Building Sustainable Software Tools for Open Science (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to enhance the sustainability and impact of research software tools by enabling the use of best practices and design principles in software development and by leveraging continuing advances in computing. It is also expected to facilitate the creation of vibrant partnerships between developers and users of software and tools, and to promote FAIR practices for research software to maximize research value.

Grant Details
Investigators often produce innovative, scientifically valuable software tools that are essential for scientists to use and interpret biomedical, clinical, behavioral, social, and health-related research data. Much of this valuable software, however, has been built and supported under conditions that are not optimal in a rapidly changing technical and scientific landscape. The traditional grant funding process has emphasized innovation for research progress over the use of robust software engineering practices that have become essential for generating reliable, efficient, and scalable software tools in an era of large-scale data and integrated data analytics. The goal of this NOFO is to enhance the sustainability and impact of research software tools by enabling the use of best practices and design principles in software development.

The program will support efforts that address robustness, sustainability, reusability, portability, and scalability of existing biomedical, clinical, behavioral, social, and health-related research software tools and workflows of recognized scientific value.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), local governments, state governments, federal agencies or eligible agencies of the federal government, U.S. territories or possessions, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply.

Period of Performance
The project duration can be up to two years. The earliest start date is December 4th, 2024 with applications due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

The period of performance extends until December 5th, 2026.

Grant Value
The NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) intends to commit up to $6 million in FY25 to fund 20-24 awards. The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $300,000 with no more than $200,000 direct costs requested in any single year.