NSF 18-594: Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.
U.S. National Science Foundation offered grants of up to $1.2 million (at least $25,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 80 awards worth $40.0 million in total. It is no longer open on Grants.gov.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 7, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.2 million
- Award floor$25,000
- Total funding$40.0 million
- Expected awards80
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF 21-501 | June 6, 2025 | Closed | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | June 6, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 7, 2025 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Biological Sciences awards averaged $609,810; this notice allows up to $1.2 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (82% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The Infrastructure Capacity for Biology (ICB) supports the development, expansion, or improvement of infrastructure that will enable fundamental research within the biological sciences. Infrastructure supported under thissolicitation may include cyberinfrastructure, instrumentation, biological collections, living stocks, field stations, marine labs, or other resources that are shared and openly accessible. Proposals submitted to the ICB solicitation must make a compelling case that the proposed infrastructure will advance or transform research in areas of science that are supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) at the National Science Foundation. While other programs in the Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) focus on innovative research leading to new infrastructure or sustained operation of mature infrastructure, thissolicitation focuses on supporting projects that seek to deliver, enable access to, or substantially improve infrastructure that will advance the capacity oftoday’s scientific community to conduct leading edge research. The impacts of the activities funded by awards made through this solicitation will be reflected not just in the quality of their products, but by the novel and transformative science outcomes that will be achieved by the users of these resources. Infrastructure projects that will advance any field of research supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences are eligible for support under this program. Please refer to the individual program descriptions for detailed guidance on what is supported through this solicitation: Cyberinfrastructure for Biological Research (CIBR); Collections in Support of Biological Research(CSBR); Improvements in Facilities, Communications, and Equipment at Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories(FSML); and Instrumentation Capacity for Biological Research (ICBR).
Who has won Biological Sciences grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Biological Sciences (47.074) awarded $4.2 billion across 6,885 grant awards, an average of $609,810 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Ohio | 8 | $381 million |
| Arizona State University | Arizona | 57 | $108 million |
| Cornell University | New York | 85 | $85.6 million |
| University of Florida | Florida | 100 | $70.6 million |
| Michigan State University Foundation | Michigan | 105 | $67.9 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is NSF 18-594 still open?
No. It is no longer open on Grants.gov. A newer notice is open: NSF 27-500, closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left).
Who can apply for Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research?
U.S. National Science Foundation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research?
Closed. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.2 million each. About $40.0 million in total across about 80 awards.
Who has won Biological Sciences grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Battelle Memorial Institute, Arizona State University, Cornell University. The program made 6,885 awards worth $4.2 billion in that time.