Federal Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides funding for researchers and organizations to develop and validate mathematical methods for assessing the performance of artificial intelligence systems, focusing on both theoretical foundations and practical applications using open-source models.

Amended June 7, 2024. Section 2.7 now specifies that names must be omitted from the references and citations. This supersedes the default instructions in the "Guidelines for Anonymous Proposals". New text is in bold. The due dates remain unchanged: Mandatory NOIs are due July 15, 2024, and proposals are due August 22, 2024. PLEASE NOTE: this program has MANDATORY Notices of Intent, which are due via NSPIRES by July 15, 2024. See the full posting on NSPIRES for details. Proposers must retrieve the instructions document (zip file) associated with the application package for this opportunity as there is at least one required form that must be attached to the submitted proposal package. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released its annual omnibus Research Announcement (NRA), Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2024 (OMB Approval Number 2700-0092, CFDA Number 43.001) on February 14, 2024. In this case "omnibus" means that this NRA has many individual program elements, each with its own due dates and topics. All together these cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences supported by SMD. Awards will be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the work proposed, the proposing organization, and/or program requirements. However, most extramural research awards deriving from ROSES will be grants, and many program elements of ROSES specifically exclude contracts, because contracts would not be appropriate for the nature of the work solicited. The typical period of performance for an award is three years, but some programs may allow up to five years and others specify shorter periods. In most cases, organizations of every type, Government and private, for profit and not-for-profit, domestic and foreign (with some caveats), may submit proposals without restriction on teaming arrangements. Tables listing the program elements and due dates (Tables 2 and 3), a table that provides a very top level summary of proposal contents (Table 1), and the full text of the ROSES-2024 "Summary of Solicitation", may all be found NSPIRES at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024. This synopsis is associated with one of the individual program elements within ROSES, but this is a generic summary that is posted for all ROSES elements. For specific information on this particular program element download and read the PDF of the text of this program element by going to Tables 2 or 3 of this NRA at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024table2 and http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024table3, respectively, click the title of the program element of interest, a hypertext link will take you to a page for that particular program element. On that page, on the right side under "Announcement Documents" the link on the bottom will be to the PDF of the text of the call for proposals. For example, if one were interested in The Lunar Data Analysis Program (NNH24ZDA001N-LDAP) one would follow the link to the NSPIRES page for that program element and then to read the text of the call one would click on C.8 Lunar Data Analysis Program (.pdf) to download the text of the call. If one wanted to set it into the context of the goals, objectives and know the default rules for all elements within Appendix C, the planetary science division, one might download and read C.1 Planetary Science Research Program Overview (.pdf) from that same page. While the letters and numbers are different for each element within ROSES (A.12, B.7, etc.) the basic configuration is always the same, e.g., the letter indicates the Science Division (A is Earth Science, B is Heliophysics etc.) and whatever the letter, #1 is always the division overview. Frequently asked questions for ROSES are posted at http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/faqs. Questions concerning general ROSES-2024 policies and procedures may be directed to Max Bernstein, Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate, at sara@nasa.gov, but technical questions concerning specific program elements should be directed to the point(s) of contact for that particular element, who may be found either at the end of the individual program element in the summary table of key information or on the web list of topics and points of contact at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/program-officers-list. Not all program elements are known at the time of the release of ROSES. To be informed of new program elements or amendments to this NRA, proposers may subscribe to: (1) The SMD mailing lists (by logging in at http://nspires.nasaprs.com and checking the appropriate boxes under "Account Management" and "Email Subscriptions"), (2) The ROSES-2024 blog feed for amendments, clarifications, and corrections to at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2024/, and (3) The ROSES-2024 due date Google calendars (one for each science division). Instructions are at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/library-and-useful-links (link from the words due date calendar).

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Minority Serving Institutions that are Emerging Research Institutions, aiming to enhance their research capabilities and increase the graduation rates of underrepresented students in STEM fields.

