The National Science Foundation’s Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure (Mid-scale RI) programs support the development and acquisition of shared scientific infrastructure that is too large for standard equipment programs but smaller than major national facilities. These awards fund instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, and research platforms that enable new scientific capabilities across multiple projects and investigators.

NSF Mid-scale infrastructure proposals are typically submitted by teams of researchers, departments, or institutions seeking to build or obtain resources that will be broadly used by a research community. Projects may include advanced imaging systems, sensor networks, computing environments, field observatories, specialized laboratories, or integrated data platforms.

Unlike individual research proposals, NSF Mid-scale RI submissions focus on the scientific impact of the infrastructure rather than a single research question. Reviewers evaluate how the proposed resource will advance multiple areas of research, support training, and improve institutional research capacity. Proposals must clearly demonstrate user demand, operational planning, technical readiness, and long-term sustainability.

Management and operations planning are especially important. Applicants must describe governance structure, access policies, maintenance strategies, staffing, and data sharing. A strong proposal shows not only why the equipment is needed but also how it will be reliably operated and made available to the broader research community.

Many proposals struggle because they emphasize technical specifications without explaining the scientific enablement. Successful submissions connect the infrastructure directly to new research opportunities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student training.

ScienceDocs assists universities and research teams in developing infrastructure proposals by helping articulate scientific justification, organizing user communities, and preparing management and sustainability plans. We help present complex operational details in a clear and reviewable narrative that aligns with NSF expectations.

To work with ScienceDocs on an NSF research infrastructure proposal, click HERE.