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2025 Federal Administration Transition Information & Resources - This will be updated as new information is available.

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Stanford Research Development Office

NSF Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure-1

Most recent content update: October 21, 2024

Note: This page will be updated as new information is available. Please check back frequently. 

Program Snapshot

The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Program (Mid-scale RI-1) supports the design or implementation of unique and compelling Research Infrastructure projects. NSF defines research infrastructure as any combination of facilities, equipment, instrumentation, or computational hardware or software, and the human capital necessary to support these. The Foundation-wide Mid-scale Research Infrastructure opportunity is intended to be a biennial competition (depending on availability of funds) to fund experimental research capabilities in the mid-scale range between MRI and Major Multi-user Facilities.

Projects should involve the training of a diverse workforce engaged in the design and implementation of STEM research infrastructure and should directly enable advances in any of the research domains supported by NSF. Projects may also include upgrades to existing research infrastructure. 

  • Proposal types types and funding levels
    • Submissions to Mid-scale RI-1 fall into two categories, “Implementation Projects” (e.g., acquisition and/or construction) or “Design Activities." 
    • Implementation projects: Acquisition or construction projects with budgets ranging from $4 million up to but not including $20 million. Intended to enable well-defined, limited-term research experiments with broad community buy-in and shared data resources and/or shared-use, mid-scale infrastructure for broad community use. Construction or operations of labs/facilities or scientific research are not supported.
    • Design activities: Intended to fund design efforts leading to eventual implementation of a mid-scale class RI project. Minimum request of $400,000, up to but not including $20 million. 
    • Note: A Mid-scale RI-1 design award does not imply a commitment on the part of NSF to the future implementation of the same project, nor is a Mid-scale RI-1 design award a prerequisite for submitting an implementation project proposal.
  • Period of performance: up to five years, commensurate with the scope of the project.

Timeline

(Accurate as of last content update to this page)

  • November 18, 2024: Required preliminary proposal due
  • March 19, 2025: Full proposal due (by invitation only)

Resources

Information from NSF

RDO Proposal Writing Resources

RDO Checklist

A checklist of all NSF Mid-scale RI-1 proposal components for which the PI is responsible

RDO Outline

Outline based on solicitation NSF 24-598, which offers a starting point for writing the Mid-scale RI-1 preliminary proposal Project Summary and Project Description

General resources for instrumentation and infrastructure funding-seekers

If you are looking for shared instrumentation or infrastructure funding and aren't convinced that the NSF Mid-Scale RI-1 funding opportunity is the right fit, the materials below may help with funding search and strategy.

  • In October of 2024, the Shared Research Platforms team and RDO hosted an event on Strategy for Shared Instrumentation Grant-Seekers. Presentation slides include analysis of NSF MRI, NIH S10, DoD DURIP, and C-ShaRP Instrumentation & Enhancement funding opportunities, as well as proposal development timeline and strategy recommendations.
  • RDO's list of federal instrumentation and infrastructure grants offers insights into a variety of recurring opportunities.

Proposal Support

The Stanford Research Development Office (RDO) provides proposal development support, including writing, editing and project management for collaborative, complex, and strategic proposals. Please contact Kim Baeten for more information.

For NSF MSRI-1 proposals from the School of Engineering, please contact Blythe Nobleman in Engineering Research Administration for research development support. (See FAQs for details on how RDO and ERA coordinate proposal support.)