Opportunity Information: Apply for 25 546
This NSF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 25-546) is aimed at standing up the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC), a dedicated, community-based organization that will help move the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource from its current pilot phase into a more permanent, long-term national capability. The NAIRR Pilot, launched in January 2024, is a large public-private partnership led by NSF alongside 14 other federal agencies and 28 private-sector partners. Its central purpose is to strengthen the U.S. AI research and education ecosystem by giving researchers and educators better access to high-end compute and data platforms, high-value datasets, software and tools, AI models, and the technical expertise needed to use these resources effectively. The pilot is positioned as a practical way to speed up AI-enabled discovery and innovation while also expanding workforce training and education in AI-related fields.
The NAIRR-OC is described as the operational hub that will make the transition from a time-limited pilot into a sustainable national infrastructure possible. In practical terms, NSF is looking to fund one organization that can provide lean, durable coordination and day-to-day operational capability for NAIRR as it matures. The selected awardee would be expected to function as the focal point for planning and execution across a complex set of stakeholders, including federal partners, private-sector contributors, and the broader research and education community. The solicitation is framed as “foundational” work: the award is meant to establish core operating approaches, build coordination mechanisms, and deliver the kind of integration work that turns a collection of contributing resources into an accessible, coherent national resource for AI R and D and training.
The responsibilities of the NAIRR-OC are grouped into three big themes. First is organizational leadership, meaning the awardee must create and run an operational framework for NAIRR, manage the organization effectively, and define success metrics that align with the vision and requirements set by NSF and the other federal partners. Second is building NAIRR capabilities and community, which includes hands-on development and stakeholder support such as interfacing with partner organizations and resource providers, deploying a unified web portal, integrating data-focused and other resources into the NAIRR environment, and carrying out outreach and community-building so that researchers, educators, and other users can actually discover, access, and benefit from what NAIRR offers. Third is interfacing with pilot operations, where the new operations center will coordinate with the existing pilot’s contributing partners and connect with the independently supported teams currently performing pilot operational functions, while also producing practical transition plans to bring those operational functions under the NAIRR-OC in the future.
NSF expects to make a single award under this competition, which makes it more like selecting a national operator than funding a set of unrelated projects. Oversight will come through the NAIRR Program Management Office (PMO), and that oversight may include representatives from other partnering agencies, reflecting the cross-government nature of NAIRR. The solicitation also signals potential growth: depending on NAIRR priorities, the awardee’s performance, and available funding, the initial set of responsibilities could expand in a later phase, suggesting that NSF is treating this as an on-ramp to a broader operational role as NAIRR evolves.
Eligibility is broad but specific to U.S.-based entities capable of operating at national scale. Proposals may be submitted by U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong scientific or engineering research or education capabilities, and by non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies that are directly tied to research or educational activities. Institutions of Higher Education are also eligible, including both two-year and four-year accredited colleges and universities with a U.S. campus, acting on behalf of faculty members. Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers may apply as well, but they must follow NSF’s PAPPG guidance on eligibility limitations for those entities. If an applicant plans to send funds to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why work at that branch campus benefits the project and why the activities cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.
From a timing and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant in NSF’s science and technology R and D category (CFDA 47.070). The posted closing date is February 4, 2026, and the opportunity was created on September 2, 2025. While the public listing shows placeholders for items like award ceiling and expected awards, the narrative makes clear NSF’s intention to fund one lead organization that can coordinate the operational transition and provide the backbone services needed to make NAIRR function as an integrated, national-scale AI research and education resource.Apply for 25 546
- The U.S. National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foundations for Operating the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource: the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-09-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC) (Funding Opportunity Number 25-546)
1) What is this NSF funding opportunity about?
This NSF opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 25-546) seeks to fund the establishment of the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC). The NAIRR-OC is intended to be a dedicated, community-based organization that helps move the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) from its current pilot phase into a more permanent, long-term national capability.
2) What is NAIRR, and what is the NAIRR Pilot?
The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) is a national effort focused on strengthening the U.S. AI research and education ecosystem. The NAIRR Pilot launched in January 2024 as a large public-private partnership led by NSF alongside 14 other federal agencies and 28 private-sector partners.
3) What is the purpose of NAIRR?
NAIRR aims to strengthen AI research and education in the United States by improving researcher and educator access to key resources such as high-end compute and data platforms, high-value datasets, software and tools, AI models, and the technical expertise needed to use these resources effectively. The pilot is positioned as a practical way to accelerate AI-enabled discovery and innovation while expanding workforce training and education in AI-related fields.
4) What is the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC)?
The NAIRR-OC is described as the operational hub intended to make the transition from a time-limited pilot into a sustainable national infrastructure possible. NSF is looking to fund one organization to provide lean, durable coordination and day-to-day operational capability for NAIRR as it matures.
5) Is NSF planning to fund multiple awards or a single award?
NSF expects to make a single award under this competition. The intent is to select one lead organization that can coordinate the operational transition and provide backbone services to make NAIRR function as an integrated, national-scale AI research and education resource.
