The National Science Foundation (NSF) Solicitation 24-589 invites proposals for its Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Core Programs. The CISE Directorate seeks to advance fundamental knowledge and innovation in computing, communication, and information science through research that addresses computing infrastructure, human-computer interaction, and intelligent systems. The core programs are organized under four main divisions: the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS), Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC).

CISE Core Programs cover three project classes: Small, Medium, and OAC Core projects. Small projects, capped at $600,000 for up to three years, target focused research involving one to two investigators and are accepted under CCF, CNS, and IIS only. Medium projects, with funding between $600,001 and $1,200,000 for up to four years, support larger collaborative teams and are also open to CCF, CNS, and IIS. Medium proposals must include a detailed Collaboration Plan and a Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) plan, focusing on advancing diversity within computing research. OAC Core projects focus on translational research in advanced cyberinfrastructure, supporting similar budget and duration limits to Small projects but are restricted to the OAC division.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based institutions of higher education (two- and four-year accredited institutions) and non-profit research organizations. Each proposal’s principal investigator (PI) or co-PI must hold a full-time, paid position at an eligible U.S. institution. Specific limitations are in place to ensure fair competition: each PI, co-PI, or Senior Personnel may participate in no more than two proposals submitted within any contiguous 12-month period across all CISE project classes. Proposals exceeding this participation limit will be returned without review.

The submission requirements include following NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) via Research.gov or Grants.gov. For Medium projects, a BPC plan must be submitted, addressing specific goals, intended participant populations, and measurable outcomes. Collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be processed via Research.gov. Project titles must follow a format that includes the program acronym, project class, and collaboration details where relevant. The solicitation also supports cloud computing resources via CloudBank, allowing researchers access to major cloud platforms, which should be documented in the budget and supplementary materials.

Review criteria focus on intellectual merit and broader impacts, following NSF’s dual review structure. Intellectual merit assesses the advancement of knowledge, while broader impacts consider societal benefits, including increasing diversity in STEM fields. Proposals must present a well-organized project with sound methodologies and plans for collaboration if required. Additionally, Medium projects will be evaluated on the necessity and synergy of collaborative efforts, along with the effectiveness of the BPC plan in promoting diversity in computing.

Approximately $280 million in annual funding is anticipated, supporting up to 600 awards across all project classes, contingent upon fund availability. Successful applicants are required to submit annual and final project reports via Research.gov. Medium project awardees must also document BPC activities and outcomes annually. This program prioritizes fostering national STEM competitiveness, advancing scientific knowledge, and broadening participation in computing, in line with NSF’s mission to promote science and innovation across the United States.