Opportunity Information: Apply for 08 570

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CISE Computing Research Infrastructure" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 5, 2011 and posted on Jun 13, 2008.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Archived, replaced by NSF 11 536. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 54 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) located and accredited in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) program is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to strengthen computing research and education by funding the creation, improvement, and ongoing operation of high-quality computing research infrastructure. In practical terms, CRI is about making sure researchers, educators, and students have access to the kinds of advanced computing systems, platforms, tools, and shared resources that are necessary to carry out cutting-edge work in computer and information science and engineering. A core emphasis of the program is broad access: NSF explicitly highlights the goal of ensuring that people from a wide range of institutions can benefit, including minority-serving institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions that may not otherwise be able to build or sustain world-class infrastructure on their own.

The program supports two main types (or classes) of awards, which differ in the scale of the user community they are meant to serve. Institutional Infrastructure awards focus on infrastructure that primarily enables world-class research and education at the lead institution and its collaborators. These projects may involve building brand-new computing research infrastructure or significantly enhancing what an institution already has, with the expectation that the upgraded capabilities will translate into stronger research outcomes and better educational opportunities locally and within a defined partnership network. Community Infrastructure awards are aimed at a broader footprint. They support planning for shared infrastructure, as well as the creation or enhancement of infrastructure intended to serve a widely distributed community of researchers and educators that extends well beyond the proposing institution(s). Community awards also place notable weight on operations and service quality, meaning that proposals are expected not only to acquire or upgrade infrastructure but to demonstrate that the organization can run it reliably and provide strong user support so external community members can successfully use the resource to meet their research and education goals.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity was offered under Funding Opportunity Number 08-570 within NSF’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) domain (CFDA 47.070). NSF anticipated approximately 54 awards with an estimated total program funding level of about $18,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $50,000 up to a ceiling of $4,000,000, and the solicitation did not require cost sharing or matching, which can reduce barriers for institutions that have limited discretionary funds. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting its infrastructure-building and enabling focus rather than support for a single narrow research topic.

Eligibility was broad across U.S.-based organizations that are tied to education or research. Eligible applicants included accredited U.S. universities and colleges (two-year, four-year, and community colleges) applying on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. entities connected to educational or research activities. This eligibility framing aligns with the program’s aim to expand access to research-grade computing infrastructure beyond only the most research-intensive universities, and to encourage participation by organizations that can host or coordinate shared infrastructure serving broader communities.

In terms of timing, the solicitation originally posted on June 13, 2008, with full proposal deadlines listed as September 22, 2008 and August 5, 2009, followed by a pattern of the first Wednesday in August annually thereafter. The opportunity is archived and was later replaced by NSF 11-536, with an archive date of April 5, 2011. Applicants seeking the detailed requirements, expectations, and proposal preparation guidance were directed to NSF Publication 08-570. For access or technical issues, NSF provided grants.gov support contact information (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov), consistent with standard federal submission support channels.

Overall, CRI can be understood as an NSF mechanism for building and sustaining the computing backbone that makes modern computing research and education possible. It targets both institution-centered improvements and community-serving resources, and it explicitly ties infrastructure investment to service, operations, and equitable access across a diverse set of U.S. academic and research organizations.

NSF CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) Program FAQs

What is the NSF CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) program?

The NSF CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI) program is a discretionary grant opportunity that funds the creation, improvement, and ongoing operation of high-quality computing research infrastructure. Its purpose is to strengthen computing research and education by ensuring researchers, educators, and students can access advanced computing systems, platforms, tools, and shared resources needed for cutting-edge work in computer and information science and engineering.

What types of projects does CRI support?

CRI supports projects that build new computing research infrastructure, significantly enhance existing infrastructure, and support the ongoing operation of that infrastructure. The focus is on infrastructure that enables modern computing research and education, including systems, platforms, tools, and shared resources that users rely on to carry out research and educational activities.

What is the program's emphasis on broad access?

A core emphasis of CRI is broad access. NSF highlights the goal of ensuring that people from a wide range of institutions can benefit from the funded infrastructure, including minority-serving institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions that may not otherwise be able to build or sustain world-class infrastructure on their own.

What are the two main classes of CRI awards?

The program supports two main award classes that differ based on the scale of the user community served: Institutional Infrastructure awards and Community Infrastructure awards.

What is an Institutional Infrastructure award?

Institutional Infrastructure awards focus on infrastructure that primarily enables world-class research and education at the lead institution and its collaborators. These projects may build brand-new infrastructure or significantly enhance existing infrastructure, with the expectation that improvements will strengthen research outcomes and educational opportunities locally and within a defined partnership network.

What is a Community Infrastructure award?

Community Infrastructure awards support planning for shared infrastructure, as well as the creation or enhancement of infrastructure intended to serve a widely distributed community of researchers and educators beyond the proposing institution(s). These awards place notable weight on operations and service quality, meaning proposals are expected to show the ability to run the resource reliably and provide strong user support so external community members can effectively use it for research and education goals.

How do Institutional and Community awards differ in who they serve?

Institutional Infrastructure awards primarily serve the lead institution and its collaborators, while Community Infrastructure awards are intended to serve a broader, widely distributed user community that extends well beyond the proposing institution(s).

Does CRI fund planning activities as well as infrastructure acquisition or upgrades?

Yes. Community Infrastructure awards explicitly support planning for shared infrastructure, in addition to the creation or enhancement of infrastructure.

Is operations and user support important for Community Infrastructure proposals?

Yes. Community Infrastructure awards place notable weight on operations and service quality. Proposals are expected not only to acquire or upgrade infrastructure but also to demonstrate reliable operations and strong user support for external community members.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and program classification information for this CRI solicitation?

This opportunity was offered under Funding Opportunity Number 08-570 within NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) domain. The CFDA number listed is 47.070.

How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated under this opportunity?

NSF anticipated approximately 54 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $18,000,000.

What was the award size range for CRI under this solicitation?

Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $4,000,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation did not require cost sharing or matching.

What is the activity category for this grant opportunity?

The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting an infrastructure-building and enabling focus rather than support for a single narrow research topic.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad across U.S.-based organizations tied to education or research. Eligible applicants included accredited U.S. universities and colleges (two-year, four-year, and community colleges) applying on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. entities connected to educational or research activities.

Are community colleges and predominantly undergraduate institutions included in eligibility?

Yes. Eligible applicants included two-year institutions and community colleges, and the program emphasizes broad access, including benefits for predominantly undergraduate institutions.

Are non-academic 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. entities connected to educational or research activities.

When was this CRI solicitation originally posted?

The solicitation was originally posted on June 13, 2008.

What were the proposal deadlines listed for this opportunity?

Full proposal deadlines were listed as September 22, 2008 and August 5, 2009, followed by a pattern of the first Wednesday in August annually thereafter.

Is this opportunity still active?

No. The opportunity is archived.

What replaced this archived CRI opportunity?

This opportunity was later replaced by NSF 11-536.

What was the archive date for this solicitation?

The archive date is April 5, 2011.

Where were applicants directed for detailed requirements and proposal guidance?

Applicants were directed to NSF Publication 08-570 for detailed requirements, expectations, and proposal preparation guidance.

Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov submission or technical issues?

For access or technical issues, NSF provided Grants.gov support contact information: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What is the overall purpose of CRI in plain terms?

Overall, CRI is an NSF mechanism for building and sustaining the computing backbone that makes modern computing research and education possible. It supports both institution-centered improvements and community-serving resources and ties infrastructure investment to service, operations, and equitable access across a diverse set of U.S. academic and research organizations.

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