NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program
Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).
If you are applying as a subaward, you must contact ltdsubs@colorado.edu, per NSF subaward guidelines.
Program Summary
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 of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities, thereby advancing instrumentation capabilities and enhancing expertise for instrument design and fabrication at academic institutions. MRI instruments are, 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 obtain next-generation research instruments by developing instruments with new capabilities 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 from NSF up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Each performing organization may submit in revised "Tracks" as defined below, with no more than two (2) submissions in Track 1 and no more than one (1) submission in Track 2. For the newly defined Track 3, no more than one (1) submission per competition is permitted.
For helium-related requests only (Track 3): MRI will accept requests that include the acquisition, development, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium. Consistent with the goals of the MRI Program, support for such requests will be limited to equipment and instrumentation that serve shared-use research instrumentation.
Deadlines
CU Internal Application Deadline: 11:59pm MST August 19, 2024
Sponsor Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)
- Type of Proposal: Track 1, Track 2, Track 3
- Project Description (3 pages maximum): Please provide a project summary (instrument type and location, research activities to be enabled, research equipment/instrument and needs description, instrument management information, etc.), making sure to address the intellectual merits and broader impacts of the proposed effort. Please provide details around whether the technology will be part of an existing core facility and how the instrument will be financially supported beyond its acquisition.
- Note: If you were selected to apply to NSF last cycle and are still pending NSF review, you are welcome to resubmit and note the pending status. Your proposal will be reviewed and evaluated on its merits with other internal proposals.
- Infrastructure Commitment Letter (1 page maximum): Please detail where the instrumentation will be stored and any ongoing or special infrastructure or installation needs. The letter must be signed by the PI, the Associate Dean for Research, Associate Dean of Operations (if applicable) and Dean. Due to campus space and infrastructure needs, if any of the proposed plans change, PIs agree (with the submission of this letter) to immediately inform RIO (ltdsubs@colorado.edu) and all letter signatories.
- Data Management Plan (2 pages maximum): Please detail how much data will be created by the instrument and what plans exist on sharing, storing and analyzing the data.
- PI Biosketch / CV
- Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.
To access the online application, visit: https://cuboulderovcr.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/6976/home
Eligibility
There are no special eligibility requirements.
The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Proposals from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities and early-career PIs are encouraged, as are proposals that benefit early-career researchers and proposals with PIs from geographically under-served regions, including EPSCoR jurisdictions.
Limited Submission Guidelines
Two (2) in Track 1, one (1) in Track 2 and one (1) in Track 3
Award Information and Duration
Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than $100,0001 and less than $1,400,000.
Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
Track 3: Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to conserve or reduce the consumption of helium.
Cost sharing requirements for new awards in the MRI Program are waived for a period of 5 years beginning with the FY 2023 MRI competition.
Review Criteria
In addition to NSF’s standard evaluation intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria, reviewers will assess the following:
All Proposals:
- 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.
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 $1.4 million or above (Track 2), 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.