Funding-Limited
Submission - NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program (NSF 13-517); October 11, 2013
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, science centers, and
not-for-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. Each MRI
proposal may request support for the acquisition (Track 1) or development
(Track 2) of a single research instrument for shared inter- and/or
intra-organizational use; development efforts that leverage the strengths of
private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at MRI
submission-eligible organizations are encouraged.
The
MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research
instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for
support through other NSF programs. The instrument is expected to be
operational for regular research use by the end of the award period. Proposals
must be for either acquisition or development of a single
instrument or for equipment that, when combined, serves as an integrated
research instrument (in contrast to requests for multiple instruments that
enable research in a common or focused research domain, which MRI does not
support). The MRI program does not support the acquisition or development of a
suite of instruments to outfit research laboratories/facilities or that will be
used to conduct independent research activities simultaneously.
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
for the disciplines of mathematics or social, behavioral and economic sciences.
Cost
Sharing: Cost-sharing
at the level of 30% of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting
institutions of higher education.
Limit
on Number of Proposals per Organization: Three (3) If three proposals are submitted, at
least one of them must be for instrument development (i.e., no more than two
proposals may be for instrument acquisition). Note that if UK
is included as a 20% or greater subawardee on another
institution’s development project, then that project will also count as one of
UK’s allowable proposals, so a proposal must be submitted in this competition
for that project.
See
the full program solicitation for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13517/nsf13517.htm
Internal
Competition:
Because NSF limits the number of MRI proposals an organization may submit, the
University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.
Researchers interested in submitting an MRI proposal are to submit the
following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for
Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu
and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Friday, October 11, 2013.
·
Title of the program and/or funding
opportunity announcement number;
·
Instrument type and indication if the
proposal is for Instrument Acquisition or Instrument Development;
·
PI name and department and names and
departments of other researchers involved;
·
Short description (2 page maximum) of the
research/research training to be enabled with the instrument and the importance
of the equipment to that activity;
·
Letter of commitment from the College
Dean indicating the specific amount of funds he or she will contribute;
·
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 in areas of institutional
research priority 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. A peer review committee will evaluate the
submissions for scientific merit and for alignment with institutional research
priorities. The committee will recommend to the Vice President for
Research which proposals, if any, should be considered for institutional
matching funds to fulfill the mandatory 30% cost share.
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 - January 23,
2014.