This page provides guidance and resources for managing major facilities and mid-scale research infrastructure supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Guidance
- Research Infrastructure Guide (RIG): Provides guidance for life cycle planning and management of NSF major facilities and mid-scale research infrastructure.
- Business Systems Review Guide: Outlines how to assess business systems in NSF major facilities to ensure adherence to federal regulations, enhance administrative practices and promote knowledge sharing between NSF and facility operators.
- NSF Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card: Summarizes EVM terms and concepts used by NSF. Additional guidance for tracking project performance across cost, schedule and scope, enabling effective management and ensuring projects meet their established goals can be found in the RIG.
Tools
- NSF Financial Data Collection Tool for Major Facilities (XLSM, 257.69 KB): Required for submitting financial expenditure data for cooperative agreements related to major facilities.
- Project Execution Plan template for Mid-scale RI projects (September 2024) (DOCX, 129.73 KB): Outlines methods for awardees to plan, manage, execute and conclude a research infrastructure project.
- Tutorial: NSF's financial data collection tool: A 24-minute tutorial intended for proposers and awardees of NSF major facilities awards.