Opportunity Information: Apply for 10 529
Apply for 10 529
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Major Research Instrumentation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47.050 Geosciences 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.074 Biological Sciences 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 47.076 Education and Human Resources 47.078 Polar Programs 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering 47.080 Office of Cyberinfrastructure.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 29, 2010 and posted on Jan 25, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2010 Archived See updated opportunity 11 503. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $90,000,000.00 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 150 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibilty restrictions apply. Please see full text of solicitation for details.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) is a discretionary grant program designed to expand access to high-end scientific and engineering instruments that are shared across researchers and research trainees. The core idea is to strengthen research capacity and research training by making advanced instrumentation available in environments where it can be used broadly, regularly, and in ways that connect research with education. The program targets U.S. institutions of higher education as well as museums, science centers, and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on instruments that support multiple projects, multiple users, and research-intensive learning experiences.
MRI supports two main types of projects: acquisition of an instrument and development of an instrument. Acquisition proposals focus on purchasing a single major piece of research equipment (or an integrated system that functions as one instrument), while development proposals focus on building, upgrading, or creating new instrumentation capabilities, including efforts that draw on private-sector expertise to help academic institutions grow their instrument development capacity. A key requirement is that the instrument must be ready for routine, shared research use by the end of the award period. Just as important, MRI is not meant to outfit entire facilities with many separate instruments or to fund a collection of unrelated tools that would allow multiple independent activities to run in parallel. The proposal needs to center on one instrument or an integrated instrument system, whether physical or virtual.
In terms of funding, MRI accepts requests from NSF generally in the range of $100,000 to $4,000,000 for eligible organizations. There is also a pathway for smaller requests under $100,000, but it is limited: these smaller requests are accepted for social, behavioral, and economic sciences across eligible organizations, and for non-Ph.D.-granting colleges and universities across all NSF-supported disciplines. The program overall spans a wide set of NSF fields, reflected in the CFDA listings that include engineering, mathematical and physical sciences, geosciences, computer and information science and engineering, biological sciences, social, behavioral and economic sciences, education and human resources, polar programs, international science and engineering, and cyberinfrastructure.
Cost sharing is a major structural feature of this opportunity. A 30% cost share of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement, which can make MRI particularly attractive for those campuses seeking to expand shared research infrastructure without needing to assemble a large institutional match. Because organizational categories matter for both eligibility and cost sharing, NSF directs applicants to consult the solicitation for precise definitions and eligibility restrictions.
From an administrative standpoint, this specific solicitation is NSF Publication 10-529 (Funding Opportunity Number 10-529). NSF anticipated approximately 150 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $90,000,000 and an award ceiling of $4,000,000. The original closing date listed for this archived notice was April 21, 2010, with an expectation of an annual deadline (noted as the fourth Thursday in January in later cycles, contingent on funds). The notice also points applicants to NSF’s MRI program page for updated deadlines and to a newer replacement opportunity (referenced as 11-503). For access or technical issues with the announcement through Grants.gov, NSF lists grants.gov support via grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Overall, MRI is best understood as NSF’s primary mechanism for helping institutions obtain or build major, shared research instruments that are too expensive or otherwise not a good fit for other NSF programs, while also pushing applicants to demonstrate broad community use, training impact, and a clear plan to bring the instrument online for sustained, regular research operations within the project period.
NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (NSF 10-529) FAQs
What is the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program?
The NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program is a discretionary grant program intended to expand access to high-end scientific and engineering instruments that are shared across researchers and research trainees. The program aims to strengthen research capacity and research training by making advanced instrumentation available for broad, regular use in ways that connect research with education.
What is the main purpose of MRI funding?
The core purpose is to improve shared access to major research instrumentation so that it supports multiple users and multiple projects, while also enhancing research-intensive learning experiences and linking research with education and training.
Who is the MRI program designed to serve?
MRI is designed to support environments where major instruments can be used broadly and routinely by a community of researchers and research trainees, rather than being limited to a single project or a small group of users.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
The opportunity targets U.S. institutions of higher education as well as museums, science centers, and nonprofit organizations. NSF notes that precise definitions and eligibility restrictions depend on the solicitation, so applicants are directed to consult the MRI solicitation for details.
What types of projects does MRI support?
MRI supports two main project types: (1) acquisition of an instrument and (2) development of an instrument.
What is an "acquisition" proposal under MRI?
An acquisition proposal focuses on purchasing a single major piece of research equipment or an integrated system that functions as one instrument.
What is a "development" proposal under MRI?
A development proposal focuses on building, upgrading, or creating new instrumentation capabilities. It can include efforts that draw on private-sector expertise to help academic institutions expand their instrument development capacity.
Does MRI allow proposals for more than one instrument?
The proposal needs to center on one instrument or an integrated instrument system (physical or virtual). MRI is not intended to outfit entire facilities with many separate instruments or to fund a collection of unrelated tools that would enable multiple independent activities to run in parallel.
Can the funded instrument be a virtual or integrated system rather than a single physical device?
Yes. The program description indicates the project should center on one instrument or an integrated instrument system, whether physical or virtual.
By when must the instrument be operational?
A key requirement is that the instrument must be ready for routine, shared research use by the end of the award period.
What funding range does MRI typically support?
Requests are generally in the range of $100,000 to $4,000,000 for eligible organizations.
Is there an option to request less than $100,000?
Yes, but it is limited. Smaller requests under $100,000 are accepted for social, behavioral, and economic sciences across eligible organizations, and for non-Ph.D.-granting colleges and universities across all NSF-supported disciplines.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this solicitation?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $4,000,000.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated approximately 150 awards.
What was the estimated total program funding level?
The estimated total program funding level stated in the notice was about $90,000,000.
Which NSF fields and disciplines are included under MRI?
The opportunity spans a wide set of NSF fields reflected in the CFDA listings, including engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; computer and information science and engineering; biological sciences; social, behavioral and economic sciences; education and human resources; polar programs; international science and engineering; and cyberinfrastructure.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is described as a major structural feature of MRI.
What is the required cost-share percentage for Ph.D.-granting institutions?
A 30% cost share of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education.
What is the required cost-share percentage for non-degree-granting organizations?
A 30% cost share of the total project cost is required for non-degree-granting organizations.
Are any institutions exempt from cost sharing?
Yes. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement.
Why does organizational category matter for MRI?
Organizational categories affect both eligibility and cost-sharing requirements. NSF directs applicants to consult the solicitation for precise definitions and restrictions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and solicitation identifier for this MRI notice?
This solicitation is identified as NSF Publication 10-529, Funding Opportunity Number 10-529.
What was the closing date listed for this archived notice?
The original closing date listed was April 21, 2010.
Is MRI expected to have recurring deadlines?
The notice mentions an expectation of an annual deadline, described in later cycles as the fourth Thursday in January, contingent on available funds.
Where should applicants look for updated MRI deadlines?
The notice points applicants to NSF's MRI program page for updated deadlines.
Is there a newer replacement opportunity referenced?
Yes. The notice references a newer replacement opportunity identified as 11-503.
What should applicants do if they have access or technical issues with the announcement on Grants.gov?
For access or technical issues through Grants.gov, NSF lists Grants.gov support via grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
What kind of impact does MRI expect beyond purchasing or building an instrument?
Beyond obtaining or building the instrument, MRI emphasizes broad community use, training impact, and a clear plan to bring the instrument online for sustained, regular research operations within the project period.
When is MRI a good fit compared to other NSF programs?
MRI is described as NSF's primary mechanism for helping institutions obtain or build major, shared research instruments that are too expensive or otherwise not a good fit for other NSF programs, while still requiring evidence of shared use and training benefits.
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