NSF MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION PROGRAM: Instrument Development & Acquisition Solicitation (NSF 05-515)
Internal Deadline: November 5, 2007 (Monday, 5:00 P.M.)

Copy of announcement available at:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05515/nsf05515.htm
NSF DEADLINE: January 24, 2008

NSF Limit on Number of Proposals: Three (3) as described below. Both of the following conditions must be met or proposal(s) may be returned without review:

• An organization may submit or be included as a partner or subawardee in no more than three proposals.
• If an organization submits or is included as a partner or subawardee in three proposals, at least one of the three proposals must be for instrument development.

The signature of the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) on the Cover Sheet of a proposal signifies that the proposer and all partner organizations understand and agree to the following statement: "The AOR of each organization involved in this proposal is aware of this submission."

Synopsis of Program:

The MRI program assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation by organizations that is, in general, too costly for support through other NSF programs. Proposals may be for a single instrument, a large system of instruments, or multiple instruments that share a common or specific research focus.

The goals of the MRI program are to:

1. Support the acquisition, through purchase, upgrade or development of major state-of-the-art instrumentation for research, research training and integrated research/education activities at U.S. institutions;
2. Improve access to and increase use of modern research and research training instrumentation by scientists, engineers, graduate and undergraduate students;
3. Enable academic departments or cross-departmental units to create well-equipped learning environments that integrate research with education;
4. Foster the development of the next generation of instrumentation for research and research training;
5. Promote partnerships between academic researchers and private sector instrument developers.

UM INTERNAL ABSTRACT DEADLINE-- November 6, 2006 (Monday, 5 PM)
If you are interested in claiming one of UM's proposal slots, as a "LEAD" or NON-LEAD institution, we would like to receive a three to four page summary from you that outlines:

1. The instrumentation required and why it should be viewed as a priority for the University of Michigan;
2. How it meets the MRI program goals; The outcomes you anticipate if your proposal is successful;
3. Any peer review comments received on this application from a previous MRI submission
4. The estimated total cost of the project. (Cost sharing is not required.)
5. A list of Co-PIs involved in the proposal

We will need to receive your summaries for the Instrument Solicitation by close of business on Monday, November 5, 2007. (5:00 P.M.) Please indicate in your "Summary Title" whether your proposal is for "Instrument Acquisition (LEAD or NON-LEAD") or "Instrument Development (LEAD or NON-LEAD)"

Submit the summary to:

1. fastlane-admin@umich.edu
2. a copy to mgparnes@umich.edu
3. a copy to Dave Plawchan; davedrda@umich.edu
4. a copy 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 of their selection no later than Wednesday, Novemeber 21, 2007.

If you have any questions about project eligibility, or requests to receive a hard copy of the NSF Program Announcement NSF 05-515, please direct them to Dave Plawchan [fastlane-admin@umich.edu] in DRDA. You can also retrieve an electronic version directly from NSF MRI Program Solicitation (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05515/nsf05515.htm)