Slots: FORECAST does not accept separately submitted collaborative proposals. Any collaboration among organizations should be through a subaward.
An eligible organization may submit only two (2) proposals. Proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review. Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.
Organizations participating only as evaluators or subawardees on projects are excluded from this limitation.
Deadlines
Internal Deadline: September 13, 2024, 5pm PT Contact RII.
LOI: Not required.
External Deadline: January 29, 2025 – Deadline for Track 1 “Coordination Hub” proposals;
April 30, 2025 – Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals
Recurring Deadlines: April 29, 2026 – Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals;
April 28, 2027 – Deadline for Track 2 proposals.
Award Information
Award Type: Grant / Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 16
Anticipated Award Amount: $15,000,000
Who May Serve as PI: No restrictions or limits.
Link to Award: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/focus-recruiting-emerging-climate-adaptation/nsf24-558/solicitation
Process for Limited Submissions
PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII) Application Portal: https://rii.usc.edu/oor-portal/. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template
Materials to submit include:
- (1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (1” margins; single-spaced; standard font type, e.g. Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
- (2) CV – (5 pages maximum)
Note: The portal requires information about the PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#, Gender, and Ethnicity. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.
Purpose
A. Focus and Goals
The FORECAST solicitation invites creative proposals designed to prepare students to enter the work environment and conduct community and partner-engaged science in benefit of society. Using a student-centered approach, the goals of the program are to:
- Catalyze entrepreneurship and innovation while fostering supportive student cohorts and professional development opportunities that would result in a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and scientists trained in “engaged translational research” and aware of governmental processes;
- Increase capacity for master’s degree programs at ERIs to train diverse cohorts of transdisciplinary STEM professionals for a range of research and research-related careers within the workforce;
- Promote building innovative community flexibility and adaptability to environmental change by fostering community resilience and the translation of core research outcomes for societal benefits.
Creation of sustainable programmatic capacity at institutions is an expected outcome. Consequently, all proposals should describe mechanisms to institutionalize effective training elements after award expiration and provide appropriate documentation of institutional support for such efforts (see Proposal Preparation Instructions, section V.A.).
B. Funding Tracks
Track 1: Coordination Hub, one managing organization will be selected to coordinate support for rising seniors from either emerging research institutions (ERIs) or from historically excluded and underserved groups as part of a national cohort to participate in structured professional development opportunities.
Track 2: FORECAST Cohorts at Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) projects will support cohorts of Master’s degree students at ERIs. Mentorship and capacity building should be central to the cohort approach.
FORECAST Planning grant proposals for Track 2 will be accepted to build capacity at the institution and with the appropriate partners to undertake the activities necessary to establish a future FORECAST cohort or similar activities at ERIs.
Track 1 (1 award; Coordination Hub):
There will be one award to a managing hub organization (the coordination hub). The coordination hub will oversee the Track 1 undergraduate senior program and assist with coordination of the Track 2 projects. Track 1 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) of up to $7.5 million.
The hub organization will develop, design, and deliver professional development for Track 1 participants. The participants will start the program, Phase 1, during their senior year and could continue to participate if they transition to a graduate program, Phase 2. Professional development should include attention to training and building skills necessary for making connections between basic science and translation to societal benefits. These skills include management, having vision, communications, and knowing how to organize science (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2022). The professional development for the cohort should include entrepreneurial and innovative approaches to community and/or campus resilience, as well as an introduction to government processes related to climate resilience. Participants will have the opportunity to develop transdisciplinary projects while engaging communities in setting up research goals.
Track 1 Phase 1: The coordination hub will be expected to use the Education and Training Application Portal (ETAP) to solicit and review participant applications. Each national cohort of senior undergraduate student participants should be comprised of at least 25 students. Facilitated by the coordination hub, participants enrolled in the last year of their undergraduate program will hone skills on translational research, engaged research, and innovation. The undergraduate student participants will design research projects that they could implement as graduate students or develop business plans in support of the goals and interests of companies or communities.
Track 1 Phase 2: Following their undergraduate education, Track 1 participants may continue to be supported during the first two years of a graduate program (Master’s or PhD) at a school of their choice. In Phase 2, graduate student participants will become FORECAST Associates and will continue to receive professional development and support as they implement the research projects designed during Phase 1.
The hub will manage funding for all Track 1 participants. Receiving a living wage while engaged in activities is crucial to facilitate participation of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2023). Undergraduate participants (Phase 1) will receive a stipend to be paid for time spent preparing for, traveling to/from, and participating in professional development activities. Undergraduate student participants who become graduate student FORECAST Associates (Phase 2) will receive an educational allowance for up to two years. Phase 2 FORECAST Associates may accept fellowships, tuition assistance, etc. in addition to the educational allowance provided by FORECAST.
Track 2 (~5 awards): FORECAST Cohorts at Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs)
Master’s degree-granting emerging research institutions (ERIs) are eligible to submit proposals to both train cohorts of master’s degree graduate students and build institutional capacity in translational, engaged research to address challenges related to global change. Track 2 proposals should include an introduction to the broader governmental context of climate resilience. Track 2 proposals may request a total budget (up to four years in duration) of up to $4 million.
Eligibility to submit to Track 2 is limited to master’s degree-granting ERIs accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members, that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation.
FORECAST Planning Grants (10 awards):
Master’s degree-granting emerging research institutions (ERIs) are eligible to submit FORECAST planning grant proposals to build capacity at the institution and with the appropriate partners to undertake the activities necessary to establish a future FORECAST Track 2 cohort. Eligibility to submit to FORECAST Planning Grants is limited to master’s degree-granting ERIs accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members, that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation.
NSF recognizes that institutions may have interest in establishing a cohort, but may not have the full complement of skills, expertise, and relationships needed to successfully implement a meaningful cohort. FORECAST Planning Grants can be used to support team formation activities (e.g. filling gaps in expertise); develop and nurture relationships with potential partners; and access specialized frameworks or resources needed to better develop a Track 2 cohort project. FORECAST Planning Grants are suitable for institutions that would like to prepare to host a Track 2 project and ensure their institution is fully inclusive and welcoming to project participants, by training staff, conducting climate surveys, or establishing collaborations and partnerships. FORECAST Planning Grants should include plans for the expansion, sustainability, and scale of their activities. Proposers funded through this solicitation may use the FORECAST Planning Grant funding to organize catalytic activities (including, but not limited to, workshops and conferences) that can help collaborating organizations to crystallize their vision to address a transdisciplinary graduate student cohort and build entrepreneurial and translational capacity at the institution and to develop a Track 2 project proposal. FORECAST Planning Grants could include a small pilot program and adequate evaluation. It is expected that FORECAST planning grants will have a period of performance of 12 months. Having a planning grant awarded is not a guarantee of subsequent funding for a Track 2 project. A Planning Grant is not a prerequisite for future FORECAST competitions. FORECAST Planning Grant proposals may request a total budget (up to 12 months in duration) of up to $100,000.
Please note that the FORECAST Planning Grant proposals described in this solicitation are a solicitation-specific project category and are separate and distinct from the type of proposal described in Chapter II.F.1 of the PAPPG. When preparing a Planning proposal in response to this solicitation, the “Research” type of proposal should be selected in the proposal preparation module in Research.gov or Grants.gov.
Competitive FORECAST Planning Grants, Track 1 and 2 Project proposals will be based on inclusive research and training principles and prioritize strategic partnerships while developing an entrepreneurial mindset in the participants. Successful projects will be rooted in mentorship, ally-ship, equity, anti-racist and anti-harassment practices, and increasing accessibility. Project leaders need to show their commitment to foster research and learning environments with a strong sense of belonging and safety for all. Proposals seeking funds to support an existing activity must clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of current activities and identify the gaps that would be addressed if additional resources were made available.
Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.