Guidelines : Annual Facility Call

Please note: The deadline to submit preliminary proposals for the fiscal year 2024 (FY2024) call has now passed. Below is information from the FY2024 call.

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science, is now accepting preliminary proposals from scientists to deploy an ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) for field campaigns to support the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program’s interests in advancing the fundamental understanding of atmospheric processes to improve regional and global earth system models. This announcement applies to applications to use either the first or second ARM Mobile Facility (AMF1 or AMF2) for deployments starting in spring/summer 2026.

Applicants will be expected to make comprehensive use of the ARM facility, focus on strategic goals of the DOE BER program, and clearly indicate the value of the proposed AMF observations for improving earth system models. Proposals that support the scientific goals of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), the Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) project, and/or the Global Precipitation EXperiment (GPEX) are encouraged.

AMF1 is expected to be available for a domestic campaign starting in April 2026. AMF2 is expected to be available for domestic, international, or ship-based campaigns starting in July 2026. Exact campaign start dates will depend on location, details of the proposed campaign, complexity of the proposed deployment, availability of appropriated funds, and ARM logistical constraints. Applicants may only request deployment of a single AMF, and it should be clearly stated in their preproposals if their proposed campaign dates are flexible.

The ARM Infrastructure Management Board (IMB) will review preproposals for relevance to ARM goals, logistical feasibility, and safety/security concerns of the proposed location. Applicants will be informed whether their preproposals are encouraged for a full proposal.

• Preproposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on February 9, 2024.
• Encourage/discourage decisions will be sent to applicants by March 8, 2024.
• Full proposals from encouraged applicants will be due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 19, 2024.

Preproposals must:

• be submitted through the online field campaign proposal form
• summarize the scientific goals of the proposed campaign
• explain the relevance of the proposed campaign to ARM/BER
• provide a brief description of the proposed campaign plan
• identify the proposed location and campaign dates.

• Proposals may only request the deployment of a single AMF.
• Each proposal may request a main AMF site plus one supplemental site. ARM will not support requests for additional supplemental sites.
• The ARM instruments available for deployment and whether they may be requested at the main or supplemental sites are listed in this document. Full proposals should prioritize ARM instrumentation requests and clearly link them to proposed science goals.
• AMF deployments are generally for periods of 6–12 months. Proposals requesting longer deployments must include strong science justification for the extended deployment period.
• The ARM tethered balloon system and aerial capabilities may NOT be requested as part of this solicitation. Separate calls for these capabilities are expected to be released.

Please note that for successful proposals, ARM provides the operational and logistical resources to conduct the proposed campaign; however, ARM does not provide research funding associated with the campaign.

Principal investigators (PIs) should demonstrate in their proposal that funding for research has already been secured or that a research grant is being submitted. For pending research grants, please indicate which funding agency or BER science program is being contacted to support research associated with the campaign. If the PI anticipates requesting funding from a BER science program, they should contact the appropriate BER science program manager to discuss potential support before submitting their ARM proposal.

PIs are encouraged to contact BER ARM Program Manager Sally McFarlane with any questions or concerns about research funding associated with ARM campaigns.

• Read the ARM Field Campaign Guidelines for an overview of processes and requirements, the full proposal format, and the review criteria.
• Watch the recorded January 2024 field campaign processes webinar.
• For help writing a successful proposal, read this 2020 ARM article containing five tips from campaign PIs.
• Submit questions regarding this call through the Ask Us link (select “Campaigns and Accessing ARM Facilities” under the “I need help with…” dropdown menu).