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2012 Annual Progress Report...

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Funding Guide: Solicitations

Last updated 5-21-2013

Return to Funding Guide


(in chronological order according to deadlines) 

Program Name: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry  (GOALI)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects. This solicitation targets high-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic problems, development of innovative collaborative industry-university educational programs, and direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI seeks to fund transformative research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: CHP Acceleration Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: NYSERDA will provide financial incentives for the installation of pre-qualified (or conditionally qualified), pre-engineered CHP systems by approved CHP system vendors at customer sites that pay the SBC surcharge on their electric bill. Incentivefunds will be allocated on a site-by-site, first-come-first-served basis in the order of application receipt until December 30, 2016 or until all funds arecommitted, whichever comes first. An application is not considered “received” until it has been deemed full and complete by NYSERDA. The maximum incentive per project is $1.5M and the maximum CHP system size is 1.3MW.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here. 

Program Name: US Army Corps of Engineers: Broad Agency Announcement
Agency: US Department of Defense
Program Summary: The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for various research and development topic areas. Background and research areas include:

  • Conference and Symposia Grants
  • Coastal & Hydraulics Lab
  • Geotechnical & Structures Lab
  • Environmental Lab
  • Information Technology Lab
  • Construction Engineering Research Lab
  • Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab
  • Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab
  • Topographic Engineering Center

To view sub topics of each research area, please see the BAA.
Proposals Due: Rolling, January 31, 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: On-Site Wind Turbine Incentive Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: NYSERDA announces the availability of approximately $13.8 million in incentives to encourage the installation of end-use wind energy systems for residential, commercial, institutional or government use. The incentives, of up to $400,000 per site/customer, will be paid to Eligible Installers who install new approved grid-connected wind energy systems using qualified equipment, in accordancewith the eligibility requirements described below. The maximum equipment size shall be 2 MW (2,000 kW) per site/customer. NYSERDA’s incentive shall not exceed 50% of the total installed cost of the system. The program will continue through December 31, 2015 or until funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here. 

Program Name: Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The goal of the CDS&E program is to identify and capitalize on opportunities for major scientific and engineering breakthroughs through new computational and data analysis approaches.  The intellectual drivers may be in an individual discipline or they may cut across more than one discipline in various Directorates.  The key identifying factor is that the outcome relies on the development, adaptation, and utilization of one or more of the capabilities offered by advancement of both research and infrastructure in computation and data, either through cross-cutting or disciplinary programs.
The CDS&E program welcomes proposals in any area of research supported through the participating divisions including: Astronomy, Chemistry,Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Directorate of Engineering, Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport, Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, and Office of Cyberinfrastructure.
Proposals Due: Various, see link for more information

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Catalyzing New International Collaborations
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The CNIC program will support U.S. researchers' participation in activitiesintended to catalyze newinternational collaborations designed to open up new scientific directions for the proposer. These include, but are not limited to: research planning visits, initial data gathering activities, proof-of-concept, and single or multiple research visits within a maximum 12-month time period. The community is invited to propose innovative mechanisms and strategies for catalyzing new international collaborations with the goal of reaching the stage that competitive, full research proposals can be submitted to relevant NSF programs for continuing support of the project.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Environmental Exposures and Health: Exploration of Non-Traditional Settings
Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Program Summary: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage interdisciplinary research aimed at promoting health, limiting symptoms and disease, and reducing health disparities in children and older adults living or spending time in non-traditional settings. These settings result in exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins that result in health risks, symptoms, and other health conditions/diseases including lower respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular diseases. Risk identification and symptom management include prevention and behavior changes and actions to maintain health and prevent disease with an emphasis on the individual, family, and community which will advance nursing science.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Existing Facilities Program
Agency: NYSERDA (CFA)
Program Summary: NYSERDA's Existing Facilities Program offers a portfolio of incentive opportunities to offset the cost of energy improvements in existing commercial and industrial facilities across New York State. Our team has helped hundreds of businesses since our award-winning program began in 1999. To get started, select the incentive path that best suits your project's scope.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: FlexTech Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: NYSERDA's FlexTech Program provides New York State commercial, industrial, institutional, government, and not-for-profit sectors with objective and customized information to help customers make informed energy decisions. FlexTech's goal is to increase productivity and economic competitiveness of participating facilities by identifying and encouraging the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency, carbon reduction measures, peak-load curtailment, and combined heat & power (CHP) and renewable generation projects.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects. This solicitation targets high-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic problems, development of innovative collaborative industry-university educational programs, and direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI seeks to fund transformative research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Green Jobs Green New York NYS Registered Apprenticeship and Building Trades Training and On-the-Job Training
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals to advance the goals of the Green Jobs Green New York Program (GJGNY) by developing a workforce equipped to implement energy efficiency, weatherization, green building principles, and solar water heating installations. The GJGNY program targets energy efficiency improvements and solar thermal installations for existing residential, multifamily, small business and not-for-profit buildings. The GJGNY Workforce Development initiatives are designed to advance the skills of new and existing workers, provide job-related experience, and help connect new workers to the employers.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Performance Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: he New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers incentives to promote the installation of clean, efficient, and commercially available Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems with an aggregate nameplate greater than 1.3 megawatts (MW) that provide summer on-peak demand reduction. Incentives are performance-based and correspond to the summer-peak demand reduction (kW), energy generation (kWh), and fuel conversion efficiency (FCE) achieved by the CHP system on an annual basis over a two-year measurement and verification (M&V) period.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here

*NEW ITEM*Program Name: Emerging Technologies and Accelerated Commercialization for the Commercial/Institutional Sector
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The ETAC-CI program seeks to accelerate the adoption of commercially available yet under-used energy-saving and load-reduction technologies or approaches in commercial, institutional, and non-process-related industrial settings. The ETAC-CI program encourages collaboration among market innovators to facilitate in-field demonstrations and sharing of results. Demonstrations will incorporate commercially available, under-used technologies and approaches into energy efficiency projects, then monitor, validate, and publicize project performance.
Proposals Due: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here

Program Name: Industrial and Process Efficiency
Agency: NYSERDA (CFA)
Program Summary: NYSERDA’s Industrial and Process Efficiency (IPE) Program provides performance-based incentives to manufacturers and data centers implementing energy efficiency and process improvements which will reduce your costs. IPE's goal is to help manufacturers and data centers increase product output and data processing as efficiently as possible. Therefore, our incentives are calculated, when appropriate, based on a reduction in energy usage per unit of production or workload. Incentives are available for: New Construction and Existing Facilities, Manufacturing Facilities and Data Centers, and Electricity and Natural Gas Savings.
Proposals Due: Rolling, December 31, 2015