A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity ERDC seeks applications for methods to automate the organization of databases of stream gauge data, perform data visualization, and compute mathematical operations. B. Background The Ecohydrology Team at the ERDC Environmental Laboratory is building the capacity to rapidly evaluate landscapes and water resources in remote locations around the world, with limited data collection and local knowledge. In this context, being able to automate the organization of basic waterway data and perform hydrologic calculations on that network is a fundamental capability. A computer program to support required automation, data analysis and visualization is needed to develop this capability. C. Program Description/Objective: This project will develop methods to automate the organization of databases of stream gauge data (examples include USGS stream gauge data, the European water archive, or Global Data Runoff Center data) and storage/riverine infrastructure data (examples include the USACE national inventory of dams, and the NASA Global Reservoir and Dam database) into node and edge networks based on their geospatial location, relative to a database of waterway data (examples include the USGS National Hydrology Dataset, and the HydroRIVERS database). This computer program will include the ability to perform data visualization and mathematical operations, especially baseflow separation and other hydrologic calculations, on the network, node, and edge data. The R objectives will develop this capability, including: (1) development of a network generation algorithm, (2) generalization of this algorithm over various databases, (3) development of a plug-in for performing simple baseflow separation calculations over the network data, (4) generalized plug-in architecture for adding other hydrologic calculation capabilities, and (5) development of data visualization capabilities. The end product should be stored a web repository, and the methods and tools should be described in at least one peer reviewed publication. D. Public Benefit Accurate and timely waterway data are essential for addressing critical water challenges, such as scarcity and flooding. Current maps often fail to provide comprehensive information on water occurrence and flows, leading to inaccuracies in assessing the quantities and locations of occurrence. This research will address those information gaps by providing detailed time series data on flood and drought conditions, which in turn will enhance mitigation measures.

This program provides funding to small U.S. businesses to develop and commercialize innovative education technology products that address critical challenges in learning and teaching.

The DoD Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health, Clinical Trial Award is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting the implementation of clinical trials that can significantly impact psychological health conditions and/or traumatic brain injury through the development of healthcare products, technologies, or practice guidelines.

This funding opportunity is designed for non-federal partners in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to conduct research on the ecological benefits and impacts of living shorelines compared to natural shorelines, ultimately aiding in better shoreline stabilization practices.

This fellowship provides funding to distinguished researchers for innovative basic research projects that address long-term national security needs of the Department of Defense.

The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in spatio-temporal dynamics of the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Previous studies suggest that several water quality attributes are related to the distributing of different aquatic habitats, and that aquatic vegetation, mussel, and fish communities are related to spatial variability in aquatic habitats and water quality attributes in different ways and over different spatial scales. However, these studies have almost universally taken a species or community centric view of the river, asking questions such as what factors influence the distribution and abundance of a given community? Seek a collaborator who can take fundamentally different approach to the study of physical-biological relationships and to understand the landscape mosaic of a large river and address the question of what are the physical properties of the riverscape that can model and map that are most important in structuring biological communities? This perspective acknowledges that biological communities vary over space and time, responding to both physical and biological factors, many of which are impossible to map over large spatial scales. Hence, the purpose of the study is not to understand the controls on various biotic communities, but rather to identify and quantify aspects of the riverscape that play important roles in structuring biotic communities. Management agencies continue to manipulate physical variables to manage and restore various biotic communities. Furthermore, anticipate changes in the abundance and distribution of mappable aquatic areas under future climate changes. What are the likely consequences of such changes to the biotic communities?

