The FY2027 solicitation and topic area has not been released. However, in anticipation of the new solicitation and a potentially tight response time, we are opening the pre-proposal process now. The pre-proposal guidelines are based on the most recent solicitation, NSF 24-573, and are subject to change when the new solicitation is published. 

RII FEC builds inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus areas consistent with the National Science Foundation 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise and resources necessary to address challenges, which neither party could address as well or rapidly independently. RII FEC projects have a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies individual, institutional, geographic, and disciplinary diversity. Additionally, the projects’ STEM research and education activities seek to broaden participation through the strategic inclusion and integration of diverse individuals, institutions, and sectors. In addition, NSF EPSCoR recognizes that the development of early-career faculty from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields is critical to sustaining and advancing research capacity. The integration and inclusion of Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs), women’s colleges, Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), and two-year colleges is a critical component of this sustainable STEM capacity.

RII Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (FEC) provides two types of collaborative awards:

• Up to $1 million per year for up to four years for collaborations between two EPSCoR jurisdictions
• Up to $1.5 million per year for up to four years to a consortium of three or more EPSCoR jurisdictions.

While there is no published topic area for FY2027, in a 10/29 webinar NSF representatives encouraged institutions to prepare for the new solicitation by focusing on the topics that align with the current NSF Strategic Plan and NSF’s Frontier Initiatives, and pivot if necessary. The inaugural Frontier Initiatives are:

1. Future of Intelligence
2. Frontier of Quantum Phenomena
3. Advanced Materials and Matter
4. Foundations of Biological Design

Deadlines and Key Dates

Current NSF deadlines are listed below. NSF representatives indicated that it is uncertain whether or not these deadlines will shift when the new solicitation is published. 

• Letter of Intent: Letter of Intent due date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): December 15, 2026
• Proposal Deadline: Full Proposal due date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 26, 2027

Pre-Proposals

Internal Pre-proposals are due Monday, November 23 by 5pm. If the new solicitation extends the NSF deadlines, the internal deadline may also be updated. 

Pre-proposals can be submitted here. 

Email Questions 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.