NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI) Limited Submission – Letter of Intent Due in Kuali Build by 4:30 p.m. on September 1
Posted July 29, 2026
Discipline(s): All
Due to the limited number of applications allowed by institutions, all SIUE faculty interested in submitting an NSF MRI proposal for the 2026-2027 award cycle must submit a letter of intent in Kuali Build no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
About the Program
The National Science Foundation's Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI) Program accepts applications for projects to purchase major equipment in support of outstanding research initiatives in a region. We are currently awaiting the release of the 2026-2027 funding announcement. We are assuming the next submission window is still scheduled for October 15 – November 16, 2026 and guidance will be similar even though the updated NOFO has not released.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
- Up to two (2) in Track 1.
- One (1) in Track 2
- One (1) in Track 3.
Range of awards:
- Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,400,000.
- Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
- Track 3: MRI proposals request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 for requests that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium.
SIUE Internal Competition Submission Deadlines
- Notice of Intent Deadline: First Business Day of September (September 1. 2026) by 4:30 p.m. submitted via Kuali Build Application.
- Should an internal Competition be required, you will receive a notification via email from Kuali Build to upload your Pre-Submission Materials (single pdf in the order indicated) by 4:30 on the third Tuesday of September (September 15, 2026).
- Proposal Routed in Kuali Research: First Business Day of November (November 2, 2026).
- NSF Full Application Deadline: on, or around, November 15 annually. The proposal is fully routed through Kuali Research and submitted in Research.gov with the assistance of the SIUE Office of Research and Projects.
Please note that Co-PIs on a proposal with someone outside of our institution are still required to submit proposal materials to the Office of Research and Projects. The NSF will count the collaborative proposal toward our institutional limit.
For more information, click here. For further information or questions regarding the competition, please email siueresearch@siue.edu.
