The National Science Foundation invites proposals from U.S.-based institutions to advance scientific research on the Arctic region. This solicitation, issued by the Arctic Sciences Section in the Office of Polar Programs within the Directorate for Geosciences, aims to enhance understanding of Arctic natural, social, and environmental systems, particularly in light of rapid climate and societal changes. The program encourages interdisciplinary research that examines the Arctic’s connectivity to global systems and its impact on broader scientific, economic, and social concerns. Research priorities align with the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee's five-year plan, ensuring coordination with federal Arctic research efforts.

Eligible applicants include U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities with strong research capabilities, tribal governments, and certain foreign organizations in cooperative projects with U.S. institutions. The program imposes no limits on the number of proposals per organization or principal investigator. However, proposals that involve federal agencies or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers must obtain prior NSF approval.

Funding is available for six primary research areas: Arctic Natural Sciences, Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Science, Arctic Observing Network, Polar Cyberinfrastructure, and Arctic Research Coordination and Policy Support. Proposals should focus on fundamental, process-oriented, or systems-level research to improve predictive modeling and understanding of Arctic environmental, social, and geophysical processes. Research should also consider ethical issues, community engagement, and data-sharing requirements, particularly when working with Arctic Indigenous communities. Some programs encourage projects that integrate Indigenous knowledge with scientific methodologies.

The NSF anticipates funding 75 to 80 awards annually, depending on the availability of funds, with an estimated total budget of 50 million dollars per year. Awards are expected to be standard or continuing grants. Researchers may request logistical support for fieldwork through the Arctic Research Support and Logistics Services program, which facilitates field operations, environmental compliance, and coordination with Arctic communities. Special funding mechanisms are available for research networking activities, large project support, and planning grants for interdisciplinary collaborations.

Applications must comply with NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and should be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Key components include a project summary, data management plan, a plan for safe and inclusive working environments for fieldwork, and, if applicable, letters of collaboration from community-based organizations. Special attention is given to merit review criteria, including intellectual merit, which evaluates the scientific contribution, and broader impacts, which assess societal benefits, STEM workforce diversity, and public engagement.

Submission deadlines vary by research area. For Arctic Natural Sciences and Arctic Social Sciences, proposals are due annually on January 15. For all other Arctic programs, proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Awards are subject to NSF's standard grant conditions, and awardees must comply with reporting requirements, including annual progress reports and final project summaries. Proposals requiring significant logistical support should plan for field deployment at least 12 months post-award to allow for proper coordination.

For further details, applicants are encouraged to contact NSF program officers and refer to the full solicitation on the NSF website.