ERCAP (Energy Research Computing Allocations Process) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Get your first allocation | NERSC Get your first allocation To become a NERSC user, you must either lead or help execute a research project that supports the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) . Most allocations of NERSC computer time and archival storage are awarded by DOE-SC and managed by NERSC. There is no monetary cost for using NERSC.

Awarded projects are given an allocation of computer time and a storage quota. Resource usage is charged against the project’s allocation, like a withdrawal from a bank account. Once the account is exhausted, users can no longer charge against this account.

DOE-SC’s six program offices allocate 80% of NERSC resources. Another DOE program, ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge , allocates 10%, and NERSC allocates the remaining 10% at its own discretion. The table below summarizes all the different programs.

DOE program managers make awards to support research within the six Office of Science Program Offices and the Office of Small Business Innovative Research. Most awards are given to research teams funded by the Office of Science, but all proposals performing research of interest to the Office of Science are considered.

ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge (ALCC) is operated by the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program office of the DOE-SC. Awards are meant to promote innovative research and use of HPC. The NERSC Director has a pool of time that the center uses at its discretion to support strategic, innovative, and challenging research.

NERSC awards small allocations, up to 250 CPU Node Hours, from its Director’s Reserve to support research projects that want to explore using HPC and for educational efforts to train the next-generation workforce. NERSC is the mission high performance computing facility for research conducted within the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

All interested researchers may apply for time at NERSC, but decisions for DOE mission science awards are made by DOE Office of Science program managers , with priority given to Office of Science-funded research. Researchers who are not funded by the Office of Science may apply, but they must demonstrate that their research is of interest to an Office of Science program.

The ALCC has its own separate proposal and award process that is not related to ERCAP. See the ALCC website for details. Director’s Discretionary Reserve (DDR) The DDR is not generally open to the public.

DDR allocations are usually tied to strategic initiatives and collaborations. Proposals are accepted through ERCAP , but prior arrangements with NERSC are required. Education and Exploratory NERSC users who are conducting classes in HPC may apply for Education awards.

Research projects that are new to NERSC and/or HPC may apply for small Exploratory awards, up to 250 node hours . This is a great vehicle for first-time PIs to try out NERSC resources. While NERSC makes the awards internally, we consult with DOE program managers to help assess the likelihood of receiving a Mission Science award.

Both Education and Exploratory proposals are submitted through the ERCAP process. Proposals (except those for ALCC) are submitted online through the ERCAP (Energy Research Computing Allocations Process) process. While DOE awards the majority of its Mission Science awards once a year, the ERCAP process is open year-round.

In particular, exploratory and educational allocation requests may be submitted at any time. DOE allocation managers can make Mission Science awards throughout the year so long as resources remain, but applying before the yearly deadline (early October) will ensure that your proposal is fully considered. The NERSC allocation year (AY) runs from mid-January to mid-January of the next year.

Exact dates will vary from year to year. NERSC will communicate each year’s deadlines by email and in the “ For Users ” section of the website.

Exploratory and Education Within 4 weeks of applying (pending DOE approval for Exploratory) (but must be renewed for the next allocation year) DOE Mission Science (DOE awarded) Within 4 weeks of applying (pending DOE approval and sufficient DOE reserves of time) Through end of of allocation year Pre-Allocation Year Request Period* mid-January to mid-January the following year (full allocation year; dates will vary) *New projects may apply at any time, but the majority of resources are distributed to requests submitted during the pre-allocation year submission period.

Get and manage your allocation If you're not already a NERSC user, you'll need a NERSC PI Account to access the allocation request form. Get your NERSC PI Account Email us at accounts@nersc. gov and we can reactivate your old account.

Get your old account back Get all the info you need on how to fill out NERSC's Allocation Request form. Learn who to contact about your allocation NERSC allocations are awarded and managed by different programs, many outside NERSC. Find your allocation manager