EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track 1 | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track 1 (RII Track 1) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity meant to strengthen research capacity in U.S. jurisdictions that have historically received a smaller share of NSF research and development funding. EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) exists to advance NSF's national mission by helping more states and territories build the kind of research depth and infrastructure that can compete successfully for future federal R and D support. The program is structured around partnerships that connect state or territorial leadership, higher education, and industry, with the goal of creating long-term, sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research environment and overall competitiveness.

Under RII Track 1, NSF supports broad, jurisdiction-wide efforts focused on upgrading and expanding research infrastructure. That includes physical infrastructure (such as shared research equipment and facilities), human infrastructure (such as faculty development, workforce training, student pathways, and recruitment/retention strategies), and cyberinfrastructure (such as computing capacity, data systems, networking, and other digital research platforms). A key feature of this track is that the research areas targeted for investment are chosen locally: the jurisdiction's EPSCoR governing committee selects the focus areas it believes have the strongest potential to raise the jurisdiction's future R and D competitiveness. In practice, this means proposals are expected to represent a coordinated, strategic plan rather than a single investigator project, and they should show how the planned investments will produce lasting capacity beyond the award period.

The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally signals a more hands-on relationship with NSF during the project compared with a standard grant. The expected scale is large and multi-year: awards can be as high as $4 million per year for up to five years, supporting major infrastructure-building activities. The total estimated funding listed for the competition is $20 million, with an expectation of about five awards. The award ceiling is $4,000,000 and the award floor is $2,000,000, indicating NSF anticipated substantial projects rather than small pilots. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning the proposing jurisdiction and partners must commit resources alongside NSF funds.

Eligibility is limited to EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, which at the time of the announcement included twenty-seven states as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Proposals cannot be submitted by just any institution acting independently; instead, the jurisdiction's EPSCoR governing committee must designate a fiscal agent (the proposing organization) that will serve as the responsible recipient for the award. Where possible, NSF indicates this fiscal agent should be the employing organization of the Project Director. Principal Investigators or Project Directors must be affiliated with research universities, agencies, or organizations within the participating jurisdiction, reinforcing that the leadership and benefits of the project are intended to stay rooted locally.

The funding activity is categorized broadly as science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA listings span many NSF directorates and offices, including engineering, mathematical and physical sciences, geosciences, computer and information science, biological sciences, social and behavioral sciences, education and human resources, polar programs, international science, cyberinfrastructure, and the EPSCoR office itself. This wide coverage reflects that RII Track 1 is not confined to a single discipline; it is designed to help jurisdictions make strategic bets in areas where they can build momentum and long-term capability.

Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number (NSF 10-582), the posting date (July 1, 2010), and a full proposal deadline of October 4, 2010. The primary reference document is NSF Publication 10-582. For access or technical issues related to the announcement on grants.gov, the notice directs applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

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