The General Social Survey (GSS) is a nationally representative interview survey of the United States adult population that collects data on a wide range of topics: behavioral items such as group membership and participation; personal psychological evaluations including measures of well-being, misanthropy and life satisfaction; attitudinal questions on such public issues as crime and punishment, race relations, gender roles and spending priorities; and demographic characteristics of respondents and their parents. The GSS has provided data on contemporary American society since 1972, serving as a barometer of social change and trends in attitudes, behaviors and attributes of the United States adult population. In 1984, the GSS stimulated cross-national research by collaborating with Australia, Britain and Germany to develop data collection programs modeled on the GSS. This program of comparative cross-national research, called the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), now includes 43 nations and enables researchers and analysts to place findings and trends from the United States within a comparative context. Since its inception, the GSS has completed 34 in-person, cross-sectional surveys of the adult household population of the United States with response rates that exceed 50 percent. The survey is currently fielded biennially. Data from the GSS are made available to scholars, students and the public for research, analysis and educational activities within 12 months of data collection. Several innovations have been initiated over the past 15 years, most of which warrant continuation. Most significantly, the GSS has been exploring a substantial use of web mode while maintaining the integrity of the time series. The 2022 and 2024 surveys used web mode in various combinations with face-to-face administration for purposes of testing and comparison. A collaboration with the American National Election Studies (ANES) was initiated for the 2020 election and continued for the 2024 election. Other innovations are linkages with administrative data made possible by asking respondents for permission (since 2018) and use of post-stratification weights (since 2020). The Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Program (RISBS) in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences expects to make one award for the next four-year funding cycle, fiscal years 2025-2028, to support the 2026 and 2028 GSS and the U.S. component of the ISSP survey. We anticipate an award in the range of $14 million and at most $16 million over four years to support two waves of data collection, dissemination activities, and outreach. The expected starting date is August 2025.

This grant provides funding for innovative technologies and systems that enhance military space operations, targeting industry, academia, and research organizations capable of advancing communication, navigation, tracking, and battle management capabilities.

