Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program; October 21, 2011

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. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions.

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. Instruments are 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 (physical or virtual). The MRI program does not support the acquisition or development of a suite of instruments to outfit research laboratories/facilities or to conduct independent research activities simultaneously. Further guidance on appropriate requests can be found in the MRI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri.

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 mathematics or 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/od/oia/programs/mri/nsf11503.pdf?WT.z_pims_id=5260&ods_key=nsf11503

Cost Sharing: Cost-sharing at the level of 30% of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education. The Vice President for Research supports applications to the NSF MRI program and will provide part of 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 Friday, October 21, 2011:

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. Attached commitment of support from the College Dean indicating the specific amount of funds he/she will contribute;

5. 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 26, 2012).