on activities and
findings, project participants (individual and organizational)
publications; and, other specific products and contributions.  PIs will not
be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a
proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.  Submission of
the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the
contents of the report are accurate and complete.

Annual reports must include information about the status of data management
activities. Noncompliance with the  data management policy could be used as
grounds for suspension or cancellation of funding commitments.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

   * Neil R. Swanberg, telephone: (703) 292-8029, email: nswanber@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

   * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
     fastlane@nsf.gov.

   * Tianay Robinson, telephone: (703) 292-7859, email: trobinso@nsf.gov

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

   * Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational
     Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from
     Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please
     contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: support@grants.gov.

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on
NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding
opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly
encouraged. In addition, MyNSF (formerly the Custom News Service) is an
information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other
interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and
publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and
procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are
informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new
publications are issued that match their identified interests. MyNSF also
is available on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for
Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may
be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may
be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency
created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC
1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress
of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare
by supporting research and education in all fields of science and
engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering.
It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000
colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science
organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The
Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic
institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research,
education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded.
In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for
graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories
itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain
oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also
supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US
participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and
educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide
funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with
disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide
Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these
types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD)
and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable
individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation
about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed
at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703)
292-5111.

 The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
 progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
 cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
 mathematics, and engineering.

 To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
 copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the
 NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov

        * Location:                       4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,
                                          VA 22230
        * For General Information         (703) 292-5111
          (NSF Information Center):
        * TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090

        * To Order Publications or Forms:

              Send an e-mail to:          pubs@nsf.gov

                 or telephone:            (703) 292-7827

        * To Locate NSF Employees:        (703) 292-5111

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports
submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting
within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may
be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the
proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or
obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the
administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers
and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to
other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding
applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in
order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency,
court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the
government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be
added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve
as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records,
NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69
Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File
and Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004).
Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and
complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an
award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this
collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the
time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden
estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230


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