Antarctic Research Not Requiring U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Field Support

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Office of Polar Programs (OPP) under the Directorate for Geosciences, invites proposals for research under the Antarctic Research Not Requiring U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Field Support funding opportunity. This program supports cutting-edge investigations that advance our understanding of Antarctica and its interconnectedness with global systems. It excludes research that would require logistical support provided by USAP, instead focusing on theoretical, modeling, and laboratory-based projects, as well as those using existing data or analog locations outside Antarctica. The program is aimed at maximizing the utility of NSF investments in polar research infrastructure and data collection, while fostering safe and inclusive research environments. The purpose of this solicitation is to enable scientific studies that utilize the Antarctic region as a platform for observation and investigation without needing USAP field deployments. Eligible projects may focus on a variety of scientific themes, including but not limited to the interactions between Antarctic processes and global systems, genomic and evolutionary studies of polar biota, the development and use of polar instrumentation, or astrophysical investigations from the continent. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and makes explicit efforts to include proposals that build cyberinfrastructure or leverage international partnerships to advance scientific objectives. This grant opportunity supports activities such as the use of existing Antarctic data and biological samples, theoretical modeling, and the construction or development of instrumentation that may be deployed in Antarctica. It explicitly excludes any projects requiring logistical support from USAP, such as transportation, on-ice infrastructure, or field camp provisioning. Proposals requiring support from other Antarctic programs must consult with program officers to determine eligibility. The solicitation supports both standard and continuing grants, with an estimated annual funding of up to $60 million across approximately 50 awards within the broader Antarctic Sciences portfolio. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations associated with research or education (such as museums and observatories), and federally recognized Tribal Nations. There are no restrictions on who may serve as principal investigator, nor are there limits on the number of proposals an organization or investigator may submit. NSF strongly encourages efforts that integrate education and outreach into the research project and supports partnerships that broaden participation in STEM. Proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, following all requirements in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and any additional instructions in this solicitation. Required components include a Project Summary (with a specific USAP support statement), a Project Description including a detailed project management plan, a Data Management and Sharing Plan, and a Safe and Harassment Free Fieldwork (SAHF) Plan for any off-campus research. A budget and justification are also required, and NSF encourages the inclusion of resources for project management if appropriate. Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. The program accepts proposals on a rolling basis but encourages submission by two annual target dates—June 1 and January 15—to better coordinate proposal reviews. For 2025–2026, proposals should target June 2, 2025, and January 15, 2026. These dates will recur annually. Proposals are reviewed based on the NSF’s standard merit criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with additional considerations given to project management, safety planning for off-site research, and the quality of plans for instrument development, if applicable. Points of contact include NSF program directors in various scientific areas of Antarctic research, with email and phone contact details provided in the solicitation.

Include a detailed Project Management plan and Safe and Harassment-Free Fieldwork Plan for off-campus research. Use NSF-recommended tools for the Data Management Plan.