An academic institution may submit only one proposal as the lead institution; however, an academic institution may participate in more than one proposal as a non-lead institution. Full proposals involving more than one organization must be submitted as a single administrative package from the lead institution; collaborative full proposals with multiple administrative packages will not be accepted and will be returned without review.  If the lead Principal Investigator (Network Director) leaves or transfers to another institution during the review process or after an award is made, the proposal/award remains with the lead institution.  Additionally, the lead institution cannot be changed after submission of the full proposal.  Non-academic U.S. institutions and organizations, including national laboratories and private-sector companies, as well as non-U.S. institutions, may participate in network activities using their own resources; however, this shall not be interpreted to prohibit purchases, services, or sales contracts/agreements with these entities. All NEES2 facility host institutions and facilities must be located in the United States to facilitate access by NSF-supported researchers.  

Only one CREST Center proposal may be submitted per eligible institution. An institution may have only one active CREST award, irrespective of focus area. Centers that have completed two prior, consecutive 5-year CREST awards may not recompete. However, new research teams from former awardee institutions may submit proposals in disciplinary areas that are significantly different from those of the previous award(s).

Only one HBCU-RISE proposal may be submitted per eligible institution. An institution may have only one active HBCU-RISE award.

Collaborative projects may only be submitted as a single proposal in which a single award is being requested. The involvement of partner organizations should be supported through sub-awards administered by the submitting organization.

Only one proposal may be submitted from an eligible entity.  If multiple proposals from a single eligible entity are submitted, all proposals from that entity will be returned without review.

Only one proposal may be submitted from an eligible entity.  If multiple proposals from a single eligible entity are submitted, all proposals from that entity will be returned without review.

An institution may not be included in more than one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation.

Three (3) as described below.

If three proposals are submitted, at least one of the proposals must be for instrument development (i.e., no more than two proposals may be for instrument acquisition). 

To ensure a balanced instrumentation award portfolio at diverse organizations, across varied research topics, and in support of a broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce across the entire Nation, the MRI program requires that an MRI-eligible organization may, as a performing organization, submit or be included as a significantly funded¹ subawardee in no more than three MRI proposals.  To promote instrumentation development, the program requires that if an organization submits or is included as a significantly funded¹ subawardee in three MRI proposals, at least one of the three proposals must be for (Track 2) instrument development. 

NSF reserves the right to carefully examine development (Track 2) proposals to ensure that they meet the requirements for this proposal type (see Section II).  If a proposal submitted as development is deemed to be an acquisition proposal either before or during the review, the proposal is subject to return without review or decline.

¹An unfunded collaboration does not count against the submission limit.  Inclusion as a funded subawardee on a development (Track 2) proposal at a level in excess of 20% of the total budget request from NSF, or as a funded subawardee on any acquisition (Track 1) proposal, will be counted against an organization's proposal submission limit. Separately submitted linked collaborative proposals of either type (Track 1 or Track 2) count against the submission limit of each of the submitting organizations. However, if a subaward to an organization in a development (Track 2) proposal is 20% or less of the proposal's total budget request from NSF, the subawardee's submission limit will not be affected. For subawards within a linked collaborative proposal, the 20% threshold applies to the budget request from NSF in the proposal containing the subaward(s), not to the combined budget request from NSF for the collaborative project.

Note: The 30% cost-sharing requirement applies to only the portion of the total project cost budgeted to non-exempt organization(s), including those participating through subawards. When required, cost-sharing must be precisely 30%. Cost sharing is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from  cost-sharing and cannot provide it. National Science Board policy is that voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. See section V.B. for specific information on cost-sharing calculations and the solicitation text for definitions of organizational types used for the MRI program.

HBCU-UP Proposals:

• An eligible institution can only submit one Implementation Project or ACE Implementation Project proposal and can only have one active Implementation Project or ACE Implementation Project award.
• An eligible institution can submit no more than two Broadening Participation Research proposals per year.
• An eligible institution can submit no more than two Targeted Infusion Project proposals per year. 

• An eligible institution can submit no more than two Research Initiation Award proposals per year.

Eligible jurisdictions can participate in only one consortium, and can submit only one collaborative proposal.

Only individuals may apply. There is no limit on the number of fellowships that an organization may host.

One proposal per organization is allowed.

Collaborative Proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations are NOT allowed for this competition.

Proposer organizations may submit only one Institutional Transformation proposal or one IT-Catalyst proposal.  There is no limit on the number of PAID proposals that can be submitted.

Only one TCN proposal may be submitted by any one organization as the lead organization. Organizations may be involved in more than one collaborative effort as a non-lead proposal.

Any institution may submit multiple-university center proposals provided that the proposed research topics involve different disciplines and support different industries.

Grantee institutions that have an active single university I/UCRC award are not eligible to apply for another single university center; however, they may apply for a multi-university center.

A center site may apply for a Phase II (years 6 through 10) proposal if it meets the Phase II minimum requirements specified in the solicitation as well as having satisfactorily completed the Phase I (years 1 through 5). 

A center site may apply for a Phase III (years 11 through 15)  proposal if it meets the minimum Phase III requirements specified in the solicitation as well as having satisfactorily completed the Phase II (years 6 through 10).

Graduated centers who have successfully completed a Phase II award within the last 10 years may apply for a Phase III award. 

One proposal per center. All sites must submit a collaborative proposal that is part of the same integrated research experimental plan of the center. The total budget for all site submissions from a center cannot exceed the maximum award.

An institution that awards baccalaureate degrees is allowed to submit only one Type 1 proposal, or to be part of only one consortium submitting a Type 1 proposal.  An institution that awards associate degrees, and does not award baccalaureate degrees, is allowed to be the lead institution on only one Type 1 proposal, and, in addition, may be a partner on one or more Type 1 proposals.  There are no restrictions on the number of Type 2 proposals that an individual or organization may submit.

Exception: If an institution is submitting a proposal under the "Special Funding Focus on Retention in Engineering and Computer Science" (see Program Description for details), it may also submit a second proposal under Type 1, either individually or as part of a consortium.