Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Projects

The Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Project (IMR-MIP) program in the Division of Materials Research provides support for the design and construction of major instruments costing more than $4 million but less than $20 million. The program also supports the development of detailed conceptual and engineering design for new tools for materials preparation or characterization at major user facilities. Such instruments may include, for example, neutron beam lines, synchrotron beam lines, and high field magnets, as well as development of detectors and preparation environments necessary to support materials research. The program supports two types of awards: Conceptual and Engineering Design (CED) awards and Construction (CNST) awards. A CED award will enable the proposer to do the necessary engineering design of the instrument. A CNST proposal may only be submitted after a satisfactory engineering design of the instrument has been completed and has been approved by both the facility at which the instrument will be situated and by NSF. The program does not provide operating funds for projects it supports through this solicitation. Operational costs must be supported either by the facility or the institution at which the instrument is located or through some other source. It is anticipated that up to $ 3.0 million may be available for the FY 2009 competition. CED awards will be funded through continuing or standard grants for a total of up to about $2 million per award; up to one CNST award will be funded through a five-year cooperative agreement, for about $1 million to $4 million per year.