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FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 26: February 13, 2003

FY 2004 NSF Request: Major Research Equipment; US Polar Programs

MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION:

The Bush Administration is requesting an increase in the FY 2004 Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) budget of 
60.2%, or $76.1 million, as compared to the FY 2003 request.  The 
$202.3 million request is 75.4% higher than the account's FY 2002 
budget.  As previously explained, the FY 2003 appropriations bill for 
the National Science Foundation has not been enacted.

Considerable congressional attention was devoted to this program last 
year, and the new authorization law for the foundation set forth a 
number of new requirements.  The budget request provides detailed 
information regarding this account, running 54 pages long.  Below are 
selections from the budget request document, as well as funding 
numbers for "first priority" and "second priority"
projects.  Please 
see http//:www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2004/toc.htm for additional 
information; this section begins on page 359.

The document states:

"The MREFC Account supports the implementation of major research 
facilities and equipment that provide unique capabilities at the 
frontiers of science and engineering. Implementation projects 
supported by this account are intended to extend the boundaries of 
technology and open new avenues for discovery for the science and 
engineering community. Initial concept and development, and follow on 
operations and maintenance costs of the facilities are provided 
through the Research and Related Activities (R&RA)."

"Among Federal agencies, NSF plays a major role in providing the 
academic (non-medical) research community with access to forefront 
instrumentation and facilities. In recent years, NSF has received an 
increased number of requests for major research facilities and 
equipment from the S&E community.  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 
[NSB], but not yet funded, and positions the agency to meet the future 
needs and opportunities of the research community.

"Once a project has been submitted for MREFC funding, it must undergo 
a multi-phase review and approval process. The process begins with a 
review by the MREFC Panel, which makes recommendations to the NSF 
Director with attention to criteria such as scientific merit, 
importance, readiness and cost-benefit. The Director then selects 
candidates for National Science Board (NSB) consideration. The NSB 
then approves, or not, projects for inclusion in future budget 
requests and establishes priorities. The Director selects from the 
group of NSB-approved projects those appropriate for inclusion in a 
budget request to OMB, and after discussion with OMB, to the Congress.

" In order for a project to be considered for MREFC funding, NSF 
requires that it represent an exceptional opportunity that enables 
research and education. In addition, the project should be 
transformative in nature, in that it should have the potential to 
shift the paradigm in scientific understanding and/or infrastructure 
technology. NSF believes that all the projects included in this Budget 
Request meet these criteria.

"As a general framework for priority-setting, NSF assigned priority to
projects based on the following criteria:

"First Priority: Ongoing Projects - Projects where outyear funding for 
the full project has already been included in a Budget Request to 
Congress, and projects that have received initial funding for startup

"Second Priority: NSB-Approved New Starts - New projects that have 
received NSB approval for inclusion in a budget request but which have 
not yet been included in a budget request or received funding.

"NSF believes that the highest priority within the MREFC Account must 
be the current projects. To that end, highest priority in FY 2004 is 
to continue to request funding for:" (All figures in Millions)

ALMA Construction: FY04 request - $50.8; FY03 request - $30.0;
 FY02 actual - $12.5
Earthscope: FY04 request - $45.0; FY03 request - $35.0
HIAPER Aircraft - FY04 request - $25.5; FY02 actual - $35.0
IceCube Neutrino Observatory: FY04 request - $60.0; FY02 actual
 - $10.1
Network for Earthquake Eng.: FY04 request - $8.0; FY03 request:$13.6;
 FY02 - $24.4
NEON: FY04 request: $12.0; FY03 request - $12.0
South Pole Station: FY04 request - $1.0; FY03 request - $6.0; FY02 
 actual - $15.6

The document also states: "In addition, three new starts are requested 
in FY 2005 and FY 2006.  In priority order, these are: Scientific 
Ocean Drilling in FY 2005; Rare Symmetry Violating Processes in FY 
2006: and Ocean Observatories in FY 2006."

The NSF is not requesting FY 2004 funding for the Large Hadron 
Collider since the foundation's contribution should be fulfilled with 
FY 2003 funding.

U.S. POLAR RESEARCH PROGRAMS:

The Bush Administration is requesting an increase in the FY 2004 U.S. 
Polar Research Programs budget of 11.1%, or $26.1 million, as compared 
to the FY 2003 request.  The $261.9 million request is13.6% higher 
than the activity's FY 2002 budget.  As previously explained, the FY 
2003 appropriations bill for the National Science Foundation has not 
been enacted.

There are five components to this program.  Details on each can be 
found beginning on page 321 in the budget submission to Congress at
http//:www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2004/toc.htm :

Arctic Research Program: The FY 2004 request of $40.8 million is 7.7%, 
or $2.9 million, over the FY 2003 request.  This is an increase of 
13.6%, or $4.9 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Arctic Research Support and Logistics: The FY 2004 request of $29.0 
million is 11.5%, or $3.0 million, over the FY 2003 request.  This is 
an increase of 5.1%, or $1.4 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Arctic Research Commission: The FY 2004 request of $1.2 million is 
10.2%, or $0.1 million, over the FY 2003 request.  This is an increase 
of 16.7%, or $0.2 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Antarctic Research Grants Program: The FY 2004 request of $44.2 
million is 9.3%, or $3.8 million, over the FY 2003 request.  This is 
an increase of 10.9%, or $4.3 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Antarctic Operations and Science Support:  The FY 2004 request of 
$146.7 million is 12.5%, or $16.3 million, over the FY 2003 request.  
This is an increase of 16.3%, or $20.6 million, over the FY 2002 
budget.

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Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi{at}aip.org
(301) 209-3094
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