Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Academic Research Infrastructure Program:  Recovery and Reinvestment; July 1, 2009

The purpose of this program is to enhance the Nation's existing research facilities where sponsored and/or unsponsored research activities and research training take place to enable next-generation research infrastructure that integrates shared resources across user communities. Consistent with NSF's mission to strengthen the U.S. science and engineering enterprise, the ARI-R² program will:

• Update existing research facilities at institutions of higher education (including graduate and undergraduate institutions, among which are included community colleges) and other non-profit research organizations (e.g., independent research museums, independent research laboratories, and research consortia) in order to support research that can address the challenges of the 21^st century.
• Enable academic departments, disciplinary and cross-disciplinary units, or multi-organization consortia to renovate research facilities through the addition or augmentation of cyberinfrastructure, other than general-purpose computing systems or data storage systems, to create environments that enhance research and integrate research with education.
• Improve access to and increase use of next-generation research facilities for researchers, educators and students.
• Assist research organizations, including those that have historically received limited Federal research and development funds, to improve their science and engineering research environments.

Estimated Number of Awards:  100 to 120; approximately 100 awards ranging from a total of $250,000 to $2,000,000; approximately 6 - 10 awards ranging from a total of over $2 million to $5 million; approximately 3 - 5 awards ranging from a total of over $5 million to $10 million. The award duration for ARI-R² grants up to $2 million is up to three years; award duration for grants over $2 million up to $10 million is up to four years.

Link to Program Page and Solicitation: 

NSF 09-562 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503380

Cost Sharing: not required

Deadlines:

Required Letter of Intent: July 1, 2009

Full Proposal: August 24, 2009

Because NSF limits an institution to one 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 Wednesday, June 10, 2009:  

• Title of Proposed Project
• PI Name, Project Personnel and roles on the project
• Name of facility to be renovated
• Project Synopsis - Summarize the need and justify the proposed renovation. Summarize the contributions, improvements and impacts on science and engineering and associated infrastructure (1-2 pages).

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 required letter of intent by the July 1, 2009 deadline and the proposal by the August 24, 2009 deadline.