The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. Jurisdictions are eligible to participate in the NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) program based on their level of total NSF support over their most recent five years (see EPSCoR eligibility). Through this program, NSF facilitates the establishment of partnerships among academic institutions and organizations in governmental, non-profit, and commercial or industrial sectors that are designed to effect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction’s research infrastructure, Research, and Development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its R&D competitiveness.
RII Track-1 awards provide up to $20 million total over five years to support research-driven improvements to jurisdictions’ physical and cyberinfrastructure and human capital development in topical areas selected by the jurisdiction’s EPSCoR steering committee as having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness. The project’s research and capacity-building activities must align with the specific research priorities identified in the submitting jurisdiction’s approved Science and Technology (S&T) Plan. Refer to Sections II and V.A.4.1 below for more information on the alignment of the research and capacity-building activities of the project with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research priorities of the S&T Plan.
Anticipated Funding Amount: Up to twelve (12) awards are anticipated. $48,000,000 in FY 2023 (pending quality of proposals and availability of funds)
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1
Letters of Intent: Required
Preliminary Proposals: Not Required
For this limited submission opportunity, the office of the VCR is soliciting white papers. White paper guidelines are available at http://www.uaf.edu/ogca/resources/regulations/limited-submissions/.
For additional details, please visit the NSF site link provided above and note the following dates:
June 10, 2022, 5:00 p.m. AKST: White paper submission for UAF-wide competition. White papers with budgets must be received by 5:00 p.m. on or before the internal submission deadline. White papers should be submitted through the UAF Limited Submission & White Paper Application form available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7ehN3tsgVg78-XAMmZlvjqMf4mC6EuLwzRDRfQaSJLOCMbA/viewform?usp=sf_link
June 24, 2022: Based on recommendations of the Limited Submission Committee, the VCR will notify the selected PIs. OGCA will also communicate this decision to relevant department fiscal/proposal staff.
July 8, 2022, 5:00 p.m. AKST: The Letter of Intent is due to OGCA after unit preparation and approval is completed.
July 19, 2022, 5:00 p.m. AKST: The Letter of Intent is due for submission to NSF.
August 12, 2022, 5:00 p.m. AKST: Full Proposal is due to OGCA.
August 22, 2022, 5:00 p.m. AKST: Full Proposal is due to NSF.