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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 46840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21608]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Request for Information (RFI)--Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure

AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: This Request for Information (RFI) is issued in response to 
the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA). NSF seeks 
information on existing and future needs for mid-scale research 
infrastructure projects from the US-based NSF science and engineering 
community. The AICA requires NSF to ``evaluate the existing and future 
needs, across all disciplines supported by the Foundation, for mid-
scale projects'' and ``develop a strategy to address the needs.'' The 
input will be used to assess the needs for mid-scale RI from the US-
based NSF science and engineering community in order to develop a 
strategy, in accordance with the AICA.

DATES: To be considered, submissions must be received no later than 
December 8, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Definitions: For the purposes of this RFI, NSF defines Research 
Infrastructure (RI) as any combination of facilities, equipment, 
instrumentation, computational hardware and software, and the necessary 
human capital in support of the same. This includes upgrades to 
existing major research facilities. Mid-scale RI requires an investment 
that falls between the maximum award funded by NSF's Major Research 
Instrumentation Program (MRI; $4 million) and that of a major multi-
user research facility project ($100 million or more), as defined in 
AICA.
    Background: Enabling Mid-scale Research Infrastructure is one of 
NSF's Ten Big Ideas. Given priorities in the current budget climate, 
NSF has been able to fund smaller mid-scale RI projects through its 
individual scientific directorates. Instrumentation and equipment up to 
$4 million has been routinely funded through the MRI program. Large-
scale RI projects have been successfully funded through the Major 
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) Account. In 
November 2016, the eligibility threshold for potential inclusion in the 
MREFC Account was lowered from approximately a $100 million Total 
Project Cost (TPC), i.e., total cost to NSF, depending on the 
directorate, to a fixed $70 million TPC. This adjustment was an initial 
step to support potential priorities in mid-scale science and 
infrastructure.
    Objective: The purpose of this RFI is to assess the needs for mid-
scale RI from the US-based NSF science and engineering community in 
order to develop a strategy, in accordance with the AICA. The AICA 
requires NSF to ``evaluate the existing and future needs, across all 
disciplines supported by the Foundation, for mid-scale projects'' and 
``develop a strategy to address the needs.'' This RFI focuses on mid-
scale research infrastructure projects with an anticipated NSF 
contribution of between $20 million and $100 million towards 
construction and/or acquisition. This range is of primary interest to 
NSF as it will help us anticipate the potential impact of lowering the 
MREFC threshold as well as identifying promising projects that remain 
difficult to address within program budgets due to the comparatively 
large investment needed in a relatively short period of time. After the 
submission period ends, and the information is analyzed, NSF will 
summarize the high-level insights drawn from this analysis for the 
science community and internal NSF use. Please note that funding for 
mid-scale RI projects in this range of investment has not been 
identified; nor does this RFI imply an intent on the part of NSF to 
issue a call for proposals. In addition, responses to this RFI do not 
constitute any commitment on behalf of the submitters or their 
institutions to submit a proposal or carry out an RI project.
    What We Are Looking For: Submissions should identify ideas for mid-
scale RI projects in the following format:
    1. Concept title and description. The description should include 
the potential for any inter-agency or international partnerships and 
contributions that are part of the TPC;
    2. Point of contact (in case additional clarification is needed);
    3. Contact of your Authorized Organizational Representative. Note, 
this contact will receive a copy of the survey submission;
    4. New, transformative science or scientific breakthroughs to be 
enabled by project;
    5. Evidence of research community support (list of reports, decadal 
surveys, other publications);
    6. Rough order of magnitude TPC (fully loaded, i.e. inclusive of 
indirect and/or Facility and Administration costs) with a percentage 
breakdown by the following major budget categories: (1) Physical 
components including structures, equipment, instrumentation, and 
hardware; (2) other computational resources, including software and 
firmware; and (3) human capital;
    7. Concept of operations: anticipated duration and level of federal 
and non-federal support.
    Who should respond:
    Researchers, users, and leaders at U.S. based colleges and 
universities as well as non-profits who are well positioned to advance 
and support a mid-scale project throughout its lifecycle.
    How should you respond:
    To submit your concept, please use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/midscale_2017 and complete the online 
questionnaire no later than December 8, 2017. Please use the email 
contact field provided to enable a courtesy copy of your response to 
your Authorized Organizational Representative or institutional 
leadership to ensure institutional awareness of your submission.
    What We Will Do with the Information: All information submitted is 
subject to the Privacy Act. Summary information would be presented in 
aggregate form as part of the high-level analysis shared publicly.

    Dated: October 3, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-21608 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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