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: New Construction Program (NCP)
Agency: NYSERDA (CFA)
Program Summary: The New Construction Program (NCP) can provide assistance when incorporating energy-efficiency measures into the design, construction, and operation of new and substantially renovated buildings. Incentives are available for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient equipment that reduces electric energy consumption in new and substantially renovated buildings.
Proposals Due: Rolling, December 31, 2015

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Freshwater Future Grants Program
Agency: Freshwater Future
Program Summary: The goal of Freshwater Future’s grant programs is to provide financial support to activities that actively promote aquatic habitat protection and restoration by influencing community and/or individual behavior or opinions, corporate conduct, and/or public policies; and to strengthen the role of individuals and community groups working locally to protect and restore shorelines, inland lakes, rivers and wetlands in the Great Lakes Basin. Grant programs include: Project Grants, Climate Grants, Insight Grants, Special Opportunity Grants, and Healing Our Waters Grants.
Proposals Due:  Project Grants: September 30, 2013; Climate Grants: May 31, 2013 and November 15, 2013; Insight Grants: Rolling; Special Opportunity Grants: Rolling; Healing Our Waters Grants: Rolling

To view the program web site, click here. 

Program Name: Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects.
Proposals Due: May 24, 2013; August 28, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program NameResearch Experiences for Undergraduates
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The REU program, through both Sites and Supplements, aims to provide appropriate and valuable educational experiences for undergraduate students through participation in research. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. REU projects feature high-quality interaction of students with faculty and/or other research mentors and access to appropriate facilities and professional development opportunities. NSF is particularly interested in increasing the numbers of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities in research. REU projects are strongly encouraged to involve students who are members of these groups. Historically, the vast majority of REU participants have been junior- or senior-level undergraduates--students who have typically already committed to a major in science or engineering. So that the REU program can succeed in attracting students into science and engineering who might not otherwise consider those majors and careers, projects are also encouraged, when appropriate, to involve students at earlier stages in their college experience.
Proposals Due: May 24, 2013; August 28, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Workforce Development and Training for Renewable Energy and Advanced Technologies
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York StateEnergy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) seeks proposals for training to support installation and operation of renewable energy (RE) systems and advanced or emerging energy technologies (AT) in the State. Programs designed to train workers to better design, install, inspect, operate, maintain, and monitor systems, technologies, and measures on the customer side of the meter are requested. Funding is available in three categories, as described below for new training programs, new certifications and credentials, and for training solar thermal inspectors.
Proposals Due: May 28, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Transformation Initiative: Sustainable Communities Research Grant program
Agency: US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Program Summary: The purpose of theFY13 Sustainable Communities Research Grant Program (SCRGP) is to fill key data and information gaps, and to begin to develop and evaluate policy alternatives that communities can adopt to facilitate decision making about various community investments in sustainability initiatives. For this round of sustainability research grants, HUD is primarily interested in sponsoring cutting edge research in quality, equitable affordable housing development and preservation; transportation and infrastructure planning; and “green,” energy-efficient practices. Priority is given to applications that advance evidence-based research on the effectiveness of Federal programs in these areas, which includes HUD programs, such as HOME Investment Partnerships, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Public Housing, and Choice Neighborhoods Grant programs, and the range of HUD programs that address issues related to sustainability. HUD believes that the results from the program will enable it to develop a broader sustainability agenda beyond current departmental priorities, as well as any future efforts or initiatives that may be considered based on the results of the research.

Proposals Due: May 29, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Make It In America
Agency: US Department of Commerce
Program Summary: This FFO announcesthe availability of funding for the Make it in America Challenge. The Make it in America Challenge will provide up to $40 million in competitive grant funding through the DOC’s EDA and NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), DOL’s ETA, and the DRA. This collaboration allows applicants to submit one application to leverage complementary Federal funding sources tosupport the development and implementation of a regionally driven economic development strategy that accelerates job creation by encouraging re-shoring of productive activity by U.S. firms, fostering increased Foreign Direct Investment, encouraging U.S. companies to keep or expand their businesses—and jobs— in the United States, and training local workers to meet the needs of those businesses. Federal support for the Make it in America Challenge is expected to be used to fund up to 15 projects, each with a project period of up to 3 years.
Proposals Due: May 31, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE)
Agency: US Department of Health and Human Services
Program Summary: This Funding opportunity award (FOA) is to program seeks to advance the application of climate science to public health practice, and to develop a process for ensuring that climate change factors are considered adequately in public health programs and operations.  Over the course of this three-year cooperative agreement, awardees will work with CDC to implement and document the effect of the Building Resilient Against Climate Effects (BRACE) framework by: 

1. Forecasting climate effects and assessing vulnerabilities.
2.  Projecting the disease burden.
3.  Assessing public health interventions.
4.  Developing and implementing a climate and health adaptation plan.
5.  Evaluating effect and improving quality of activities.

