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National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC)

305-meter fixed, spherical reflector located in Arecibo, Puerto RicoWorld’s largest single-dish radio telescope and most powerful scientific radar systemUnique in its sensitivity for passive radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy, and ionospheric observations

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Passive Radio AstronomyArecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFA) serves as workhorse instrument for passive astronomy, particularly through large surveys, commissioned in 2005-06Addition in 2008 of 300-MHz BW Mock spectrometers and continued use of 100-MHz BW WAPP spectrometers allow “commensal” observing for three separate programs on each telescope pointingAvailability of 700-800 MHz spectral region (analog TV transmissions) exploited with preparation of suitable receiver and special call for proposals

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Low-Mass, Gas-Rich Galaxies

ALFALFA survey, 90% complete, has detected gas-rich galaxies over much larger volume than previously sampledMain form of baryonic matter is atomic gas instead of stars in many galaxies

HIPASS completeness limit

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NAIC Atmospheric Sciences

GEO/AGS considers Arecibo to be a critical component of the strategically distributed chain of incoherent scatter radars managed by the Upper Atmospheric Facilities Program AGS has historically supported incremental costs of NAIC Space and Atmospheric Sciences programAGS anticipates increases in annual support and flexible observing time, in part to offset AST reductionsCurrently constructing ionospheric heating facility in partnership with AFOSR and ONR

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Arecibo Role in NEO Surveys

Congress has mandated that NASA identify, track and characterize potentially hazardous near-earth objects (NEOs)NRC Report Defending Planet Earth: NEO Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies published in 2010Identifies unique role for Arecibo Observatory in characterization of NEOsIn FY 2010, NASA Near Earth Object Observation Program established support of $2.0M to NAIC expressly for planetary radar capabilities; agency intends to continue this level of support pending annual appropriations.

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Angel Ramos Visitor and Learning Center

About 100,000 visitors each year, including 25%-30% school childrenPrimary science learning center in Puerto RicoFeatures exhibits, science store, workshop facility for student and teacher trainingConstruction funded from private donations, most from within Puerto Rico; operates on self-sustaining basis

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NAIC Management and Operations (M&O)

NAIC oversight is provided by the Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) in coordination with the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS)

Current cooperative agreement with Cornell University for NAIC M&O expires 30 Sep 2011

NSF has solicited proposals for a new, five-year cooperative agreement for NAIC M&O through an open, competitive, merit-based review process

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Management StructureNSF coordination: AST oversees main cooperative agreement and all but

AGS award component AGS cooperative support agreement funds Space &

Atmospheric Sciences group Coordination with DACS, LFO, OGC, etc.

Cornell: Responsible Executive—VP for Research (Ithaca HQ) NAIC Director (Ithaca HQ) Observatory Site Director (Arecibo)

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NSF Oversight and Planning

Annual Progress Report and Program Plan—reviewed annually with site visit using external panelManagement Review at midpoint of cooperative agreementCornell convenes annual meetings of Visiting Committee and Users’ Committee—report to CornellSite Visits by NSF program managers and division managementWeekly to bi-weekly telecons with NAIC managementAST Senior Review, Decommissioning Study, Facility Cost Reviews

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Senior Review Recommendations for NAIC

Assessed NAIC astronomy program as very strong but lower priority relative to other astronomical facilities; identified among three facilities for reduced AST investmentTransition program for NAIC recommended three-year taper in AST support from $10.5M to $8.0M (in FY06$) Recommended further decrease after 2010 such that: AST support not to exceed half of the anticipated

operations costs NAIC seek partners to contribute financial or personnel

support to the operation of Arecibo Observatory Closure considered if NAIC unable to operate with

competitive scientific productivitySenior Review did not assess GEO/AGS science component

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Base NSF Support ($M)MPS/AST GEO/AGS Total

FY06 $10.46 $1.73 $12.2FY07 $10.46 $2.07 $12.5FY08 $10.45 $2.02 $12.5FY09 $9.60 $2.10 $11.7FY10 $8.40 $2.47 $10.9

FY11 Req $6.00 $3.00 $9.0Does not include REU, ARRA or other supplemental activities.

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Supplemental SupportSupplemental funding to NAIC has included one-time investments to reduce future operations costs and to address critical maintenance, safety and infrastructure: $2.4M in FY07 in partial support of re-coating project

to clean and protect structural steel $0.5M in FY08 to support NAIC Partnerships Office $3.1M in FY09 (ARRA) for safety, environmental

compliance and energy-efficiency improvements, transmitter refurbishment, and 12-m steerable antenna for VLBI and educational partnerships

Investments emphasize risk reduction, long-term viability and partnership-building consistent with Senior Review

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Future Support for NAIC

FY11–FY16 AST support is based upon: Senior Review recommendations Third-party cost review of AST facilities Third-party estimate of NAIC nonscientific

function costsAGS and AST will share support for general operationsCombined support from AST and AGS provides viable base for facility operations, albeit with reduced scope

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Future Support for NAIC

NAIC M&O Program Solicitation identified five-year budget guidance at a reduced level relative to historical operationsProgram solicitation did not prescribe budget allocations among research program areasNASA plans $2M annually for planetary radar, subject to appropriation

($M) FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 TotalAST $5.5 $5.0 $4.5 $4.0 $4.1 $23.

1ATM $3.2 $3.3 $3.5 $4.0 $4.1 $18.

1Total $8.7 $8.3 $8.0 $8.0 $8.2 $41.

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Management CompetitionProgram Solicitation NSF 10-562 published in April 2010Informational Site Visit for potential proposing organizations held at Arecibo Observatory in June 2010Required Letters of Intent due 2 August 2010Full proposals due 1 October 2010, currently under review with Director’s Review Board action anticipated in April 2011 Following recommendation and negotiation of an award and, if applicable, an appropriate transition plan, new cooperative agreement planned for award in early FY12

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Competition Complexities

Reconsideration of NAIC FFRDC statusRetention of staff and benefits if awardee changesStatus of Angel Ramos Visitor and Learning CenterAppropriate role for private-public partnerships, international agreements and cost sharingOpen skies and dedicated telescope timeTitle and transfer of property, plant and equipmentTransfer of current contracts and agreementsApplication of Defense Base Act requirements

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The Local ContextNAIC offers significant potential to: enhance the participation of underrepresented and

underserved communities within Puerto Rico in the research and education mission of the Observatory and

strengthen the strategic growth of a scientific and technically trained workforce both in the region and for the Nation

Solicitation aimed to leverage the scientific and educational capabilities of Arecibo Observatory through institutional partnerships, both within and beyond Puerto Rico

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Backups follow

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Pulsar J1903+0327Millisecond pulsar discovered in 2005 data from Arecibo Galactic pulsar survey of unprecedented sensitivityFollow-up observations combine multi-wavelength data from several NSF-supported facilities—NAIC, Gemini and NRAO—in an international research collaboration 2008 Science article reports unique combination of properties, which both challenges binary pulsar evolution theories and could constrain equation of state for nuclear matter at high densities: fast spin large mass mysteriously eccentric orbit unusual companion