Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 | 19 537

Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 537

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Mid-scale RI-1) grant opportunity was created as part of NSF's broader 2016 "Big Ideas" initiative, which highlighted ten long-term, high-impact areas where the agency wanted to spur major advances at the frontiers of science and engineering. Mid-scale RI-1 sits squarely in the gap between NSF's smaller-scale Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and its largest construction-focused investments under Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC). The goal is to give NSF an agile, cross-directorate way to fund research infrastructure that is too large for MRI but not at the scale or structure of MREFC, while still directly enabling significant progress in fundamental science, engineering, or STEM education research across the research domains NSF supports. Although proposals are submitted through NSF's Office of Integrative Activities, they are intended to be reviewed and managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF program directors, reflecting the emphasis on convergence and community-wide needs rather than narrow disciplinary silos.

Mid-scale RI-1 supports two project types: Implementation and Design. Both types can include a mix of physical equipment, facilities or other infrastructure, computational hardware and software, and the commissioning work needed to make the capability operational for research use. "Implementation" is defined broadly, not just as straightforward purchase or construction, but also as projects that include a limited amount of advanced development that leads directly into final acquisition and/or construction. Implementation awards are intended for building or upgrading mid-scale research infrastructure and must fall within a total project cost range from $6 million up to (but not including) $20 million, with an award ceiling of $19,999,999. These projects must clearly demonstrate how the new or improved infrastructure will enable advances in research or STEM education research and must show a strong connection to an identified need in the relevant research community.

"Design" projects focus on planning and preparing for a future infrastructure build. These awards support preliminary and final design activities for research infrastructure whose eventual total cost would be appropriate for a future Mid-scale RI-1, Mid-scale RI-2, or even MREFC-class implementation. Design proposals are the only category allowed to request less than $6 million, with requests required to be at least $600,000 and still below $20 million, depending on what is needed to produce a credible, well-developed design package. A key caveat is that receiving a Mid-scale RI-1 design award does not represent a commitment by NSF to fund the later implementation; the design award is meant to mature the concept, reduce risk, and position the project competitively for a later solicitation or funding pathway. NSF also notes that projects that exceed the Mid-scale RI-1 limits are expected to be handled through a separate Mid-scale RI-2 solicitation.

Across both Design and Implementation tracks, Mid-scale RI-1 places heavy emphasis on scientific merit, alignment with a demonstrated community need, and the ability of the proposing team to deliver a complex infrastructure effort successfully. Proposers are expected to show demonstrated technical and managerial expertise appropriate to the project's scope, including credible project management approaches. The solicitation points applicants to NSF's Large Facilities Manual (LFM) and its successor guidance (the Major Facilities Guide, MFG) for definitions and expectations around project elements such as a Project Execution Plan, while also noting that the plan should be scaled to the project's complexity and may not need every element described for the largest facility efforts. In addition to technical delivery, proposals are expected to include strong plans for student training and for involving a diverse workforce throughout the lifecycle of the mid-scale activity, reflecting NSF's broader goals around workforce development and broadening participation.

Administrative details from the posted opportunity include that it is a discretionary grant program run by NSF (CFDA numbers spanning multiple NSF directorates and programs), with an anticipated number of about 10 awards under this competition. The opportunity was originally posted with a creation date of November 22, 2018 and an original closing date of May 20, 2019. Eligibility is listed as "Others (see text...)" indicating that applicants needed to consult the full solicitation for specific eligibility requirements and any constraints on who may serve as lead or partner organizations. Overall, Mid-scale RI-1 is best understood as NSF's mechanism for funding sophisticated, mid-range research capabilities that can transform what researchers can measure, build, compute, or observe, while requiring proposers to demonstrate both compelling science drivers and realistic, well-managed infrastructure execution.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 22, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $19,999,999.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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