Proposals Due: June 3, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Hydrologic Sciences
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Hydrologic Sciences Program focuses on the fluxes of water in the environment that constitute the water cycle as well as the mass and energy transport function of the water cycle in the environment. The Program supports studying processes of rainfall to runoff to infiltration and streamflow; evaporation and transpiration; as well as the flow of water in soils and aquifers and the transport of suspended, dissolved and colloidal components. The Hydrological Sciences Program retains strong emphasis on linking the fluxes of water and the components carried by water across boundaries between various interacting components of the terrestrial system and the mechanisms by which these fluxes co-organize over a variety of timescales and/or alter the fundamentals of the interacting components. Topics may be investigated as deterministic or stochastic processes by observational, experimental or modeling approaches. The program supports studies examining (1) the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of water and chemical fluxes and storages from local to global scales, (2) interfacial water fluxes and pathways among system compartments; and (3) how hydrologic processes couple to the critical zone via land use change, climate change and ecosystems function.
Proposals Due: June 3, 2013; Decemer 5, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund 2013 Request for Proposals
Agency: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Program Summary: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to restore the habitats and water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund will award approximately $8 million - $10 million in grants in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Small Watershed Grants (SWGs) of $20,000 to $200,000 each will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and local governments working to protect and improve local waters that contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay, while building citizen-based resource stewardship. These grants require minimum matching contributions valued at 25% of total project costs.
Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants (INSRGs) of $200,000 to $750,000 each will be awarded to nonprofit organizations, local governments, universities and state agencies to demonstrate innovative approaches to accelerate adoption of the most cost effective and sustainable approaches to reducing nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. These grants encourage non-Federal matching contributions valued at 50% of total project costs (i.e., 1:1 ratio).
Proposals Due: June 6, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: NY-Sun PV Balance of System Training and Education Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York StateEnergy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals tosupport education and training on photovoltaic (PV) or solar electric systems. Comprehensive and continuous statewide education and training on PV is needed for decision-makers and authorities having jurisdiction in New York State municipalities. Targeted audiences include code enforcement officers, building and electrical third party inspectors, fire inspectors, commissioners of public safety, building department plan examiners, village engineers and other public officials who might have a role in the permitting, inspection or approval process for a PV system or who might encounter a PV system in their work environment (e.g., firefighters and other first responders). This solicitation is part of a comprehensive strategy to streamline the permitting and approval process and ultimately reduce the costs of purchasing and installing PV systems.
Proposals Due: June 6, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. CREST promotes the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. CREST Center awards provide multi-year support (typically 5-year) for eligible minority-serving institutions (MSI) that demonstrate a strong research and education base, a compelling vision for research infrastructure improvement, and a comprehensive plan with the necessary elements to achieve and sustainnational competitiveness in a clearly defined and focused area of science or engineering research.
Proposals Due: June 6, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: Federal and State Technology Partnership Program
Agency: Small Business Administration
Program Summary: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SB) plans to issue Program Announcement No. FAST-13-R-0007 and make twenty awards of up to $95,000 to organizations to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance services to technology-based small business owners. Applications will be considered from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. There is a one proposal per state limitation on this competition. Only one proposal from each state may be submitted to the SBA for consideration and this application must have an original, signed Letter of Endorsement from the State Governor (Mayor for the District of Columbia).
Proposals Due: June 7, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: SmallBusiness Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2014
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program stimulates technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. The SBIR program solicits proposals from the small business sector consistent with NSF's mission. Accordingly, NSF has formulated broad solicitation topics for SBIR that conform to the high-technology investmentsector's interests. The topics are: Biological and Chemical Technologies (BC)Education Applications (EA)Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (EI)Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM).
Proposals Due: June 11, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: WaterSMART: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Grants for FY 2013
Agency: US Department of Interior
Program Summary: The objective of this FOA is to invite States, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, local governmental entities, non-profit organizations, existing watershed groups, and local and special districts (e.g., irrigation and water districts, county soil conservation districts) to submit proposals for Phase I activities to establish or expand a watershed group. Funding provided under this FOA must be used to develop a mission statement, project concepts, and a restoration plan. All work must be completed within two years from the date of award.
Proposals Due: June 11, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: SmallBusiness Technology Transfer Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2014
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Small BusinessTechnology Transfer (STTR) program stimulates technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. The STTR Program requires researchers at universities and othernon-profit research institutions to play a significant intellectual role in the conduct of each STTR project. These researchers, by joining forces with a small company, can spin-off their commercially promising ideas while they remain primarily employed at the research institution. The proposals submitted should fall into one the four broad topic areas: Biological and Chemical Technologies (BC)Education Applications (EA)Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (EI)Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM).
Proposals Due: June 13, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: FY 2013 Economic Development Assistance Programs
Agency: US Economic Development Administration
Program Summary: EDA provides strategic investments that foster job creation and attract private investment to support development in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this FFO, EDA solicits applications from both rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. Grants made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets to support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.
Proposals Due: June 13, 2013 for funding cycle 4 of FY 2013; September 13, 2013 for funding cycle 1 of FY 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: FY 2013 Economic Development Assistance Programs
Agency: US Economic Development Agency
Program Summary: EDA provides strategic investments that foster job creation and attract private investment to support development in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this FFO, EDA solicits applications from both rural and urban areas to provide investments that support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects under EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. Grants made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets to support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. 
Proposals Due: June 13, 2013 for funding cycle 4 of FY 2013 ; and September 13, 2013 for funding cycle 1 of FY 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: APS for Food Security, Nutrition, Biodiversity and Conservation
Agency: USAID
Program Summary: This APS seeks PPAs in two key priority areas: (1) food security and nutrition; and (2) biodiversity and conservation. In regards to food security and nutrition, USAID/Uganda is seeking priority partnerships that include promising methods for substantially advancing coffee, maize, beans, agro-inputs, nutritional food products, financial services, and information and communication technologies (ICT) solutions. Biodiversity priorities include innovative methods for promoting ecotourism as well as averting ecological and trans-boundary threats.
Proposals Due: June 14, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Data Center Market Research
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals from organizations or individuals interested in analyzing energy use and energy saving potential in the data center market in New York. The primary goal of this study is to understand this segment of the data center market in New York and identify opportunities for maximizing energy efficient technologies and practices. The demands of this project are threefold: to assess energy use and savings potential, assess major market trends driving demand for IT computing in NY, and assess opportunities to implement energy efficient data center technology and best practices. Unlike previous work, this study will conduct primary research in the data center market across New York looking from the server level, e.g. data closet level, up to free standing dedicated data center buildings.
Proposals Due: June 17, 2013

