The Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI) program, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides funding for innovative research aimed at advancing ground-based astronomy and astrophysics. Administered by the NSF’s Division of Astronomical Sciences, this program seeks proposals for the development of new technologies and instrumentation that address technical challenges in astronomical observations. The ATI program prioritizes proposals that are transformative, exploratory, and beneficial to the U.S. astronomical community.

The program funds advanced technology development, feasibility studies, and specialized instrumentation projects that support ground-based observations from optical to radio wavelengths. It also supports novel hardware, software, and analysis tools that enhance the capabilities of U.S. ground-based observatories. Proposals must demonstrate the astronomical context of the work and its potential to significantly advance ground-based observational capabilities. Projects that offer routine upgrades to existing facilities or focus on private observatories are deprioritized unless they benefit the larger U.S. astronomical community.

### Purpose and Objectives
The ATI program’s objective is to foster innovative research that enables new observational capabilities, such as those improving high-contrast adaptive optics, extreme-precision radial velocity measurements, or data processing systems for multimodal astronomy. The program aligns with NSF’s broader goals of advancing knowledge and ensuring broader societal impacts, such as improving STEM education, enhancing scientific literacy, and promoting diversity in STEM fields.

### Funding Scope and Use
NSF anticipates awarding approximately 10 grants per year, with a total annual budget of $8 million, pending the availability of funds. Awards may be standard or continuing grants. The program requires inclusion of funds for participation in annual Principal Investigator (PI) meetings, where researchers share advancements and foster collaborations. While proposals may include voluntary cost sharing, it is prohibited to include committed cost sharing.

### Eligibility and Priorities
Proposals are accepted from organizations identified in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), including universities, colleges, and nonprofit research institutions. There are no limits on the number of proposals submitted per organization or individual. Proposals must clearly articulate their relevance to astronomical research and address broader impacts, including accessibility to the U.S. astronomical community through open data or instrumentation.

### Submission Requirements
Full proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov and comply with the NSF PAPPG. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. The submission window opens annually from October 1 to November 15, with proposals due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time. Proposers should allocate sufficient time for proposal preparation, including a detailed budget, data management plan, and broader impacts statement.

### Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria: **Intellectual Merit** and **Broader Impacts**, as well as solicitation-specific criteria. These include the motivation for the proposed technology, its potential for innovation, and its benefits to the U.S. astronomy community. Additional consideration is given to projects that include effective technology outreach or plans for addressing project continuity in the event of personnel changes.

### Important Dates and Contacts
- **Submission Window:** October 1 – November 15 annually
- **Anticipated Awards Notification:** Approximately six months post-submission
- **Annual PI Meetings:** Typically held in September–October

Applicants are encouraged to consult NSF’s resources and reach out to program officers for guidance on proposal alignment and compliance. Further details are available on the NSF ATI program webpage or through direct inquiries to the program’s cognizant officer.