ALMA Science Sustainability: Cycle 9 Call for NA Development Project Proposals

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) invites interested parties to submit proposals for Projects to Upgrade the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The call for proposals is open to the North American (NA) ALMA Operations Partnership, which is defined as the community of astronomers and scientists in related fields from NA ALMA partner countries.

The schedule for the Cycle 9 Call for NA Development Project Proposals was delayed by six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The date of issue for the Call for Proposals will be 15 January 2021. Project execution can only begin after adjudication at the November 2021 ALMA Board Meeting.

The ALMA Development Projects Implementation Plan will be available for review and describes the fundamental processes for project proposal and review. Projects will be funded for Cycle 9 in an integrated, multi-year award. Priority will be given to projects which align with the ALMA Development Roadmap (ALMA Memo 612).

Topics of particular interest to the NA ALMA Partnership include larger bandwidths and improved receiver sensitivity, such as would be provided by an upgraded correlator and receivers. Second Generation Correlator proposals must meet the specifications of the Correlator Working Group report, the first draft of which is expected by the proposal call date.

All proposals and resulting instrumentation must comply fully with ALMA standards for system interfaces, interoperability, and documentation. NRAO staff can help applicants develop plans or steer them toward relevant documentation, upon request and with sufficient notice.

If you are planning or even considering proposing in response to this call, you must file a Notice of Intent before 1 March 2021. In contrast to previous calls, submission of a Notice of Intent is mandatory.

Additional details will be released on 15 January 2021. The deadline for receiving proposals will be 9 April 2021.