The Great Lakes provide drinking water, transportation corridors, fisheries, recreation opportunities, and ecosystem services that support millions of people throughout the region. Understanding and predicting changes in Great Lakes ecosystems requires observations that extend throughout the year. However, the existing Great Lakes observing network collects limited over-winter data because many observing platforms are seasonally operated. As a result, critical information is lacking during late fall, winter, and early spring, reducing our ability to support commercial shipping and fisheries, understand ice processes and seasonal ecosystem dynamics, evaluate climate-driven changes, and develop and validate forecasting tools.
To address these challenges, the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is soliciting proposals to support the development, deployment, and operation of technologies and observing approaches that improve year-round monitoring of the ecological health of the Great Lakes.
Successful projects will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable Great Lakes observing system by expanding observational coverage, supporting forecasting capabilities, informing management decisions, and improving understanding of changing ecosystem conditions.
GLOS can support funding of governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and for-profit organizations based in the United States. GLOS expects to fund 3 projects, up to two years in duration, with the expectation that awardees will:
- Collaborate with GLOS team members to ensure adequate transfer to GLOS of any data, outcomes, tools, and/or other pertinent information produced with the support of the award,
- Allow access throughout the project to pertinent information and data, and
- Disclose in writing equipment purchases of more than $10,000.
Cost-sharing and/or in-kind contributions are highly encouraged but not required. GLOS reserves the right to request additional information from applicants prior to making an award.
Find all details in the full Request for Proposals*.
Proposal submittal should be sent electronically as a single PDF attachment to proposals@glos.org.
Proposals are due by COB (5pm ET) August 10, 2026.
*Updated version as of July 23, 2026. Main document requirements adjusted for clarity.
FAQ
Does the 6 page proposal limit apply to the supporting materials (CV's and letters of support)?
No, the 6 page limit applies only to Project Description and Personnel contributions.
Is a CV required for each person on the budget or just the Principal Investigator?
The Principal Investigator is the only person required to provide a resumé. If there is a sub-award component, the lead from the proposed sub-awardee organization should also provide a CV. If there are any project components where an additional CV is useful to show experience, they are welcomed.
Does GLOS have priority locations or geographic regions within the Great Lakes basin where additional year-round observations would provide the greatest benefit?
We have no priority locations within the basin.
Is GLOS more interested in demonstrating commercially available technologies in new applications or in developing entirely new observing technologies?
Both. We are looking to demonstrate technology that has high success of delivering data reliably and that could be adopted by others.
The review considerations mention “including long-term sustainability of projects where applicable.” What does this mean?
This refers to proposals that are developing a new technology and the ability to be adopted by other groups (if relevant) and/or survive for multiple winter seasons.
Will there be a preference towards solutions that provide real-time data to Seagull? Or would a solution involving internally logged data retrieved after the shoulder and winter seasons be equally valuable?
Projects that have potential to contribute meaningful data to address the ‘Topics of Interest’ will be considered as equally valuable. If the project requires near real-time data to be successful, then it should address that.
What are the review criteria?
GLOS will be utilizing the following rubric for reviewing submissions:
- The proposed work will meaningfully contribute to the greater Great Lakes science, process understanding and/or observing technology enterprises for year-round or winter contributions (10 points).
- The approach is technically and scientifically sound, and includes long-term sustainability considerations where applicable (10 points).
- The proposed budget and timeline for project execution are appropriate (5 points).
- The project team engaged relevant stakeholders and end users to ensure outcomes will be impactful. (5 points)
- The proposed project data, tools, or other pertinent outcomes are able to be integrated at GLOS for public use (3 points).
- Qualifications of applicants (2 points)