Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Summary:
The NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. The MRI program focuses on multi-user/shared instrumentation that often supports research needs across disciplinary boundaries. An instrument acquired or developed with support from the MRI program is expected to be operational by the end of the award period to enable the research/research training activities committed to in the proposal.
For more information, view the Major Research Instrumentation Program solicitation (NSF 23-519).
Award:
Track 1: at least $100,000 but less than $1.4M.
Track 2: at least $1.4M and up to a maximum of $4M.
Track 3: at least $100,000 and up to maximum of $4M. Track 3 is for requests that include the acquisition, development, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium.
Regardless of track, acquisition proposals may be funded for up to three (3) years and development proposals may be funded for up to five (5) years.
Limited Submission Requirements and Timeline:
Four (4) submissions per institution are allowed. This includes submission as a lead organization, non-lead organization, or subawardee on any proposal. Proposals may be for instrument acquisition or instrument development. Two (2) submissions are permitted for Track 1, one (1) submission is permitted for Track 2, and one (1) submission is permitted for Track 3.
Only proposals approved by the proposer’s Dean and the Division of Research and Economic Development may be submitted to this program. For such approval, Principal Investigators (PI) must first submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to preaward@boisestate.edu on Monday, April 17, 2023.
NOI Instructions:
The NOI should include the following:
Cover Page (does not count toward 3 page limit):
- Title
- Key Personnel
- Track (Track 1, 2, or 3)
- Acquisition or Development
- Estimated cost of acquisition or development
Narrative (no more than 3 pages):
- Intellectual merit
- Broader impacts
- The extent to which the proposed project will make a substantial improvement in the organization’s capabilities to conduct leading-edge research, to provide research experiences for undergraduate students using leading-edge capabilities, and to broaden the participation in science and engineering research (especially as lead PIs) by women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities and/or early-career investigators.
- A description of any space requirements or other university resources that may be associated with the proposed project
- For ACQUISITION proposals, the following is required:
- The extent to which the instrument is used for multi-user, shared-use research and/or research training.
- For instrument acquisition proposals of $1 million or above, the potential impact of the instrument on the research community of interest at the regional or national level, if appropriate.
- For DEVELOPMENT proposals, the following is required:
- The need for development of a new instrument. Will the proposed instrument enable enhanced performance over existing instruments, or new types of measurement or information gathering? Is there a strong need for the new instrument in the larger user community to advance new frontiers of research?
- The availability of appropriate technical expertise to design and construct the instrument.
If selected to submit a full proposal, PIs must ensure that proposals meet all requirements stated in the RFP, in the announcement, and in the implementing laws and regulations related to this grant program.
Key Submission Dates:
- 4/17/2023 – NOI due to preaward@boisestate.edu.  Please cc your Dean for visibility.
- 4/27/2023 – Anticipated date by which Internal Awardees will be notified.
- 11/8/2023 – Final documents due to the Office of Sponsored Programs.
- 11/15/2023 – Full proposal due to NSF.
Did you find a limited submission opportunity? Email us at preaward@boisestate.edu.