To view the program web site, click here

Program NameInnovation Corps Program (I-Corps)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: In order to jumpstart a national innovation ecosystem, NSF is establishing the NSF Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps). The NSF I-Corps' purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support - in the form of mentoring and funding - to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding.
The purpose of the NSF I-Corps grant is to give the project team access to resources to help determine the readiness to transition technology developed by previously-funded or currently-funded NSF projects. The outcome of the I-Corps projects will be threefold: 1) a clear go/no go decision regarding viability of products and services, 2) should the decision be to move the effort forward, a transition plan to do so, and 3) a technology demonstration for potential partners.
Proposals Due: June 17, 2013; September 16, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Implementation Support for Workforce Development and Training
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: NYSERDA requests proposals from interested parties to provide implementation and support services for NYSERDA’s Workforce Development and Training (WFD) program. Through a statewide network of training providers, NYSERDA supports a variety of clean energy workforce development and training initiatives. The Implementation Contractor, in coordination with NYSERDA, will be responsible for various implementation activities to help Energy Efficiency (EE), Renewable Energy (RE) and Advanced Technologies (AT) training and standards to gain wide-scale market acceptance. These activities include, but are not limited to: coordination and effective communication across a statewide network of training providers; assisting with reviewing and processing NYSERDA training incentives and open enrollment program applications; collecting, analyzing and reporting a wide range of WFD program metrics; assisting with coordinating NYSERDA WFD initiatives; conducting informational sessions and webinars for training providers; identifying case studies and testimonials; and evaluating and updating training partner information that will be available on the NYSERDA website.
Proposals Due: June 18, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Clean Tech Transition for Experienced Executives
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: This NYSERDA Program Opportunity Notice seeks proposals to develop a multi-year clean energy education program to educate experienced executives interested in seeking opportunities in clean technology (clean tech) and renewable energy industries. Increasing the knowledge and awareness of clean energy business operations for experienced and successful executives in New York State (NYS) will likely increase the number of successful clean energy businesses and create the opportunity for increased hiring in the clean tech sector within the state. A successful program will have graduates that start, join, advise or invest in NYS clean tech companies to bring growth in jobs and revenue.
Proposals Due: June 19, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: Tribal Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance
Agency: US Department of Energy
Program Summary: DOE is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes, Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations and Tribal Consortia, to install community-scale or facility-scale renewable energy and or energy efficiency energy projects on Indian lands. The renewable energy and or energy efficiency projects are intended to provide electricity and or heating and cooling or efficiency measures for existing tribal buildings, including homes, businesses, community buildings, government buildings, or other tribal facilities. Projects selected under this Funding Opportunity Announcement are intended to reduce energy costs and increase energy security for Indian Tribes and tribal members.
Proposals Due: June 20, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
Agency: US Environmental Protection Agency
Program Summary: EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced by diesel engines and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.
Proposals Due: June 25, 2013

To view the program web site, click here

Program Name: Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes
Agency: US Environmental Protection Agency
Program Summary: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing research on science for sustainable and healthy tribes. This solicitation is focused on research to develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems that affect tribes. The objectives of the awards to be made under this solicitation are to improve understanding of: 1) the health impacts of climate change on tribal populations; and 2) the health impacts of indoor air pollution exposures that derive from or are directly affecting traditional tribal life-ways and cultural practices. In both cases, projects should focus on impacts to vulnerable sub-populations of the Tribal communities. Proposals should also consider sustainable, culturally appropriate and acceptable pollution prevention, and adaptation/mitigation strategies.
Proposals Due: June 25, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Technical Review and Program Support Contractors
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The objective of this RFP is to select contractors to provide technical and program support services for NYSERDA programs which serve a range of customers across New York State. A customer may be small, medium or large in energy consumption or square footage; a public, private, or a non-for-profit entity; and include a variety of verticals, including but not limited to: commercial, industrial, agricultural, healthcare, institutional, data centers and retail.
Proposals Due: June 27, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Advancing the Understanding of Potential Coastal Green Shoreline Infrastructure Strategies in New York City
Agency: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
Program Summary: In recognition of the increasing risk from sea-level rise and coastal storms like Hurricane Sandy, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, and the New York City Department of City Planning, is soliciting proposals for development of a plan to identify the necessary scientific and technical research to advance the understanding of potential coastal green infrastructure strategies in New York City under current and projected sea-level rise scenarios. Coastal "green" infrastructure strategies are those that may reduce erosion and mitigate storm surge, wave action and still-water flooding associated with coastal flood events, while maintaining or enhancing ecological services. These strategies often restore, create or emulate natural coastal features such as living shorelines, reefs, islands or wetland complexes that buffer coastal storm impacts while creating, improving or enhancing habitats that support ecosystem health.
Proposals Due: June 28, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.  

Program Name: National Sea Grant College Program Special Projects 2013
Agency: US Department of Commerce
Program Summary: The purpose of this notice is to request proposals for special projects associated with the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) strategic focus areas, and to provide the general public with information and guidelines on how Sea Grantwill select proposals and administer Federal assistance under this announcement. This announcement is a mechanism to encourage research or other projects that are not normally funded through Sea Grant national competitions. This opportunity is open only to Sea Grant Programs. No funding has been dedicated to supporting applications submitted to this Federal Funding Opportunity, but funding may become available during the year.
Proposals Due: June 30, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: Biomonitoring of Great Lakes Populations
Agency: US Department of Health and Human Services
Program Summary: ATSDR announces a funding opportunity for a non-research cooperative agreement program to assess residents’ body burdens of priority contaminants in the Great Lakes ecosystem, particularly those who are at highest exposure risk. Determining which Great Lakes contaminants are getting into human populations informs public health officials and guides environmental public health action throughout the Great Lakes restoration process. The purpose of this announcement is to evaluate body burden levels of priority contaminants in Great Lakes residents. Eligible applicants must be a state health department or tribal government in the eight Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin) or their bona fide agents. 
Proposals Due: July 1, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Widening Implementation & Demonstration of Evidence-Based Reforms (WIDER)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: WIDER seeks to substantially increase the scale of application of highly effectivemethods of STEM teaching and learning in institutions of higher education, by employing instructional materials and methods that have a convincing evidentiary basis of effectiveness. Included in our broad definition of effective STEM teaching and learning are not only instructional practices in traditional learning environments, but also modern laboratory methods and field research, proven distance education methods (or hybrid designs incorporating both face-to-face and distance methods), and improved approaches to motivating student interest in STEM. The primary goal of WIDER is to increase substantially the scale of these improvements within and across the higher education sector in order to achieve:

(1) Improved student learning;
(2) Increased numbers of students choosing STEM majors, particularly from demographic groups underrepresented in STEM;
(3) Improved retention in the first two years of undergraduate study and to graduation of all STEM majors. 

