Funding-Limited Submission – NSF – Major Research Instrumentation Program: Instrument Acquisition or Development (NSF 15-504); January 11, 2017

Purpose:  The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) provides organizations with opportunities to acquire major instrumentation that supports the research and research training goals of the organization and that may be used by other researchers regionally or nationally. 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 a shared research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.  The program does not fund research projects or provide ongoing support for operating or maintaining facilities or centers.

Funding Amount / Project Period:

$100,000 - $4 million.  Proposals that request funds for less than $100,000 will also be accepted from all eligible organizations for the disciplines of mathematics or social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

Up to 3 years for acquisition proposals; up to 5 years for development proposals.

Institutional Limit:  3.

If three proposals are submitted, at least one of the proposals must be for instrument development (i.e., no more than two proposals may be for instrument acquisition).

Note: Inclusion as a funded subawardee on a development (Track 2) proposal at a level in excess of 20% of the total budget requested from NSF, or as a funded subawardee on any acquisition (Track 1) proposal, will be counted against an organization's proposal submission limit. Separately submitted linked collaborative proposals of either type (Track 1 or Track 2) count against the submission limit of each of the submitting organizations.

Cost Sharing:  Cost sharing at the level of 30% of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education. For applications requesting instrumentation that aligns with institutional research strengths, the Vice President for Research will support applications to the NSF MRI program by providing part of the required 30% match and the institutional letter documenting it. Priority in making decisions for institutional support 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.

For equipment that will be placed in recharge centers, the VPR will consider substantial cost-share contributions. For shared-use equipment, the VPR will consider contributing cost-share matches.

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

Internal Competition:  To participate in the University’s selection process, researchers are to submit the following material, assembled into a single PDF document, to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Tuesday, November 1, 2016:

• Names and departments of the PI and Senior Project Personnel;
• Title of the program and/or Funding Opportunity Number;
• Instrument type and indication if the proposal is for Instrument Acquisition or Instrument Development;
• Brief description (2 pages 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 - Use the attached budget template.  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.

A committee will be convened to review the material and make a recommendation. For questions, email the limited submission mailbox (limitedsubmissions@uky.edu) or call 257-2861.

NSF Deadline:  January 11, 2017.