… In order to target the limited available resources in a practical and cost-effective manner, NSF is implementing a phased funding model to address the extensive science objectives and numerous primary research sites identified by the community during their planning activities. According to this phased implementation model, NSF advises the community that some of the primary sites will be prioritized for certain types of proposals each year. This model allows proponents to self-organize, plan, and coordinate their research. This also allows GeoPRISMS program officers to better leverage the limited available funds each year. The community will continue to provide recommendations to the Foundation through community workshops and the GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee (GSOC). Based on this input, program funding priorities and focus may continue to evolve. The GSOC is tasked with continually monitoring the operations and reviewing progress towards the stated goals within each initiative’s science plan, as well as developing the next set of priorities with the community’s involvement, while encouraging attempts at integration and syntheses of results.

The phased funding model adopted by GeoPRISMS has defined “windows of opportunity” during which proposals of certain types will be accepted for given primary sites. Large and costly field experiments can only be supported in one site at a time, for up to two sequential years. Smaller studies (such as preparatory work, data analysis, and synthesis, or thematic studies), requiring a lower percentage of the overall annual budget, will be considered for all sites each year. For example, during the early years of GeoPRISMS, the Cascadia primary site received high levels of funding. So while data acquisition for that site will now be phased out within this program, data synthesis may still be supported. The windows of opportunity for large-scale data acquisition projects are thus defined, by site:

• Cascadia: [completed for GeoPRISMS, continue to accept in Core Programs]
• ENAM: FY13-14 (July 2012 and 2013 deadlines)
• Alaska/Aleutians: FY14-15 (July 2013 and 2014 deadlines)
• EARS: FY15-16 (July 2014 and 2015 deadlines)
• New Zealand: FY16-17 (July 2015 and 2016 deadlines)

It is important to note that these dates serve only as guidelines, and that NSF is open to accepting proposals that fall outside of these guidelines when justified by unique and time-limited opportunities. In such cases, PIs must contact the program officers ahead of submission.

Limited sequestered funds […] make it necessary to phase in research activities at various chosen primary sites (instead of initiating all at the same time) as more detailed IPs are developed for the individual sites and priorities are identified by community discussion […] Proposals for the FY12 competition (due on July 1st, 2011) will be accepted under the existing MARGINS Program Announcement but only for the following specific topics: 1) Data assimilation and small reconnaissance studies for all primary sites relevant to GeoPRISMS objectives; 2) Research projects relevant to stated GeoPRISMS objectives at Cascadia; 3) Synthesis and integration efforts at MARGINS focus-sites; 4) Workshop proposals for science or implementation at Cascadia, Alaska, or Eastern North American Margin primary sites; and 5) Post-doctoral fellowships.