Proposals Due: July 3, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute
Agency: US Department of Energy
Program Summary: The goal of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to establish a Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute (Institute) to support U.S. prosperity and security; and that will contribute to the creation of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). The primary goals of the Institute are to revitalize American manufacturing and support domestic manufacturing competitiveness by driving innovation, and developing and accelerating adoption of next generation manufacturing technologies that will increase energy productivity, improve product quality, reduce cost, waste or pollution leading to increased domestic production capacity, jobs for American workers and regional economic development. The Institute established through this FOA will focus on wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors for power electronic devices.
Proposals Due: Letter of Intent: July 11, 2013; Full Proposal: August 29, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: EHR Core Research (ECR)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The EHR Core Research (ECR) program establishes a mechanism in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources to provide funding in foundational research areas that are broad, essential and enduring. EHR seeks proposals that will help synthesize, build and/or expand research foundations in the following core areas: STEM learning, STEM learning environments, workforce development, and broadeningparticipation in STEM. We invite researchers to identify and conduct research on questions or issues in order to advance the improvement of STEM learning in general, or to address specific challenges of great importance. Two types of proposals are invited: Core Research Proposals (maximum 5 years, $1.5 million) that propose to study a foundational research question/issue designed to inform the transformation of STEM learning and education and Capacity Building Proposals (maximum 3 years, $300,000) intended to support groundwork necessary for advancing research within the four core areas.
Proposals Due: July 12, 2013; February 14, 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Science Transfer Program
Agency: Great Lakes Fishery Committee
Program Summary: The Science Transfer Program is designed to promote partnerships through the communication of information about Great Lakes ecosystems and their fish communities, sea lamprey control, and emerging ecological concepts andtechnologies to fishery researchers and managers, governments, and the public.  The program provides a dedicated source of funding to support the objectives and activities described in A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries and the commission’s partnership vision statement. Types of Projects: Science transfer projects include all forms of commission-sponsored communication related to scientific and technical information. Types of activities used to disseminate information may include, but are not limited to:

  • Science-transfer and training workshops
  • Other workshops and symposia
  • Management planning and objective setting
  • Development and maintenance of lake-wide databases
  • Development of scientific review papers
  • Publication of research in print, CD, and web-based media.

Proposals Due: July 15, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: 2014 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program
Agency: US Department of Agriculture
Program Summary: The National Urbanand Community Forestry Advisory Council seeks innovative (new, cutting-edge or builds upon existing studies) grant proposals for program development, study, and collaboration that will address strategies in the Ten Year Action Plan.Specifically for this Request for Proposals, the Council is considering proposals to address the following priority issues: Making Urban Trees and Forests More Resilient to the Impacts of Natural Disasters and the long-term Impacts of Climate Change; Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis; Utilizing Green Infrastructure to Manage and Mitigate Stormwater to Improve Water Quality Organizations. Local governments, tribal agencies, and partnerships are encouraged to submit proposals that will demonstrate the reach, resources, and expertise needed to address the three priority issues in ways that will lead to meaningful, replicable results across the country. Potential Innovation grantees are should work collaboratively with other organizations and entities not traditionally involved in urban and community forestry.
Proposals Due: Pre-proposal July 15, 2013; full proposal November 15, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

*NEW ITEM* Program Name: Office of Small Business Development Centers Program Announcement
Agency: Small Business Administration
Program Summary: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invites applications from existing SBDC recipient organization currently funded under the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. The SBDC program is a broad-based system of assistance for the small business community that links the resources of Federal, state, and local governments with those of the educational community and the private sector. Although SBA is responsible for the general management and oversight of the SBDC program, a partnership exists between SBA and the recipient organization to effectuate the delivery of assistance to the small business community.
Proposals Due: July 18, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Concentrating Solar Power: Efficiently Leveraging Equilibrium Mechanisms for Engineering New Thermochemical Storage (CSP: ELEMENTS)
Agency: US Department of Energy
Program Summary: This program supports research and development of TCES systems that can validate a cost of ≤$15 per kilowatt-hour-thermal (kWht) and operate at temperatures ≥650°C. Successful projects will culminate in an on-sun test of the TCES system, along with reliable projections of the full-scale performance for the entire integrated storage system through the utilization of validated performance models developed as part of the R&D effort. There are two topic areas of research for TCES systems under this funding opportunity. Topic Area 1 is for proposals to develop complete TCES systems that address all of the major technical focus areas below. Topic Area 2 is for "Seedlings" to focus on one or a few areas of major technical focus. The major technical focus areas are:

1.       Efficiency Maximization
2.       Process Engineering
3.       Reactor Engineering
4.       Heat and Mass Transfer
5.       Catalysis
6.       Modeling
7.       Materials
8.       On-Sun Testing.

Proposals Due: July 23, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program NameFaculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

Agency: National Science Foundation
Program SummaryCAREER: The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

PECASE: Each year NSF selects nominees for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious new CAREER awardees. Selection for this award is based on two important criteria:  1) innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology that is relevant to the mission of the sponsoring organization or agency, and 2) community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education or community outreach. These awards foster innovative developments in science and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific missions of the participating agencies, enhance connections between fundamental research and national goals, and highlight the importance of science and technology for the Nation’s future. Individuals cannot apply for PECASE. These awards are initiated by the participating federal agencies. At NSF, up to twenty nominees for this award are selected each year from among the PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees who are most likely to become the leaders of academic research and education in the twenty-first century. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy makes the final selection and announcement of the awardees.

Proposals Due: ENG July 23, 2013; GEO, MPS, SBE, OPP July 24, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Photovoltaic Balance-of-System Cost Reduction
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: As part of the NY-Sun initiative NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) seek proposals to identify and address Photovoltaic (PV) Balance-of-System (BOS) issues that will result in cost savings associated with purchasing, installing, owning, and operating a PV system in New York. BOS includes everything involved in a PVsystem except for the PV module. BOS cost reduction should be considered in a holistic manner to ensure that cost reductions in one area don’t cause unintended cost increases in another area that negate the overall savings. Projects should focus on reducing life cycle costs and lowering the cost of energy.
Proposale Due: Round 1: July 30, 2013; Round 2: January 30, 2014

To view the programs web site, click here.

Program Name: Gen-3 Engineering Research Centers (ERC): Partnerships in Transformational Research, Education, and Technology
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The goal of the Gen-3 Engineering Research Centers Program is to create a culture in academia that (1) links scientific discovery to technological innovation and (2) produces engineering graduates who will be highly effective in industrial practice and creative innovators in a global economy. This culture evolves through a platform of transformational research and education programs in partnership with industry and other practitioners.
Proposals Due: Preliminary Proposal: July 30, 2013; Full Proposal: February 12, 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Instrument Development for Biological Research
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The IDBR Program supports the development, production, and distribution of novel instrumentation that addresses demonstrated needs in biological research in areas supported by NSF Biology programs. These systems would benefit a broad user community through mass distribution of the technology. Interdisciplinary collaborations are strongly encouraged, as are partnerships with U.S. industries that can facilitate knowledge transfer, commercialization and broad utilization in the research community. The program accepts two types of proposals: Type A - Innovation: Proposals for the development of novel instrumentation that provides new research capabilities or, where appropriate, that significantly improves current technologies by at least an order of magnitude in fundamental aspects such as accuracy, precision, resolution, throughput, flexibility, breadth of application, costs of construction or operation, or user-friendliness. Type B - Bridging: Proposals for transforming one of a kind' prototypes or high-end instruments into devices that are broadly available and utilizable without loss of capacity.
Proposals Due: July 31, 2013

To visit the program web site, click here.

