82 FR 46840 - Request for Information (RFI)-Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)

Page Range		46840-46840
FR Document		2017-21608

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.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 46840]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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

46840 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices

nationalsciencebrd@nsf.gov at least 24 Major Research Equipment and 5. Evidence of research community
hours prior to the teleconference. Facilities Construction (MREFC) support (list of reports, decadal surveys,
Dated: October 3, 2017. Account. In November 2016, the other publications);
Ann Bushmiller,
eligibility threshold for potential 6. Rough order of magnitude TPC
inclusion in the MREFC Account was (fully loaded, i.e. inclusive of indirect
Senior Counsel to the National Science Board.
lowered from approximately a $100 and/or Facility and Administration
[FR Doc. 2017–21697 Filed 10–4–17; 11:15 am]
million Total Project Cost (TPC), i.e., costs) with a percentage breakdown by
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P total cost to NSF, depending on the the following major budget categories:
directorate, to a fixed $70 million TPC. (1) Physical components including
This adjustment was an initial step to structures, equipment, instrumentation,
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION and hardware; (2) other computational
support potential priorities in mid-scale
Request for Information (RFI)—Mid- science and infrastructure. resources, including software and
Scale Research Infrastructure Objective: The purpose of this RFI is firmware; and (3) human capital;
to assess the needs for mid-scale RI from 7. Concept of operations: anticipated
AGENCY: National Science Foundation the US-based NSF science and duration and level of federal and non-
(NSF). engineering community in order to federal support.
ACTION: Request for Information (RFI). develop a strategy, in accordance with Who should respond:
the AICA. The AICA requires NSF to Researchers, users, and leaders at U.S.
SUMMARY: This Request for Information ‘‘evaluate the existing and future needs, based colleges and universities as well
(RFI) is issued in response to the across all disciplines supported by the as non-profits who are well positioned
American Innovation and Foundation, for mid-scale projects’’ and to advance and support a mid-scale
Competitiveness Act (AICA). NSF seeks ‘‘develop a strategy to address the project throughout its lifecycle.
information on existing and future needs.’’ This RFI focuses on mid-scale How should you respond:
needs for mid-scale research research infrastructure projects with an To submit your concept, please use
infrastructure projects from the US- anticipated NSF contribution of between this link: https://
based NSF science and engineering $20 million and $100 million towards www.surveymonkey.com/r/midscale_
community. The AICA requires NSF to construction and/or acquisition. This 2017 and complete the online
‘‘evaluate the existing and future needs, range is of primary interest to NSF as it questionnaire no later than December 8,
across all disciplines supported by the will help us anticipate the potential 2017. Please use the email contact field
Foundation, for mid-scale projects’’ and impact of lowering the MREFC provided to enable a courtesy copy of
‘‘develop a strategy to address the threshold as well as identifying your response to your Authorized
needs.’’ The input will be used to assess promising projects that remain difficult Organizational Representative or
the needs for mid-scale RI from the US- to address within program budgets due institutional leadership to ensure
based NSF science and engineering to the comparatively large investment institutional awareness of your
community in order to develop a needed in a relatively short period of submission.
strategy, in accordance with the AICA. time. After the submission period ends, What We Will Do with the
DATES: To be considered, submissions and the information is analyzed, NSF Information: All information submitted
must be received no later than will summarize the high-level insights is subject to the Privacy Act. Summary
December 8, 2017. drawn from this analysis for the science information would be presented in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: community and internal NSF use. aggregate form as part of the high-level
midscale@nsf.gov. Please note that funding for mid-scale RI analysis shared publicly.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: projects in this range of investment has Dated: October 3, 2017.
Definitions: For the purposes of this not been identified; nor does this RFI Suzanne H. Plimpton,
RFI, NSF defines Research imply an intent on the part of NSF to Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Infrastructure (RI) as any combination of issue a call for proposals. In addition, Foundation.
facilities, equipment, instrumentation, responses to this RFI do not constitute [FR Doc. 2017–21608 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]
computational hardware and software, any commitment on behalf of the BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
and the necessary human capital in submitters or their institutions to submit
support of the same. This includes a proposal or carry out an RI project.
upgrades to existing major research What We Are Looking For: NUCLEAR REGULATORY
facilities. Mid-scale RI requires an Submissions should identify ideas for COMMISSION
investment that falls between the mid-scale RI projects in the following
maximum award funded by NSF’s Major [NRC–2016–0094]
format:
Research Instrumentation Program 1. Concept title and description. The Agreement State Program Policy
(MRI; $4 million) and that of a major description should include the potential Statement
multi-user research facility project ($100 for any inter-agency or international
million or more), as defined in AICA. partnerships and contributions that are AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Background: Enabling Mid-scale part of the TPC; Commission.
Research Infrastructure is one of NSF’s ACTION: Revision to policy statement.
2. Point of contact (in case additional
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

Ten Big Ideas. Given priorities in the
current budget climate, NSF has been clarification is needed); SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
able to fund smaller mid-scale RI 3. Contact of your Authorized Commission (NRC) has revised and
projects through its individual scientific Organizational Representative. Note, consolidated two policy statements on
directorates. Instrumentation and this contact will receive a copy of the the NRC’s Agreement State Programs:
equipment up to $4 million has been survey submission; The ‘‘Policy Statement on Adequacy
routinely funded through the MRI 4. New, transformative science or and Compatibility of Agreement State
program. Large-scale RI projects have scientific breakthroughs to be enabled Programs’’ and the ‘‘Statement of
been successfully funded through the by project; Principles and Policy for the Agreement

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Document Created: 2017-10-06 00:09:31
Document Modified: 2017-10-06 00:09:31

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Request for Information (RFI).
Dates		To be considered, submissions must be received no later than December 8, 2017.
Contact		[email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 46840