Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity)
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for colleges, universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations seeking to acquire, upgrade, or share research infrastructure and equipment that supports biological sciences research. Eligible applicants include institutions with NSF awards or those demonstrating capacity to conduct research. The program supports a broad range of life sciences disciplines and prioritizes infrastructure that enhances research capabilities, facilitates collaborations, and increases research productivity. Geographic scope is national, with support available to U.S. institutions. Activities include purchasing major research equipment, renovating research facilities, upgrading core research platforms, and establishing shared research resources that serve multiple research groups or institutions.
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Program description
The Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) Program supports the implementation of, scaling of, or major improvements to research tools, products, and services that advance contemporary biology in any research area supported by the Directorate forBiological Sciences at NSF. The Capacity Program focuses on building capacity in research infrastructure that is broadly applicable to a wide range of researchers in three programmatic areas: Cyberinfrastructure, Biological Collections, and Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories. This program will also accept proposals for planning activities or workshops to facilitate coordination that may be necessary in building capacity in infrastructure that meets the needs of a research community. Areas not included in this program are instrumentation (PIs should submit to the MRI program) and, projects that develop infrastructure for a specific research project, laboratory, or institution (PIs should submitted to the relevant BIO programs that would normally support that research). Projects are expected to produce quality products, result in important science outcomes that will be achieved by the users of the resource, be openly accessible to a broad scientific and education community, and serve a community of researchers beyond a single research team.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Form SF-424 (R&R) - Standard application form
- Project Narrative/Technical Description - detailed justification and specifications
- Budget and Budget Narrative - with cost-sharing plan
- Curriculum Vitae - for key personnel
- Institutional Commitment Letter - demonstrating support and cost-sharing
- Letters of Support - from potential users and collaborators
- Equipment Specifications and Quotes - from vendors
- Maintenance and Management Plan - for post-award sustainability
- Data Management Plan - if applicable
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.074 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$401,043,378
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$268,297,107
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$66,886,066
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$59,000,000
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$46,262,435
-
$39,723,283
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$39,604,013
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$31,000,000
-
$29,500,000
-
$22,800,000
Top States by Funding
- OH 3 awards $421.6M
- CO 4 awards $299.9M
- NY 6 awards $133.9M
- AZ 5 awards $103.1M
- CA 8 awards $93.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.074). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $813,390,000 | |
| 2025 | $789,240,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $221,290,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Research institutions, colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations with demonstrated research capacity and institutional support are eligible. Applicants typically need prior NSF funding or strong research credentials.
What types of infrastructure does this program support?
The grant supports major research equipment purchases, facility renovations, shared core facilities, and infrastructure that enables biological sciences research across multiple disciplines.
How competitive is this program?
NSF infrastructure grants are highly competitive. Success typically requires strong institutional backing, clear scientific justification, evidence of research impact, and demonstrated need for the proposed equipment or facility.
What is the deadline structure?
This program operates on a rolling deadline, meaning applications can be submitted throughout the fiscal year, though specific submission windows may apply.
What is the typical funding range?
Award amounts vary widely depending on project scope, from moderate equipment grants to multi-million dollar facility upgrades, though exact ranges vary by program solicitation year.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure strong institutional commitment and cost-sharing contributions, as NSF infrastructure grants require demonstrated institutional investment and support.
- Clearly articulate the scientific impact: explain how the infrastructure will advance research goals, enable new research directions, and benefit the broader research community.
- Emphasize shared access and broad utility: infrastructure that serves multiple research groups, institutions, or disciplines is more competitive than single-PI equipment.
- Include letters of support from potential users, collaborators, and institutional leadership to demonstrate demand and readiness.
- Develop a comprehensive management and maintenance plan showing how the institution will sustain and operate the infrastructure after funding ends.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack clear scientific justification for the proposed infrastructure, underestimate institutional commitment and cost-sharing requirements, or fail to demonstrate how the equipment will serve a broad research community rather than a single lab. Weak institutional support or inadequate sustainability plans are frequently cited review concerns.
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