Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 | 24 598

NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Mid-scale RI-1) FAQs

1) What is the NSF Mid-scale RI-1 program?

Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 (Mid-scale RI-1) is a foundation-wide NSF grant program designed to support research infrastructure projects that are too large or complex for NSF's Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, but not at the scale of NSF Major Multi-user Facilities (Major Facilities). It is intended to provide an agile path for building or preparing mid-scale capabilities that U.S. researchers rely on.

2) What problem is Mid-scale RI-1 meant to solve?

The program is meant to fill a funding gap between smaller infrastructure awards (like MRI) and very large facility projects (Major Facilities). It targets projects in the middle range where community need is clear and the infrastructure would substantially strengthen experimental and/or computational capabilities.

3) How does NSF define "research infrastructure" in this program?

NSF uses "research infrastructure" broadly. It can include facilities, equipment, instruments, computing hardware and software, datasets, and the human expertise needed to plan, build, operate, and commission the capability. Projects can involve a mix of these components.

4) What are the two proposal tracks under Mid-scale RI-1?

The program supports two tracks: (1) Implementation and (2) Design. Implementation funds acquiring/constructing/upgrading/integrating and commissioning infrastructure. Design funds planning and engineering work to increase readiness for a potential future implementation effort.

5) What does an Implementation project support?

Implementation projects focus on bringing mid-scale infrastructure online and making it usable by the research community. This can include acquiring, constructing, upgrading, integrating, and commissioning major equipment and instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, widely used large-scale datasets, and the specialized personnel required to successfully implement the capability.

6) What does a Design award support?

Design awards fund preparatory work to get a prospective mid-scale infrastructure project ready for a later build. Supported activities can include conceptual and technical design, prototyping, risk reduction, requirements definition, costing, scheduling, governance and operations planning, and other work that meaningfully increases project "readiness."

7) Is a Design award a guarantee of future construction or implementation funding?

No. Design awards are explicitly not a promise of future construction funding.

8) Is a Design award required before submitting an Implementation proposal?

No. A Design award is not a prerequisite for submitting an Implementation proposal.

9) What is the budget range for Implementation proposals?

Implementation projects must have a total project cost from $4,000,000 up to but not including $20,000,000. The maximum award amount listed is $19,999,999.

10) What is the typical budget range for Design proposals?

Design activities typically request less than $4,000,000, with a minimum request of $400,000. However, Design proposals may request up to but not including $20,000,000 when justified by the scope required to prepare for an eventual mid-scale implementation project.

11) What happens if a project is outside the Mid-scale RI-1 cost limits?

Projects that fall outside the Mid-scale RI-1 cost limits can be returned without review, including cases where costs are revised during review and end up outside the allowable boundaries.

12) What if my project costs $20 million or more?

Projects that exceed the Mid-scale RI-1 ceiling are handled under a separate NSF solicitation: Mid-scale RI-2.

13) What does NSF emphasize when evaluating Mid-scale RI-1 proposals?

NSF places heavy emphasis on scientific and technical merit. Proposals are expected to make a compelling case that the infrastructure is unique, broadly valuable, and responsive to demonstrated demand in the research community, with strong technical and management planning.

14) What kinds of planning documents does NSF expect?

NSF expects appropriately scaled planning documents referenced in NSF's Research Infrastructure Guide (RIG). For Implementation efforts, this may include a Project Execution Plan (PEP). For Design efforts, this may include a Design and Execution Plan (DEP). These documents should match the project's complexity and credibly address governance, scheduling, cost control, risk management, commissioning, and operations.

15) Are the planning documents treated as a checklist item?

No. The opportunity emphasizes that planning and management elements should not be treated as box-checking exercises. NSF is looking for credible, appropriately scaled plans that fit the project.

16) What is the program's focus on workforce development?

Workforce development is a major theme. Projects are expected to include training components that engage a diverse STEM workforce in design and/or implementation, including concrete plans for mentoring and professional development for students and other trainees.

17) Does the program address working environment and culture?

Yes. NSF strongly encourages supportive, healthy working environments and encourages including participants who contribute to that culture at all levels.

18) How does Mid-scale RI-1 address broad participation?

The program aims to broaden participation among principal investigators and institutions. It encourages geographically diverse organizations and highlights institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions. Collaborative proposals and partnerships are encouraged to expand access, distribute expertise, and spread benefits across the community.

19) Is accessibility for persons with disabilities part of the program expectations?

Yes. Proposers are encouraged to incorporate accessibility for persons with disabilities into design and implementation so the resulting infrastructure and associated activities are usable by as many researchers and trainees as possible.

20) Who is eligible to submit a Mid-scale RI-1 proposal?

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based organizations. Eligible submitters include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting) with a main campus in the United States or its territories/possessions; domestic U.S. nonprofit non-degree-granting organizations that support national research activities (such as museums, observatories, science centers, and research laboratories) with a U.S.-located administrative structure and 501(c)(3) status; and eligible consortia.

21) What types of consortia are eligible?

Consortia can be (a) formally incorporated nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, or (b) informal consortia led by at least two eligible organizations. For informal consortia, the proposal should identify a PI and co-PI(s) from at least two submission-eligible institutions and make clear in the title that a consortium is proposing.

22) Can for-profit companies lead a Mid-scale RI-1 proposal?

No. For-profit companies cannot submit as the lead organization.

23) Can for-profit companies participate in a Mid-scale RI-1 project?

Yes. For-profit companies may participate through subawards or subcontracts when they provide a clearly justified, unique capability that eligible organizations do not otherwise have, and when the partnership is substantive and capacity-building.

24) Who is expected to retain title to the resulting infrastructure?

Unless an award specifies otherwise, the eligible performing organization is expected to retain title to the resulting infrastructure.

25) Are there restrictions related to ongoing NSF major construction projects?

Yes. Mid-scale RI-1 will not accept proposals whose purpose is to augment an ongoing NSF Major Multi-user Facility or Mid-scale RI-2 project that is already in the construction stage, because those projects already have defined scopes.

26) Does Mid-scale RI-1 support upgrades to existing infrastructure?

Yes. The program is for new or upgraded mid-scale capabilities, including upgrades to existing infrastructure, as long as the proposal is not an add-on to an NSF Major Multi-user Facility or Mid-scale RI-2 project already in construction.

27) How many awards does NSF expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expected number of awards of about 10.

28) What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?

The listed application deadline is 2025-03-19.

29) What is the award type and sponsoring agency?

The agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the funding instrument is a grant.

30) What is the maximum award amount under Mid-scale RI-1?

The maximum award amount listed is $19,999,999.

31) Is Mid-scale RI-1 limited to a specific scientific discipline?

The program spans NSF's broad research portfolio (multiple NSF CFDA areas are listed). Fit is determined primarily by whether the infrastructure directly enables advances in NSF-supported research domains and whether the project is appropriately scaled between MRI and Major Facilities.

32) What makes a project a strong fit for Mid-scale RI-1?

A strong fit is an infrastructure capability that is mid-scale (too big/complex for MRI but not a major facility), addresses clear community or national needs, is unique and broadly valuable, and is supported by credible technical and management plans for governance, schedule, cost, risk, commissioning, and operations.