Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research

The Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) program, administered by the Directorate for Biological Sciences through the Division of Biological Infrastructure at the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports the development and enhancement of infrastructure to advance contemporary biology. The program focuses on three primary areas: Cyberinfrastructure, Biological Collections, and Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories. It aims to bolster infrastructure that is broadly useful across various research communities rather than tailored to specific institutions or individual projects. This initiative invites proposals that implement, scale, or significantly improve research tools, products, and services essential for biological sciences. It is structured to fund resources that enable high-quality scientific outputs, are openly accessible, and benefit a wide community of users. Proposals may also include planning activities or workshops that assist in building these capacities. However, requests for instrumentation should be directed to NSF's MRI program, and infrastructure projects designed solely for specific research settings should be submitted to other appropriate NSF programs. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based two- and four-year institutions of higher education, including community colleges, as well as non-profit non-academic organizations such as museums and research laboratories with educational or research missions. There are no restrictions on who may serve as a principal investigator, nor are there limitations on the number of proposals submitted per organization or individual. Applications are accepted at any time through Research.gov or Grants.gov. Proposals must adhere to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), and should include a detailed project description, results from prior NSF support, rationale for the proposed infrastructure, implementation strategy, project management plan, broader impacts, and plans for communication, sustainability, and outcomes assessment. Additional documents such as Data Management Plans and Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plans are required where applicable. Funding amounts range from $16 million to $18 million annually, with between 40 and 60 awards anticipated. The award size and duration will be tailored to the complexity and scope of the project. No voluntary committed cost sharing is allowed, and indirect cost limitations are not specified. Awards may be issued as standard grants, continuing grants, or cooperative agreements. Applications are evaluated based on intellectual merit and broader impacts, including the significance of the proposed resource to biological research, community engagement, management effectiveness, and sustainability. Proposals involving off-campus research must include a SAIF plan addressing inclusion, safety, and reporting mechanisms. Contact information for the program includes dedicated emails and phone support lines for each of the three program areas.