Program Name: EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track-1: (RII Track-1)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. This program is directed at those jurisdictions that have historically received lesser amounts of NSF Research and Development (R&D) funding. Twenty-eight jurisdictions, including twenty-five states(Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territories of Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands are currently eligible to participate in the RII program. Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to effect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research infrastructure, R&D capacity, and hence, its national R&D competitiveness. Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1: (RII Track-1) awards provide up to $4 million per year for up to 5 years to support physical, human, and cyberinfrastructure improvements in research areas selected by the jurisdiction's EPSCoR steering committee as having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness of the jurisdiction.
Proposals Due: August 6, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Accelerating Commercialization of Industrial Technologies
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) seeks proposals from technology developers to accelerate commercialization of industrial process technologies through multiple full-scale industrial demonstrations. Technologies must have previously received NYSERDA-R&D support, must have been demonstrated successfully previously, and must havebusiness and marketing plans, but are not yet widely accepted by or deployed in the marketplace. This solicitation focuses on overcoming the challenges of installing an emerging technology at a host site, as opposed to focusing ondeveloping improvements to a technology.
Proposals Due: August 13, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: This program makes grants to institutions of higher education to support scholarships for academically talented students demonstrating financial need, enabling them to enter the STEM workforce or STEM graduate school following completion of an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate-level degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines. Grantee institutions are responsible for selecting scholarship recipients, reporting demographic information about student scholars, and managing the S-STEM project at the institution.
Proposals Due: August 13, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Decision, Risk, and Management Sciences
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision-making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research, and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design.
Proposals Due: August 18, 2013; January 18, 2014

To view the program web site: Click Here.

Program Name: Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: Materials ResearchScience and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) provide sustained support of interdisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering. MRSECs address research of a scope and complexity requiring the scale, synergy, and interdisciplinarity provided by a campus-based research center. They support materials research infrastructure in the United States, promote active collaboration between universities and other sectors, including industry and international institutions, and contribute to the development of a nationalnetwork of university-based centers in materials research, education, and facilities. A MRSEC may be located at a single institution, or may involve multiple institutions in partnership.
Proposals Due: Preliminary Proposal: August 26, 2013; Full Proposal: January 10, 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: NY-Sun Competitive PV Program
Agency: NYSERDA
Program Summary: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is pleased to announce the New York Sun Competitive Photovoltaic (PV) Program, an expansion of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Customer-Sited Tier Regional Program1, to include Upstate New York. The New York Sun Competitive PV Program is part of the New York State (NYS) RPS Customer-Sited Tier Program. NYSERDA invites proposals for the installation of customer-sited PV projects in NewYork Independent System Operator (NYISO) load zones A through J and Renewable Biogas-fueled electric generation projects in NYISO load zones G through J. All systems must be greater than 50 kW. Complete proposals that demonstrate project viability and capability will be competitively selected based on their incentive bid in dollars per kilowatt hour ($/kWh). All Projects must be installed within eight (8) months of the award date.
Proposals Due: August 29, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering (HMSE) program supports fundamental research to mitigate impacts of natural and anthropogenic hazards on civil infrastructure and to advance the reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of buildings and other structures. Hazards considered within the program include earthquake,tsunami, hurricane, tornado and other loads, as well as explosive and impact loading. Resiliency of buildings and other structures include structural and non-structural systems that, in totality, permit continued occupation or operation in case of an impact by a hazard. Research is encouraged that integrates structural and architectural engineering advances with discoveries in other science and engineering fields, such as earth and atmospheric sciences, material science, mechanics of materials, sensor technology, highperformance computational modeling and simulation, dynamic system and control, and economics. The program seeks to fund transformative and cost-effective innovations for hazard mitigation of both new and rehabilitated buildings and other structures. Research in structural and architectural engineering is encouraged that extends beyond mature or current construction materials into investigations of smart and sustainable materials and technologies, and considers the structures in their entirety. In addition, the program funds research on structural health monitoring that goes beyond data acquisition to include the holistic system, integrating condition assessment and decision making tools to improve structural performance.
Proposals Due: Full Proposal Window: September 01, 2013 - October 01, 2013; January 15, 2014 - February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Water Sustainability and Climate
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The goal of the Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC) solicitation is to enhance the understanding and predict the interactions between the water system and land use changes (including agriculture, managed forest and rangeland systems), the built environment, ecosystem function and services and climate change/variability through place-based research and integrative models. Studies of the water system using models and/or observations at specific sites, singly or in combination, that allow for spatial and temporal extrapolation to other regions, as well as integrationacross the different processes in that system are encouraged, especially to the extent that they advance the development of theoretical frameworks and predictive understanding.
Proposals Due: September 10, 2013

To view the program web site, click here.

Program Name: Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: This program may also be relevant to research in Building Energy Efficiencies.  The Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics program supports fundamental research in engineering areas related to:

  • Interfacial phenomena
  • Mass transport phenomena
  • Molecular thermodynamics

Currently, emphasis is placed on molecular engineering approaches at interfaces, especially as applied to the nano-processing of soft materials.  Molecules at interfaces with functional interfacial properties are of special interest and have uses in many new technologies, based on nano-fabrication.  These interfacial molecules may have biomolecular functions at the micro- and nano-scale.  Interfacial materials are generally formed through molecular self-directed, -templated, and/or -assembly, and they are driven primarily by thermodynamic intermolecular forces, although may be influenced by flow and electrical forces.  In some cases, these interfacial processes may also be supplemented by weak chemical reactions.

Proposals Due: September 17, 2013

To visit the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivoin vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment.  Quantitative assessments of bioprocesses are considered vital to successful research projects in the BBBE program. 

Research projects of particular interest in BBBE include, but are not limited to:

  • Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology
  • Quantitative systems biotechnology
  • Tissue engineering and stem cell culture technologies
  • Protein engineering/protein design
  • Development of novel "omics" tools for biotechnology applications

Proposals Due: September 17, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Catalysis and Biocatalysis
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Catalysis and Biocatalysis program primarily supports fundamental and innovative applied research on the following topics:

  • Kinetics and mechanisms of important catalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the production of chemicals, fuels, and specialized materials
  • Characterization of chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces
  • Kinetic modeling and theory of heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysis
  • Fundamental catalytic or biocatalytic studies of the processes for conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals
  • Synthesis of novel compositions and structures for use in heterogeneous, homogeneous or biocatalysts
  • Electrocatalytic processes having engineering significance or commercial potential, particularly for fuel cell applications
  • Fundamental aspects of reactive deposition and processing for thin film materials

Proposals Due: September 17, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Information and Intelligent Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in three core programs:

  • The Human-Centered Computing program
  • The Information Integration and Informatics program; and
  • The Robust Intelligence program.

Proposals Due: Medium projects: September 30, 2013; Large projects: December 2, 2013; Small projects: December 17, 2013

To view the program web site: Click Here.

Program Name: Civil Infrastructure Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The CIS program supports research leading to the intelligent engineering of distributed infrastructure systems.  Areas of interest include intra- and inter-dependencies in infrastructure design and operation for resilience and sustainability, infrastructure protection, and advanced information technologies for health monitoring, condition assessment, deterioration and asset management.  Special emphasis is on risk analysis, life-cycle frameworks, cyber-enabled simulation, and technologies for design, construction and operation of resilient and sustainable infrastructure networks.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Control Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The CS program supports innovative research on control theory and control technology driven by real life applications.  The program accepts proposals on transformative research in established topic areas such as model-based control.  However, the program emphasis is on paradigm-shifting ideas for control strategies that may be inspired by nature, unconventional applications, and the combined role of feedback and uncertainty in systems that incorporate large numbers of sensors and actuators.  New sensor and actuator concepts that integrate feedback and signal processing to achieve a sensing or actuation objective are also funded.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Dynamical Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: This program supports innovative research on the theories of dynamical systems, including new analytical and computational tools, as well as the novel application of dynamical systems to engineered systems.  The program is especially interested in transformative research in the area of complex systems, uncertain or stochastic nonlinear dynamical systems, model order reduction of nonlinear or infinite dimensional dynamical systems, discrete nonlinear dynamical systems, and modeling, simulation, analysis and design of multi-scale multi-physics dynamical systems.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Engineering Design and Innovation
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The EDI program supports research leading to design theory and to tools and methods that enable implementation of the principles of design theory in the practice of design across the full spectrum of engineered products. The program focus is on gaining an understanding of the basic processes and phenomena underlying a holistic, life-cycle view of design where the total system life-cycle context recognizes the need for advanced understanding of the identification and definition of preferences, analysis of alternatives, effective accommodation of uncertainty in decision-making, and the relationship between data and knowledge in a digitally-supported process. The program funds advances in basic design theory, tools, and software to implement design theory and new design methods that span multiple domains, such as design for the environment and for manufacturability.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Operations Research
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Operation Research program supports fundamental research leading to the creation of innovative mathematical models, analysis, and algorithms for optimal or near optimal decision-making, applicable to the design and operation of manufacturing, service and other complex systems. In addition to the traditional areas of Operations Research which includes discrete and continuous optimization as well as stochastic modeling and analysis, new research thrusts include simulation optimization and self-optimizing systems that can observe, learn, and adapt to changing environments.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program NameMajor Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education, museums, science centers, and not-for-profit organizations. This program especially seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions. To accomplish these goals, the MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. Instruments are expected to be operational for regular research use by the end of the award period. For the purposes of the MRI program, proposals must be for either acquisition or development of a single instrument or for equipment that, when combined, serves as an integrated research instrument (physical or virtual).  The MRI program does not support the acquisition or development of a suite of instruments to outfit research facilities or to conduct independent research activities simultaneously.
Proposals Due: January 23, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Sensors and Sensing Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Sensors and Sensing System (SSS) program funds fundamental research on sensors and sensing systems.  Such fundamental research includes the discovery and characterization of new sensing modalities, fundamental theories for aggregation and analysis of sensed data, fundamentally new approaches for data transmission, and approaches for addressing uncertain and/or partial sensor data.  Innovative research in nonlinear prediction, filtering and estimation in the context of sensing systems is also considered in this program.


Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Service Enterprise Systems
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The SES program supports research on strategic decision-making, design, planning and operation of commercial, nonprofit, and institutional service enterprises with the goal of improving their overall effectiveness and cost reduction.  The program has a particular focus on healthcare and other similar public service institutions, and emphasizes research topics leading to more effective systems modeling and analysis as a means to improved planning, resource allocation, and policy development.
Proposals Due: October 1, 2013; February 15, 2014

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program NameStructural Materials and Mechanics (SMM)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The SMM program supports fundamental research on the behavior of civil infrastructure materials and the mechanics of structural components in the built environment.  Of particular interest is research on structural components consisting of natural and synthetic materials, their response to mechanical, hydrothermal, and time-dependent loads, and their impact on life-cycle performance and sustainable development of the civil infrastructure.

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Education and Interdisciplinary Research
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: Supports activities in conjunction with NSF-wide programs such as Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER), Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), and programs aimed at women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. Further information about all of these programs and activities is available in the Crosscutting Investment Strategies section of the NSF Guide to Programs.

The program also supports activities that seek to improve the education and training of physics students (both undergraduate and graduate), such as curriculum development for upper-level physics courses, and activities that are not included in specific programs elsewhere within NSF. The program supports research at the interface between physics and other disciplines and extending to emerging areas. Broadening activities related to research at the interface with other fields, possibly not normally associated with physics, also may be considered.
Proposals Due: October 30, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Environmental Chemical Systems (ECS)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS) Program supports basic research in chemistry that promotes the understanding of natural and anthropogenic chemical processes in our environment.  Projects supported by this program enable fundamentally new avenues of basic research and transformative technologies. The program is particularly interested in studying molecular phenomena on surfaces and interfaces in order to understand the inherently complex and heterogeneous environment.  Projects utilize advanced experimental, modeling and computational approaches, as well as developing new approaches.  Topics include studies of environmental surfaces and interfaces under laboratory conditions, the fundamental properties of water  and water solutions important in environmental processes, dissolution, composition, origin and behavior of molecular scale systems under a variety of naturally occurring environmental conditions, chemical reactivity of synthetic nanoparticles and their molecular level interactions with the environment, and application of theoretical models and computational approaches to discover and predict environmental phenomena at the molecular scale.
Proposals Due: October 31, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program NameBiomaterials (BMAT)

Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Biomaterials program supports fundamental materials research related to (1) biological materials, (2) biomimetic, bioinspired, and bioenabled materials, (3) synthetic materials intended for applications in contact with biological systems, and (4) the processes through which nature produces biological materials.  Projects are typically interdisciplinary and may encompass scales from the nanoscopic to the bulk.  They may involve characterization, design, preparation, and modification; studies of structure-property relationships and interfacial behavior; and combinations of experiment, theory, and/or simulation.  The emphasis is on novel materials design and development and discovery of new phenomena.
Proposals Due: October 31, 2013

To view the program web site, Click Here.

Program Name: Sustainable Vision Grants
Agency: National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)
Program Summary: Sustainable Vision grants fund transformational education programs where breakthrough technologies are created and commercialized through entrepreneurial models for the benefit of people living in poverty in the US and abroad. Funds are awarded to US-based colleges and universities and can then be shared with partners (other universities, NGOs, etc.) in the US and abroad. Focus areas include, but are not limited to, health, clean air and water, energy, nutrition, and shelter. The grants support enrichment and deepening of ongoing programs by building and strengthening interpersonal and inter-institutional networks, and by creating new initiatives within existing programs.
Proposals Due: November 8, 2013

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Program NameCourse and Program Grants
Agency: National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA)
Program Summary: Course and Program grants are awarded to strengthen existing curricular programs or build new courses and programs in invention, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship, with an increasing emphasis on environmental and social entrepreneurship. Successful proposals present creative pedagogical approaches that generate and deploy student E-Teams, bringing real-life applications into the classroom setting and beyond. An E-Team is a multidisciplinary group of faculty, students, and industry mentors working together to bring a product or technology to market.  The "E" stands for excellence and entrepreneurship.
Proposals Due: November 8, 2013

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Program Name: NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: Through the SEES Fellows Program, NSF seeks to advance science, engineering, and education to inform the societal actions needed for environmental and economic sustainability and human well-being while creating the necessary workforce to address these challenges.  The Program's emphasis is to facilitate investigations that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and address issues of sustainability through a systems approach, building bridges between academic inquiry, economic growth, and societal needs.  The Fellow's proposed investigation must be interdisciplinary and allow him/her to obtain research experiences beyond his/her current core disciplinary expertise.  Fellows are required to develop a research partnership(s) that will advance and broaden the impact/scope of the proposed research, and present a plan for their own professional development in the area of sustainability science and engineering.
Proposals Due: November 21, 2013

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Program Name: Environmental Sustainability
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions.  There are four principal general research areas which are supported, but others can be proposed:

  • Industrial Ecology
  • Green Engineering
  • Ecological Engineering
  • Earth Systems Engineering

Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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Program Name: Environmental Engineering
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The goal of this program is to encourage transformative research which applies scientific principles to minimize solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges into land, inland and coastal waters, and air that result from human activity, and to evaluate adverse impacts of these discharges on human health and environmental quality.  The program fosters cutting-edge scientific research based on fundamental science for identifying, evaluating, and developing new methods and technologies for assessing the waste assimilative capacity of the natural environment and for removing or reducing conventional and emerging contaminants from polluted air, water and soils.  The program is based on four types of engineering tools - - measurement, analysis, synthesis, and design.

Major areas of interest include:

  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Emerging Contaminants
  • Urban Water Resources Management
  • Soil Remediation and Landfills
  • Air Quality

Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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Program Name: Fluid Dynamics
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Fluid Dynamics program supports fundamental research and education on mechanisms and phenomena governing fluid flow.  Proposed research should contribute to basic understanding; thus enabling the better design; predictability; efficiency; and control of systems that involve fluids.  Encouraged are proposals that address innovative uses of fluids in materials development; manufacturing; biotechnology; nanotechnology; clinical diagnostics and drug delivery; sensor development and integration; energy and the environment.

Current research themes include:

  • General Fluid Mechanics
  • Flow of Complex Fluids
  • Micro- Nano- Bio- Fluid Mechanics Turbulence and Flow Control
  • Instrumentation and Flow Diagnostics

Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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Program Name: Particulate and Multiphase Processes
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Particulate and Multiphase Processes program supports fundamental and applied research on mechanisms and phenomena governing particulate and multiphase processes, including granular and granular-fluid flows, particle/bubble/droplet interactions, aerosol science and technology, suspensions, micro- and nano-structured fluids, self- and directed-assembly of nanostructures involving particulates, and related instrumentation and diagnostics.  Innovative research is sought that contributes to improving the basic understanding, design, predictability, efficiency, and control of particulate and multiphase processes with particular emphasis on: new frontiers in nanotechnology, novel manufacturing techniques, nano-metrology, multiphase transport in biological systems, environmental sustainability, critical infrastructure systems, and complex engineering systems. Investigators are also encouraged to find industrial partnerships and make GOALI submissions.

Current research focus areas include:

  • Multiphase flow phenomena
  • Particle science and technology
  • Multi-scale models of multiphase systems
  • Multiphase transport in biological systems

Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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Program Name: Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology program provides support to develop and test the environmental effects of nanotechnologies.
Fundamental research is sought to understand, evaluate, and mitigate the impact of nanotechnology on the environment and biological systems.  The program also supports research on the development and refinement of sensors and sensor network technologies that can be used to measure a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological properties of interest in characterizing, monitoring, and understanding environmental impacts.

Current areas of support include:

  • Understanding and mitigating the effects of nanotechnology and biotechnology on the environment
  • Nanotechnology environmental health and safety impacts and applications
  • Predictive methodology for the interaction of nanoparticles with the environment and with the human body, including predictive approaches for toxicity
  • Fate and transport of natural, engineered, and incidental (by-product) nanoparticles
  • Risk assessment and management of the effect of nanomaterials in the environment

Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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Program Name: Energy for Sustainability
Agency: National Science Foundation
Program Summary: The Energy for Sustainability program supports fundamental research and education that will enable innovative processes for the sustainable production of electricity and transportation fuels.  Processes for sustainable energy production must be environmentally benign, reduce greenhouse gas production, and utilize renewable or bio-based resources that are abundant in the United States. The Energy for Sustainability program emphasizes two themes which harness solar energy to make fuels and electrical power: biofuels,& bioenergy, and photovoltaic solar energy. In addition, this program also supports research in wind and wave energy, sustainable energy technology assessment, and fuel cells.
Proposals Due: February 20, 2014

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