Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science

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Description

The Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science (FAIROS) program by NSF funds research, education, and socio-technical cyberinfrastructure development activities that advance sustainable, multi-disciplinary FAIR research data management (RDM) and open science capabilities. The program aims to pilot new models of scientific communication, develop data portals and research data commons, and lower barriers to data access, curation, integration, sharing, and storage across diverse scientific domains regardless of data size.

FAIROS supports innovation across the cyberinfrastructure ecosystem to improve accessibility, discoverability, reproducibility, preservation, sustainability, and utility of research products including data, software, and code. Proposals must focus on one of two tracks:

• Disciplinary Improvements: Targeted improvements within specific scientific communities or disciplines.
• Cross-Cutting Improvements: Broad improvements applicable across multiple or most scientific disciplines.

The program encourages collaboration between cyberinfrastructure and science & engineering domain disciplines and supports the US NSF Public Access Initiative.

FAIROS complements other NSF efforts such as the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC), Geoscience Open Science Ecosystem (GEO OSE), EPSCoR, and NASA's Transform to Open Science (TOPS) initiative.

Program Priorities Include

• Piloting tools and trusted data infrastructure to advance sustainable RDM and open science ecosystems.
• Developing new models for scientific communication and publication.
• Expanding FAIR data portals, research data commons, and RDM as a national service.
• Reducing barriers to data management and sharing across disciplines.

Directorate/Office-Specific Interests

The program is supported by multiple NSF directorates and offices, each with specific interests, including but not limited to:

• CISE: Community-scale data integration, data curation, open science, reproducibility.
• GEO: RDM standards for geosciences, persistent identifiers, data lifecycle management.
• EDU: RDM in STEM education workflows.
• BIO: RDM in biosciences.
• ENG: Engineering data management, sustainability, workforce development.
• SBE: Meta-science, data curation, and open science in social sciences.
• MPS: Innovative approaches promoting FAIR and open science.
• OIA: Capacity building in EPSCoR and emerging institutions.
• OISE: International collaboration in open science cyberinfrastructure.
• TIP: Knowledge Graphs for FAIR RDM in advanced materials, climate resilience, geohazards.

Proposals should align with or contribute to the Prototype Open Knowledge Network (Proto-OKN) program where relevant.

Due Dates

• April 9, 2025 (5 p.m. local time)
• April 8, 2026 (Second Wednesday in April, annually thereafter)

Funding Amount

• Total program budget: $2,400,000 to $6,000,000 (subject to availability)
• Individual research awards: Up to $600,000 total for up to 3 years (not exceeding $200,000 per year)
• Estimated 4 to 10 awards per deadline

Eligibility

• Who May Submit:

  • U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education (two- and four-year, including community colleges)
  • Non-profit, non-academic organizations directly associated with educational or research activities
  • Federally recognized Tribal Nations
  • Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) following PAPPG guidelines

• Who May Serve as PI: No restrictions or limits.

• Proposal Limits:

  • No limit on proposals per organization.
  • An individual may participate in only one FAIROS proposal per deadline (as PI, co-PI, or senior personnel). Multiple submissions by the same individual will be returned without review except the first submitted.

Application Process

• Proposal Types: Only standard research proposals are accepted, including collaborative research proposals.

• Submission Methods: Proposals may be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

• Proposal Title: Must begin with either “Disciplinary Improvements:” or “Cross-Cutting Improvements:” to indicate the track.

• Proposal Components:

  • Project Summary (1 page) describing the approach, outcomes, and impacted communities.
  • Project Description (up to 15 pages) including a separate Broader Impacts section.
  • Additional Single Copy Documents including names of consulted Cognizant Program Officers (strongly encouraged).

• Budget: Up to $600,000 total for up to 3 years; no voluntary cost sharing allowed.

• Consultation: Prospective PIs are strongly encouraged to contact relevant program officers at least one month before submission to ensure alignment with program goals and budget.

Review Criteria

• Intellectual Merit: Potential to advance knowledge within or across fields.
• Broader Impacts: Potential to benefit society and achieve desired societal outcomes.
• Additional Solicitation-Specific Criteria:
  • Open Science Impact: Advancement of open science and RDM needs.
  • Leveraging Cyberinfrastructure: Engagement with existing NSF and national cyberinfrastructure.
  • Measurable Outcomes: Clear articulation of deliverables, sustainability, and metrics for community adoption.

Award Administration

• Awards are standard or continuing grants or cooperative agreements.
• Award notices are sent to submitting organizations.
• Award conditions follow NSF policies and may include special provisions.
• Annual and final project reports are required via Research.gov.
• Participation in annual PI meetings is mandatory.

Additional Information

• The program supports broadening participation in STEM, encouraging proposals led by or involving underrepresented and underserved groups and institutions.
• International collaborations are encouraged but NSF funds may not support expenses of international scientists/students at their home institutions.
• Proposals should align with NSF’s Public Access Initiative and FAIR, CARE, and TRUST principles.

External Links

• FAIROS Program Solicitation and Details
• NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
• NSF Broadening Participation in STEM
• NSF Public Access Initiative
• Proto-OKN Program
• Grants.gov Applicant Resources

Contact Information

For technical assistance with NSF systems:

• Research.gov Help Desk: 1-800-381-1532, rgov@nsf.gov
• Grants.gov Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov