The Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) program, under the Directorate for Biological Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports projects aimed at implementing, scaling, or making significant improvements to research tools, products, and services that advance contemporary biological research. The program emphasizes three primary areas: Cyberinfrastructure, Biological Collections, and Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories. Proposals that do not fit within these categories but demonstrate broad applicability to biological research may also be considered. Projects must demonstrate broad accessibility to the scientific and educational community and provide value beyond a single research team.

The Capacity program focuses on building infrastructure capacity that benefits a wide range of researchers. It explicitly excludes proposals for instrumentation (which should be submitted to the Major Research Instrumentation program) and projects limited to infrastructure development for specific research projects, laboratories, or institutions (which should be submitted to the relevant BIO programs). Proposals are expected to result in quality products and deliver significant scientific outcomes. They should also include plans for broad access and dissemination of resources to the research and education communities.

Proposals may address planning activities, workshops, or coordination efforts necessary for building infrastructure capacity. Proposals for Research Coordination Networks (RCN), Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), or supplemental activities such as Rapid Response Research (RAPID), Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), and Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE) are also eligible but must follow specific guidelines. Proposals should emphasize broader impacts, including promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as long-term sustainability of the proposed infrastructure.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (two- and four-year accredited institutions in the US) and nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as museums, observatories, and research laboratories. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals an individual or organization can submit. Collaborative proposals involving multiple organizations must follow specific submission guidelines.

The program offers awards in the form of standard grants, continuing grants, or cooperative agreements, with an anticipated funding range of $16 to $18 million per year. Award sizes and durations depend on the scope and complexity of the proposed project, with larger budgets requiring a demonstrated impact on the broader biological research community.

Proposals are accepted at any time and must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Proposals must include a Project Description, Broader Impacts statement, Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan (if applicable), and a Data Management Plan. Projects involving off-site research are required to include measures for ensuring a safe and inclusive working environment.

Merit review follows NSF's established criteria, focusing on intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional solicitation-specific criteria evaluating rationale, design, implementation, management, communication, dissemination, outcomes assessment, and sustainability. Reporting requirements include annual and final project reports submitted via Research.gov, detailing accomplishments, participants, and impacts.