Funding-KY NSF EPSCoR TRACK-1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS; January 16, 2012

Kentucky NSF EPSCoR is planning a new proposal for the Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (RII Track-1). KY NSF EPSCoR is responsible for centrally organizing the proposal's development, which will be submitted to NSF in November 2012. If funded, the proposal will support focused research infrastructure activities on the order of several million dollars per year. Initiative ideas should be broad and have a plan for engaging the entire state--including academic research, the diverse workforce, industries and education.

Kentucky is selecting a single research theme for the next Track-1 proposal. Accordingly, the broad theme of Energy and Environment has been chosen because of its importance to the state as a high value research and development area; as well as its ties to other important areas identified in the Kentucky Science and Technology Strategic Plan, such as Agriculture and Bioscience, as well as Materials Science.

Successful proposals must relate to the Energy and Environment theme and address all aspects of broad engagement and statewide impact (infrastructure, research, diversity, workforce, education, etc.), but KY NSF EPSCoR is open to supporting proposals with varying levels of emphasis between these requirements. Some examples (not all inclusive) might be:

Core Infrastructure may focus primarily on providing state-of-the-art equipment, instrumentation and facilities that will advance Energy and Environmental research;

People/Program Infrastructure may focus on innovative ideas for attracting, retaining and supporting the best and brightest academic workforce;

Diversity/Workforce and Education Infrastructure may focus on enhancing the education pipeline (K-20) and innovative activities to train and educate Kentucky's diverse next-generation, science and technology students and workforce;

Social and Behavioral Science aspects of Energy and Environmental research are needed to ultimately understand what impacts new technologies will have on society.

EPSCoR will provide support for selected activities from the fall of 2013 through 2018. Proposals should include a strategic justification for the proposed budgets and plans for long term sustainability after EPSCoR support ends. More information about the RII Track-1 program can be found in the most current NSF solicitation: www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11565/nsf11565.pdf

Timeline for Development and Due Dates

1/16/12-- Interested groups must submit a letter of intent that identifies collaborative participants and institutional affiliations, as well as an executive summary (2 pages maximum) of the proposal idea and theme. Letters of intent should be e-mailed to KY NSF EPSCoR epscor@uky.edu on or before the 1/16/12 deadline. Full proposal submission will be by invitation only as determined by KY NSF EPSCoR and the Statewide Kentucky EPSCoR Committee. Invitations will be extended no later than February 1, 2012. Questions and inquiries about submission can be directed to epscor@uky.edu.

3/27/12-- Full proposal submission due to KY NSF EPSCoR. Full proposals will be the basis for the development of a single RII Track-1 proposal submitted to NSF. An April-May 2012 window will be allocated for external review, interviews, internal (state committee) review and final selection.

Summer, 2012 --Ongoing proposal development and preparation for the November 2012 submission.