Infrastructure Cluster
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and universities conducting infrastructure research in atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences.
Applicants must be higher education institutions, research universities, or recognized research organizations. Projects should advance scientific infrastructure or equipment that supports geosciences research.
The grant supports infrastructure planning, development, and acquisition. Activities include facility upgrades, research equipment, computational resources, and shared research infrastructure.
Awards are available nationally to eligible institutions with research capacity in atmospheric, earth, or ocean sciences.
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Program description
AGS Infrastructure Cluster
The Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) Infrastructure Cluster (IC) is responsible for the oversight of facilities that enable research in the atmospheric and geospace sciences. The IC primarily oversees the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), but it also supports community-based instrumentation and facilities, and data storage and provisioning.
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Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NSF Standard Grant Form (NSFGOV form or Grants.gov equivalent)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letter
- Biographies of Key Personnel
- Letters of Collaboration (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4261
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.050 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$640,746,599
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$399,999,980
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$220,735,035
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$106,638,563
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$82,550,071
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$74,280,323
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$73,335,203
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$68,622,497
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$64,462,832
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$63,916,877
Top States by Funding
- TX 4 awards $689.8M
- MA 16 awards $667.5M
- OR 5 awards $452.4M
- CA 12 awards $286.7M
- NY 7 awards $217.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.050). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,009,920,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,013,630,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $374,350 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the Infrastructure Cluster grant?
Universities, colleges, and research institutions eligible for NSF funding can apply. Your institution must have research capacity in atmospheric, earth, or ocean sciences.
What types of projects are funded?
The grant supports infrastructure projects including equipment acquisition, facility upgrades, and shared research resources. Planning and feasibility studies for infrastructure are also eligible.
How often can I apply?
NSF typically accepts proposals on a rolling or recurring basis. Check the latest program announcement for current deadlines and submission windows.
Is there a specific award amount?
Award sizes vary based on project scope and infrastructure needs. Review recent awards or contact NSF program officers for typical funding ranges.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong applications demonstrate clear research need, broader impacts for the scientific community, institutional commitment, and realistic budgets. Letters of support strengthen proposals.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your infrastructure needs with NSF priorities in geosciences. Show how the project advances research quality across multiple labs or institutions.
- Highlight broader impacts beyond your institution. Explain how the infrastructure benefits the wider research community and workforce development.
- Include letters of support from collaborating institutions or research centers. Demonstrate institutional commitment through matching funds or in-kind contributions.
- Propose realistic timelines and budgets. Infrastructure projects require careful planning; show detailed cost analysis and procurement schedules.
- Connect your infrastructure investment to specific research questions or disciplines. Avoid generic requests without clear scientific justification.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Lack of clear scientific justification. Applicants propose infrastructure without explaining how it advances specific research goals. Underestimating project scope or timeline. Infrastructure projects often face delays; padding timelines shows realism. Ignoring broader impacts. NSF requires clear benefits beyond your institution.
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