The "Formal Methods in the Field" (FMitF) program, as detailed in NSF 24-509, is a funding initiative by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aimed at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between formal methods researchers and other areas of computer and information science. The goal is to develop rigorous, reproducible methodologies for designing systems with provable guarantees of correctness. The program encourages joint efforts between experts in formal methods—mathematical and logical approaches to system specification, design, verification, and synthesis—and researchers from any applicable field within computer and information science.

The FMitF program supports three types of proposals. The first track, "Research Proposals," is intended for projects that make advances in both formal methods and an application area, requiring at least one PI from each field. These projects must develop methodologies with a strong evaluation plan, demonstrating potential applicability and impact on both disciplines. The second track, "Transition to Practice (TTP) Proposals," focuses on moving research prototypes into practical, operational environments, encouraging collaborations with industry or user communities. The third track, "Education Proposals," is designed to create educational resources that make formal methods more accessible, targeting underrepresented areas where formal methods education is limited.

The total anticipated funding for this program is $10.5 million annually, with about 18 awards expected per year, depending on the availability of funds. Research proposals (Track I) can request up to $1 million over four years, while TTP proposals (Track II) can receive up to $150,000 over two years. Education proposals (Track III) can receive up to $250,000 for up to three years. A key requirement for research proposals is a detailed collaboration plan, ensuring meaningful and ongoing interdisciplinary interaction.

Eligible applicants for this program include U.S.-based institutions of higher education and non-profit research organizations. Each proposal must include a PI or co-PI specializing in formal methods and another in the relevant application field. The program has specific limitations on the number of proposals per investigator, with no more than three proposals (one per track) allowed.

The deadline for submitting proposals for this solicitation is February 20, 2024, with annual deadlines on the third Tuesday of February thereafter. Proposals should be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Proposals will be evaluated based on intellectual merit, broader societal impacts, and additional criteria specific to each track, such as the strength of the collaboration plan and potential for advancing both formal methods and the application field. For education proposals, the focus will be on the development of accessible materials and dissemination to new communities.

This program provides a significant opportunity for researchers to address complex challenges in computing systems by integrating formal methods, offering a pathway to design systems that are correct by construction while advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications.