diff --git a/jobs/rocoto/arch.sh b/jobs/rocoto/arch.sh
index b33857838f..a0fd6a6031 100755
--- a/jobs/rocoto/arch.sh
+++ b/jobs/rocoto/arch.sh
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ if [ $CDUMP = "gfs" ]; then
     mkdir -p ${ARCDIR}/tracker.$CDATE/$CDUMP
     blist="epac natl"
     for basin in $blist; do
-	cp -rp $basin                     ${ARCDIR}/tracker.$CDATE/$CDUMP
+        cp -rp $basin                     ${ARCDIR}/tracker.$CDATE/$CDUMP
     done
 fi
 
@@ -118,12 +118,12 @@ if [ $CDUMP = "gfs" -a $FITSARC = "YES" ]; then
     fhmax=${FHMAX_FITS:-$FHMAX_GFS}
     fhr=0
     while [[ $fhr -le $fhmax ]]; do
-	fhr3=$(printf %03i $fhr)
-	sfcfile=${prefix}.sfcf${fhr3}${ASUFFIX}
-	sigfile=${prefix}.atmf${fhr3}${ASUFFIX}
-	$NCP $sfcfile $VFYARC/${CDUMP}.$PDY/$cyc/
-	$NCP $sigfile $VFYARC/${CDUMP}.$PDY/$cyc/
-	(( fhr = $fhr + 6 ))
+        fhr3=$(printf %03i $fhr)
+        sfcfile=${prefix}.sfcf${fhr3}${ASUFFIX}
+        sigfile=${prefix}.atmf${fhr3}${ASUFFIX}
+        $NCP $sfcfile $VFYARC/${CDUMP}.$PDY/$cyc/
+        $NCP $sigfile $VFYARC/${CDUMP}.$PDY/$cyc/
+        (( fhr = $fhr + 6 ))
     done
 fi
 
@@ -182,7 +182,11 @@ if [ $CDUMP = "gfs" ]; then
 
     #for targrp in gfs_flux gfs_netcdf/nemsio gfs_pgrb2b; do
     if [ ${SAVEFCSTNEMSIO:-"YES"} = "YES" ]; then
-        for targrp in gfs_flux gfs_${format}a gfs_${format}b gfs_pgrb2b; do
+        targrp_list="gfs_flux gfs_${format}b gfs_pgrb2b"
+        if [ $MODE = "cycled" ] ; then
+            targrp_list="${targrp_list} gfs_${format}a"
+        fi
+        for targrp in $targrp_list; do
             htar -P -cvf $ATARDIR/$CDATE/${targrp}.tar `cat $ARCH_LIST/${targrp}.txt`
             status=$?
             if [ $status -ne 0  -a $CDATE -ge $firstday ]; then
@@ -325,36 +329,36 @@ while [ $GDATE -le $GDATEEND ]; do
     COMINrtofs="$ROTDIR/rtofs.$gPDY"
     if [ -d $COMIN ]; then
         rocotolog="$EXPDIR/logs/${GDATE}.log"
-	if [ -f $rocotolog ]; then
+        if [ -f $rocotolog ]; then
             testend=$(tail -n 1 $rocotolog | grep "This cycle is complete: Success")
             rc=$?
             if [ $rc -eq 0 ]; then
                 if [ -d $COMINwave ]; then rm -rf $COMINwave ; fi
                 if [ -d $COMINrtofs -a $GDATE -lt $RTOFS_DATE ]; then rm -rf $COMINrtofs ; fi
                 if [ $CDUMP != "gdas" -o $DO_GLDAS = "NO" -o $GDATE -lt $GLDAS_DATE ]; then 
-		    if [ $CDUMP = "gdas" ]; then
+                    if [ $CDUMP = "gdas" ]; then
                         for file in `ls $COMIN |grep -v prepbufr |grep -v cnvstat |grep -v atmanl.nc`; do
                             rm -rf $COMIN/$file
                         done
-		    else
-			rm -rf $COMIN
-		    fi
+                    else
+                        rm -rf $COMIN
+                    fi
                 else
-		    if [ $DO_GLDAS = "YES" ]; then
-			for file in `ls $COMIN |grep -v sflux |grep -v RESTART |grep -v prepbufr |grep -v cnvstat |grep -v atmanl.nc`; do
+                    if [ $DO_GLDAS = "YES" ]; then
+                        for file in `ls $COMIN |grep -v sflux |grep -v RESTART |grep -v prepbufr |grep -v cnvstat |grep -v atmanl.nc`; do
                             rm -rf $COMIN/$file
-			done
-			for file in `ls $COMIN/RESTART |grep -v sfcanl `; do
+                        done
+                        for file in `ls $COMIN/RESTART |grep -v sfcanl `; do
                             rm -rf $COMIN/RESTART/$file
-			done
-		    else
+                        done
+                    else
                         for file in `ls $COMIN |grep -v prepbufr |grep -v cnvstat |grep -v atmanl.nc`; do
                             rm -rf $COMIN/$file
                         done
-		    fi
+                    fi
                 fi
             fi
-	fi
+        fi
     fi
 
     # Remove any empty directories
@@ -368,8 +372,8 @@ while [ $GDATE -le $GDATEEND ]; do
 
     # Remove mdl gfsmos directory
     if [ $CDUMP = "gfs" ]; then
-	COMIN="$ROTDIR/gfsmos.$gPDY"
-	if [ -d $COMIN -a $GDATE -lt $CDATE_MOS ]; then rm -rf $COMIN ; fi
+        COMIN="$ROTDIR/gfsmos.$gPDY"
+        if [ -d $COMIN -a $GDATE -lt $CDATE_MOS ]; then rm -rf $COMIN ; fi
     fi
 
     GDATE=$($NDATE +$assim_freq $GDATE)
diff --git a/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn b/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
index e369f7fca6..2e7cdee387 100755
--- a/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
+++ b/parm/config/config.base.emc.dyn
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export SCRgfs=$HOMEgfs/scripts
 # GLOBAL static environment parameters
 export PACKAGEROOT="@PACKAGEROOT@"
 export COMROOT="@COMROOT@"
+export COMINsyn="@COMINsyn@"
 export DMPDIR="@DMPDIR@"
 export RTMFIX=$CRTM_FIX
 
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ export WAFSF="NO"          # WAFS products
 #  use RUNMOS flag (currently in config.vrfy)
 export REALTIME="YES"
 
+# Experiment mode (cycled or forecast-only)
+export MODE="@MODE@" # cycled/forecast-only
 
 ####################################################
 # DO NOT ADD MACHINE DEPENDENT STUFF BELOW THIS LINE
@@ -202,7 +205,7 @@ export IAU_OFFSET=6
 export DOIAU_ENKF=${DOIAU:-"YES"}   # Enable 4DIAU for EnKF ensemble
 export IAUFHRS_ENKF="3,6,9"
 export IAU_DELTHRS_ENKF=6
-if [[ "$SDATE" = "$CDATE" && $EXP_WARM_START = ".false." ]] || [[ "$DOIAU" = "NO" ]] ; then # Cold starting or IAU off
+if [[ "$SDATE" = "$CDATE" && $EXP_WARM_START = ".false." ]] || [[ "$DOIAU" = "NO" ]] || [[ "$MODE" = "forecast-only" && $EXP_WARM_START = ".false." ]] ; then # Cold starting or IAU off
   export IAU_OFFSET=0
   export IAU_FHROT=0
 fi
diff --git a/ush/hpssarch_gen.sh b/ush/hpssarch_gen.sh
index 1f4c8ed542..0184683a44 100755
--- a/ush/hpssarch_gen.sh
+++ b/ush/hpssarch_gen.sh
@@ -41,14 +41,16 @@ if [ $type = "gfs" ]; then
   rm -f gfsb.txt
   rm -f gfs_pgrb2b.txt
   rm -f gfs_flux.txt
-  rm -f gfs_${format}a.txt
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    rm -f gfs_${format}a.txt
+    touch gfs_${format}a.txt
+  fi
   rm -f gfs_${format}b.txt
   rm -f gfs_restarta.txt
   touch gfsa.txt
   touch gfsb.txt
   touch gfs_pgrb2b.txt
   touch gfs_flux.txt
-  touch gfs_${format}a.txt
   touch gfs_${format}b.txt
   touch gfs_restarta.txt
 
@@ -63,23 +65,29 @@ if [ $type = "gfs" ]; then
   head="gfs.t${cyc}z."
 
