The National Science Foundation is making up to $40 million available through a new program for building secure, sustainable open-source software ecosystems, with the first full proposals due Sept. 1.
NSF's Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems program, or PESOSE, has three tracks. A proposal-preparation webinar is scheduled online for Aug. 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern.
Track 1 offers planning awards of up to $300,000. NSF estimates about 30 awards in that track, aimed at governance, community design and preparation for larger ecosystem work.
Tracks 2 and 3 offer awards of up to $1.5 million. Track 2 is for establishing or expanding an ecosystem, while Track 3 focuses on safety, security and privacy improvements; NSF estimates roughly 10 awards in each.
Eligible lead organizations include accredited U.S. two- and four-year institutions and certain U.S. nonprofit organizations. The solicitation requires an existing, publicly available open-source software project rather than a plan to open a wholly private product later.
Each proposal has one lead organization, though subawards are allowed. Track 1 and Track 2 awardees must participate in the NSF I-Corps program, and voluntary committed cost sharing is not allowed.
The Sept. 1 deadline is 5 p.m. in the submitting organization's local time. NSF lists a second target date of March 2, 2027, which gives prospective teams another cycle but does not extend the September round.
The award counts and $40 million total are estimates contingent on proposals, review and available funds. Meeting the eligibility rules or joining the webinar does not guarantee an award.