Update 10/21/2026: Notifications of Interest are closed. Invited pre-proposals are due November 18. 

Update 10/1/2026: In anticipation of a new solicitation being released in the new federal fiscal year, we are re-opening notifications of interest for this program. 

Update 4/14/2026: NSF updated the MRI program page from an “active funding opportunity” to “waiting for new publication,” and posted an “MRI program update” to the top of the page indicating that an updated solicitation is anticipated later in the year. Given this update and uncertainty around the program timeline, the internal selection process is paused.  

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument. In anticipation of the release of a new solicitation, we are soliciting notifications of interest in applying to this program.

In the most recent solicitation (currently archived), the MRI program supported three tracks:

• Track 1: requesting funds from NSF of greater than $100,000 and less than $1,400,000.
  • Maximum of two applications
• Track 2: requesting funds from NSF of $1,400,000 - $4,000,000.
  • Maximum of one application
• Track 3: requesting funds from NSF of greater than $100,000 and less than $1,400,000 for the purchase, installation, operation and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to conserve or reduce the consumption of helium.
  • Maximum of one application

Notifications of Interest

Notifications of Interest in applying to this program are due to ndsu.researchdev@ndsu.edu by 5pm on Wednesday, October 21.

Notifications should include the following information:

• The track in which you are interested
• The equipment to be acquired
• A list of the major users of the equipment
• A brief statement (1-2 sentences) of the proposed equipment’s anticipated impact to research at NDSU

If more notifications of interest are received than there are available application slots, an internal pre-proposal process will be used. As part of the internal selection process, preference will be given to applications relevant to the current administration’s priorities.

Deadlines and Key Dates

• Internal Date to Notify RCA of Interest: October 21, 2026 by 5pm CST
• Internal Date to Submit RCA Pre-Proposal: November 18, 2026 by 5pm CST
• Full Proposal Due: TBD

Complete program solicitation (currently archived)

E-MAIL NOTIFICATIONS TO: ndsu.researchdev@ndsu.edu

Limited submission grant programs are those that indicate a limit on the number of proposals that may be submitted by an institution for a particular deadline. A selection process becomes necessary if more applicants express interest in applying than NDSU is allowed to submit to the grant program.