Call for Ideas: NSF Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Proposals

Every two years, the National Science Foundation solicits proposals for unique research infrastructure that fills a gap in US innovation capabilities. Mid-Scale RI proposals take more than a year to prepare, given their complexity and the large number of institutional commitments needed to secure. Teams with infrastructure or instrumentation ideas at any stage of maturity can consult with the Office of Knowledge Enterprise's research development team to help prepare for future Mid-Scale RI competitions. Teams that have not consulted with research development prior to the release of Mid-Scale solicitations may not be eligible to submit proposals in that round.

More information about the Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure program

Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure-1 ($400,000 - $20,000,000)

• Anticipated Solicitation Release: September 2024
• Anticipated Pre-Proposal Due Date: January 2025
• Anticipated Full Proposal Due Date (if invited): May 2025

Within Mid-Scale RI-1, proposers may submit two types of projects, “Implementation” and “Design.” Design and Implementation projects may comprise any combination of equipment, infrastructure, computational hardware and software, and necessary commissioning. Design includes planning of research infrastructure with an anticipated total project cost that is appropriate for future Mid-Scale RI-1 or Mid-Scale RI-2 investments. Mid-Scale RI-1 uses an inclusive definition of implementation, which can include traditional stand-alone construction or acquisition and can include a degree of advanced development leading immediately to final system acquisition and/or construction. Implementation projects may support new or upgraded research infrastructure. 

Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure-2 ($20,000,000 - $100,000,000)

• Anticipated Solicitation Release: March 2025
• Anticipated LOI Due Date: May 2025
• Anticipated Pre-Proposal Due Date: June 2025
• Anticipated Full Proposal Due Date (if invited): December 2025

The NSF Mid-Scale RI-2 program supports implementation of projects that comprise any combination of equipment, instrumentation, computational hardware and software, and the necessary commissioning and human capital in support of implementation of the same. Mid-Scale RI-2 projects will directly enable advances in any of the research domains supported by NSF, including STEM education. Mid-Scale RI-2 will support projects in high states of readiness for implementation, i.e., those that have already matured through previous developmental investments. Projects may also include upgrades to existing research infrastructure.

Special Funding to Develop Mid-Scale RI Teams in STEM Education (up to $500,000)

• Proposal due date: March 15, 2024

NSF issued a special invitation in Dec. 2023 for teams to fund team, network, and concept development for Mid-Scale RI proposals that expand the nation’s STEM education infrastructure, particularly at the K-12 level. Infrastructure may include any combination of facilities, equipment, instrumentation, data repositories, or computational hardware or software, along with the necessary human capital to support it. Eligible activities include research coordination networks (RCN) and conferences.