Funding-Limited
Submission - NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program (NSF 10-529); October 19, 2010
The
Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to
shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training
in our Nation's institutions of higher education, museums and science centers,
and non-profit organizations. This program especially seeks to improve the
quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and
engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration
of research and education in research-intensive learning environments.
Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter-
and/or intra-organization use is encouraged, as are development efforts that
leverage the strengths of private sector partners as appropriate for the goals
of the MRI Program.
Instrument
acquisition or development proposals that request funds from NSF in the range
$100,000-$4 million will be accepted from all eligible organizations. Proposals
that request funds from NSF less than $100,000 will also be accepted from all
eligible organizations for the disciplines of social, behavioral and economic
sciences and from non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education for all
NSF-supported disciplines.
Program
Announcement/More information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5260
Cost
Sharing: Ph.D.
granting institutions of higher education and non-degree granting organizations
continue to be required to provide 30 percent cost-sharing. Cost-sharing for
both acquisition and development proposals is calculated based on total
proposal project costs. The Vice President for Research supports
applications to the NSF MRI program and will provide the required 30% match and
the institutional letter documenting it.
Institutional
Limit: Because
NSF limits an institution to no more than two acquisition proposals and one
development proposal, the University of Kentucky has established an
internal selection process. Researchers interested in submitting a proposal are
to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the
Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu
and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Tuesday, October 19, 2010:
1. Description of the Research Instrumentation and
indicate if the proposal is for Instrument acquisition or Instrument
development; note that if UK submits or is included as a partner or subawardee on three proposals, at least one of these
proposals must be for instrument development.
2. PI name and department and names and departments of
other researchers involved;
3. A two-page description of the research/research
training to be conducted and why the equipment is important to this research;
4. A budget – itemize total instrument cost, anticipated
recurring costs (such as maintenance, operating cost and technical support for
the life of the equipment), anticipated renovation costs for site if
appropriate, and cost-sharing from all sources. Include in the budget
justification a description of the match required. The priority for
institutional cost-sharing will be to supply operations funds for personnel,
supplies, or other eligible support costs, which must be directly allocable to
the instrument and be expended during the award period. Matches are welcome
from other sources, such as personnel time. Priority will be given to proposals
for multi-user instruments with a clear plan for extended maintenance and usage
and to those that intend to place such instruments in supported core facilities
operating as recharge centers.
Questions
about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of
the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu
or 257-1663.)
A
committee will be convened to review the material and make recommendations as
to the University’s submissions. All applicants will be notified in time to
submit the proposal by the NSF deadline - fourth Thursday in January (January
27, 2011).