Intensive Operational Period (IOP) Request, Approval, and Implementation Process

An Intensive Operational Period is a research activity, which is proposed, planned, and implemented at one or more research sites. The fixed and mobile sites are collectively referred to as the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) and include:

• Southern Great Plains
• Tropical Western Pacific
• North Slope of Alaska
• ARM Mobile Facility (AMF)
• Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle (UAV).

Note: The UAV is a platform that can be used to support experiments at the fixed sites, in conjunction with the mobile site, or in support of other research activities independent of the ACRF.

For more information regarding ACRF, please see http://www.arm.gov.

Proposals for an IOP can originate with any scientist proposing research directly related to the ACRF Mission Statement.

To learn more about the process, see the Intensive Operational Period (IOP) Request, Approval, and Implementation Process flowchart. The following numbered paragraphs refer to the numbered blocks in the flowchart.

1.0) The Scientist submits a “preproposal” to summarize the scope and intent of the research (a 1-2 page description), including the ACRF sites that are, or could be, involved and the collaborating research institutions. Relevancy to the ARM or ACRF missions should be noted.

2.0) Preproposals are recorded by the ACRF Administrator and communicated to the Infrastructure Management Board (IMB), the ARM Chief Scientist, and relevant Site Scientists. An assessment of the experiment is made that includes the possible participation between fixed sites, the AMF, and the UAV. Experiment assessments include costs, relevance, and schedule; thereby resulting in a determination of impact. The ACRF Science Liaison, a member of the IMB, will communicate the results of the assessment to the proposing scientist.

3.0) When a preproposal is accepted, the scientist is invited to submit a “full proposal” that includes:

• Proposal abstract, that is no longer than one page
• Science plan
• Proposed schedule
• Description of the support requested from the relevant site
• Detailed budget.

4.0) The full proposal is routed to the ACRF Science Liaison, who initiates the IOP review process. The review process has two primary dimensions--a science review, performed by the ACRF Science Board, and a review of costs, logistics, and schedule, performed by the IMB. The ACRF Science Liaison facilitates these communications, including the involvement of relevant Lead Scientists. This process is tracked and recorded by the ACRF Administrator.

5.0) The IMB provides an analysis of the IOP to refine and communicate costs, logistics (local, national, international), schedule, and other impacts associated with the implementation. In performing this step, the IMB communicates with the Science Liaison, Science Board, and relevant Lead Scientists as required.

6.0) The ACRF Science Board was established to review proposals for use of the ACRF. The Science Board will coordinate with the IMB to assess the availability and requirements of resources for the proposed Facility usage. An important consideration is how well the proposed IOP ( i.e., experiment) facilitates discovery-based research relevant to the ACRF Mission Statement.. The final recommendations of the Science Board are communicated to the appropriate DOE Program Manager.

7.0) The appropriate DOE Program Manager, ARM and/or UAV, reviews the recommendations from the Science Board and communicates acceptance or rejection rationale to the Science Liaison. The Science Liaison communicates the disposition of the full proposal to the proposing Scientist and the IMB.

8.0) Approved IOPs and experiments are planned, tracked, and implemented by the IMB.