NSF NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC)
Helps NSF NAIRR Operations Center for United States institutionsnited States researchers and educators.
The National AI Research Resource Operations Center is NSF's one-award competition for a community-based center that will manage the National AI Research Resource. It sits under NSF's CISE/Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure and is designed to give U.S. researchers and educators sustained access to AI tools, data, and expertise. The award ceiling is up to $35 million over as long as five years, with one award anticipated. Proposals were limited to one per organization, and principal investigators and senior personnel could each appear on only one proposal. Eligible organizations are institutional rather than individual, with U.S. registration and operations expected. This is a national infrastructure build, not a standard research grant. The strongest proposal would show operational discipline, broad stakeholder support, and a plan for transition from the pilot ecosystem into a stable center. The 2026 submission window has closed, so the opportunity now sits between cycles until NSF announces the award.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: One-off.