Opportunity Information: Apply for 15 504
Apply for 15 504
- 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 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 17, 2015 and posted on Oct 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 13, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $75,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Who May Submit Proposals Proposals may only be submitted by the following Organizations thatmay apply for the MRI program Submission Eligibility Proposals may only be submitted by organizations located in the United States, its territories or possessions, as follows 1. Institutions of higher education (Ph.D. granting and non Ph.D. granting), acting on behalf of their faculty members, that areaccredited in andhave acampus inthe United States, its territories or possessions. Distinct academic campuses (e.g., that award their own degrees, have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, alumni associations, etc.) within multi campus systems qualify as separate submission eligible institutions. (Campuses or organizations that plan to submit a proposal through the Sponsored Projects Office of other campuses or organizations should contact NSF to discuss eligibility as early as possible and at least six weeks before submitting such a proposal.) 2. Not for profit, non degree granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees,that include (but are notlimited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizationsthat are directlyassociated with the Nations research or educational activities. These organizations must have an independent, permanentadministrative organization (e.g., a sponsored projects office) located in the United States, its territories or possessions, and have 501(c)(3) tax status. 3. To facilitate access to unique instrumentation for a broad user base of U.S. scientists and engineers, and to encourage collaboration and sharing of state of the art instrumentation, the MRI program accepts proposals from consortia of organizations. Consortium proposals may be submitted as follows 3a. Legally incorporated, not for profit consortia including two or more submission eligible organizations as described in items (1) and(2) above may submit proposals on behalf of the consortium. The cover sheet must clearly indicate the consortium nature of the proposal in the title. Such a consortium is one with an independent administrative structure (e.g., a Sponsored Projects Office) located in the United States, its territories or possessions and 501(c)(3) status. 3b. Submission eligible organizations as described in items (1) and (2) above may submit proposals on behalf of consortia. The cover sheet must clearly indicate the consortium nature of the proposal in the title, and it must identify a PI and co PI(s) from at least two MRI submission eligible organizations participating in the consortium. These consortium proposals may also include as partners U.S. organizations that are not eligible to submit MRI proposals. 4. Commercial U.S. organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education, are eligible for instrument development support only through subawards as private sector partners with submitting organizations they may not submit proposals. Such partnerships must be substantive and meaningful, and build capacity for instrument development within MRI submission eligible organization(s). Title to theresulting instrument should be retained by the submitting organization(s). Commercial organizations must be based in the United States, its territories or possessions. Prospective PIs may contact the cognizant MRI program officers regarding organizational eligibility, and for information on other NSF funding opportunities for instrumentation see also Section IX for a list of related NSF programs for research instrumentation. Additionally ul liMREFC related Proposals The MRI program will not accept proposals for an instrument that augmentsan NSF Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) project if that project is not receiving operations funding outside of the MREFC account./li liFFRDC
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) is a grant program designed to expand access to expensive, high-impact scientific and engineering instruments that are shared by multiple users. Its core purpose is to strengthen research and research training by helping U.S.-based universities and qualifying nonprofit research and education organizations obtain or build major instruments that would otherwise be difficult to fund through typical NSF research awards. A key expectation is that the instrument will not be reserved for one lab or one project; instead, it should support shared use within an organization and, when appropriate, provide access to researchers beyond the submitting institution on a regional or national basis.
MRI proposals are organized into two tracks, and each proposal must choose one. Track 1 supports the acquisition of a single major research instrument, while Track 2 supports the development of a single, well-integrated instrument. The program is intentionally focused on one instrument per proposal, rather than outfitting entire laboratories or purchasing a collection of separate tools that could be used independently at the same time. For development awards in particular, NSF encourages projects that involve meaningful private-sector partnerships, especially when those partnerships help build long-term instrument development capacity within MRI-eligible institutions. Even when a company contributes to development through a subaward, the submitting organization is expected to retain title to the resulting instrument.
The program targets instrumentation that is generally too costly or otherwise not appropriate for support through other NSF programs, but it is not a research project funding mechanism. MRI does not pay for the underlying scientific research itself, and it does not provide ongoing funds to operate or maintain facilities, centers, or instrumentation over the long term. The instrument funded under MRI is expected to be up and running for regular research use by the end of the award period, reflecting NSF's emphasis on timely implementation and an operational plan that supports real user demand and research training outcomes.
Funding requests to NSF are typically accepted in the range of $100,000 to $4,000,000 for both acquisition and development, with an award ceiling of $4,000,000. There are limited cases where requests below $100,000 may be accepted: specifically, for proposals in mathematics or the social, behavioral, and economic sciences, and for non-Ph.D.-granting institutions across all NSF-supported disciplines. The MRI program’s overall scope spans many NSF directorates and fields, including engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; computing and information science and engineering; biological sciences; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; education and human resources; and international science and engineering.
Cost sharing is a major compliance feature of this opportunity. Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations are required to provide cost sharing equal to exactly 30 percent of the total project cost. By contrast, non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from cost sharing and are not allowed to include it in their budgets. Separately, NSF policy prohibits voluntary committed cost sharing, meaning applicants should not add extra committed cost share beyond what the solicitation requires.
