NSF - Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2
Agency
National Science Foundation
Description
The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2 Program (Mid-scale RI-2) supports implementation of projects that comprise any combination of equipment, instrumentation, computational hardware and software, and the necessary commissioning and human capital in support of implementation of the same. The total cost for Mid-scale RI-2 projects ranges from $20 million to below the minimum award funded by the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) Program, currently $70 million. Mid-scale RI-2 projects will directly enable advances in any of the research domains supported by NSF, including STEM education. Projects may also include upgrades to existing research infrastructure.
The Mid-scale RI-2 Program emphasizes strong scientific merit and response to an identified need of the research community, technical and managerial readiness for implementation, and a well-developed plan for student training and involvement of a diverse workforce in mid-scale facility development, and/or associated data management.
Mid-scale RI-2 will consider only the implementation (typically construction or acquisition) stage of a project, including a limited degree of advanced development immediately preparatory to implementation. It is thus intended that Mid-scale RI-2 will support projects in high states of readiness for implementation, i.e., those that have already matured through previous developmental investments. Accordingly, Mid-scale RI-2 does not support pre-implementation (early-stage design or development). Mid-scale RI-2 also does not support post-implementation research, operations or maintenance, the anticipated source(s) of which are expected to be discussed in the proposal.
It is anticipated that solicitations will be issued approximately biennially after the first issuance.
Research infrastructure and instrumentation in the range just above the current Major Research Instrumentation Program threshold and below the Mid-scale RI-2 threshold is the subject of the Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 solicitation.
***Note: Due to the institutional responsibilities inherent in managing a Mid-scale RI-1 project, please notify the Vice President for Research at VPRGRants@uky.edu if you intend to apply for this program.
Announcement Number
NSF 19-542
Required Letter of Intent Due Date
February 08, 2019
Preliminary Proposal Due Date
March 11, 2019
Full Proposal Deadline
August 02, 2019
Link to Full Announcement
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19542/nsf19542.htm
Contact Information
Brian Midson
(703) 292-8145