This grant provides funding to small businesses to accelerate the development of advanced catalytic technologies that support the transition to sustainable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The FY24 PRARP TrRA is intended to support studies that will make transformative and advanced contributions to reduce risk of or prevent the development of AD/ADRD. Risk reduction considering TBI and/or military service is of particular interest to the program. The work should significantly accelerate efforts in AD/ADRD research and demonstrate significant impact toward improving patient care and/or quality of life. To meet the intent of the funding opportunity, applications must robustly address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in prevention and risk reduction. The proposed research may include, but is not limited to, exploring questions in the following areas: Identification of risk factors (environmental, genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, etc.). Identification and implementation of strategies to reduce AD/ADRD risk and prevent cognitive problems following TBI and/or military service. Understanding the role of social determinants of health in risk reduction. Informational (not descriptive) epidemiology to understand environmental and other factors that contribute to development of AD/ADRD. All applications submitted to this funding opportunity must clearly indicate how the project addresses a critical unmet need, explain how the research will be representative of the population it intends to benefit, and demonstrate cultural competence. Culturally competent research factors the cultural background and diversity of the intended beneficiaries of the research outcomes when developing research ideas, conducting research, and implementing the research findings. Cultural competency in research is critical in reducing health disparities and enhancing the quality and impact of research by ensuring inclusivity, understanding, and responsiveness to the needs of diverse populations. Key elements of this award mechanism include: Research should be robust: The FY24 PRARP TrRA mechanism is geared toward supporting robust, well-designed research projects that provide significant impact on the AD/ADRD field, persons living with dementia, and their families, care-partners/caregivers. Inclusion of collaborative Community partner approaches is strongly encouraged for all projects and is required for all projects involving clinical research. Use of animal models must be fully justified for relevance to human health. Non-incremental advancement: Research projects should leverage existing knowledge to accelerate ideas, strengthen evidence, and move the field forward. Therefore, preliminary data are required. Projects proposing incremental advances that do not significantly propel the field do not meet the intent of this mechanism. Feedback to the Community: Applicants are expected to articulate a plan for relaying the results and outcomes of the research supported by this mechanism must be relayed back to the research/Community(ies) to allow for continued knowledge building. Optimizing research impact through Community collaboration: Research funded by the FY24 PRARP should be responsive to the needs of people living with AD/ADRD. Community collaboration is required for clinical research projects and encouraged for preclinical studies. Establishment and utilization of effective and equitable collaborations and partnerships with members of the AD/ADRD lived experience, family, and care partner communities, which will be referred to as Community(ies) in the remainder of the Funding Opportunity, maximizes the translational and impact potential of the proposed research. Collaborative research approaches feature shared responsibility and ownership for the research project to ensure non-tokenistic involvement of Community members within the research team. Collaborative research approaches such as Community-based participatory research, participatory action research, and integrated knowledge transition generate partnerships between scientific researchers and Community members to create knowledge useable by both sets of stakeholders. Recognizing the strengths of each partner, scientific researchers and Community members must collaborate and contribute their expertise equitably on all aspects of the project, which may include needs assessment, planning, research intervention design, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Research results are jointly interpreted, disseminated, fed back to affected communities, and may be translated into interventions or policy. These methods are critically important for Community-level interventions and can also augment the potential impact of a research program on people living with dementia, their families, and/or their care partners. These collaborative relationships are often established through integrating Community members into research teams as co-researchers, advisors, and consultants. Some examples for Community collaborations include: Lived Experience Consultation: The research team includes at least one project advisor with AD/ADRD experience who will integrate with the research team to provide consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Lived experience consultants (LECs) may include individuals with AD/ADRD, their family members, care partners, or others as appropriate. Partnership with a Community-Based Organization: The research team establishes partnerships with at least one Community-based organization that provides consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Community-based organizations may include advocacy groups, service providers, policymakers, or other formal organizational stakeholders. Community Advisory Board (CAB) Utilization: A CAB is composed of multiple Community stakeholders and can take many forms, from a board of LECs to a coalition of Community-based organizations or any combination thereof. As with LECs and organizational partners, the CAB provides consultation throughout the planning, implementation, and dissemination of the research project. Career Initiation or Transition (CIT) Partnership Option: The FY24 PRARP encourages applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations between two principal investigators. To promote enhanced research capacity within the AD/ADRD field, the FY24 TrRA includes an option for a CIT Principal Investigator (PI) to partner with an experienced to jointly address a research question. The CIT PI must have nominal, if any, research support in the field and may be either one of the following: The Career Initiation PI must be an early-career researcher, at least 3 years post their terminal degree but no more than 7 years into their independent position. Both PIs may have similar or disparate expertise, but each PI is expected to bring distinct and complimentary contributions to the application. The Career Transition PI must be an investigator (at any stage) who is new to the military health, TBI, or AD/ADRD field(s). New to the field is defined as having only nominal, if any, publications in the field. The other partnering investigator must have complimentary experience (as evidenced by publications) in military health, TBI, and/or AD/ADRD field(s). The CIT is structured to accommodate two PIs. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for most of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other will be identified as a Partnering PI. Either PI can be the CIT PI. Both PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed research project, including the Project Narrative, Statement of Work (SOW), and other required components. Both PIs may have experience in similar or disparate scientific disciplines, but each PI is expected to bring distinct and complimentary contributions to the application. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named to an individual award within the recipient organization(s). For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI, refer to Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission.

This program provides funding for research institutions and organizations to develop advanced techniques for improving the performance and reliability of quantum computing systems, specifically targeting applications in national defense.

This funding opportunity supports projects that foster cultural, educational, economic, and environmental collaboration between the United States and New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, targeting a diverse range of applicants including individuals, non-profits, and educational institutions.

The National Science Foundation's Directorates for Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Mathematical Physical Sciences (MPS), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) are coordinating efforts to create fundamental understanding that will enablecontinued effective use of an essential common resource, the electromagnetic spectrum. Existing approaches to spectrum management and regulationhave struggled with the ever-increasing demands for spectrum created by continual emergence of new scientific, military, and commercial applications, powered by steady advances in wireless technologies. Development of fundamentally new models and paradigms of spectrum access and management, along with enabling technologies, is needed before it becomes too costly to accommodate new innovations and essential services, or too late to sustain the digital transformation and growth of key industries and public services. This program seeks to develop the intellectual capital enabling the U.S. to smoothly and quickly transition to effective new ways of using and managing the radio and optical spectrum after the end of the current spectrum era of long-term exclusive-use license auctions, thereby sustaining and advancing the social, economic, scientific, and U.S. national leadership benefits derived from the electromagnetic spectrum.

