Foundations for Operating the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource: the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC)

The National Science Foundation has released solicitation NSF 25-546 titled “Foundations for Operating the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource: the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC).” This program builds on the NAIRR Pilot, a public-private initiative launched in January 2024 that brought together NSF, 14 other federal agencies, and 28 private sector partners. The goal of the NAIRR is to establish a sustainable, national infrastructure to support artificial intelligence research and education by connecting U.S. researchers and educators with advanced computational platforms, datasets, software, models, and expertise. The NAIRR Operations Center will serve as the coordinating hub that transitions the Pilot to a long-term capability. The purpose of this solicitation is to fund a single community-based organization that will provide leadership, coordination, and operational management of the NAIRR. The awardee will establish an organizational framework, develop a unified NAIRR portal, integrate resources contributed by public and private partners, and conduct community engagement. The NAIRR-OC will not directly conduct research or acquire physical infrastructure but will ensure researchers and educators can effectively access and utilize NAIRR-supported resources. The cooperative agreement will enable NSF to oversee operations through the NAIRR Program Management Office, which may include partner agencies. The scope of the award includes establishing organizational leadership, developing success metrics, integrating data, models, and tools, managing cybersecurity standards, and engaging stakeholders including federal resource providers, private partners, and the NAIRR user community. The NAIRR-OC will also assume responsibility for transitioning Pilot operations into long-term functions, including resource allocations, user support, communications, and outreach. Milestones include submission of a project execution plan within three months, development of a metrics collection plan at six months, and full portal transition within the first year. At 24 months, NSF will conduct a review to evaluate performance and consider continuation. Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based institutions of higher education, non-profit non-academic organizations, and for-profit organizations with strong research or educational capabilities. Other federal agencies and federally funded research and development centers may also apply, but must comply with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide restrictions. Each organization may only submit one proposal, and each individual may only participate as senior personnel on one proposal. The Principal Investigator must serve as the NAIRR-OC Director and devote at least 50 percent effort to the role. Leadership should primarily be based in a single institution, although one additional partner institution may be included to fill skill gaps. Applicants must submit a required Letter of Intent by December 15, 2025, via Research.gov. Full proposals are due February 4, 2026, and may be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. Proposals must include a comprehensive project description, leadership plan, engagement strategy, communications plan, metrics framework, and consolidated schedule of milestones. Required supporting documentation includes biosketches, current and pending support, collaborator information, synergistic activities, data management and sharing plan, and mentoring plan if applicable. Proposals must follow the NSF PAPPG or Grants.gov application guide depending on the submission route. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement with a funding ceiling of up to $35,000,000 for one awardee over a period of up to five years. Cost sharing is not permitted, and indirect cost limitations do not apply. The NAIRR-OC may be eligible for renewal or expansion of responsibilities in future phases, subject to NSF review, priorities, and funding availability. Oversight will include regular reporting, annual reviews, and site visits, with special award conditions such as the delivery of execution plans and adherence to Build America, Buy America requirements for infrastructure-related spending. Contacts for this program are Alejandro Suarez at alsuarez@nsf.gov, (703) 292-7092, and Sharon Geva at sgeva@nsf.gov, (703) 292-7058. General inquiries may also be directed to the NSF Information Center at (703) 292-5111. Proposals should be carefully aligned with the goals of the NAIRR and demonstrate clear capacity to lead a high-visibility, national-scale operational initiative in artificial intelligence research infrastructure.

Proposals must be aligned with NSF’s PAPPG or Grants.gov guidelines, ensure PI dedicates over 50 percent time to directing NAIRR-OC, and provide strong central leadership with minimal reliance on sub-awards