Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation

The Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a federal initiative designed to advance the national cyberinfrastructure (CI) ecosystem. Managed under the NSF’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering and involving multiple directorates, the CSSI program seeks to support software and data cyberinfrastructure development that will significantly enhance scientific discovery and innovation across a wide array of science and engineering disciplines. This program provides a coordinated strategy to address evolving challenges in CI by supporting projects that range from small-scale services to broad frameworks and long-term sustainability plans. The CSSI program is segmented into three award classes: Elements, Framework Implementations, and Transition to Sustainability. Elements awards are designed for small teams proposing robust, reusable CI services to meet specific scientific needs, with budgets up to $600,000 over three years. Framework Implementations target interdisciplinary teams building more complex, sustainable CI solutions with a broader scope, eligible for awards ranging from $600,001 to $5 million over three to five years. Transition to Sustainability awards, capped at $1 million over two years, focus on supporting existing CI projects with demonstrated impact to move toward long-term viability through clearly defined sustainability plans. Eligibility for the CSSI program includes accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including community colleges, as well as certain non-profit organizations, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), museums, observatories, and similar entities. While there are no restrictions on who may serve as principal investigators (PIs), individuals may only participate in one proposal under this solicitation across all three award classes. This limitation ensures broader participation across the scientific community and encourages collaboration among new research groups. The proposal submission process requires full proposals submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov, with no requirement for letters of intent or preliminary proposals. Submission deadlines recur annually on December 1st, beginning with deadlines in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and continuing annually thereafter. The review process adheres to the NSF’s standard merit review criteria, emphasizing intellectual merit and broader impacts. Additionally, the CSSI solicitation outlines program-specific review criteria focusing on project motivation, innovation, architecture and engineering plans, measurable outcomes, and sustainability. Applications must include several key components such as a Project Description addressing three major themes (Project Motivation and Impact, Cyberinfrastructure Plans, and Measurable Outcomes), a supplementary “Delivery Mechanism and Community Usage Metrics” document, and, where applicable, documents related to mentoring of CI professionals or requests for high-throughput computing resources. Successful projects are expected to demonstrate scalability, community impact, and strategic alignment with NSF priorities. For program-related inquiries, applicants are advised to contact [email protected] or reach out to individual program directors listed in the solicitation. The performance period for each award type is determined by the project scope and funding class, with the Elements and Sustainability classes capped at three and two years respectively, while Framework projects may extend up to five years. Award decisions are expected following NSF’s typical review process timelines, and annual principal investigator meetings are a required condition of awardees. With a total anticipated program budget of $34 million, the CSSI program represents a critical investment in the future of U.S. scientific infrastructure and collaboration.