Opportunity Information: Apply for 20 535
The National Science Foundation (NSF) International Research and Education Network Connections (IRNC) Base program is a discretionary grant opportunity focused on strengthening the high-performance international networking capabilities that U.S. science and engineering teams rely on to collaborate with partners around the world. At its core, the program funds the network connections and supporting infrastructure needed to move large research datasets, enable advanced research applications, and provide dependable, state-of-the-art international network services for the NSF research and education community. The overall aim is to make it easier for U.S.-based researchers, educators, and institutions to participate in modern, data-intensive global collaborations by improving connectivity and access to collaboration and data services across borders.
A key emphasis of this opportunity is impact at scale. NSF indicates a preference for proposals that deliver strong economy of scale, meaning solutions that are cost-effective when serving many users, institutions, or disciplines rather than narrowly benefiting a small group. Competitive approaches are expected to demonstrate they can support large communities of interest and offer broad, useful services across the research and education landscape. In practical terms, proposals that create widely usable international links, shared infrastructure, or broadly accessible networking services are positioned as a better fit than highly specialized connectivity serving limited or isolated use cases.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 20-535, CFDA 47.070) is offered as a grant under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, with an award ceiling of $7,000,000 per award. NSF anticipated making approximately 14 total awards under this solicitation, distributed across three main tracks or focus areas: production research and education network infrastructure (referred to as RampE), international testbeds, and Engagement. Specifically, NSF expected 3 to 10 awards for production RampE network infrastructure, 1 to 3 awards for international testbeds, and 1 award for Engagement. While the summary information does not spell out the detailed requirements of each category, the labels signal a mix of (1) operational, production-grade network capability for real research traffic and ongoing collaborations, (2) experimental or prototyping environments to test next-generation international networking approaches, and (3) a dedicated engagement-oriented effort intended to connect communities to these services, broaden participation, coordinate stakeholders, or otherwise strengthen adoption and effective use.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically means applicants should consult the solicitation text to confirm which kinds of organizations may apply and under what conditions. The opportunity was created on January 4, 2020, with an original closing date of April 1, 2020, indicating it was time-bound in that cycle; however, the program summary reflects a recurring NSF priority area centered on international research networking capacity.
In short, IRNC Base is designed to fund the international network backbone and related capabilities that make modern, collaborative, data-heavy science and engineering possible at a global scale. NSF is looking for solutions that are not only technically strong, but also efficient, broadly beneficial, and positioned to serve large segments of the U.S. research and education community with robust international connectivity and services.Apply for 20 535
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Research and education Network Connections" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 04, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 01, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: NSF International Research and Education Network Connections (IRNC) Base
What is the NSF IRNC Base program?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) International Research and Education Network Connections (IRNC) Base program is a discretionary grant opportunity focused on strengthening the high-performance international networking capabilities that U.S. science and engineering teams use to collaborate with partners worldwide.
What does IRNC Base fund?
IRNC Base funds international network connections and supporting infrastructure needed to move large research datasets, enable advanced research applications, and provide dependable, state-of-the-art international network services for the NSF research and education community.
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The overall aim is to make it easier for U.S.-based researchers, educators, and institutions to participate in modern, data-intensive global collaborations by improving cross-border connectivity and access to collaboration and data services.
Who benefits from IRNC Base-funded projects?
The primary beneficiaries are the NSF research and education community, including U.S.-based researchers, educators, and institutions that rely on robust international connectivity to collaborate and share data with global partners.
Why is international networking capability important in this program?
The program is designed around the needs of data-intensive science and engineering, where teams must reliably move large datasets and use advanced applications across borders. The funded networking capabilities are positioned as essential infrastructure for global collaboration.
What does NSF mean by "impact at scale" in this solicitation?
NSF emphasizes solutions that deliver broad benefit across many users, institutions, or disciplines. The program indicates a preference for proposals that provide economy of scale and broadly useful services rather than narrowly serving a small, isolated community.
What is meant by "economy of scale" for proposals?
In this context, economy of scale refers to cost-effective approaches that can serve large communities of interest. Competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate that the solution remains efficient and valuable when supporting many users or institutions.
What types of proposals appear to be a better fit based on the summary?
Proposals that create widely usable international links, shared infrastructure, or broadly accessible networking services are positioned as a better fit than highly specialized connectivity designed for limited or isolated use cases.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 20-535 and the CFDA number is 47.070.
What type of award is offered under this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered as a grant under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $7,000,000 per award.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated making approximately 14 total awards under this solicitation.
What are the main tracks or focus areas for funding?
The solicitation describes three main tracks or focus areas: production research and education network infrastructure (RampE), international testbeds, and Engagement.
How were anticipated awards distributed across the three tracks?
NSF expected 3 to 10 awards for production RampE network infrastructure, 1 to 3 awards for international testbeds, and 1 award for Engagement.
What is "RampE" in the context of this opportunity?
RampE refers to production research and education network infrastructure, meaning operational, production-grade international networking capability intended to support real research traffic and ongoing collaborations.
What are "international testbeds" in the context of IRNC Base?
International testbeds are described as experimental or prototyping environments intended to test next-generation international networking approaches.
What does the "Engagement" track appear to support?
Based on the summary, the Engagement track is intended to connect communities to IRNC services, broaden participation, coordinate stakeholders, and/or strengthen adoption and effective use of the supported international networking capabilities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Applicants are expected to consult the solicitation text to confirm which types of organizations may apply and under what conditions.
When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on January 4, 2020, and the original closing date was April 1, 2020.
Does the summary indicate whether the program is recurring?
While the cycle described was time-bound, the summary reflects a recurring NSF priority area centered on international research networking capacity.
What kinds of capabilities are emphasized besides basic connectivity?
In addition to network connections, the program highlights supporting infrastructure that enables advanced research applications, reliable movement of large datasets, and dependable, state-of-the-art international network services.
What is NSF looking for in competitive proposals, according to the summary?
NSF is looking for solutions that are technically strong, efficient, broadly beneficial, and positioned to serve large segments of the U.S. research and education community with robust international connectivity and services.
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