2026-03-23 - NSF ACO Meeting Agenda & Summary

Decisions made during the meeting:

Weekly ACO–NSF Meeting Structure  

Items highlighted in blue are instructions for each section.

1. Joint Program Updates (10 min) 

   1. ACO Program Updates (5 min) - John Towns
      Section content instructions: High-level summary of what changed since last week. 
      Metrics snapshot (usage, staffing, financials). 

      1. Use of foreign-sourced AI models: John has initiated conversation with Illinois' research security and compliance staff. They did not have an immediate response. Awaiting further word from them.

      2. Staffing Report - no change

      3. Financials - Updated spreadsheet - does not have summer school or forecasted expenses for meetings and conferences
         
         

         Open

         

          

   2. NSF Updates (5 min) 
      Section content instructions: NSF perspective: relevant program, agency, or portfolio updates
      Any context that may affect ACCESS or ACO operations.

      1.  
         
         

2. NSF Action Items - (5 min) https://access-ci.atlassian.net/jira/core/projects/ATT/list?sortBy=duedate&direction=ASC&filter=status%20in%20(%22To%20Do%22%2C%20In-Progress)%20AND%20%22Category%5BCategory%5D%22%20in%20(Original-PEP%2C%20PY3-PEP-WBS-5%2C%20PY3-PEP-WBS-4%2C%20PY3-PEP-WBS-3%2C%20PY3-PEP-WBS-2%2C%20PY3-PEP-WBS-1%2C%20%22NSF%20Meeting%20To%20Do%22)

   1. Meeting tasks

   2. Upcoming PEP Tasks
      Nothing until April
      
      

      

       

3. Carryover Action Items (5 min) 
   Section content instructions: Review prior week’s decisions & commitments. 
   Confirm closed vs. still open.
   Note blockers. 

   1. none

4. Critical Status & Red Items (10 min) 
   Section content instructions: Current or Overdue Tasks (top 3–5)
   Owner quick updates + path to resolution. 
   NSF input requested if escalation/decision is needed. 

   1. none

5. Program Spotlight (15 min)  -
   Section content instructions: Brief look at one priority area each week (e.g., risk, staffing, allocations, milestones). 
   Goal: share context and keep alignment at the program level. 
   Detailed work continues in ACO team meetings — this time is for big-picture feedback.  

   1. Annual Review

      1. PY4 - QTR4 Report Due Apr 13, 2026

      2. What is the planning for the annual review for ACCESS/ACO

      3. Do the same as last year

         1. no full panel - site visit

         2. 2 hour meeting - 20 mins for us talking about what we did last year - 40 mins for what plans are for PY 5 and an hour of discussion

            1. Could use the 40 mins for YR5 to talk about things that might not be needed

         3. Last year it was Puri, Bob Chadduck and Sharon - this year program directors are scarce

         4. This year it may be Sharon and Bob

         5. Idea is to make sure we can point out some things she might not have heard from the year

         6. Plans for next year - spends are already authorized so there is no monetary ties to this

         7. This gives is a chance to see if PEP needs updated

         8. Opportunity for discussion

         9. She can then see if she can see cross ties between teams

         10. Would like it to be close to Apr 30, 2026- earlier is better

         11. Send her any major blackout dates - she already has quite a few blackout dates - should have a couple spots open for us

             1. give her dates from April 16 to end of June dates - could use this hour and an hour before and after if it helps

             2. has to be before PEARC - technically she is supposed to go to PEARC

      4. Is Ed still involved with us?

         1. things did change a bit - he would be her first choice but they did have a restructuring

         2. Rotators/IPA, people who are remote can no longer supervise Feds

         3. Ed is now supervisor of a group of feds

         4. He is the only cognizant program director for LCCF

         5. She will keep us posted

      5. Do we have any guidance for what happens after year 5

         1. Not yet
            
            

6. Wrap-Up: Next Steps & Action Items (2–3 min) 
   Section content instructions: Confirm owners + deadlines. 
   Recap today’s decisions. - Today's Decisions (top of the agenda)
   Identify materials NSF expects before the next meeting. 

Additional Discussion

• Using foreign sourced AI models - Cybersecurity is looking into the issue

  • Will report back when John hears something

• Dina - every 3 months we send story links to comms at NSF - she sends and she is not sure if they are picked up - but Kim did notice that the NSF news letter did pick up one of our articles

  • https://www.nsf.gov/science-matters/supercomputers-powering-american-discovery?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

  • Sharon - has shared Quarterly Slides PPTs with Katie A and others at NSF and ACCESS Homepage for stories - they really like them - has had good feedback

  • John suggested instead of links - we could provide a QR code in case of in a situation where someone could use their phone to scan it

Next Meeting: Apr 6, 2026 next meeting