For whom is the NSF Engines program?
These organizational types are encouraged to submit proposals for the NSF Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program:
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U.S. accredited institutions of higher education with a campus located in the U.S.
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U.S.-based non-profit organizations
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U.S.-based for-profit organizations
In addition to the above, federally funded research and development centers, national laboratories, and state, local, and tribal governments (limited to agencies, offices, or divisions specifically dedicated to innovation, economic and/or workforce development) can receive NSF funds through subawards.
Funding Opportunities
Application Process
The NSF Engines funding opportunity is currently closed. The NSF Engines program anticipates making Type-1 awards in Spring 2023 and Type-2 awards in Fall 2023. Once the NSF Engines awards are announced, please reach out to an NSF Engine in your area to engage. Alternately, visit the published Concept Outlines from the competition currently underway to get a sense of potential partners.
NSF anticipates future calls for proposals, pending availability of funds. To stay in the loop about future funding calls and opportunities to engage, sign up for our newsletter.
Broad agency announcement
NSF Engines broad agency announcement, or BAA, is the official policy document for the program. It includes deadlines, proposal instructions and guidance for the submission process.
Learn more by reading the broad agency announcement.
Not familiar with a broad agency announcement?
NSF has started issuing BAAs as a new form of funding opportunity. A BAA is a type of funding opportunity used by NSF to invite proposals for research and education across science and engineering.
NSF Engines Builder Platform
An opportunity to support NSF Engines awardees
NSF is seeking one or more organizations to develop, launch and run a Builder Platform that will significantly contribute to the success of NSF Engines awardees. The three-year, $9.5 million Builder Platform contract will be a central component of the NSF Engines program, functioning as a human-centered network of support structures and offerings that will empower the NSF Engines with the tools, skills, networks and access to capital needed to thrive and attain success.
To apply, NSF invites submission of an application and supporting documents by June 12, 2023. To learn more about the Builder Platform effort, review the Builder Platform solution offering.
Upcoming Builder Platform Webinars and Office Hours
To provide additional submission guidance on the Builder Platform, the NSF Engines program is hosting a Builder Platform technical webinar on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 2–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. In this session, program directors will provide details about submitting a proposal, answer questions, and open breakout rooms where potential applicants can meet each other. Register for the technical webinar on Zoom.
The NSF Engines program is also hosting Office Hours in May and June for the Builder Platform. In this session, program directors will answer questions about the proposal process. We ask that you please sign up for only one office hour session, as spots are limited. Office hours will be structured as small group discussions.
Office Hours will take place on the following days:
Monday, May 22, 2023, 12–1 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
Register for the May 22 office hour.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 2–3 p.m. ET
Register for the May 23 office hour.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 3–4 p.m. ET
Register for the June 6 office hour..
Preparation and Submission
This proposal submission guidance is for organizations that are new to NSF. It provides a walkthrough of the registration requirements that MUST be completed to submit a proposal to NSF. This guidance also includes a Lead organization journey and a sub-awardee organization journey for submitting an NSF Engines proposal via Research.gov.
SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity Identifiers
If your organization has not previously applied for a federal grant, your organization must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI, which is a 12-character alpha numeric value, and must also register in the System for Award management (SAM).
Visit SAM.gov and complete the process through the “Register Your Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID” box. Scroll down on the page for FAQs.
Note: Registering with SAM.gov can take time, so start the process very early in the application window!
Videos on how to use SAM.gov