Opportunity Information: Apply for 09 547
Apply for 09 547
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Instrumentation for Materials Research Major Instrumentation Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 7, 2010 and posted on Mar 27, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2009 Full Proposal Deadline(s) June 29, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 IMR MIPProposals may be submitted by colleges or universities in the United States. NSF does not normally support research or educational activities by scientists employed by other Federal agencies or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). However, a scientist, engineer, or educator who holds a joint appointment with a universityand an FFRDC may submit proposals through the university. Such an individual may receive support if he/she is a faculty member of the university even if part of his/her salary is provided bythe Federal agency. Under unusual circumstances, a Federal research laboratory or FFRDC may submit a proposal directly to NSF for example, if such an institution provides uniquecapabilities which can be made available to members of the university community through an NSF award. NSF support will not be made available to support activities which are the normal responsibility of the Federal laboratory or FFRDC. Interested Principal Investigators (PIs) at a Federal laboratory or an FFRDC should contact the cognizant program officer named in this Solicitation before preparing a proposal in response to this Solicitation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Materials Research, offered this grant opportunity to support the creation of major, high-impact instrumentation for materials research under the program titled Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR MIP). The focus is on large-scale instruments and advanced toolsets that enable cutting-edge materials preparation and characterization, especially those intended for use at major user facilities. In practical terms, this program targets big-ticket, community-serving capabilities such as neutron beam lines, synchrotron beam lines, high-field magnets, and the specialized supporting technologies that make them scientifically useful (for example, new detector systems, sample environments, and preparation platforms). A central requirement is that the instrument itself falls in a major cost band: more than $4 million and less than $20 million in total instrument cost, reflecting NSF's intent to fund projects that are too large for standard instrumentation programs but still within a defined scale.
The solicitation supports two distinct award tracks that reflect the lifecycle of building major scientific infrastructure. The first track is Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED), which funds the work needed to move an instrument concept into a mature, buildable engineering plan. A CED award is meant to cover the detailed conceptual design and engineering design activities required before construction can responsibly begin, including technical specifications, risk assessment, and design validation planning. The second track is Construction (CNST), which funds the actual build-out of the instrument. Importantly, a CNST proposal is not meant to be speculative; it can only be submitted after the engineering design has been completed to a satisfactory level and formally approved by both the host facility where the instrument will be located and NSF itself. That sequencing is intended to reduce technical risk and ensure that construction funding is committed only when the project is truly ready to execute.
A key boundary condition in this opportunity is that NSF funding under this solicitation does not cover operations. In other words, even if NSF supports the design and/or construction of an instrument, the ongoing costs to run it (staffing, maintenance, consumables, utilities, routine upgrades, user support, and related operational expenses) must be paid for by the host facility, the institution where the instrument resides, or another clearly identified funding source. This matters because applicants need to demonstrate that the instrument will be sustainable after it is built, and that the long-term user-facing mission will not depend on operating dollars from this specific program.
From a funding and award-structure standpoint, the opportunity anticipated a relatively small number of awards and a limited total pool for the FY 2009 competition, with an estimated $3.0 million available overall and an expectation of around three awards. CED awards were to be made as continuing or standard grants, with total support of up to about $2 million per award. For construction, NSF indicated that up to one CNST award could be made, structured as a five-year cooperative agreement with annual support in the range of about $1 million to $4 million per year. The use of a cooperative agreement for construction signals a higher level of NSF involvement during implementation, which is common for complex infrastructure projects where active oversight, milestones, and coordinated management are necessary.
Eligibility was centered on U.S. colleges and universities as the standard submitting organizations. NSF noted that it does not normally support proposals directly from other federal agencies or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), but it outlined limited pathways for participation. Individuals with joint university and FFRDC appointments could submit through the university and potentially receive support if they are faculty members, even if part of their salary comes from a federal source. Under unusual circumstances, a federal lab or FFRDC could submit directly if it offers unique capabilities that can be made broadly available to the university community through an NSF award, but NSF emphasized it will not fund work that is a normal responsibility of the lab or FFRDC. Prospective PIs at federal labs or FFRDCs were advised to contact the NSF program officer before preparing a proposal.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity from NSF in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, associated with CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences), and it did not require cost sharing or matching. The funding opportunity number was 09-547 (NSF Publication 09-547). The opportunity was posted March 27, 2009, with a full proposal deadline of June 29, 2009, and it was later archived on April 7, 2010. For access or technical issues related to the electronic announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the IMR MIP program?