   #..................
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p25.anl                  " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p25.anl.idx              " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p50.anl                  " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p50.anl.idx              " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p25.anl                  " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p25.anl.idx              " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p50.anl                  " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2b.0p50.anl.idx              " >>gfs_pgrb2b.txt
+  fi
 
   echo  "./logs/${CDATE}/gfs*.log                          " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}gsistat                          " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}nsstbufr                         " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr                         " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr_pre-qc                  " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr.acft_profiles           " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p25.anl                   " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p25.anl.idx               " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}avno.t${cyc}z.cyclone.trackatcfunix     " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}avnop.t${cyc}z.cyclone.trackatcfunix    " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}trak.gfso.atcfunix.${PDY}${cyc}         " >>gfsa.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}trak.gfso.atcfunix.altg.${PDY}${cyc}    " >>gfsa.txt
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}gsistat                          " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}nsstbufr                         " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr                         " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr_pre-qc                  " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}prepbufr.acft_profiles           " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p25.anl                   " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p25.anl.idx               " >>gfsa.txt
+  fi
+  if [ $VRFYTRAK = "YES" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}avno.t${cyc}z.cyclone.trackatcfunix     " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}avnop.t${cyc}z.cyclone.trackatcfunix    " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}trak.gfso.atcfunix.${PDY}${cyc}         " >>gfsa.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}trak.gfso.atcfunix.altg.${PDY}${cyc}    " >>gfsa.txt
+  fi
   echo  "${dirname}storms.gfso.atcf_gen.${PDY}${cyc}       " >>gfsa.txt
   echo  "${dirname}storms.gfso.atcf_gen.altg.${PDY}${cyc}  " >>gfsa.txt
 
@@ -103,11 +111,12 @@ if [ $type = "gfs" ]; then
    fi
   fi
 
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p50.anl                   " >>gfsb.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p50.anl.idx               " >>gfsb.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.1p00.anl                   " >>gfsb.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.1p00.anl.idx               " >>gfsb.txt
-
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p50.anl                   " >>gfsb.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.0p50.anl.idx               " >>gfsb.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.1p00.anl                   " >>gfsb.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}pgrb2.1p00.anl.idx               " >>gfsb.txt
+  fi
 
   fh=0
   while [ $fh -le $FHMAX_GFS ]; do
@@ -145,11 +154,13 @@ if [ $type = "gfs" ]; then
 
 
   #..................
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}atmanl${SUFFIX}            " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}sfcanl${SUFFIX}            " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}atmi*.nc                   " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}dtfanl.nc                  " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}${head}loginc.txt                 " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}atmanl${SUFFIX}            " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}sfcanl${SUFFIX}            " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}atmi*.nc                   " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}dtfanl.nc                  " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}${head}loginc.txt                 " >>gfs_${format}a.txt
+  fi
 
   #..................
   if [ $OUTPUT_HISTORY = ".true." ]; then
@@ -163,12 +174,28 @@ if [ $type = "gfs" ]; then
   fi
 
   #..................
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile1.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile2.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile3.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile4.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile5.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
-  echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile6.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+  if [ $MODE = "cycled" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile1.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile2.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile3.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile4.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile5.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}RESTART/*0000.sfcanl_data.tile6.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+  elif [ $MODE = "forecast-only" ]; then
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_ctrl.nc        " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile1.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile2.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile3.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile4.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile5.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/gfs_data.tile6.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile1.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile2.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile3.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile4.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile5.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+    echo  "${dirname}INPUT/sfc_data.tile6.nc  " >>gfs_restarta.txt
+  fi
 
