Research Infrastructure Resources

Current guidance 

Research Infrastructure Guide (RIG) (December 2021)
Provides comprehensive guidance on managing the lifecycle of NSF Major Facilities and Mid-scale Research Infrastructure.

Cyberinfrastructure Plan Outline 
Clarifies expectations for proposals regarding new and existing research infrastructure projects, emphasizing integrating and managing cyberinfrastructure elements such as data, security and computational resources throughout the project life cycle.

NSF Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card 
Provides essential guidelines for tracking project performance across cost, schedule and scope, enabling effective management and ensuring projects meet their established goals.

NSF Financial Data Collection Tool for Major Facilities (Excel)
This tool is required for submitting financial expenditure data for cooperative agreements related to major facilities. See the Research Infrastructure Guide's Section 4.6.3.4 Incurred Cost Audits for more information.

Project Execution Plan template for Mid-scale RI projects (September 2024)
Outlines methods for estimating and managing project contingency across budget, schedule and scope/quality, along with plans for controlling, maintaining and reporting contingency status and usage. For more information, refer to DRAFT RIG Section 3.5.

Business Systems Review (BSR) Guide (September 2022)
Outlines a structured process for assessing business systems in NSF Major Facilities to ensure adherence to federal regulations, enhance administrative practices and promote knowledge sharing between NSF and facility operators.

Draft 2025 guidance

The current Research Infrastructure Guide will expire in December 2024 but will remain in effect until the 2025 guide is published. The public comment period for the 2025 guide is scheduled to begin in November 2024, with the final publication expected in the spring of 2025.