(FOA)- Limited Submission – NSF – Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) Instrument Acquisition or Development (NSF 18-513); January 22, 2018

 

Purpose: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation and to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. An MRI award is also expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders. There are two MRI Tracks:

 

·         Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request NSF funds from $100,000 to less than $1,000,000. (Requests for less than $100,000 will also be accepted for the disciplines of mathematics or social, behavioral, and economic sciences.)

 

·         Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request NSF funds from NSF from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000.

 

Cost Share: 30% of the total project cost is required for PhD-granting institutions.

 

For applications requesting instrumentation that aligns with institutional research strengths, the Vice President for Research will provide 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 shared-use equipment not in recharge cores, the VPR will consider contributing to cost-share matches that come from college and/or departmental resources.

 

Funding Amount / Project Period: $100,000 - $4 million over 3 years for acquisition proposals; 5 years for development proposals.

 

Institutional Limit: 3

No more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2. The MRI program requires that an eligible organization may, as a performing organization, submit or be included as a significantly funded subawardee in no more than three MRI proposals, thus, those proposing as subawardees to another organization should also submit a response to this internal call.

 

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

 

Internal Competition:  To participate in the university’s selection process,please submit the following by October 2, 2018, assembled into a single PDF file, to the Office of the Vice President for Research by clicking ‘Apply’ on this opportunity page. Email a copy of the file to your Associate Dean for Research.

§  Names and departments of the PI and Senior Project Personnel;

§  Title of the program and Funding Opportunity Number, specifying Track 1 or Track 2;

§  Instrument name and type

§  Brief description (2 pages max.) of the importance of the equipment to research/research training;

§  Dean’s letter of financial commitment indicating the specific amount of the match;

§  A budget - Use this budget template. Itemize total instrument cost, anticipated recurring costs (e.g., maintenance, operating cost, and technical support for the life of the equipment), anticipated site renovation costs if any, 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 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 22, 2019