   #..................
   if [ $DO_WAVE = "YES" ]; then
diff --git a/ush/rocoto/setup_expt.py b/ush/rocoto/setup_expt.py
index badab09041..131e534267 100755
--- a/ush/rocoto/setup_expt.py
+++ b/ush/rocoto/setup_expt.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
                     .replace('@DMPDIR@', dmpdir) \
                     .replace('@PACKAGEROOT@', packageroot) \
                     .replace('@COMROOT@', comroot) \
+                    .replace('@COMINsyn@', cominsyn) \
                     .replace('@HOMEDIR@', homedir) \
                     .replace('@STMP@', stmp) \
                     .replace('@PTMP@', ptmp) \
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       dmpdir = '/lfs/h2/emc/global/noscrub/emc.global/dump'
       packageroot = '${PACKAGEROOT:-"/lfs/h1/ops/prod/packages"}'
       comroot = '${COMROOT:-"/lfs/h1/ops/prod/com"}'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/${gfs_ver:-"v16.3"}/syndat'
       homedir = '/lfs/h2/emc/global/noscrub/$USER'
       stmp = '/lfs/h2/emc/stmp/$USER'
       ptmp = '/lfs/h2/emc/ptmp/$USER'
@@ -241,7 +243,8 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       base_svn = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/svn'
       dmpdir = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/dump'
       packageroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/nwpara'
-      comroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/rstprod/com'
+      comroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/com'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/prod/syndat'
       homedir = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/$USER'
       stmp = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/stmp2/$USER'
       ptmp = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/stmp4/$USER'
@@ -259,6 +262,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       dmpdir = '/work/noaa/rstprod/dump'
       packageroot = '/work/noaa/global/glopara/nwpara'
       comroot = '/work/noaa/global/glopara/com'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/prod/syndat'
       homedir = '/work/noaa/global/$USER'
       stmp = '/work/noaa/stmp/$USER'
       ptmp = '/work/noaa/stmp/$USER'
diff --git a/ush/rocoto/setup_expt_fcstonly.py b/ush/rocoto/setup_expt_fcstonly.py
index 16b93c624f..434fcb2220 100755
--- a/ush/rocoto/setup_expt_fcstonly.py
+++ b/ush/rocoto/setup_expt_fcstonly.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
                     .replace('@DMPDIR@', dmpdir) \
                     .replace('@PACKAGEROOT@', packageroot) \
                     .replace('@COMROOT@', comroot) \
+                    .replace('@COMINsyn@', cominsyn) \
                     .replace('@HOMEDIR@', homedir) \
                     .replace('@STMP@', stmp) \
                     .replace('@PTMP@', ptmp) \
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
                     .replace('@QUEUE_SERVICE@', queue_service) \
                     .replace('@PARTITION_BATCH@', partition_batch) \
                     .replace('@EXP_WARM_START@', exp_warm_start) \
-                    .replace('@MODE@', 'free') \
+                    .replace('@MODE@', 'forecast-only') \
                     .replace('@CHGRP_RSTPROD@', chgrp_rstprod) \
                     .replace('@CHGRP_CMD@', chgrp_cmd) \
                     .replace('@HPSSARCH@', hpssarch) \
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       dmpdir = '/lfs/h2/emc/global/noscrub/emc.global/dump'
       packageroot = '${PACKAGEROOT:-"/lfs/h1/ops/prod/packages"}'
       comroot = '${COMROOT:-"/lfs/h1/ops/prod/com"}'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/${gfs_ver:-"v16.3"}/syndat'
       homedir = '/lfs/h2/emc/global/noscrub/$USER'
       stmp = '/lfs/h2/emc/stmp/$USER'
       ptmp = '/lfs/h2/emc/ptmp/$USER'
@@ -212,7 +214,8 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       base_svn = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/svn'
       dmpdir = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/dump'
       packageroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/nwpara'
-      comroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/rstprod/com'
+      comroot = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/glopara/com'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/prod/syndat'
       homedir = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/global/$USER'
       stmp = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/stmp2/$USER'
       ptmp = '/scratch1/NCEPDEV/stmp4/$USER'
@@ -230,6 +233,7 @@ def edit_baseconfig():
       dmpdir = '/work/noaa/rstprod/dump'
       packageroot = '/work/noaa/global/glopara/nwpara'
       comroot = '/work/noaa/global/glopara/com'
+      cominsyn = '${COMROOT}/gfs/prod/syndat'
       homedir = '/work/noaa/global/$USER'
       stmp = '/work/noaa/stmp/$USER'
       ptmp = '/work/noaa/stmp/$USER'