In this talk, I will describe the next generation Very Large Array
Operations Concept. The ngVLA will be operated as a proposal-driven
instrument with the science program determined by PI-led proposals.
Proposals will be peer reviewed and ranked based on scientific merit and
technical feasibility. The scientific program for the telescope will be
scheduled dynamically based on environmental conditions and array
status, in accordance with the user’s scientific requirements. The data
will generally be delivered to the PIs and the broader scientific
community as Science Ready Data Products, i.e., automated pipelines will
calibrate raw data and create higher level data products. Through the
delivery of quality assured Science Ready Data Products, and the
provision of standard observing strategies, the Observatory will aim to
support both a broad community of scientific users and to facilitate
multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomy. The operation and
maintenance of the array will be supported by three primary centers to
minimize staff present at the array core. These will include a
Maintenance Center located near the array core, an Array Operations and
Repair Center near Socorro, NM, and a Science Operations Center and Data
Center likely co-located in a large metropolitan area. The array will be
operated primarily in sub-array mode, which will allow array maintenance
and science time to occur simultaneously. To minimize maintenance costs,
the design of the ngVLA will focus on including maintenance efficiency,
including modularized components, minimizing preventative maintenance
and repair visits, and automated diagnostics. Finally, I will discuss
the ngVLA development program including the legacy programs.