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NSF CMMI is the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, part of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Engineering (ENG). It is a funding division, not a single grant: it groups the core programs that support fundamental research in manufacturing and materials, robotics and intelligent systems, and the built environment. This guide shows which of the five core programs fits which kind of project, what the official NSF pages say about approaching a program officer, and where proposals get returned. Facts are as described on the official NSF pages, checked on 2026-10-29.
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What it is and who runs it
As described on the official CMMI division page on 2026-10-29, the division funds fundamental research and education in manufacturing and materials, robotics and intelligent systems, and the built environment. Areas of interest listed there include advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, disaster resilience, education, quantum, robotics and semiconductors. The division sits within ENG; the page gives the NSF address as the Randolph Building, 401 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
CMMI at NSF is not the software CMMI
“CMMI NSF” and “NSF CMMI” both refer to this NSF division. It is a research funding division, not the software process-improvement model that shares the acronym. For the wider agency context, see NSF grants overview.
Eligibility
The division page does not state eligibility rules, and the AMDO, EBE and FRR program pages do not set out eligibility or award size. Eligibility, award size and duration are defined in each program’s solicitation and in NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Read the solicitation for the program you target before you plan a budget; the division page points applicants to the ENG funding search and ENG Proposal Guidance.
What it funds or requires
CMMI funds through five core programs. The table under Related programs below maps each to the type of project it covers, using only the descriptions on the official pages.
Related programs
| Core program | What the official page says it covers | Fits a project about |
|---|---|---|
| AMDO, Advanced Manufacturing, Design, and Operations | Fundamental research on advanced manufacturing, materials and service processes, their integration into facilities and supply chains, and their design and operation; special interest in robotics, AI and AR/VR | Manufacturing and operations |
| EBE, Engineering for the Built Environment | Fundamental research on civil infrastructure and civil infrastructure systems, from materials to global networks, including hazards and extreme events | Infrastructure and resilience |
| FRR, Foundational Research in Robotics | Research to develop robotic systems; the robot is the focus (see the three tests below) | Robotics |
| IIDS, Intelligent and Interactive Dynamic Systems | Research to advance the science and engineering of intelligent dynamic systems | Intelligent and dynamic systems |
| MAMS, Mechanics of Advanced Materials Systems | Deformation and failure in engineered and biological materials | Materials mechanics |
The AMDO and EBE program pages cite solicitation NSF 26-515 and list a program team contact ([email protected] and [email protected], telephone (703) 292-8360). EBE also notes that it contributes to NSF’s role in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) and the National Landslide Preparedness Act, and encourages investigators to use NHERI facilities. Robotics-related topics are also covered in what is robotics, and infrastructure topics in what is civil engineering.
Application or compliance steps
The division page gives no step-by-step instructions. It points to the ENG funding search, ENG Proposal Guidance, ENG Data Management Plan Guidance, a route to find funding and contact a program director, and NSF’s tips on working with a program officer. The FRR page is the most specific about mechanics:
- Full proposals are accepted anytime after August 1, 2020, and must follow the funding opportunity and the PAPPG.
- Investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss their projects with an FRR program officer before submission.
- CAREER proposals in robotics follow the CAREER deadlines (see NSF CAREER proposal requirements).
- EAGER, RAPID and RAISE proposals can be submitted anytime, but the program officer should be contacted first (see NSF EAGER, RAPID, GOALI and RAISE proposals).
FRR also applies three tests: the robot is the focus of the research, the work offers new or significantly improved capabilities, and it addresses fundamental gaps. It states that meaningful experimental validation on a physical platform is encouraged.
Typical timeline phases
The pages describe phases rather than dates, and no calendar dates are given here as facts. In order: choose the core program that matches the research; contact the program officer or program team; prepare the proposal against the solicitation and the PAPPG; submit (anytime for FRR, subject to the solicitation for others); and, if the proposal is declined, wait before resubmitting. The FRR page requires a one-year wait and substantial revision before a declined proposal is resubmitted. For how funding rates look across NSF, see NSF grant success rates.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the program officer. FRR strongly encourages contact before submission, and EAGER, RAPID and RAISE proposals need it first.
- Not following the solicitation and PAPPG. The FRR page says non-compliant proposals may be returned without review.
- Resubmitting a declined FRR proposal too soon or unchanged. It needs a one-year wait and substantial revision.
- Treating a robotics CAREER proposal as an anytime submission. It follows CAREER deadlines.
- Proposing an application of robots rather than robotics research. FRR asks that the robot be the focus.
FAQ
What does CMMI stand for at NSF?
Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, a division of the NSF Directorate for Engineering.
Which programs does CMMI run?
Five core programs: AMDO, EBE, FRR, IIDS and MAMS, described in the table above.
Can I submit to CMMI at any time?
For FRR, full proposals are accepted anytime after August 1, 2020. Deadlines for other programs are set in their solicitations, so check the one that applies to you.
Should I contact a program officer before submitting?
The FRR page strongly encourages it, and for EAGER, RAPID and RAISE proposals it says the cognizant program officer must be contacted before submission. The AMDO and EBE pages list a program team contact.
Is NSF CMMI the same as the software CMMI?
No. They share an acronym only.
Sources
- NSF, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI), checked 2026-10-29
- NSF, AMDO program page, checked 2026-10-29
- NSF, EBE program page, checked 2026-10-29
- NSF, FRR program page, checked 2026-10-29
