Continental Scientific Drilling Coordination Office for the Division of Earth Sciences

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) requests proposals from interested groups to support current and future continental scientific drilling activities.  We request proposals for the establishment of a Continental Scientific Drilling Coordination Office (CSDCO) that will help coordinate planning for continental scientific drilling projects, in collaboration with the Earth science community, and will have the capability to supply continental scientific drilling support and expertise for NSF-funded research.  

The CSDCO may work with the commercial drilling community or other drilling organizations to determine the type and availability of drilling services that may be available for NSF-funded scientific projects that require continental drilling.   The CSDCO, if requested by the PI of the scientific project, may assist with the development of requests for bids to provide the drilling services. The CSDCO is expected to play a proactive role in the community to encourage innovation in drilling technologies and methods in response to community needs and will help guide the development of new drilling designs as requested by the research community.

The successful proponent will be expected to manage drilling activities for the US scientific community, as needed.  Requirements for drilling activities will be derived both from long-range science plans developed by the community as well as research proposals funded by NSF.  We encourage collaborations with international partners such as the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and with scientists funded by other sources. The CSDCO will be capable of assisting in the planning and execution of all aspects of the drilling activities that EAR supports.

Interested parties must propose to this solicitation with a plan to provide for these services under a single award. The CSDCO award will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement with an anticipated duration of up to five-years beginning on October 1, 2013.  A mid-term management review will be required, which will guide a decision to re-compete or renew the Cooperative Agreement for up to a further five-year period.