Research and Sponsored Programs

The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18513/nsf18513.htm) is limited in the number of proposals that may be submitted from a single institution.  

The number of MRI proposal submissions allowed per institution continues to be a maximum of three, but is now based on the dollar value of the amount requested from NSF; no more than two submissions are permitted in a newly-defined Track 1 (Track 1 proposals are those requesting from NSF $100,000 ^[1] to less than $1 million) and no more than one submission is permitted in a newly defined Track 2 (Track 2 proposals are those requesting from NSF $1 million up to and including $4 million). Proposal submissions within the two tracks may be either for acquisition or development of a research instrument. NSF strongly values MRI proposals that seek to develop next-generation research instruments that open new frontiers of research. As a result the MRI program seeks to support development proposals in numbers (i.e., up to 1/3 of awards) consistent with recent competitions, depending on the numbers and quality of the proposals.

Please be aware of the NSF rules regarding UT participation in a non-lead applicant role: it may count as one of UT’s limited submissions!   If you plan an involvement that would count against UT’s limit (see question 8 from the FAQ on this topic for explanation), you will only be allowed to submit if it is first approved through the campus selection process.

Campus Selection Process Schedule

• Campus Deadline for Submission | Monday, October 15, 2018
• Campus Selection Announced | Target Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2018
• NSF Proposal Submission Window | January 1-22, 2019

CamPUS Submission Guidelines

For your proposal to be considered, please send the following as PDF attachment (not to exceed 8 pages for new submission, and not to exceed 9 pages for re-submissions) to rick.francis@utoledo.edu by 11:59 PM, October 15:

Project title in the format required by NSF MRI guidelines (e.g. MRI: Acquisition of ...).
1.  List of investigators
2.  Project Summary (maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 1-inch margins). Should address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts merit criteria.
3.  Project Description (maximum 6 pages, double-spaced, 1-inch margins). Should explicitly address the general and additional merit review criteria in the guidelines; how the instrument is to be used and shared for research and research training; broader impacts; plans for using new or enhanced research capability in teaching, training or learning.
4.  If your proposal was previously submitted to the NSF MRI program:
      a.  submit your complete reviewer comments and scores, and
      b.  submit one additional page to explain how you will address the reviewer comments.

Resubmissions only will be allowed an extra page to address these comments, for a maximum 7 pages for the Project Description.

5.  Management Plan: e.g. instrument location and management of access; infrastructure and technical expertise for effective usage of the instrument; commitment and plans to fund for operations and maintenance. 
6.  Budget. Rough numbers are sufficient, but should indicate both the estimated request and cost-share portions. Investigators on chosen projects will be invited to discuss solutions for the required cost share.