Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs

The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs grant to support transformative research and education projects in computing, communications, information science, and advanced cyberinfrastructure. Managed by the CISE Directorate, the initiative encompasses efforts under the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS), Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC). NSF is a federal agency focused on promoting the progress of science and advancing national welfare through scientific and educational support across various institutions in the U.S. The grant invites proposals across several core programs within CISE, including Algorithmic Foundations, Communications and Information Foundations, Software and Hardware Foundations, and others. It is segmented into three project classes: Small Projects (up to $600,000 for three years), Medium Projects ($600,001 to $1.2 million for four years), and OAC Core Projects (up to $600,000 for three years). These classes define budget limits and expected project scope, personnel, and collaboration structures. Projects must adhere to the specific guidelines and limits for each class, with proposals being accepted annually. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S.-based two- and four-year institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic research-related organizations. Principal Investigators must hold either a tenured/tenure-track position or a primary, full-time, paid research or teaching appointment. Proposals exceeding two submissions per PI or co-PI within a 12-month period will be returned without review. No preliminary proposals or letters of intent are required, and full proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following applicable guidelines. All Medium project submissions must include a Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Plan, which addresses specific elements such as goals, target populations, strategies, evaluation methods, and PI engagement. For all proposals, supplementary documents such as a collaboration plan (for Medium and collaborative projects), REU supplement requests, and optionally cloud computing resource requests via CloudBank are allowed. Evaluation criteria include intellectual merit, broader impacts, resource plans, PI qualifications, and reproducibility strategies. Each submission is reviewed via a peer-review process based on NSF’s merit review principles. Applications for Small Projects may be submitted between July 18 and September 30, 2024. OAC Core and Medium Projects are accepted from October 1 to October 23, 2024, and similar dates recur annually. Proposals intersecting multiple programs are encouraged and may be co-reviewed by different CISE divisions. The anticipated funding available totals up to $280 million with 400 to 600 awards expected, depending on appropriations. Contact information is provided for each program area, and general application support is available through NSF and Grants.gov help desks.

Ensure BPC plans meet all five specified criteria; follow strict format and submission instructions to avoid return without review; use NSF’s template and tools like BPCnet and CloudBank if applicable