NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI)

NSF 18-513

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award 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.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Beginning with the FY 2018 competition, each performing organization may submit in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2.

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than $1,000,000.

• Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $4,000,000.

Consistent with the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-69), cost sharing of precisely 30% 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 and cannot include it. National Science Board policy prohibits voluntary committed cost sharing.

Please see the solicitation text for organizational definitions used by the MRI program.

The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of PIs in its award portfolio, including women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities. Since demographic diversity may be greater among early-career researchers the MRI program also encourages proposals with early-career PIs and proposals that benefit early-career researchers.

Internal Competition Deadline to College Dean’s Office: November 5, 2021:  Please submit up to 5 pages pre-proposal white paper to your respective Dean by November 5, 2021 in the following format. College level reviews will be conducted by Deans to forward recommendations for up to 2 proposals to the Office of Research and Development by November 10, 2021. The final selection will be announced by November 15, 2021.  The following format for the pre-proposal is suggested which is consistent with actual proposal guidelines and review criterion:

1. Cover Sheet (not counted in the page limit):

• Title of the project proposal
• Track Type: I or II
• PI name and affiliation and contact information
• Co-PIs name and affiliation
• Additional users or any consortium information, if applicable
• Date submitted to College Dean

2. Project Summary

Each proposal must contain a summary of the proposed project not more than one page in length. The Project Summary consists of an overview, a statement on the intellectual merit of the proposed activity, and a statement on the broader impacts of the proposed activity.

3. Proposal Description covering the subsections (a)-(e) as posted on the previous RFP on https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18513/nsf18513.htm  with the section:

a1. Instrument Location and Type

a2. ONLY REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS: Justification for submission as a Development proposal

• Research Activities to be Enabled
• Description of the Research Instrumentation and Needs
• Broader Impacts (Including Impact on Research and Training Infrastructure)
• Management Plan

4. Preliminary Budget and Budget Justification; and Required Cost-Sharing

5. Brief biographical sketch of PI with a brief description of current and previous accomplishments.

For pre-proposal review, the NSF MRI proposal review criterion may be used to help faculty receive some feedback on their proposals that may be helpful for their final or future proposal submissions. The merit review criterion as posted on the RFP is:

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes

Instrument Acquisition Proposals.

• The extent to which the instrument is used for multi-user, shared-use research and/or research training.
• Whether the management plan demonstrates sufficient commitment and technical expertise for effective scheduling and usage of the instrument.
• The organization's commitment to ensuring successful operations and maintenance over the expected lifetime of the instrument.
• Whether the research to be enabled is compelling and justifies the instrument request.
• Whether the budget request is appropriate and well justified.
• if student involvement is in the form of direct support for operations and maintenance of the instrument, reviewers will be asked to evaluate the involvement in terms of both instrument needs and the training of the next generation of instrumentalists.
• 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.

Instrument Development Proposals:

• The appropriateness of submission as a development proposal.
• 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 adequacy of the project’s management plan. Does the plan have a realistic schedule that is described in sufficient detail to be assessed? Are mechanisms described to mitigate and deal with potential risks?
• The availability of appropriate technical expertise to design and construct the instrument. If direct support for student involvement in development efforts is requested, reviewers will be asked to evaluate the involvement in terms of both project needs and training the next generation of instrumentalists.
• The appropriateness of the cost of the new technology.

$100,000-$4 million

Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument.

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than $1,000,000.
• Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $4,000,000.

Note: The 30% cost-sharing requirement applies to only the portion of the total project cost budgeted to non-exempt organizations, including those participating through subawards. Please review the RFP for additional information.

3. Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

$75,000,000

Not required

January 01, 2022 - January 19, 2022

• Randy L. Phelps, telephone: (703) 292-8040, email: rphelps@nsf.gov