The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Materials Research, offered the Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR MIP) program to support the creation of major, high-impact instrumentation for materials research. The program emphasizes large-scale instruments and advanced toolsets that enable cutting-edge materials preparation and characterization, particularly those intended for use at major user facilities.
What kinds of instruments and toolsets are targeted by this opportunity?
This opportunity targets large, community-serving capabilities such as neutron beam lines, synchrotron beam lines, high-field magnets, and specialized supporting technologies that make these platforms scientifically useful. Examples of supporting technologies include new detector systems, sample environments, and preparation platforms.
What is the required instrument cost range for projects under this solicitation?
The instrument must fall within a "major" cost band: more than $4 million and less than $20 million in total instrument cost. This reflects NSF's intent to support projects that are too large for standard instrumentation programs but still within a defined scale.
What award tracks are available under IMR MIP?
The solicitation supports two award tracks: Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) and Construction (CNST). These tracks align with different stages in the lifecycle of building major scientific infrastructure.
What is the purpose of a Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) award?
A CED award supports the work needed to move an instrument concept into a mature, buildable engineering plan. It funds detailed conceptual design and engineering design activities required before construction can responsibly begin, including technical specifications, risk assessment, and planning for design validation.
What is the purpose of a Construction (CNST) award?
A CNST award supports the actual build-out (construction) of the instrument. It is intended for projects that are ready to execute based on a completed and sufficiently mature engineering design.
Can a Construction (CNST) proposal be submitted without an approved engineering design?
No. A CNST proposal is not meant to be speculative. It can only be submitted after the engineering design has been completed to a satisfactory level and formally approved by both the host facility where the instrument will be located and NSF.
Why does the solicitation require host facility and NSF approval before construction proposals?
The sequencing is intended to reduce technical risk and ensure that construction funding is committed only when the project is truly ready to execute.
Does NSF funding under this solicitation cover operations and ongoing facility costs?
No. NSF funding under this solicitation does not cover operations. Ongoing costs such as staffing, maintenance, consumables, utilities, routine upgrades, user support, and other operational expenses must be paid by the host facility, the institution where the instrument resides, or another clearly identified funding source.
What must applicants show regarding sustainability after the instrument is built?
Applicants need to demonstrate that the instrument will be sustainable after it is built and that the long-term user-facing mission will not depend on operating dollars from this specific program.
How much funding was anticipated for the FY 2009 competition?
The solicitation anticipated a limited total pool for the FY 2009 competition, estimating about $3.0 million available overall and an expectation of around three awards.
What was the typical funding level for CED awards?
CED awards were to be made as continuing or standard grants, with total support of up to about $2 million per award.
What was the construction award structure and funding range?
For construction, NSF indicated that up to one CNST award could be made. It would be structured as a five-year cooperative agreement with annual support in the range of about $1 million to $4 million per year.
What does it mean that the construction award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement signals a higher level of NSF involvement during implementation. This approach is common for complex infrastructure projects that require active oversight, milestone tracking, and coordinated management.
Who was eligible to submit proposals?
Eligibility was centered on U.S. colleges and universities as the standard submitting organizations.
Can other federal agencies or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) submit proposals directly?
NSF noted that it does not normally support proposals directly from other federal agencies or FFRDCs. However, it outlined limited pathways where such entities might participate or, under unusual circumstances, submit directly.
How can individuals with joint university and FFRDC appointments participate?
Individuals with joint university and FFRDC appointments could submit through the university and potentially receive support if they are faculty members, even if part of their salary comes from a federal source.
Under what circumstances could a federal lab or FFRDC submit directly?
Under unusual circumstances, a federal lab or FFRDC could submit directly if it offers unique capabilities that can be made broadly available to the university community through an NSF award. NSF emphasized it will not fund work that is a normal responsibility of the lab or FFRDC.
Should prospective PIs at federal labs or FFRDCs contact NSF before applying?
Yes. Prospective PIs at federal labs or FFRDCs were advised to contact the NSF program officer before preparing a proposal.
Is cost sharing or matching required for this opportunity?
No. The solicitation stated that it did not require cost sharing or matching.
What is the CFDA number and program category associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity was associated with CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences) and categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the funding opportunity number and NSF publication number?
The funding opportunity number was 09-547, also identified as NSF Publication 09-547.
When was the opportunity posted, when were proposals due, and when was it archived?
The opportunity was posted on March 27, 2009. The full proposal deadline was June 29, 2009. The opportunity was later archived on April 7, 2010.
Where should applicants go for help with electronic submission or announcement access issues?
For access or technical issues related to the electronic announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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