Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling or floor; award size and duration vary by project and facility.
Summary: Supports the operation of national user facilities offering unique research capabilities and open access to the scientific community, especially in materials research and related fields.
Key Information: Proposals must follow the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Description
The National Facilities program supports the operation of national user facilities—research centers with specialized instrumentation and resources that are available to the broader scientific community, with a particular emphasis on materials research. These facilities provide unique research capabilities that are typically only available at a few highly specialized laboratories in the United States.
Facilities supported may include those for:
- High magnetic fields
- Ultraviolet and x-ray synchrotron radiation
- Neutron scattering
- Nanofabrication
The program is designed to:
- Enable open user service for scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, geosciences, materials research, and physics.
- Serve as science and technology resources for students, teachers, and the general public.
- Support educational activities, curriculum development, and public outreach.
Due Dates
- Proposals are accepted at any time; there is no fixed deadline.
Funding Amount
- No explicit minimum or maximum award amount is specified.
- Funding levels and duration are determined based on the scope and needs of the proposed facility and its operations.
- Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements.
Eligibility
- Eligibility is unrestricted; open to any type of entity, including:
- Academic institutions
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Government laboratories
- Other research entities
- Applicants must comply with any additional requirements specified in the program solicitation and the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Application Process
- Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements in the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
- Applications are submitted electronically via Research.gov or Grants.gov.
- Proposals should clearly describe:
- The facility’s unique capabilities and instrumentation
- Plans for open user access and service
- Research, education, and outreach activities
- Management and operational structure
- Broader impacts, including education and public engagement
Additional Information
- NSF awards made on or after October 1, 2024, are subject to updated award conditions consistent with revised federal guidance. See NSF award conditions.
- Proposals must adhere to all requirements in the solicitation and the PAPPG in effect at the time of submission.
- The program is managed by the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Division of Materials Research (DMR).
External Links
Contact Information