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based organizations located in the United States or its territories/possessions. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (both Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting), as well as qualifying nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations such as museums, science centers, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies, provided they have a permanent administrative structure in the U.S. (such as a sponsored projects office) and 501(c)(3) status. MRI also allows consortium proposals to broaden access to unique instrumentation: either a legally incorporated nonprofit consortium can submit, or an eligible lead institution can submit on behalf of a multi-organization partnership, with principal investigators drawn from at least two MRI-eligible organizations. Commercial firms cannot apply directly to MRI; instead, they may participate only as private-sector partners through subawards on Track 2 instrument development projects, and those partnerships must be substantive rather than symbolic.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary NSF grant in the science and technology/research and development category (Funding Opportunity Number 15-504), with an estimated total funding level of about $75,000,000. The solicitation historically used an annual deadline pattern (noted as the second Wednesday in January in later cycles), and applicants are directed to NSF Publication 15-504 for the full solicitation details, definitions of organization types, and complete requirements.
NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program FAQs
What is the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program?
The NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program is a grant program that helps U.S.-based universities and qualifying nonprofit research and education organizations acquire or develop expensive, high-impact scientific and engineering instruments that are shared by multiple users.
What is the main purpose of the MRI Program?
The core purpose is to strengthen research and research training by expanding access to major instruments that would typically be too difficult to fund through standard NSF research awards. A central expectation is shared use of the instrument rather than it being reserved for one lab or one project.
Does MRI fund scientific research projects?
No. MRI is not a research project funding mechanism. It does not pay for the underlying scientific research itself; it focuses on the acquisition or development of a major instrument that supports research and research training.
Does MRI provide ongoing operating or maintenance support?
No. MRI does not provide ongoing funds to operate or maintain facilities, centers, or instrumentation over the long term.
What does NSF mean by "shared use" for an MRI instrument?
Shared use means the instrument is intended to support multiple users within the organization and, when appropriate, provide access to researchers beyond the submitting institution (for example, on a regional or national basis). The instrument should not be reserved for a single lab or a single project.
How many instruments can be included in one MRI proposal?
The program is intentionally focused on one instrument per proposal. It is not designed for outfitting entire laboratories or purchasing a collection of separate tools that could be used independently at the same time.
What are the two MRI proposal tracks?
Each MRI proposal must choose one track:
- Track 1: Acquisition of a single major research instrument.
- Track 2: Development of a single, well-integrated instrument.
What is the difference between instrument acquisition and instrument development under MRI?
Track 1 supports purchasing (acquiring) a single major instrument. Track 2 supports developing (building) a single, well-integrated instrument. Both tracks remain focused on a single instrument rather than a set of unrelated purchases.
Are private-sector partnerships allowed or encouraged?
Yes, especially for Track 2 instrument development projects. NSF encourages meaningful private-sector partnerships that help build long-term instrument development capacity within MRI-eligible institutions.
Can a company apply directly for an MRI award?
No. Commercial firms cannot apply directly to the MRI Program. They may participate only as private-sector partners through subawards on Track 2 instrument development proposals, and the partnership is expected to be substantive rather than symbolic.
If a company participates through a subaward on a development project, who owns the instrument?
Even when a company contributes to development through a subaward, the submitting organization is expected to retain title to the resulting instrument.
What is the expected implementation timeline for the instrument?
The instrument funded under MRI is expected to be up and running for regular research use by the end of the award period. This reflects NSF's emphasis on timely implementation, real user demand, and research training outcomes.
What is the typical funding request range under MRI?
Funding requests to NSF are typically accepted in the range of $100,000 to $4,000,000 for both acquisition and development, with an award ceiling of $4,000,000.
Are requests below $100,000 ever allowed?
Yes, but only in limited cases: for proposals in mathematics or the social, behavioral, and economic sciences, and for non-Ph.D.-granting institutions across all NSF-supported disciplines.
What is the maximum MRI award size?
The award ceiling described for MRI requests is $4,000,000.
Which fields or disciplines does the MRI Program support?
The MRI Program spans many NSF directorates and fields, including engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; computing and information science and engineering; biological sciences; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; education and human resources; and international science and engineering.
Who is eligible to apply for MRI?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based organizations located in the United States or its territories/possessions. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting) and qualifying nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations.
What types of nonprofit organizations are eligible under MRI?
Examples include museums, science centers, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies, provided they have a permanent administrative structure in the U.S. (such as a sponsored projects office) and 501(c)(3) status.
Can multiple organizations apply together?
Yes. MRI allows consortium proposals to broaden access to unique instrumentation. Either a legally incorporated nonprofit consortium can submit, or an eligible lead institution can submit on behalf of a multi-organization partnership.
What is required for an MRI consortium proposal?
For a multi-organization partnership submitted by an eligible lead institution, principal investigators must be drawn from at least two MRI-eligible organizations.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes for certain organization types. Cost sharing is described as a major compliance feature of this opportunity.
Who must provide the 30% cost share?
Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations are required to provide cost sharing equal to exactly 30 percent of the total project cost.
Are non-Ph.D.-granting institutions required to cost share?
No. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from cost sharing.
Can a non-Ph.D.-granting institution include cost sharing anyway?
No. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions are not allowed to include cost sharing in their budgets.
Can applicants offer additional voluntary cost sharing beyond what MRI requires?
No. NSF policy prohibits voluntary committed cost sharing, meaning applicants should not add extra committed cost share beyond what the solicitation requires.
What kind of grant is this, administratively?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary NSF grant in the science and technology/research and development category.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for MRI (as provided here)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 15-504.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level is about $75,000,000.
When are MRI proposals typically due?
The solicitation historically used an annual deadline pattern, noted as the second Wednesday in January in later cycles.
Where should applicants look for full solicitation requirements and definitions?
Applicants are directed to NSF Publication 15-504 for full solicitation details, including definitions of organization types and complete requirements.
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