Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 569
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure program, often referred to as SABI (Funding Opportunity Number 19-569), is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to keep important, already-established biological research infrastructure running and accessible to the scientific community. The core goal is not to build brand-new infrastructure from scratch, but to provide support that helps mature, high-value resources remain operational so they can continue enabling basic research in the biological sciences. NSF is looking for proposals that clearly show how keeping a specific infrastructure resource available will advance, strengthen, or even transform biological research supported by the agency.
SABI is focused on infrastructure that has ongoing operating and maintenance costs that are too large to be reasonably covered by the host institution alone. The program recognizes that some resources become widely depended upon by researchers, but as they mature, they can reach a point where sustaining them is essential and expensive, even if the resource itself is already proven and broadly useful. Examples of the kinds of infrastructure that may be supported include cyberinfrastructure (such as databases, platforms, or computational resources used by biologists), major instrumentation, experimental or observational facilities, and biological living stocks or collections that require continuous care and upkeep. The common thread is that these resources already exist, are actively used, and have demonstrated scientific value, but need continued support to avoid degradation, loss of capability, or reduced access.
A central requirement of a competitive SABI proposal is a compelling case for impact. Applicants need to show that sustained availability of the infrastructure is critical for enabling leading-edge research today, and that its continued operation will drive novel, impactful, and potentially transformative science outcomes through the research it supports. In other words, NSF is funding the continued presence of infrastructure because of what it makes possible for the broader research community, not simply because it is costly or difficult to maintain. The infrastructure should be shown to have substantial value to research aligned with NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and any collaborating organizations, with evidence that it meaningfully supports a community of users and advances basic biological discovery.
This program is distinct from other NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure efforts that may prioritize developing next-generation tools, conducting research that leads to future infrastructure, or implementing new shared infrastructure capabilities. SABI instead emphasizes continuity and reliability: keeping proven, mature, community-critical resources available so scientists can keep using them without interruption. Awards under SABI are intended to protect and sustain infrastructure that has become essential to the biological research ecosystem, ensuring it remains a dependable foundation for ongoing and future discoveries.
From the funding opportunity details provided, proposals are accepted at any time rather than being limited to a single annual deadline, and NSF anticipated making about three awards. The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically indicates that a fixed maximum is not specified in the notice and that budgets are expected to be driven by justified needs and program expectations. The opportunity falls under the science and technology research and development activity category (CFDA 47.074) and is administered by the National Science Foundation. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full opportunity text, so potential applicants generally need to consult the official solicitation for the precise eligible organization types and any specific conditions.Apply for 19 569
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Proposals accepted anytime. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure (SABI) program?
The Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure (SABI) program (Funding Opportunity Number 19-569) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that supports the continued operation and accessibility of important, already-established biological research infrastructure resources.
What is the main goal of SABI?
The main goal is to keep mature, high-value biological research infrastructure running and available to the broader scientific community. The program is focused on sustaining proven resources rather than building brand-new infrastructure from scratch.
What types of infrastructure can SABI support?
SABI may support established biological research infrastructure such as:
- Cyberinfrastructure (for example, databases, platforms, or computational resources used by biologists)
- Major instrumentation
- Experimental or observational facilities
- Biological living stocks or collections that require continuous care and upkeep
The common theme is that the resource already exists, is actively used, has demonstrated scientific value, and requires continued operating and maintenance support.
Is SABI meant to fund new infrastructure development?
No. SABI emphasizes continuity and reliability by sustaining proven, mature resources that are already in place and widely used. It is distinct from NSF efforts that prioritize developing next-generation tools or implementing new shared infrastructure capabilities.
Why does NSF offer SABI funding for existing resources?
The program recognizes that some biological infrastructure becomes widely depended upon by researchers and, as it matures, can be essential to sustain. These resources may have operating and maintenance costs that are too large to be reasonably covered by the host institution alone. SABI aims to prevent degradation, loss of capability, or reduced access to such community-critical infrastructure.
What makes a SABI proposal competitive?
A central requirement is a compelling case for impact. A competitive proposal clearly shows that sustained availability of the resource is critical for enabling leading-edge biological research now, and that continued operation will drive novel, impactful, and potentially transformative science outcomes through the research the infrastructure supports.
What kind of impact does NSF expect applicants to demonstrate?
NSF is looking for proposals that demonstrate how keeping a specific resource available will advance, strengthen, or potentially transform biological research supported by NSF. The emphasis is on what the infrastructure enables for the broader research community, not simply on the fact that it is expensive or difficult to maintain.
Does the infrastructure need to already have users and demonstrated value?
Yes. SABI is aimed at infrastructure that already exists, is actively used, and has demonstrated scientific value. Proposals should provide evidence that the infrastructure meaningfully supports a community of users and advances basic biological discovery.
What NSF research areas should the infrastructure align with?
The infrastructure should have substantial value to research aligned with NSF's Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and any collaborating organizations, as referenced in the opportunity description.
How is SABI different from other NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure opportunities?
SABI prioritizes sustaining established, community-critical resources and ensuring dependable continuity of access. Other NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure efforts may prioritize developing next-generation tools, conducting research that leads to future infrastructure, or implementing new shared infrastructure capabilities.
Are proposals accepted on a fixed deadline?
No. Based on the details provided, proposals are accepted at any time rather than being limited to a single annual deadline.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making?
NSF anticipated making about three awards under this opportunity, based on the information provided.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically indicates a fixed maximum is not specified in the notice. Budgets are generally expected to be driven by justified needs and program expectations.
What is the CFDA number and activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the science and technology research and development activity category and references CFDA 47.074. It is administered by the National Science Foundation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full opportunity text. Applicants generally need to consult the official solicitation for the precise eligible organization types and any specific conditions.
What does "discretionary grant opportunity" mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, SABI is presented as a discretionary grant opportunity administered by NSF, intended to support the continued availability of established biological research infrastructure that the research community depends on.
What problem is SABI trying to prevent?
SABI funding is intended to help prevent established, valuable infrastructure from experiencing degradation, losing capability, or becoming less accessible due to insufficient resources for ongoing operations and maintenance.
What is NSF really paying for under SABI?
SABI is funding the continued presence and dependable operation of established biological infrastructure because of what it makes possible for the broader research community (the research enabled by the infrastructure), rather than funding it simply because it is costly to maintain.
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