88 



(1992-93). These data suggest that NSF funding is a relatively minor source of sup- 

 port for facilities modernization. 



b. Why do you now believe that no federal role is appropriate for address- 

 ing the facilities problem, which NSF has documented? Why do you be- 

 lieve that the states and private sector will suddenly step in to solve the 

 problem? 



ANSWER: In proposing elimination of the ARI Facilities activity, NSF is not as- 

 serting that there is no federal role for addressing the facilities problems on the Na- 

 tion's campuses. Rather, this decision reflects the realities of the current budget cli- 

 mate and NSF's belief that its limited resources will have a much greater impact 

 through investments in specialized research facilities. The ongoing need for state- 

 of-the-art platforms for cutting-edge research is another aspect of the facilities prob- 

 lem — one in which NSF can take a leadership role and have a major impact. Based 

 on their past commitments to and investments in construction and renovation 

 projects, NSF considers state governments, educational institutions, and private do- 

 nors to be appropriate leaders for modernization of research facilities. 



ESTIMATES OF NEED FOR FACILITIES AND INSTRUMENTATION 



QUESTION: Last March, the Committee on Fundamental Science of the 

 National Science and Technology Council released a report entitled: "Aca- 

 demic Research Infrastructure: A Federal Plan for Renewal." In the section 

 on needs for and support of research infrastructure, the report rec- 

 ommends that federal support for instrumentation and facilities be in- 

 creased by the amount of inflation— defined as increases of 3% each year — 

 plus $300 million over the five year period of FY 1997 through FY 2001. 



a. What has changed since last March? Are NSF's past estimates of facility 

 needs inaccurate? 



ANSWER: During the past year, NSF, like all federal agencies, has re-examined 

 its priorities and has focused on those activities for which it is uniquely equipped 

 to take a leadership role. This effort to ensure a balanced and highly effective in- 

 vestment portfolio has involved a careful reappraisal of the Nation's needs for aca- 

 demic research facilities. NSF stands by its past estimates for the needs of research 

 facilities on university and college campuses. However, specialized one-of-a-kind re- 

 search platforms represent another component of 'the facilities problem.' American 

 leadership in research and education will require a new generation of specialized 

 research facilities, and NSF is uniquely qualified to act as the federal steward for 

 this effort. 



b. For the long-term health of the academic research enterprise, is it pru- 

 dent to continue to under-invest in infrastructure? 



ANSWER: One of the core strategies articulated in NSF's 1995 strategic plan, 

 "NSF In a Changing World," is strengthening the physical infrastructure for re- 

 search and education in science and engineering. Several recent NSF surveys have 

 estimated a roughly $10 billion need for modernization at academic research facili- 

 ties and a total rate of investment of approximately $1.5 billion per year from all 

 sources. NSF support is an extremely small portion of the current rate of invest- 

 ment in facilities modernization by states, institutions, and other sources of funding. 

 In contrast, NSF support for specialized research facilities is a large and critical 

 component of funding. Underinvesting in these world-class research facilities would 

 erode U.S. leadership in many important research areas. 



FY 1997 INSTRUMENTATION PROGRAM 



QUESTION: Although the NSF Academic Infrastructure program has 

 been terminated in the proposed FY 1997 budget, funds have been made 

 available within the research directorate budgets to continue support for 

 the acquisition of large scientific instruments by universities, 

 a. What is the rationale for eliminating the centralized instrumentation 

 program? How will instrument awards be made? Will each directorate op- 

 erate a separate solicitation? 



ANSWER: NSF intends to continue a centralized instrumentation program de- 

 spite the proposed elimination of the Academic Research Infrastructure program. 

 Most of the instrumentation support provided by NSF has come from the Research 

 and Related Activities account, either as part of research grants or as awards from 

 instrumentation programs administered by divisions and directorates. For this rea- 

 son, NSF believes that support for instrumentation is most appropriately managed 

 as part of the research directorates' budgets. The instrumentation funds previously 



