CC* Regional Proposals: Connectivity Requirements, Components, and REN Support�

Workshop on NSF Cyberinfrastructure Funding, for HBCUs, TCUs, and Other Under-Resourced MSIs

Part II, January 24, 2024

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Workshop Participation

• Each session will include presentation recording prior to dedicated time for non-recorded discussion among participants.
• Please mute unless speaking.
• For questions and comments: feel free to raise your hand in video or via Zoom Reactions, or to use the Zoom Chat.
• Complete the Post-Workshop survey to inform potential future workshops:

https://forms.gle/64zpxNdBK35Xp8n7A

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Workshop Materials: http://bit.ly/NSFCIFundingWorkshop2023�(including later recordings)

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Workshop Agenda

1:00-1:10pm ET Welcome and Introduction

1:10-1:40 Deeper Into Target CC* and TCUP Program Areas

1:50-2:20 Breakout Groups - by Program / Area, with experiences

BREAK

2:35-2:55 CC* Regional Connectivity Components and REN Support

3:05-3:45 Breakout Groups - by Region, with REN+campus experiences

3:45-4:00 Resources and Wrap-Up

Each presentation will be recorded prior to �non-recorded discussion among participants.

Workshop Materials: http://bit.ly/NSFCIFundingWorkshop2023�(including later recordings)

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Regional Networking Infrastructure

• Overview of new CC* is posted but solicitation details are not yet available
• Regional Networking Infrastructure
• Previous solicitation (NSF 23-526) referenced Area 2 – Regional Connectivity for Small Institutions of Higher Education
• New solicitation (NSF 24-530) references Area 1 - Data Driven Networking Infrastructure for the Region 
• This presentation refers to requirements of the previous solicitation.
• Maximum regional networking infrastructure award has gone from $1.2M to $1.4M in this new solicitation
• Estimated number of campus and regional networking infrastructure awards: 8-13

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NSF 23-526: Regional Connectivity for Small Institutions of Higher Education

• Aimed at smaller institutions with challenges in networking infrastructure and resources
• Intended to broaden the reach of R&E networking connectivity to smaller institutions
• Proposals should be led by RONs aka RENs or lead university institutions in areas without a RON.
• RONs and lead institutions are expected to contribute their technical expertise in advanced networking and capabilities to actively collaborate with partnering institutions to proposals and projects
• Opportunity for EPSCoR and Non-EPSCoR jurisdictions - see https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/epscor

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Value of a Research and Education Network (REN)

1. RENs across the U.S. are unique and united in a common mission
1. Common mission to provide advanced networking service purpose-built for higher ed and other community anchors
2. Unique that they each reflect their local and state landscapes
2. RENs are different than Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who connect homes and neighborhoods.
• RENs employ a cooperative network service model - governed by their users, not stockholders
• Services are designed, bundled, and delivered specifically for higher-ed and other education institutions
• Technical expertise and services; access to cloud services, network security services, and network traffic management
• Many REN models provide full network port bandwidth

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Regional Infrastructure Awards

18 awards so far = $15.3M

See Appendix for project information

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NSF 23-526: Regional Connectivity for Small Institutions of Higher Education – In Scope

• Upgrading an institution’s connectivity to a regional network and the national research and education fabric
• Improvements to campus network, including purchase of equipment, to better support academic data flows, i.e. ScienceDMZ (see http://fasterdata.es.net/science-dmz/).
• Connections that address specific challenges between campus research and education facilities and sites, including wireless solutions
• Access to research and education resources external to the campus, i.e. distance learning capabilities, data sets, virtual labs, scientific instruments, cloud computing resources
• Staff support expenses – budget for IT staff support for campus and lead organization to implement the project

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NSF 23-526: Regional Connectivity Proposal Requirements

As with all NSF grant proposals, must read solicitation carefully to understand ALL requirements. This presentation is only highlighting some of the requirements for this Program Area in the most recent solicitation�

1. Must address scientific research and education needs driving the proposed improvements in R&E networking connectivity on campus and/or externally.
2. Must include at least 2 small institutions
3. Must present a complete technical solution with complete equipment specifications and describe how this solution will address bullet-point #2
4. Must address coordination activities among proposal participants can be included as part of network management plan – travel expenses
5. Should leverage expertise of other CI resources such as EPOC, MS-CC, AIHEC, regional networks, and also those specifically mentioned in the solicitation

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Shared Proposal Development

• Strength of institutional partnerships is another facet of proposal evaluation
• Proposals should address coordination activities among all participating institutions including one or more meeting events
• Proposals must include a network management plan that details project roles, responsibilities, and support as part of the Project Description.
• Proposals must include a Regional CI plan
• Participating campus leads are key to institutional engagement
• Outreach to faculty and researchers to identify campus science drivers and applications
• Letters of Support as appropriate
• Secure a letter of commitment and sustainability from campus leadership

Slide 11

Questions and Open Discussion �(until 3:05pm ET)

Workshop on NSF Cybeinfrastructure Funding, for HBCUs, TCUs, and Other Under-Resourced MSIs

Part 2, January 24, 2023

Workshop Materials: http://bit.ly/NSFCIFundingWorkshop2023�(including later recordings)

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Appendix

AIHEC, MS-CC, and The Quilt

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Quilt CC* Proposal Development Resources

www.thequilt.net

https://www.thequilt.net/campus-cyberinfrastructure-program-resource/

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January 16, 2024

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Quilt CC* Proposal Development Seminar Series

www.thequilt.net

Email tracey@thequilt.net to request access to these resources

1. Submitting a Regional or Planning Grant
2. Identification of Research and Education Science Research and Application Drivers
3. Identifying Campus Infrastructure Needs
4. Developing a CI Plan
5. Campus Compute Components
6. Preparing to Submit a Grant

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Slide 16

January 16, 2024

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