EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program (FEC)
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions seeking to build collaborative research infrastructure. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting) and non-profit research organizations accredited and located in the US, its territories, or possessions. Projects must involve at least two EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise. Proposed research must align with NSF Strategic Plan priorities in STEM fields and demonstrate capacity building and broadened participation.
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Program description
The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. EPSCoR eligibility status is yearly updated and reported in the EPSCoR website (see EPSCoR eligibility).
Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to affect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction’s research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its R&D competitiveness.
The FEC program (formerly known as “EPSCoR Track-2 program”) builds interjurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus areas consistent with the currentNational Science Foundation Strategic Plan. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise and resources necessary to address challenges, which neither party could address as well or as rapidly independently. FEC projects have a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies institutional, geographic, and disciplinary diversity. The projects’ STEM research and education activities seek to broaden participation through the strategic inclusion and integration of all individuals, institutions, and sectors. Additionally, EPSCoR recognizes that the development of early-career faculty is critical to sustaining and advancing research capacity.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Cover Sheet (SF-424)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (key personnel)
- Letters of Commitment (partner institutions)
- Data Management Plan
- Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.079 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$115,625,377
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$23,201,013
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$21,236,000
-
$20,513,222
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$20,251,151
-
$20,210,752
-
$20,203,733
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$20,133,005
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$20,114,003
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$20,100,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 11 awards $44.3M
- NJ 4 awards $30.3M
- MA 6 awards $28.4M
- NC 4 awards $28.3M
- OH 2 awards $25.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.079). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $66,550,000 | |
| 2025 | $57,610,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $12,470,000 |
FAQ
Which institutions can apply to the FEC program?
Institutions of higher education and non-profit research organizations in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Check the EPSCoR eligibility table yearly, as status changes annually.
Must the research team be from multiple states?
Yes, projects must include researchers from at least two different EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise.
What research areas are supported?
STEM fields aligned with the NSF Strategic Plan. Projects should address challenges that individual jurisdictions cannot tackle alone.
How much funding should I request?
Typical awards range from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 per project.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your jurisdiction's EPSCoR eligibility early. Eligibility updates yearly and is posted on the NSF EPSCoR website.
- Build genuine partnerships with complementary expertise. The program funds collaborative capacity, not siloed research efforts.
- Demonstrate how your project builds sustainable STEM research infrastructure. One-time activities are less competitive than institutional capacity improvements.
- Integrate broadened participation and diversity explicitly into project design. Show strategic inclusion of underrepresented groups and institutions.
- Develop a clear vision connecting research, education, and workforce development. Reviewers expect integrated approaches, not separate components.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when collaborators are from non-EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions or jurisdictions don't have complementary expertise. Projects lack integrated vision connecting research, education, and capacity building across institutions. Weak diversity and broadened participation plans or insufficient attention to early-career faculty development.
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