SABI (Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure) funds the continued operation of existing biological research infrastructure that is essential for ongoing, leading-edge basic biology work. Eligible items include cyberinfrastructure, instrumentation, experimental/observational facilities, and biological living stocks with operation and maintenance costs that exceed what the host institution can reasonably sustain. Applicants must justify that keeping the infrastructure running will significantly advance or transform biological sciences research supported by NSF and related organizations.

The Sustained Availability of Biological Infrastructure program (SABI) supports the continued operation of extant infrastructure that will advance basic biological research. Infrastructure supported under this program may include cyberinfrastructure, instrumentation, experimental or observational facilities, biological living stocks which have ongoing costs of operation and maintenance that exceed the reasonable capacity of the host institution. Proposals must make a compelling case that sustained availability of the proposed infrastructure will advance or transform research in biological sciences as supported by the National Science Foundation. While other programs in the Division of Biological Infrastructure focus on research leading to future infrastructure or on the development or implementation of shared infrastructure, this program focuses on awards that ensure the continued availability of mature infrastructure resources critical to sustain the ability of today’s scientific community to conduct leading edge research. Awards made through this program are expected to lead to novel, impactful, and transformative science outcomes through research activities enabled by their use. Infrastructure that demonstrates substantial impact on research supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences and its collaborating organizations is eligible for support under this program.