National Science Foundation Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program
Please
distribute this information to your faculty to determine if they have an
interest in submitting a proposal to this program.
WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program.
WHO: Texas A&M University faculty, including Agriculture, Engineering and TTI personnel.
WHY: NSF anticipates making 1-2 Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) awards for up to three years for a total of $2 million dollars; and up to one Construction (CNST) award funded through a five-year cooperative agreement for about $1-4 million dollars per year.
WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of April 13, 2009.
HOW: Faculty should submit letter of intent and internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu
for review by the internal selection committee.
THE FINE PRINT:
The funding agency below has limited the number of preliminary proposals to one per institution for the Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program, whether for CED or CNST. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date of the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection, and the due date for submission to the agency.
AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF)
AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE: NSF 09-547 Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP)
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program provides support for the design and construction of major instruments costing more than $4 million but less than $20 million. The program also supports the development of detailed conceptual and engineering design for new tools for materials preparation or characterization at major user facilities. Such instruments may include neutron beam lines, synchrotron beam lines, and high field magnets, as well as development of detectors and preparation environments necessary to support materials research. Facilities may be for neutron scattering, synchrotron radiation and high magnetic fields. The program is geared toward scientific disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, geosciences and engineering.
A Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) proposal may request support to develop concepts for mid-scale projects to a level of maturity sufficient to determine whether such a project is ready for construction. Research and development associated with technical issues that are on the critical path of the engineering design may be included in the CED.
A Construction (CNST) proposal may request support for the construction of the instruments. In order to be considered for possible funding, CNST proposals must include a detailed engineering design, with a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to level 4, together with a detailed cost estimate. Also, it is not necessary that a PI have received a CED award from NSF prior to submitting a CNST proposal, as long as the documents necessary for a detailed NSF review have been provided. Not all CED awards are expected to result in successful CNST proposals.
More information can be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09547/nsf09547.htm
AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT: The Instrumentation for Materials Research-Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program is open to colleges and universities in the United States.
AWARD INFORMATION: NSF anticipates making 1-2 CED awards per year for up to three years, averaging $2 million dollars per award and up to one CNST award funded through a five-year cooperative agreement for $1-4 million dollars per year. Note that the program does not provide operating funds for projects it supports through this solicitation. Operational costs must be supported either by the facility at which the instrument is located or through some other source.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS COSTS: Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: NONE.
COST SHARING: NONE.
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES:
April 10, 2009: Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project. Send email of intent to osppc@tamu.edu
April 13, 2009: Deadline to obtain approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Research Policy and Development Support Office for review by the internal selection committee. The internal proposal should include:
(1) An executive summary, up to two pages, based on the Project Summary as required in the NSF program announcement;
(2) Summary budget;
(3) Project and Management Plans (including team members).
The form for completing the internal proposal is here.
This completed form should be submitted electronically to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.
*Once your internal proposal has been received with all of the necessary signatures, you will receive an email indicating it will be reviewed by the internal selection committee. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please call 5-1812.*
Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09547/nsf09547.htm
Selection of a proposal will be based on NSF guidelines. Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.
During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also request additional information from PIs.
April 24, 2009: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.
June 29, 2009: Deadline for full proposal: (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).
