NSI Determination Guidance

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI) is a trusted partner for government and industry, working to solve critical national security challenges. NSI accelerates the delivery of advanced capabilities that meet the needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community (IC) through leading-edge, high-impact research and workforce development. NSI also pioneers emerging technologies and solutions, using transdisciplinary approaches to address current and future national security priorities.

NSI's Research Support and Operations team is well-versed in supporting the intricacies, oversight, and reporting requirements of these projects. The team is also trained to handle aspects that may involve Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or classified information.

When is a Project Supported by NSI?

Projects that are national-security-related or sponsored by DoD or IC entities do not automatically require involvement of NSI. 

A project will be supported by the NSI throughout the award lifecycle (from proposal to award closeout) if it meets any of the following criteria:

• The project Principal Investigator (PI) is an NSI researcher.
• The project originates in NSI or is suggested by NSI, even if the PI is in another non-NSI department.
• CU Boulder is responding directly to a DoD or IC entity, and the solicitation specifically identifies project management as a requirement.

The decision for NSI involvement will be made at the proposal stage, unless program management support is added at a post-award stage.

The OCG Contract Officer assigned to NSI is involved in all projects supported by NSI.

The OCG Proposal Analyst assigned to NSI is primarily involved in projects proposed by NSI researchers. Non-NSI researchers should work with their regular Proposal Analyst.