The Dear Colleague letter is here: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18013/nsf18013.jsp
The NSF is requesting information from researchers, users, and leaders at US based colleges and universities and non-profits about what mid-scale research needs they have.
Mid-scale research is defined as greater than the MRI amount of $4 million, but less than awards from Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) Account.
This RFI doesn’t imply that the NSF will fund these projects, nor does it bind any who take the survey to submit a proposal. Award amounts have not been set yet.
Ideas may be submitted through a survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/midscale_2017