International Research and education Network Connections (IRNC)

NSF's implementation of the revised 2 CFR

NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website. These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies

On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.

Supports networking infrastructure and services for international research and education; experimental deployment of new capabilities using testbeds; and broadening impact and participation through data network-centric activities.

Base

Synopsis

The International Research and education Network Connections (IRNC) Base program supports high-performance network connectivity required by international science and engineering research and education collaborations involving the NSF research community. High-performance network connections and infrastructure funded by this program are intended to support science and engineering research and education applications, and preference will be given to solutions that provide the best economy of scale and demonstrate the ability to support the largest communities of interest with the broadest services. Funded projects will assist the U.S. research and education community by enabling state-of-the-art international network services and access to increased collaboration and data services. NSF expects to make 3 to 10 awards in production R&E network infrastructure; 1 to 3 awards in international testbeds; and 1 award in Engagement.

Program contacts

Name	Email	Phone	Organization
Kevin L. Thompson	kthompso@nsf.gov	(703) 292-4220	CISE/OAC

Awards made through this program

Browse projects funded by this program

Map of recent awards made through this program

Program guidelines

Award information

pending availability of funds and quality of proposals received.

Each program area will support awards pursuant to the following budget and duration:

IRNC: Core awards will be supported at up to $1,400,000 per year for up to 5 years;
IRNC: Testbed awards will be supported at up to $1,000,000 per year for up to 3 years; and,
IRNC: ENgage awards will be supported at up to $1,000,000 per year for up to 5 years.

Estimated number of awards

5 to 14

The estimated number of awards is 5-14 in total: 3-10 IRNC: Core awards; 1-3 IRNC: Testbed awards, and 1 IRNC: ENgage award.

Because of the nature and geographic extent of the efforts involved, interested parties are encouraged to form consortia of organizations that can work together to provide the needed services. Consortia may consist of any number of U.S. and foreign, profit and non-profit entities. The award(s) resulting from responses to this solicitation will be made to U.S. organizations as cooperative agreements or standard or continuing grants. Any award will be for a maximum of five years.

Review full program guidelines and learn how to submit a proposal in the latest solicitation. Read the solicitation NSF 20-535

Published:

January 2, 2020