6) What kinds of responsibilities will the NAIRR-OC have?
The solicitation groups NAIRR-OC responsibilities into three major themes: (1) organizational leadership, (2) building NAIRR capabilities and community, and (3) interfacing with pilot operations.
7) What does "organizational leadership" mean in this solicitation?
Organizational leadership includes creating and running an operational framework for NAIRR, managing the organization effectively, and defining success metrics aligned with the vision and requirements set by NSF and other federal partners.
8) What does "building NAIRR capabilities and community" include?
This area includes hands-on development and stakeholder support such as interfacing with partner organizations and resource providers, deploying a unified web portal, integrating data-focused and other resources into the NAIRR environment, and conducting outreach and community-building so researchers, educators, and other users can discover, access, and benefit from NAIRR resources.
9) What does "interfacing with pilot operations" involve?
This includes coordinating with the existing pilot's contributing partners, connecting with independently supported teams currently performing pilot operational functions, and producing transition plans to bring those operational functions under the NAIRR-OC in the future.
10) Why is this solicitation described as "foundational"?
The solicitation frames the award as foundational work because it is meant to establish core operating approaches, build coordination mechanisms, and deliver integration work that turns a collection of contributing resources into an accessible, coherent national resource for AI research and development and training.
11) Who will oversee the NAIRR-OC award?
Oversight will come through the NAIRR Program Management Office (PMO). The oversight may include representatives from other partnering agencies, reflecting the cross-government nature of NAIRR.
12) Could the NAIRR-OC role expand over time?
Yes. The solicitation signals potential growth. Depending on NAIRR priorities, the awardee's performance, and available funding, the initial responsibilities could expand in a later phase, suggesting the award may serve as an on-ramp to a broader operational role as NAIRR evolves.
13) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad but focused on U.S.-based entities capable of operating at national scale. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong scientific or engineering research or education capabilities; non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies directly tied to research or educational activities; and Institutions of Higher Education (two-year and four-year accredited colleges and universities with a U.S. campus, acting on behalf of faculty members).
14) Are federal entities eligible to apply?
Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may apply, but they must follow NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidance on eligibility limitations for those entities.
15) Does the solicitation allow work at international branch campuses?
If an applicant plans to send funds to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why work at that branch campus benefits the project and why the activities cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.
16) What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The posted closing date is February 4, 2026.
17) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 2, 2025.
18) What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary grant in NSF's science and technology research and development (R and D) category.
19) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.070.
20) What is the main outcome NSF is looking for from the awardee?
Based on the narrative description, NSF is looking for one lead organization that can serve as the focal point for planning and execution across federal partners, private-sector contributors, and the broader research and education community, while providing day-to-day operational coordination and integration needed to transition NAIRR from a pilot into a sustainable national capability.
21) What kinds of NAIRR resources are referenced in the description?
The description references high-end compute and data platforms, high-value datasets, software and tools, AI models, and the technical expertise needed to use these resources effectively.
22) What does "community-based organization" mean in the context provided?
In the context provided, the NAIRR-OC is described as a community-based organization that supports coordination and operations across a broad set of stakeholders, including the research and education community, alongside federal and private-sector partners.
23) Is the opportunity intended to support research projects directly?
The information provided emphasizes operations, coordination, integration, and transition planning rather than funding a collection of unrelated research projects. NSF characterizes this as selecting a national operator to stand up and run the NAIRR-OC.
24) How does this opportunity relate to the NAIRR Pilot currently operating?
The NAIRR-OC is intended to coordinate with the existing pilot's contributing partners and the independently supported teams currently performing pilot operational functions, and to develop transition plans for bringing those functions under the NAIRR-OC in the future.
25) What is meant by a "unified web portal" in the responsibilities described?
The solicitation includes deploying a unified web portal as part of building NAIRR capabilities and community, implying a single point of access intended to help users discover and access NAIRR resources.
26) What does it mean to "integrate data-focused and other resources into the NAIRR environment"?
Based on the description, integration refers to the practical coordination and technical/operational work needed to bring multiple contributing resources together so they function as an accessible, coherent national resource rather than a disconnected set of offerings.
27) Does the public listing provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
The public listing is described as showing placeholders for items like award ceiling and expected awards. However, the narrative states NSF intends to fund one lead organization under this competition.
28) Who are the partners involved in the NAIRR Pilot?
The NAIRR Pilot is described as being led by NSF alongside 14 other federal agencies and 28 private-sector partners.
29) What types of stakeholders will the NAIRR-OC coordinate across?
The NAIRR-OC is expected to coordinate across a complex set of stakeholders including federal partners, private-sector contributors, and the broader research and education community.
30) What is the overarching goal of creating the NAIRR-OC?
The overarching goal is to provide the operational backbone that enables NAIRR to transition from a time-limited pilot into a sustainable, long-term national capability supporting AI research, development, training, and education at national scale.
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