Facility and Instrumentation Request Process

The Facility and Instrumentation Request Process (FIRP), administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for Geosciences and Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, is designed to provide researchers access to specialized instrumentation and facilities supported by the Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE) program. The FIRP supports the use of Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) and Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF), ensuring that the atmospheric science research community can conduct fundamental observational science using state-of-the-art resources. The FIRP program accommodates a range of research, educational, and outreach proposals through three distinct submission tracks: Track 1 (Education and Outreach), Track 2 (Single Facility Request), and Track 3 (Field Campaigns). Each track is tailored to the scale and complexity of the proposed use of FARE resources. Track 1 focuses on small-scale educational or outreach projects with a budget cap of $75,000, while Track 2 supports projects using a single facility or instrument. Track 3 is for large-scale field campaigns, which may include aircraft or complex deployment scenarios. The timeline for proposal submission varies by track, ranging from 9 to 24 months prior to the planned facility use. Eligible applicants include most categories identified in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, with the exclusion of unaffiliated individuals. There are no restrictions on who may serve as a Principal Investigator, nor are there limits on the number of proposals per organization or individual, with the exception that a PI may not submit another Track 1 proposal for the same facility within three years of a prior Track 1 award. Proposals must comply with NSF’s guidelines and include several supplementary documents such as facility requests, budget estimates, and in some cases, experimental design plans and roles and responsibilities documentation. Applications can be submitted at any time through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. However, deadlines for statements of interest and facility engagement vary depending on the track. Matching funds are not required for this grant. The award structure includes standard and continuing grants, with an anticipated budget between $10 million and $20 million and 5 to 15 awards expected. Funding is a combination of disciplinary science and FARE program contributions, covering different aspects of project costs. Proposals are evaluated based on NSF's standard merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Additional criteria consider how well the project integrates with existing NSF-supported infrastructure and the degree of educational benefit and scientific merit. Contact information for program directors and technical support is provided to assist applicants, and detailed proposal guidance is available through the NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide. For further details or proposal coordination, applicants should contact the FARE program director at fare@nsf.gov.