The "DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Idea Award" is a grant aimed at supporting innovative and high-risk basic cancer research that introduces new concepts or challenges existing paradigms, with the goal of advancing knowledge in cancer research and treatment for the benefit of Service Members, Veterans, and the American public.

The FY24 LCRP Idea Development Award mechanism promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer. Research applications only in the area of mesothelioma will not be accepted. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale.New Investigators: The FY24 LCRP Idea Development Award mechanism encourages applications from independent investigators in the early stages of their careers (i.e., within 10 years of their first faculty appointment or equivalent). The New Investigator category is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Applications from New Investigators and Established Investigators will be peer and programmatically reviewed separately. Principal Investigators (PIs) using the New Investigator category are strongly encouraged to strengthen their applications by collaborating with investigators experienced in lung cancer research and/or possessing other relevant expertise. It is the responsibility of the applicant to describe how the included collaboration will augment the PIs expertise to best address the research question. All applicants for the New Investigator category must meet specific eligibility criteria as described in Section II.C, Eligibility Information.Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.Key elements of this award are as follows:Innovation: Research deemed innovative may introduce a new paradigm, challenge current paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities.Impact: Research that has high potential impact may lead to major advancements and significantly accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths and suffering from lung cancer.It is the responsibility of the PI to clearly and explicitly articulate the projects innovation and its potential impact on lung cancer and its relevance to Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries. The projects impact to both lung cancer research and to patients with lung cancer should be articulated, even if clinical impact is not an immediate outcome. Applications that demonstrate exceptional scientific merit but lack innovation and high potential impact do not meet the intent of the Idea Development Award.

Natural Resources Management and Management of Recreation ResourcesCollaborate with key USACE personnel on recreation resources, environmental stewardship resources, and visitation data. Work will support recreation and environmental stewardship business line activities, including but not limited to maintaining and updating USACE spatial data inventory for recreational facilities, operational condition assessment for recreation facilities, analyzing datasets both internal and external for environmental factors such as invasive species and development pressure, and other needs as identified. When requested, provide written documentation of research findings, implications for USACE missions, and potential methods of implementation within USACE. Road Condition Monitoring and Trails ManagementDevelop Smart Sensing Technologies (i.e., camera-based, thermal imagining, laser-based, and ground penetrating radar) for assessing road conditions (hard surface and gravel/dirt) including predicting the potential for future integrity issues. Develop other technologies and strategies for implementation of the best strategies given the type and nature of the diverse USACE road systems. Develop similar technologies and strategies for assessing the USACE network of multi-use trail systems (nature trails, hiking, equestrian, biking, etc.). Research and develop data collection methodologies for such data. Value to the Nation (Economics)USACE NRM Programs have impacts on local and regional economies as well as the national economy. Assessing these impacts (both positive and negative) and developing methodologies for quantifying these impacts are needed to ensure the impacts and contributions of the NRM programs to the nation (in terms of economics) are clearly understood and articulated to a wide range of audiences.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Wetland and Aquatic Research Center is offering a funding opportunity to a Partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) Program to fund monitoring and research on the barrier islands of Mississippi. The goal of the project is to continue the monitoring and research of the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP) through the cooperation between the USGS and CESU Partner. The monitoring and research will investigate the impacts of Mississippi barrier island restoration on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities. To effectively evaluate restoration project success is it critical to evaluate short- and long-term ecosystem response to restoration. This monitoring and research will focus on the SAV ecosystem responses following barrier island restoration.