NSF "Dear Colleague" letters
These are letters that represent funding augmentation to regular programs. Their purpose is to encourage interdisciplinary research, or topics not otherwise covered specifically by NSF programs. You must submit to an existing program (on its corresponding deadline), but in many cases a secondary program is necessary or encouraged (read the rules for specifics). Your proposal may address more than one "Dear Colleague" augmentation.

-Multiscale Modeling 
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09032/nsf09032.jsp
-Emerging Topics in Biogeochemical Cycles (ETBC)
 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09030/nsf09030.jsp
-Life in Transition 
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08078/nsf08078.jsp
-Microbial Systems in the Biosphere 
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08077/nsf08077.jsp
-Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD)
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08070/nsf08070.jsp

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
ARLINGTON, VA, October 29, 2009—The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) is seeking to fund environmental research and development proposals.  SERDP is DoD’s environmental science and technology program, planned and executed in partnership with DOE and EPA.  The Program invests across the broad spectrum of basic and applied research, as well as exploratory development.  SERDP pursues solutions to DoD’s most intractable environmental problems.  Advances in the understanding and management of DoD’s resources support the long-term sustainability of training and testing ranges and facilities.  Innovative environmental technologies significantly reduce current and future environmental liabilities.
 
Proposals responding to focused Statements of Need (SON) in the following areas are requested:
 
Environmental Restoration — innovative technologies for the detection, characterization, containment, and remediation of a wide range of contaminants in soil, sediments, and water.
Munitions Management — advanced geophysical sensor and signal processing technologies for the detection, classification, and remediation of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and technologies for range clearance and reduced generation of UXO.
Sustainable Infrastructure — research to advance DoD’s environmental management of its natural resources and to understand the impacts of climate change.
Weapons Systems and Platforms — advanced alternative environmentally benign technologies and materials that reduce, control, or eliminate the waste and emissions associated with the manufacturing, maintenance, and use of DoD weapons systems and platforms.
 
Proposals responding to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 SONs will be selected through a competitive process.  Separate solicitations are available to federal and non-federal proposers.  The SONs and detailed instructions for federal and private sector proposers are available on the SERDP web site at www.serdp.org/funding.
 
The Core SERDP Solicitation provides funding in varying amounts for multi-year projects.  FOR THE CORE SOLICITATION, PRE-PROPOSALS FROM THE NON-FEDERAL SECTOR ARE DUE BY THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2010.  PROPOSALS FROM THE FEDERAL SECTOR ARE DUE BY THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010.
 
SERDP also will be funding environmental research and development through the SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) Solicitation.  The SEED Solicitation is designed to provide a limited amount of funding (not to exceed $150,000) for projects up to one year in duration to investigate innovative approaches that entail high technical risk and/or require supporting data to provide risk reduction or proof of concept.  ALL SEED PROPOSALS ARE DUE BY THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010.

Full announcement