Campus Cyberinfrastructure Infrastructure, Innovation and Engineering Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure - Infrastructure, Innovation and Engineering (CCIIE) Program?

The NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure - Infrastructure, Innovation and Engineering (CCIIE) Program is a discretionary grant program in the Computer and Information Science and Engineering domain (CFDA 47.070). It is designed to strengthen and modernize campus-level cyberinfrastructure, with a strong focus on improving the campus network as a foundation for data-intensive research and advanced, distributed scientific and engineering workflows.

What is the main goal of CCIIE funding?

The main goal is to help universities, colleges, and certain eligible non-profit research and education organizations improve, redesign, and better operate their campus networking environments so they can reliably move large volumes of research data and support advanced workflows. The program emphasizes higher throughput, lower latency, predictable performance, improved reliability, and increased operational maturity of campus networking.

What does the program mean by "campus cyberinfrastructure" in practical terms?

In practical terms, the program treats the campus network as a critical piece of national research infrastructure, especially for data-intensive computing, computational science, and research in computer networking and systems. Projects are expected to focus on networking environments that enable researchers to move large data sets and use distributed resources effectively.

What kinds of networking improvements does CCIIE prioritize?

CCIIE prioritizes upgrading the performance and engineering of campus networking so research applications can achieve higher throughput, lower latency, and more predictable behavior. It also prioritizes reliability and improved operational maturity, so the network is more supportable and dependable for research needs.

What is "Network Integration" in the context of this program?

"Network Integration" refers to the technical and organizational steps needed to connect campus environments more effectively with advanced networks and collaborating institutions. This includes efforts that support end-to-end data movement for science in ways that are consistent, measurable, and supportable across instruments, campuses, regional networks, national facilities, and cloud or HPC resources.

How many awards does NSF expect to make under this opportunity?

NSF expects to make about 35 awards under this program.

What is the estimated total funding level for the program?

The estimated total program funding level is $20,000,000.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and NSF publication number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 14-521, and the solicitation details were provided through NSF Publication 14-521.

How many tracks (supported areas) are available, and what are they?

The program spans six tracks: (1) Data Driven Networking Infrastructure for the Campus and Researcher, (2) Network Design and Implementation for Small Institutions, (3) Network Integration and Applied Innovation, (4) Identity and Access Management Integration, (5) Campus CI Engineer, and (6) Regional Coordination and Partnership in Advanced Networking.

What is Track 1: Data Driven Networking Infrastructure for the Campus and Researcher?

This track supports campus- and researcher-facing improvements that enable high-performance, data-intensive transfers. The funding level is up to $500,000 total for up to 2 years.

What is Track 2: Network Design and Implementation for Small Institutions?

This track targets institutions with fewer resources to plan and deploy stronger research networking. The funding level is up to $350,000 total for up to 2 years.

What is Track 3: Network Integration and Applied Innovation?

This track supports higher-impact integration work and applied innovation intended to raise performance, reliability, and predictability of campus networking and its integration with advanced networks and partners. The funding level is up to $1,000,000 total for up to 2 years.

What is Track 4: Identity and Access Management Integration?

This track focuses on modernizing and integrating identity systems so researchers can access distributed resources more securely and smoothly. The funding level is up to $300,000 total for up to 2 years.

What is Track 5: Campus CI Engineer?

This track supports staffing or engineering capacity to build, operate, and continuously improve campus cyberinfrastructure. The funding level is up to $400,000 total for up to 2 years.

What is Track 6: Regional Coordination and Partnership in Advanced Networking?

This track supports coordination activities and partnerships that strengthen advanced networking across regions and collaborating institutions. The funding level is up to $150,000 total for up to 2 years.

How long are projects expected to last?

Most projects are intended to be completed within a two-year period, and each track listed specifies support for up to 2 years.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes U.S.-based, accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) applying on behalf of their faculty. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations are also eligible, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with education or research activities.

Are community colleges eligible under this opportunity?

Yes. U.S.-based, accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges, are included in the eligibility description.

Are non-academic non-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes, certain non-profit, non-academic organizations are eligible, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations associated with education or research activities.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching.

What is the minimum (floor) award amount listed for this opportunity?

The award floor listed is $150,000.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount, and how do track limits affect it?

The general award ceiling shown in the source data is $500,000, but specific tracks allow different maximums. Notably, the Network Integration and Applied Innovation track allows budgets up to $1,000,000. Applicants are expected to align the requested amount with the track-specific limits described in the program announcement.

What is the CFDA number and research domain associated with this program?

The program is in the Computer and Information Science and Engineering domain and is associated with CFDA 47.070.

When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?

The archived opportunity indicates it was posted on December 16, 2013. The full proposal deadline was March 17, 2014, and the archive date was April 17, 2014.

Where can applicants find the full requirements for CCIIE?

Additional details and full requirements were provided through NSF Publication 14-521.

What support contact is provided for access issues with the electronic announcement?

For access issues with the electronic announcement, applicants are directed to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.