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ESIP Lab Request for Proposals
Small grants with big impact. We provide funding for Earth science data, technology, and computing projects that make time for learning technical skills.
ESIP’s mission is to empower innovative use and stewardship of Earth science data to solve our planet’s greatest challenges. As part of that mission, this solicitation seeks proposals that enable broader adoption and effective utilization of AI/ML in geospatial.
Additionally, we encourage technical skill-building for awardees as part of their funded projects. By promoting learning within project solicitations, the ESIP Lab seeks to increase the collective technical savvy of the Earth science community and promote transparency about the job skills required to understand our changing planet.
Title: Democratizing Geospatial AI/ML RFP
Award: $20,000
Duration: Up to 9 months
Contact & Proposal Questions: lab@esipfed.org
Deadline: September 5, 2025
# of awards: Multiple
Priority Area - Democratizing AI/ML for Widespread Geospatial and Earth Science Adoption
This solicitation seeks proposals that empower broader adoption and effective utilization of AI/ML through:
- The development of practical user-friendly AI/ML tools, applications, or plug-ins that integrate AI/ML functionalities.
- Innovative educational and training resources or programs (e.g., workshops, online courses, tutorials) designed to enhance AI/ML literacy among Earth scientists, GIS professionals, and students at various career stages.
While proposals for novel software, frameworks, and resources will also be evaluated, given the provided budget and timeframe, this solicitation encourages prospective PIs to submit proposals that enhance existing software (including web apps and plug-ins) or learning resources within the priority areas. This includes, but isn’t limited to, adding new functionalities, improving usability and interpretability, or making other impactful contributions.
Although priority will be given to proposals addressing the bulleted topics above, we will also consider high-quality proposals related to:
- The extension of open-source software critical to collecting, distributing, accessing, fusing, or analyzing Earth science data.
- Eligibility
- General Selection Criterion
- Budget Guidance
Photo from NASA
- Anyone funded through the project must be authorized to work in the U.S.
- The individual responsible for carrying out the project should write the application and be listed as the Principal Investigator.
- Project start dates should be a minimum of three months after the submission deadline.
- The Principal Investigator is not part of ESIP’s elected leadership.
- The Principal Investigator has not been funded through ESIP in the past year.
- Civil servants are eligible to serve as a PI or Co-I but are restricted from receiving ESIP funds.
Photo from NASA
- Overall Impact: What is the likelihood that the project outcomes will lead to new knowledge, usable technology, or follow-on funding?
- Objectives: Does the proposal include both technical and learning objectives?
- Significance: Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to addressing climate change and community resilience?
- Approach: Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented?
- Innovation: Does the project use creative problem-solving or novel approaches?
- Collaboration: Is the project collaborative between institutions or agencies?
- Overall Research Plan: Does the proposal describe a sound technical approach? Is the project design and methodology feasible?
- Budget: Does the budget reflect an appropriate use of resources to complete the project in a timeline consistent with the proposal outline?
Photo from NASA
ESIP pays out awards based on deliverables (acknowledging that salary and hardware are needed to complete those deliverables). When you structure your project budget, include the tasks to be completed and the projected cost:
- Correct Formatting: Deliverable 1: Build a community weather dashboard to view current daily temperature and 30-year temperature normals and year-to-date precipitation = $5000
- Incorrect Formatting: 80 hrs salary at $50/hr = $4000 | Purchase computer = $1000
ESIP does not pay indirect costs in addition to the budget for deliverables.
The ESIP Lab can provide access to AWS cloud services for your project, and these costs won’t need to be included in your project budget. Please reach out to ESIP to discuss the details and how we can support your project.
In your proposal, please provide a plan detailing:
- Which AWS cloud services you’ll need.
- How these services will contribute to your project’s success.
You can keep any cloud instances active for the initial duration of your project. However, please include a plan to migrate or turn off these instances within one year of your project’s completion.
While we recommend using AWS due to the sponsored services, you are not required to use AWS. If you prefer another cloud provider, the costs for those services must be included in your overall project budget.
How to Apply
- Please use this template to create your proposal then submit the PDF.
- Proposals may be submitted up to September 5, 2025.
- For questions regarding eligibility or proposal scope, please contact staff@esipfed.org.
NOTE: Proposals are open and may be published on the ESIP Lab website if your project is accepted.