Grants / U.S. National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1

Open Closes February 8, 2027 (100 days left) Opportunity 24-598

• Award ceiling$20.0 million
• Award floor$4.0 million
• Expected awards10
• Total funding$100 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

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Who can apply

This opportunity is 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: - Proposals may only be submitted by organizations located in the United States, its territories, or possessions, as follows. <ol> <li>Institutions of higher education (Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting), acting on behalf of their faculty members, that are accredited in and have their main campus in the United States, its territories, or possessions. Distinct academic campuses (e.g., that award their own degrees, have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, alumni associations, etc.) within multi-campus systems qualify as separate submission-eligible institutions.</li> <li>Not-for-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees, for example (but not limited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories and similar organizations that are directly associated with the Nation's research activities. These organizations must have an independent, permanent administrative organization (e.g., a sponsored projects office) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and have 501(c)(3) tax status.</li> <li>Consortia as follows:</li> </ol> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">a) A legally incorporated, not-for-profit consortium that includes two or more submission-eligible organizations as described in items (1) and (2) above. Such a consortium is one with an independent administrative structure (e.g., a sponsored projects office) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions and has 501(c)(3) status. <p style="padding-left: 30px;">b) Submission-eligible organizations as described in items (1) and (2) above, on behalf of an informal consortium. The Cover Sheet of such a proposal must identify both a PI and co-PI(s) from at least two Mid-scale RI-1 submission-eligible organizations (items 1 and/or 2 above) as lead investigators in the consortium. These consortium proposals may also include as partners, via subawards,other U.S. and non-U.S. organizations that are not eligible to submit Mid-scale RI-1 proposals. <p style="padding-left: 30px;">In either case, the proposal title should indicate that a consortium is proposing. <p class="Default">For-profit commercial organizations, especially U.S. small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education, are eligible for infrastructure support through subawards/subcontracts as private sector partners with submitting organizations; they may not submit proposals in response to this solicitation. Such partnerships must be substantive and meaningful and build capacity for infrastructure development withinMid-scale RI-1 submission-eligible organization(s). In addition, the value added by the for-profit commercial organization should be justified as a unique contribution that is otherwise unavailable within organizations described in (1) and (2). Unless otherwise specified in the award, title to the resulting infrastructure should be retained by the Mid-scale RI-1-eligible performing organization. Prospective PIs may contact cognizantMid-scale RI-1 program officers regarding organizational eligibility, and for information on other NSF funding opportunities for instrumentation and research infrastructure. <p class="Default">Additionally: <ul> <li>Proposals that augment MREFC projects: The Mid-scale RI-1 program will not accept proposals for an instrument or other infrastructure that augments an ongoing NSF Major Multi-user Facility or Mid-scale RI-2 project in the construction stage, since the scope of those projects is already defined. A list of Major Facilities projects is available at <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/lfo/docs/major-facilities-list.pdf">https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/lfo/docs/major-facilities-list.pdf</a> and the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult? ProgEleCode=109Y00&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanR

Is this a realistic fit?

• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

NSF-supported science and engineering research increasingly relies on cutting-edge infrastructure. With its Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and Major Multi-user Facilities ("Major Facilities") projects, NSF supports infrastructure projects at the lower and higher range of infrastructure project costs, Foundation-wide, across science and engineering research disciplines. The Foundation-wide Mid-scale Research Infrastructure opportunity is intended to provide NSF with an agile, Foundation-wide process to fund experimental research capabilities in the mid-scale range between MRI and Major Multi-user Facilities. NSF defines Research Infrastructure (RI) as any combination of facilities, equipment, instrumentation, or computational hardware or software, and the necessary human capital in support of the same. Major facilities and mid-scale projects are subsets of research infrastructure. The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Program (Mid-scale RI-1) supports either design activities or implementation of unique and compelling RI projects. Mid-scale implementation projects may include any combination of equipment, instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, broadly used large scale datasets and the personnel needed to successfully commission the project. Mid-scale RI-1 design activities include the design efforts intended to lead to eventual implementation of a mid-scale class RI project. Mid-scale RI-1 projects should involve the training of a diverse workforce engaged in the design and implementation of STEM research infrastructure. Mid-scale RI-1 projects should directly enable advances in any of the research domains supported by NSF. Projects may also include upgrades to existing research infrastructure. Mid-scale RI-1 emphasizes strong scientific merit, a response to an identified need of the research community and/or fulfillment of a national need to enable U.S. researchers to be competitive in a global research environment. Well-conceived technical and management plans are essential for both design and implementation proposals, as are well-developed plans (e.g., mentoring and professional development) for student training and the involvement of a diverse STEM workforce in all aspects of mid-scale design and/or implementation activities. The inclusion of individual project participants that will lead to a supportive working environment is especially encouraged at all levels of the project team.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

How to apply

1. Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov and the agency's announcement. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
2. Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
3. Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.

Questions go to U.S. National Science Foundation, grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, 703-292-4203.

Open the official notice