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NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCN) Program - FAQs

What is the NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCN) program?

The NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCN) program is a grant opportunity that supports groups of investigators in building and operating networks that advance a research or education field, or help launch entirely new directions. Rather than mainly funding a single lab or a single research project, RCN funds the coordination work that helps a broader community collaborate more effectively.

What kind of work does RCN funding support?

RCN supports networking and coordination activities that make a research or education community more productive. Examples described include structured communication, shared planning, collaborative training, cross-institution efforts, convenings, working groups, coordinated training and education efforts, and community-level outputs such as common frameworks, best practices, or interoperable data standards.

How is an RCN award different from a typical research grant?

RCN is designed to fund the coordination and community-building layer (the networking infrastructure and activities), not primarily a single research project in one lab. The emphasis is on enabling a broader group of people and institutions to collaborate and accelerate progress.

What is a central expectation of an RCN proposal?

A central expectation is that the proposal has a clear organizing theme that gives the network coherence and purpose. The theme might be a broad research question, a shared set of methods or technologies, or an emerging interdisciplinary area that needs community-building.

Does NSF expect innovative networking approaches?

Yes. NSF emphasizes networking strategies that are genuinely innovative, including new models for collaboration, creative uses of collaborative technologies, and efforts to develop shared community standards for data and metadata.

What kinds of outcomes or products are common for RCN projects?

RCN projects often produce community-level outputs such as shared frameworks, best practices, and interoperable data standards. They may also establish ongoing working groups, shared planning processes, or common approaches to cyberinfrastructure and collaboration.

Is RCN especially intended for cross-boundary collaboration?

Yes. The program is especially oriented toward activity that crosses boundaries, including disciplinary lines, different types of organizations, geographic regions, and international partnerships, with the idea that coordinated networks can accelerate progress faster than isolated efforts.

What are the main proposal options or tracks in this opportunity?

The solicitation describes a general RCN option as well as targeted tracks meant to encourage linkages across NSF directorates. Targeted tracks mentioned include RCN SEES and RCN UBE.

What is the General RCN option, and which NSF units participate?

General RCN proposals are accepted by participating programs in NSF directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Geosciences (GEO), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), along with the Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI) and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP).

What is the RCN SEES track?

RCN SEES (Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability) is a targeted track focused on interdisciplinary sustainability topics that integrate science, engineering, and education. It is aimed at challenges tied to environmental, social, and cultural change associated with human population growth and development, as well as the goal of achieving a sustainable energy future.

Which NSF units participate in the RCN SEES track?

The RCN SEES track includes BIO, GEO, SBE, OCI, OPP, and also Education and Human Resources (EHR), Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE).

What is the RCN UBE track?

RCN UBE (Undergraduate Biology Education) is a targeted track specifically aimed at improving undergraduate biology education. It can cover topics likely to improve participation, learning, or assessment in undergraduate biology curricula.

Which NSF units participate in the RCN UBE track?

The participating NSF units for RCN UBE are BIO and EHR.

How much funding is available overall under this opportunity?

The opportunity states an estimated total funding level of $17.5 million.

About how many awards does NSF expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of about 25 awards.

What is the award size range for an individual RCN grant?

Individual awards range from a floor of $50,000 to a ceiling of $750,000.

What type of funding mechanism is used?

Funding is provided as discretionary grants.

Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

Yes. The opportunity indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should be prepared to address required non-federal contributions as described in the full solicitation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility includes U.S. academic institutions (universities and accredited two- and four-year colleges, including community colleges, with a U.S.-located campus submitting on behalf of faculty) as well as certain U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations associated with research or education activities, such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies.

Why are non-academic organizations included in eligibility?

The solicitation notes that this mix is intentional because many successful networks rely on both academic researchers and boundary-spanning organizations that convene communities, curate data, or support broader participation.

Are deadlines the same for all tracks?

No. The archived posting indicates that deadlines varied by track. Examples given include an RCN UBE deadline (and an incubator track deadline) of June 15, 2012, and an RCN SEES deadline of February 4, 2013. Applicants are directed to consult the full solicitation for detailed due dates and requirements.

What is the funding opportunity number and publication identifier for this RCN solicitation?

The opportunity is identified as NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity Number 11-531.

When was this opportunity originally posted, and when was it archived?

The solicitation was originally posted on April 8, 2011, and shows an archive date of September 16, 2013.

Does NSF mention other programs that might accept RCN-style proposals?

Yes. The solicitation notes that other NSF programs may accept RCN-style proposals or support networking activities when appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to review the "Other Information" section of the full NSF announcement for related options.

What does it mean that the program is listed under multiple CFDA numbers?

The opportunity is listed under multiple CFDA numbers spanning major NSF research and education areas. This reflects the crosscutting nature of the program and that RCNs can be rooted in many different scientific or educational communities.