EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program (RII-FEC) | 24 573

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 573

The NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII-FEC) program is a competitive grant opportunity aimed at strengthening research capacity and long-term STEM competitiveness in EPSCoR-eligible U.S. jurisdictions. EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) exists to help NSF advance scientific progress nationwide by reducing geographic disparities in research funding and capability. RII-FEC, formerly called the EPSCoR Track-2 program, specifically supports projects that build durable, cross-jurisdiction research partnerships and the shared infrastructure, expertise, and training needed to sustain higher levels of research and development (R and D) performance over time.

At its core, RII-FEC funds investigator-driven, interjurisdictional collaborations in STEM areas that align with the current NSF Strategic Plan. A central requirement is that each project must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, and the partnership must be meaningful rather than nominal. The proposal should make a clear case that the collaborators bring complementary strengths, resources, and perspectives, and that the research challenges being tackled could not be addressed as effectively or as quickly by either jurisdiction working alone. The program expects a comprehensive, integrated vision that connects scientific discovery with intentional capacity-building, meaning the work should not only produce research results but also leave behind stronger people, platforms, networks, and institutional capabilities that persist after the award ends.

RII-FEC also places a strong emphasis on broadening participation and building a diverse and inclusive STEM ecosystem. Projects are expected to integrate research and education activities in ways that expand participation across individuals, institutions, disciplines, sectors, and geographic areas. A notable priority is supporting the development of early-career faculty, particularly those from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields, because strengthening the pipeline of future research leaders is viewed as essential for sustained competitiveness. In practice, this means proposals are often expected to show concrete plans for mentoring, leadership roles, training experiences, and inclusive team structures that help early-career investigators gain independence and visibility.

Eligibility to submit is limited to organizations located in jurisdictions that meet EPSCoR eligibility criteria, which NSF updates annually on the EPSCoR website. Submission-eligible organizations include U.S.-accredited institutions of higher education (both PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting) with a campus in the United States or its territories/possessions, with distinct campuses in multi-campus systems generally treated as separate eligible entities if they operate with independent degree programs and administrative structures. Also eligible are domestic, nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations (such as museums, science centers, observatories, research labs, and professional societies) that are directly tied to U.S. research or education activities and have a permanent U.S.-based administrative structure and 501(c)(3) status. Tribal governments are eligible as well, including federally recognized tribes and certain Indigenous communities not recognized under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act framework, as described in the solicitation.

While not strictly required, NSF explicitly encourages that the lead organization or at least one partner come from institution types that are often critical to expanding research capacity and opportunity. This includes Emerging Research Institutions (generally those with established academic programs but under $50 million in federal research expenditures), Minority-Serving Institutions as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (including two-year colleges) with limited recent PhD production, institutions dedicated to serving students with disabilities (as referenced in NSF broadening participation materials), and degree-granting womens colleges. This encouragement signals that NSF values collaborations that meaningfully integrate institutions that are frequently under-resourced in the research landscape, especially when those institutions play a key role in educating and diversifying the STEM workforce.

Administratively, this is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 24-573) with an award ceiling of $1,500,000. The listed original closing date is January 28, 2025. The program is tied to multiple NSF CFDA assistance listings across core research and education areas (including 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, and 47.084), reflecting that projects may span a wide range of NSF-supported disciplines so long as they fit the EPSCoR capacity-building and cross-jurisdiction collaboration purpose.

Overall, RII-FEC is best understood as a mechanism to build high-functioning, multi-jurisdiction research teams that produce strong science while also leaving behind stronger, more inclusive research ecosystems in EPSCoR regions. Competitive proposals typically revolve around a compelling research question, a collaboration structure that genuinely depends on cross-jurisdiction complementary strengths, and a concrete plan to grow people and institutions through training, mentoring, shared resources, and partnerships that are designed to last beyond the award period.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program (RII-FEC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 573

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