Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2 | 19 542

Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 542

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2 (Mid-scale RI-2) grant opportunity is designed to fund the implementation of major research infrastructure projects that sit in the funding gap between smaller instrumentation programs and NSF's largest construction mechanism. It stems from NSF's 2016 "Big Ideas" agenda, which highlighted a set of long-term priorities meant to keep the United States at the forefront of science and engineering by encouraging convergence across disciplines. Although proposals are submitted through NSF's Office of Integrative Activities, the program is intentionally cross-cutting and proposals are overseen by a team of program directors spanning multiple NSF areas, reflecting the expectation that mid-scale infrastructure often serves broad, multi-disciplinary communities.

At its core, Mid-scale RI-2 supports projects with total costs ranging from $20 million up to (but not including) the current Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) threshold of $70 million. The intent is to deliver new or significantly enhanced shared capabilities for the research community, including fields across all NSF-supported domains and STEM education research. Projects can involve a mix of large-scale equipment and instrumentation, computational hardware and software, and the people and activities needed to commission and bring that infrastructure online. The solicitation also allows for upgrades to existing infrastructure when those upgrades meaningfully expand capability or address major community needs.

A defining feature of Mid-scale RI-2 is its focus on readiness and execution. The program funds the implementation phase, which typically means acquisition, construction, installation, integration, and commissioning, plus only a limited amount of late-stage development that is immediately necessary to proceed with implementation. In practical terms, NSF is looking for projects that are already well matured through earlier investments and planning, where the major design choices are settled and the team is prepared to deliver. Because of that, the program explicitly does not fund early-stage concept development or pre-implementation design work, and it also does not fund the research that would be conducted after the infrastructure is built, nor ongoing operations and maintenance. Proposals are expected to explain how the facility or instrument will be sustained after implementation, including identifying likely sources of operational support.

NSF emphasizes several main evaluation themes in this opportunity. Proposals need to demonstrate strong scientific merit and a clear, well-documented need from the research community, meaning the infrastructure should serve a compelling set of science or engineering drivers and enable advances that are not feasible without the new capability. They also must show technical readiness and credible project management, including realistic plans, schedules, risk management, and governance appropriate for a complex mid-scale build. In addition, NSF places notable weight on workforce development: projects should include robust plans for training and involving students and early-career researchers in the process of developing and implementing the infrastructure, and for engaging a diverse workforce. Data management and associated human capital can be part of the implementation scope, particularly when data systems are integral to making the infrastructure useful to the community.

From a program-structure standpoint, the solicitation positions Mid-scale RI-2 as one component of a broader NSF mid-scale ecosystem recognized as a national need, including by Congress through the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA) of 2017. NSF also notes that Mid-scale RI-2 solicitations are expected to occur roughly every two years. For projects that are too large for NSF's Major Research Instrumentation program but below the Mid-scale RI-2 floor, NSF points to a companion pathway called Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1, which targets infrastructure and instrumentation at a smaller mid-scale band.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include: the agency is NSF; the funding instrument is a grant; the opportunity number is 19-542; the award ceiling is $70,000,000; and NSF anticipated making about six awards under this solicitation cycle. The original closing date for the referenced posting was August 2, 2019, and eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full solicitation's eligibility section.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 12, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 02, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 19 542

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