This Birds of a Feather (BoF) group session is aligned with an accepted PEARC21 workshop associated with the Research Computing and Data (RCD) Capabilities Model. This model allows institutions to assess their support for computationally- and data-intensive research, to identify potential areas for improvement, and to understand how the broader community views RCD support. Application of this model within National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF-EPSCoR) jurisdictions presents a set of potential challenges beyond typical expectations of model engagement and response quality. Institutions classified as NSF-EPSCoR-eligible are typically underfunded for research infrastructure and very often have minimal organized cyberinfrastructure support and institutional awareness. As a result of this, participation in the RCD Capabilities Model assessment survey requires additional preparation and often external assistance to ensure effective survey engagement by institutional research and administrative personnel. This BoF, which is part of a series of EPSCoR-focused engagement events for 2020-2022, brings together RCD Capabilities Model Working Group members and research technology support personnel from NSF-EPSCoR institutions to review ongoing challenges to assess and communicate institutional cyberinfrastructure (CI) readiness, discuss current model engagement efforts, provide feedback to the Model development process, and brainstorm potential cooperative CI efforts across the EPSCoR program. Non-EPSCoR institutions with interest in the Capabilities Model are welcome to participate and contribute.
