NSF Asks Public to Review Their Homework Instructions
Published Date: 1/8/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Science Foundation is updating its Research Infrastructure Guide to make it easier for scientists and project managers to plan and run big research projects. These changes add clearer advice on managing risks, budgets, and teamwork, plus new tips on tech and flexible project methods. If you want to share your thoughts, send comments by March 10, 2025—this helps shape how research projects get built and run, with no new costs for you.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Estimated reporting burden hours
NSF estimates reporting and management documentation will require about 5 FTEs (10,400 hours/year) for each Major Facility in design or construction, 1.5 FTEs (3,120 hours/year) for a Major Facility in operations, and 1 FTE (2,080 hours/year) for each Mid-scale Research Infrastructure. With seven Major Facilities in design or construction, twenty-one in operations, and four Mid-scale RIs, NSF estimates roughly 150,000 public burden hours annually.
Expanded NSF research project guidance
NSF updated its Research Infrastructure Guide to add clearer project management advice for Major Facilities and Mid-scale Research Infrastructure. The revision adds guidance on risk management, contingency estimating and management, performance measurement, cyberinfrastructure, information assurance, partnerships, and Agile methodology to help organizations plan across all life-cycle stages.
Funding thresholds for facility classification
NSF uses Total Project Cost (TPC) thresholds to classify projects: Major Facilities have TPC of $100,000,000 or greater, and Mid-scale Research Infrastructure have TPC of $20,000,000–$100,000,000. The MREFC account provides funding for Construction Stage projects meeting those thresholds.
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