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In 2014, the LSST:UK consortium submitted to PPRP a proposal that outlined a baseline programme for the LSST:UK Science Centre (LUSC) - the STFC-funded activity in support of UK participation in what is now the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) - and made a specific request for the funding for the first tranche of funding (Phase A), covering initial preparatory work in the period 2015-2019. PPRP subsequently considered the proposal for Phase B (2019-2023) and now it is time to prepare the proposal for Phase C (1/4/23-31/3/27).
The original baseline programme envisaged funding for two strands of PPRP-funded activity, namely LUSC-DAC (preparation and operation of a UK Data Access Centre for hosting, and enabling analysis of, LSST data) and LUSC-DEV (development of software leading to what are now called User-generated Products), plus associated management effort. Both LUSC-DAC and LUSC-DEV were designed to maximise UK scientific return from STFC investment in LSST data rights, which were originally expected to be provided through a subscription model for international partners.
In 2019, the US funding agencies announced that international partners would obtain data rights by making in-kind contributions to LSST operations, rather than paying a subscription, and, during 2019 and 2020, the LSST:UK consortium developed an a UK in-kind proposal, in conjunction with STFC, the Rubin Observatory and the LSST Science Collaborations. With the adoption of in-kind model for international contributions, the remainder of the LUSC programme becomes, essentially, the delivery of the UK in-kind package, which offers the UK community a much better data rights deal than was provided by the original subscription model. The UK in-kind proposal includes an endorsement from STFC, noting that it outlines the programme for which they intend to seek funding, but these funds will still be awarded through a series of PPRP bids; in particular, the Phase C proposal will seek funding for the UK in-kind package for the period 1/4/23-31/3/27.