Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 594
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Leading Engineering for America's Prosperity, Health, and Infrastructure (LEAP HI) is designed to push the engineering research community into a visible leadership role on large, high-stakes national challenges. The program targets problems that are urgent and consequential, and it is specifically meant for engineering questions that are too complex, interconnected, or long-range to be solved by a single investigator or by a loose collection of short, disconnected projects. In practice, LEAP HI is aimed at ambitious efforts where progress depends on a sustained, coordinated, interdisciplinary team that can work together over multiple years toward goals that would not realistically be reached through smaller standard awards.
LEAP HI supports fundamental research, not incremental development work, with the expectation that foundational advances could eventually open the door to disruptive technologies, new methods, and major shifts in how industries or infrastructure systems operate. NSF frames the potential outcomes broadly: projects might help strengthen or create industries, drive measurable improvements in quality of life, improve public health outcomes, or reimagine and revitalize the built environment. A strong proposal is expected to connect a deep intellectual challenge in engineering research to clear societal value, particularly in areas tied to economic competitiveness, quality of life, public health, or essential infrastructure.
The program structure reflects its "big problem, big team" focus. Awards are intended for collaborating investigators and can run up to five years, with a total budget range of $1 million to $2 million (the ceiling is $2,000,000). NSF anticipated making about six awards under this opportunity. While the eligibility line in the listing notes "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," the key practical takeaway is that applicants should carefully check the official solicitation for which institution types and organizational arrangements qualify before investing in a full proposal.
A central requirement is that at least one CMMI (Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation) core topic must sit at the heart of the research plan. At the same time, NSF explicitly encourages teams to integrate expertise that is not typically involved in CMMI-funded projects, reinforcing that LEAP HI is looking for boundary-crossing collaborations that bring in complementary perspectives, methods, and technical strengths. This is not interdisciplinary work as a superficial add-on; it is meant to be a genuine integration where the project's success depends on coordinated contributions across fields.
Beyond the technical research plan, LEAP HI proposals must include two planning elements that signal how the team will lead and how it will function. First, an Engineering Leadership Plan is required, and it must communicate the excitement and relevance of the engineering research to the general public as the project unfolds, with particular attention to inspiring future engineers. This is not just standard outreach language; it is framed as a creative, ongoing leadership component that runs alongside the research. Second, proposals must include a Research Integration Plan that demonstrates why a sustained team effort is necessary and shows, with a timeline, how research activities will be managed and integrated across the different project thrusts. In other words, NSF wants evidence that the team has a realistic coordination strategy, clear management practices, and an intentional approach to keeping the work unified rather than fragmented.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category (CFDA 47.041) run by NSF. The opportunity number is 22-594. The posting lists a creation date of May 4, 2022, with an original closing date of September 15, 2022, and identifies Bruce Kramer as the cognizant program officer. Overall, LEAP HI is best read as NSF CMMI's mechanism for funding a small number of high-investment, high-ambition fundamental engineering research efforts that combine rigorous technical depth, strong interdisciplinary integration, and visible public-facing leadership over a multi-year time horizon.Apply for 22 594
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leading Engineering for America's Prosperity, Health, and Infrastructure" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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LEAP HI (NSF) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the LEAP HI program?
Leading Engineering for America's Prosperity, Health, and Infrastructure (LEAP HI) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity intended to move the engineering research community into a visible leadership role on large, high-stakes national challenges. It is designed for urgent and consequential problems that are too complex, interconnected, or long-range to be addressed by a single investigator or by a set of short, loosely connected projects.
What kinds of projects is LEAP HI trying to fund?
LEAP HI is aimed at ambitious, multi-year efforts where meaningful progress depends on a sustained, coordinated, interdisciplinary team. The program is positioned for projects with goals that would not realistically be achieved through smaller, standard awards or isolated work packages.
Is LEAP HI focused on fundamental research or applied development?
LEAP HI supports fundamental research rather than incremental development work. The expectation is that foundational advances could eventually enable disruptive technologies, new methods, and major shifts in how industries or infrastructure systems operate.
What types of outcomes does NSF expect LEAP HI projects to enable?
NSF frames potential outcomes broadly. Projects may help strengthen or create industries, drive measurable improvements in quality of life, improve public health outcomes, or reimagine and revitalize the built environment. Proposals are expected to connect a deep engineering intellectual challenge to clear societal value, especially tied to economic competitiveness, quality of life, public health, or essential infrastructure.
How long can LEAP HI awards last?
Awards can run up to five years.
What is the typical budget size for a LEAP HI award?
LEAP HI awards are expected to fall in the range of $1 million to $2 million total, with a maximum (ceiling) of $2,000,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make under LEAP HI?
NSF anticipated making about six awards under this opportunity.
Is this opportunity intended for single-investigator proposals?
No. The opportunity is built around a "big problem, big team" structure and is intended for collaborating investigators working in a sustained, coordinated way over multiple years.
What is the role of interdisciplinarity in LEAP HI?
Interdisciplinarity is central to LEAP HI. NSF encourages teams to integrate expertise not typically involved in CMMI-funded projects. The intent is not superficial collaboration; the project should be designed so that success depends on coordinated contributions across fields.
Is there a required connection to NSF CMMI?
Yes. A central requirement is that at least one CMMI (Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation) core topic must be at the heart of the research plan.
Does LEAP HI require an Engineering Leadership Plan?
Yes. Proposals must include an Engineering Leadership Plan. This plan must communicate the excitement and relevance of the engineering research to the general public as the project unfolds, with particular attention to inspiring future engineers. It is framed as a creative, ongoing leadership component that runs alongside the research, not just a standard outreach statement.
Does LEAP HI require a Research Integration Plan?
Yes. Proposals must include a Research Integration Plan showing why a sustained team effort is necessary and how the work will be managed and integrated across project thrusts. NSF expects a timeline and evidence of realistic coordination strategies and management practices that keep the project unified rather than fragmented.
What does NSF mean by a "sustained, coordinated" team effort?
Based on the program description, "sustained, coordinated" means an interdisciplinary team working together over multiple years with intentional integration across research thrusts, supported by an explicit plan (the Research Integration Plan) for management, coordination, and keeping the work cohesive.
Is LEAP HI appropriate for a collection of smaller, disconnected subprojects?
No. LEAP HI is specifically meant for engineering questions that are too complex, interconnected, or long-range for a loose collection of short, disconnected projects. NSF is looking for a unified effort with clear integration and coordinated execution.
What is the opportunity number for LEAP HI?
The opportunity number is 22-594.
Which NSF category and CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category, with CFDA 47.041.
Who is listed as the cognizant program officer?
Bruce Kramer is identified as the cognizant program officer in the posting.
What were the posted dates for this opportunity?
The posting lists a creation date of May 4, 2022, and an original closing date of September 15, 2022.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility line notes "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." The practical takeaway from the listing is that applicants should carefully check the official solicitation to confirm which institution types and organizational arrangements qualify before investing in a full proposal.
What should a strong LEAP HI proposal clearly demonstrate?
A strong proposal should (1) place at least one CMMI core topic at the center of the research plan, (2) address a deep, high-stakes engineering research challenge that is urgent and consequential, (3) show genuine interdisciplinary integration that is necessary for success, (4) connect the research to clear societal value (economic competitiveness, quality of life, public health, or essential infrastructure), and (5) include both an Engineering Leadership Plan and a Research Integration Plan that demonstrate public-facing leadership and realistic multi-year coordination.
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