Setting Priorities for Large Research Facility Projects Supported by the National Science Foundation (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix F: NSF Background Materials
Appendix F: NSF Background Materials
Pages 195-206
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From page 195... ...
HEARING ON NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT OF LARGE FACILITIES1 Statement of Dr. Anita Jones, vice chair, National Science Board Before the House Committee on Science Subcommittee on Research, September 6, 2001 Chairman Smith, Ranking Minority Member Johnson, members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today.
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From page 196... ...
The National Science Board has two statutory roles: to serve as the governing board of the National Science Foundation, and to advise the Congress and the President on national policy issues for science and engineering research and education. Today, my comments will focus on the Board's role as governing board of the Foundation, specifically on our oversight and approval of the Foundation's support for large-scale research facilities.
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From page 197... ...
In recent years, the Foundation's portfolio of facilities has grown and diversified to include distributed projects and complex multidisciplinary projects like terascale computing systems and ocean observatories that challenge traditional management and oversight approaches. National Science Board's Oversight of Large Facility Projects The National Science Board plays a critical role in the oversight and approval of large NSF-supported facilities.
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From page 198... ...
The Major Research Equipment Account The Major Research Equipment (MRE) account is an agency-wide capital asset account used to fund major science and engineering infrastructure projects that cost far more than one program's budget could support.
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From page 199... ...
NSF Large Facility Projects Management and Oversight Plan As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Board began a dialogue with Foundation management about large facility issues more than a year and a half ago. Together, we have been discussing the improvement of the process for identifying candidate projects and for Foundation oversight of the management of construction and operation of such facilities.
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From page 200... ...
The Board will assess the Foundation's progress in refining and implementing the elements of the Plan, particularly to ensure the integrity of the evaluation and oversight of the financial and business aspects of the facility project throughout its life. · The implementation of the Plan will ensure that the Foundation, with Board oversight, has the policies and organization required for sound management of unique, complex, world-class research facilities.
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From page 201... ...
Many of these requests have been rated outstanding by research peers, program staff, management and policy officials, and the National Science Board. NSF's request for the MREFC Account fully funds the ongoing projects and the remaining three projects approved for funding by the National Science Board, but not yet funded, and positions the agency to meet the future needs and opportunities of the research community.
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From page 202... ...
FY 20022 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 Actual Request Request Request Request Request Request ONGOING PROJECTS ALMA Construction 12.50 30.00 50.84 49.67 48.84 47.89 46.49 EarthScope: USArray, SAFOD, PBO 35.00 45.00 54.26 40.00 23.00 High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research 35.00 25.53 IceCube Neutrino Observatory 10.12 60.00 33.40 34.30 35.30 36.30 Polar Aircraft Upgrades 0.89 Large Hadron Collider 16.90 9.72 Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation 24.40 13.56 8.00 National Ecological Observatories Network3 12.00 12.00 16.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 South Pole Station 15.55 6.00 0.96 Terascale Computing Systems 20.00 NEW STARTS Scientific Ocean Drilling 76.85 23.00 Rare Symmetry Violating Processes 30.00 42.66 44.00 Ocean Observatories 24.76 40.33 72.46 Totals $115.35 $126.28 $202.33 $230.18 $220.90 $209.18 $219.25 1Does not include funding provided for early concept and development or follow-on operations and maintenance. These funds are provided through the R&RA Account and are discussed in the following individual Activity narratives and the Tools section.
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From page 203... ...
The Broader Context In identifying new facility construction projects, the S&E community, in consultation with NSF, develops ideas, considers alternatives, explores partnerships, and develops cost and timeline estimates. By the time a proposal is submitted to NSF, these issues have been thoroughly examined.
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From page 204... ...
Only the highest rated proposals -- i.e., those that are rated outstanding on both criteria -- survive this process and are recommended to an MREFC Panel comprised of the Assistant Directors and Office heads, serving as stewards for their fields and chosen for their breadth of understanding, and chaired by the Deputy Director. The MREFC Panel uses a two-stage process.
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From page 205... ...
Project was ranked as the highest priority because delaying initiation of the project until FY 2006 would greatly impact this existing community of researchers, and because of the significant level of complementary international effort and planning that is already underway. This project will charter and modify a drill ship which will work in a new scientific program (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program [IODP]
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From page 206... ...
It was ranked third among the new start projects because it is not as urgent as SOD or RSVP, and again, for reasons of balance across scientific fields.
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