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National Science Foundation

Facility and Instrumentation Request Process

Funds atmospheric research that needs NSF's shared observing facilities — aircraft, radars and community instruments — and is the only route to them.

OpenNational Science FoundationUnited States

NSF's atmospheric and geospace sciences division pays for a set of specialised observing facilities that individual researchers could never own: the Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities and the Community Instruments and Facilities programmes. This notice is how the research community asks to use them.

It is not a side channel. Every proposal to the division that needs one of these assets has to

Atmospheric and geospace research, education and field campaigns requiring access to NSF-sponsored observing facilities and community instruments, in three tracks: education and outreach, a single facility request, and field campaigns.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.26 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$20M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: 23-602Source: www.grants.gov