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U.S. National Science Foundation

EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (FEC)

Open · Opportunity 24-573 · Assistance Listing 47.050, 47.041, 47.084, 47.076, 47.074, 47.070, 47.049, 47.075, 47.079, 47.083, 47.078

Key facts

Deadline
Due Jan 26, 2027 · 111 days left
Award size
$1M – $1.5M
Total available
$18M
Cost share / match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Other (see eligibility)
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

  • Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
  • No cost share required
  • Tennessee recipients since 2023: 220

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

More from U.S. National Science Foundation

Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar Sign in to save

About this grant

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. EPSCoR eligibility status is yearly updated and reported in the EPSCoR website (see EPSCoR eligibility). Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to affect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its R&D competitiveness. The FEC program (formerly known as “EPSCoR Track-2 program”) builds interjurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus areas consistent with the current National Science Foundation Strategic Plan. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise and resources necessary to address challenges, which neither party could address as well or as rapidly independently. FEC projects have a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies institutional, geographic, and disciplinary diversity. The projects’ STEM research and education activities seek to broaden participation through the strategic inclusion and integration of all individuals, institutions, and sectors. Additionally, EPSCoR recognizes that the development of early-career faculty is critical to sustaining and advancing research capacity.

Eligibility (from the notice)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -null -Institutions or organizations in jurisdictions that meet the EPSCoR eligibility criteria. Institutions of higher education (PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting), acting on behalf of their faculty members, that are accredited in and have a campus in the United States, its territories, or possessions. Distinct academic campuses (e.g., that award their own degrees, have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, alumni associations, etc.) within multi-campus systems qualify as separate submission-eligible organizations. Campuses that plan to submit a proposal through the Sponsored Projects Office of other campuses or organizations should contact NSF to discuss eligibility as early as possible and at least six weeks before submitting such a proposal. Not-for-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees, that include (but are not limited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations that are directly associated with the Nation's research or educational activities. These organizations must have an independent, permanent administrative organization (e.g., an office of sponsored research) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and have 501(c)(3) tax status. Tribal Governments with the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.) or Indigenous communities that are not recognized by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.). It is encouraged that the lead institution/organization or at least one collaborative partner be an institution from one of the categories below: Emerging Research Institutions as defined in 42 §USC 18901 as institutions of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that have less than $50,000,000 in Federal research expenditures; Minority-serving institutions, as defined in 42 §USC 18901; and; Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), including two-year colleges, that award associate degrees, bachelor's...

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. Oct7
    Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
    Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
  2. Jan5
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
  3. Jan19
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
  4. Jan24
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. Jan26
    Deadline
    From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

Who in Tennessee has won this program

220 awards to Tennessee recipients in 10 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
RecipientWhereAmountFY
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$15M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$13.3M2019
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$11.7M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$9.3M2024
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$9M2026
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$5M2025
Fisk UniversityNashville, Davidson County$5M2021
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$5M2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$5M2022
Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, Putnam County$4.7M2021
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$4M2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$4M2025

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

About the program (47.041)

Engineering — (ENG)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.049)

Mathematical and Physical Sciences — (MPS)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.050)

Geosciences — (GEO)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.070)

Computer and Information Science and Engineering — (CISE)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.074)

Biological Sciences — (BIO)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.075)

Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences — (SBE)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.076)

STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) — (EDU)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.078)

Polar Programs — (OPP)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.079)

International Science and Engineering

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.083)

Integrative Activities — (OIA)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

About the program (47.084)

Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships — NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

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