NSF Instrumentation for Materials Research -- Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) (NSF 05-513)
UM Internal Deadline: August 21 (Monday, 5:00 PM)

NSF DEADLINE: October 16, 2006 (Monday)

Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.

An institution may submit at most one IMR-MIP proposal in a given year, whether for Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) or for Construction (CNST).

Synopsis
The Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Project (IMR-MIP) program in the Division of Materials Research provides support for the design and construction of major instruments costing more than $2 million at major US facilities. The program also supports the development of detailed conceptual and engineering design for new tools for materials preparation or characterization at major national facilities.Ê Such instruments may include, for example,Ê neutron beam lines, synchrotron beam lines, and high field magnets, as well as development of detectors and preparation environments necessary to support materials research.

The Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP) Program supports the design and construction only; operation of the instruments built with these funds is to be provided from other sources (i.e., other programs within NSF or non-NSF funds). Staffing and operating the instrument will remain the responsibility of the proposing institution.

The IMR-MIP program will consider two different types of proposals:

1. Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) proposals 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. Projects for which detailed engineering designs are needed are those with subsequent construction costs greater than about $5 million. A successful CED proposal does not guarantee that the subsequent construction of the instrument will be funded.
2. Construction (CNST) proposals 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 [see section V.A.c. below for definitions], together with a detailed cost estimate. This level of detail can be provided by a previous CED award or by a similar study funded through other sources (e.g., institutional support, private funding). The WBS must meet the approval of both the facility at which the instrument will be located and NSF's National Facilities (NAF) Program Director. The IMR-MIP Program expects to make one 5-year award from each annual competition. The CNST awards will be funded as Cooperative Agreements.

UM Internal abstract deadline: August 21 (Monday, 5 PM)
If you are interested in claiming one of UM's proposal slots, submit a 3-4 page page summary:

1. Describe briefly where the project "fits" on a national and international level. Limit: 1 page.
2. Describe the vision and goals for the proposed project, including its potential in enabling the nation's research and education infrastructure for materials science and engineering and its broader educational and societal impacts.
3. Capabilities of the Project (see program announcement)
4. Education, Outreach, and Knowledge Transfer
5. The estimated total cost of the project; and
6. Any peer review comments received on this application from a previous IMR-MIP submission

We will need to receive your 3-4 page summaries for the Instrument Solicitation by close of business on Monday, August 21, 2006, (5:00 PM). Please indicate in your "Summary Title" whether your proposal is for Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) or Construction (CNST)

Submit the summary to Marvin G. Parnes via e-mail: mgparnes@umich.edu with a copy to Dave Plawchan; davedrda@umich.edu

Send a copy of any summary submitted for review to the appropriate Research Dean.

The Vice President for Research, in consultation with others, will decide which three proposals should be developed. The finalists for this competition will be notified no later than Friday, September 8, 2006.

If you have any questions about project eligibility, or requests to receive a hard copy of the NSF Program Announcement NSF 05-513, please direct them to Dave Plawchan [fastlane-admin@umich.edu] in DRDA. You can also retrieve an electronic version directly from the NSF website: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05513/nsf05513.htm