Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1

The National Science Foundation administers the Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 program as part of its broader mission to support science and engineering research across the United States. NSF is an independent federal agency that funds a significant portion of basic research conducted at colleges and universities. This program specifically addresses a funding gap between smaller instrumentation awards and large-scale facility investments, providing a mechanism to support mid-scale infrastructure that is essential for advancing cutting-edge research capabilities across multiple disciplines. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable the design, development, and implementation of research infrastructure projects that are too large for traditional instrumentation programs but do not reach the scale of major facilities. The program supports both “Design” and “Implementation” project types. Design projects focus on preparatory activities that position a concept for future infrastructure deployment, while Implementation projects support the acquisition, construction, or upgrade of infrastructure systems. These may include equipment, instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, large datasets, and associated personnel required to operationalize the infrastructure. Funding under this program ranges broadly, with implementation awards typically spanning from 4 million to just under 20 million dollars, and design projects ranging from 400,000 dollars up to the same upper limit where appropriate. The program emphasizes strong technical planning, clear management structures, and well-defined execution strategies. Funds may be used for infrastructure acquisition, development, and workforce training activities, but must align strictly with the project scope and NSF guidelines. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based entities, including accredited institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and eligible consortia. Consortia may be formal nonprofit entities or informal collaborations led by eligible institutions. While for-profit organizations cannot apply directly, they may participate as subawardees or contractors if their contribution is justified as unique and necessary. All applicants must maintain a primary administrative presence in the United States and comply with NSF organizational and registration requirements. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or Research.gov, with strict adherence to NSF proposal preparation guidelines. Applicants must complete a comprehensive application package that includes standard federal forms, project narrative, budget justification, data management plans, and other required documentation. Proposals must align with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and conform to formatting, submission, and compliance requirements. Applications undergo a multi-stage validation and review process, including both technical compliance checks and merit-based peer review. Evaluation criteria focus heavily on intellectual merit and broader impacts, including the potential to advance scientific knowledge, benefit society, and support workforce development. Projects are expected to demonstrate a clear need within the research community, strong feasibility, and meaningful contributions to national research capabilities. NSF also encourages proposals that promote diversity, accessibility, and inclusion within STEM fields, including participation from underrepresented groups and institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions. The application window for this funding opportunity opened on August 20, 2024, and the current closing date is February 8, 2027. NSF typically reviews proposals over several months, and award decisions follow based on merit review outcomes and programmatic priorities. Applicants may contact NSF support channels for technical assistance during submission. While the program operates on recurring cycles, future deadlines and cycles are expected to follow a similar annual or periodic cadence, supporting ongoing investment in mid-scale research infrastructure nationwide.

Ensure strong technical and management plans; clearly justify infrastructure need; emphasize workforce development and diversity inclusion; align with NSF intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria