REQUIRED PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING NSF MRI PROPOSALS

National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program - http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri 

Please note that the information contained within this announcement is for internal processes only. NSF has not yet published an updated solicitation for the FY13 NSF MRI program competition. General information about the program is available at http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri

This is a limited submission opportunity in that an institution may submit up to three proposals, one of which *must* be for equipment development. (This limitation includes consortium partnerships where NU is a subcontractor.) Also note that there is a required cost sharing of 30%, mandated within the solicitation.

KEY DATES

* Internal Proposal due date: November 1, 2012, by 5:00 p.m., Central

* Review by Internal Committee: November 14, 2012

* Notification of Internal Candidates: November 21, 2012

* Sponsor Due Date: January 24, 2013 (tentative)


SYNOPSIS

The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education, museums, science centers, and not-for-profit organizations. This program especially seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions.

To accomplish these goals, the MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. Instruments are expected to be operational for regular research use by the end of the award period.  For the purposes of the MRI program, proposals must be for either acquisition or development of a single instrument or for equipment that, when combined, serves as an integrated research instrument (physical or virtual).  The MRI program does not support the acquisition or development of a suite of instruments to outfit research facilities or to conduct independent research activities simultaneously


SUBMISSION OF INTERNAL PROPOSALS

Faculty interested in submitting an Internal Proposal should refer to instructions below for generating an internal proposal. Please send the proposal by email to the Director of Core Facilities no later than 5:00 p.m., Central, on November 1, 2012.  A copy of the proposal should also be emailed to the Director of the Office for Research Development (ORD) [log in to unmask]

Internal Proposals that meet NSF requirements will be reviewed by an Internal Review Committee. Proposals should contain each of the three sections outlined below and abide by NSF guidelines (one-inch margins and typed in NSF-appropriate typefaces and sizes). Once completed, all sections should be combined into a single file and sent to the Director of Core Facilities and Director of ORD.

1. A lay summary/narrative which includes the following elements (four pages max):

a. A title. The title must include the words “Equipment Acquisition: Your Project Title” or “Equipment Development: Your Project Title.”

b. A description of the equipment and justification of need.

c. A list of faculty who will be involved in the submission and the estimated number of researchers who will benefit from the use of the equipment

d. A description of project and management plans, including plans for the maintenance, operation, and technical support of instrumentation; a plan for attracting new users; any other requirements as outlined in the NSF guidelines for the MRI Program (e.g., how the instrument will impact interdisciplinary science, research in the private sector and/or other academic institutions, risk factors involved and how they will be addressed).

e. A summary of your proposal as outlined in the program solicitation (refer to FY 12 until FY 13 becomes available http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11503/nsf11503.htm). The summary MUST address the "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impact" of the proposal.

2. NSF-formatted biographical sketch of all key personnel (two pages max each)

3. A summary budget, inclusive of the required 30% cost sharing.  If the total budget is greater than $1 Million, documentation of departmental chair(s) and school dean(s) commitments will be required (copies of email threads are acceptable).


TITLE OF INTERNAL PROPOSAL

Internal Proposal files should be named ”LastName_FirstInitial_NSF_MRI.pdf," replacing "LastName" with the nominee's last name and "FirstInitial" with the nominee's first initial.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Philip Hockberger, Director of Core Facilities, [log in to unmask], 847-467-1509 or 312-503-5625