Dear Colleague Letter: Opportunity for Support of Innovative Managing Director Models in I/UCRC
This document has been archived.
Date: 11/29/2012
To:
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NSF Industry/ University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs) |
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites supplemental funding requests from NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC). Cultivation and maintenance of trusted industry relationships as well as professional project management of the center's portfolio of activities are essential to I/UCRC member recruitment and retention and a vibrant I/UCRC ecosystem. In recognition of the importance of these functions to Center success, this opportunity provides support to assist Centers in either creating and filling a new position of Center Managing Director or supporting an existing position in their leadership team with this function.
The Center Managing Director is an individual at the Center's lead university for whom the full-time responsibilities may include marketing; prospective member recruitment; nurturing and maintaining industry relationships; and operations, budget, and project management oversight of the center's portfolio. The Managing Director has a firm grasp of both industry and academic sides of the I/UCRC partnership, is able to communicate dynamically to the center's different stakeholders, and keeps the center's portfolio on schedule and on budget. The NSF is seeking supplement requests that propose innovative models for this position and successfully implement it within the center's organization.
Supplemental Funding Request Due Dates: February 3, 2013 by 5:00 PM, submitter's local time and first Friday in February, annually thereafter.
AWARDS INFORMATION
Number of awards: 10 supplements are anticipated, pending the availability of funds.
Maximum Award Request
- Up to $200,000 per year for a period of up to three years may be requested by the Center's lead site.
- Funds may be requested to support the personnel costs of the position as well as provide a travel budget appropriate to the position.
Project Duration: Support may be requested for up to three years, concurrent with the award. Supplements are renewable annually based on the success reported in meeting the center performance targets outlined in the supplemental request. Center data such as membership certifications and leveraged funding may also be considered in renewal decisions.
Limit on the number of supplemental funding requests: One supplemental funding request per center lead site. This limit applies to the supplemental funding request to support a managing director.
Eligibility based on center performance: Supplements are available for existing I/UCRCs who continue to meet the criteria as outlined in the current Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC) solicitation (NSF 12-516). This opportunity requires that centers submitting supplement requests have met the following conditions for eligibility:
- Maintained sufficient memberships to meet program requirements at each site; and
- Disseminated current and accurate information to the public about their center via the NSF web site. NSF directory listings must be current and accurate by the supplement deadline date. Instructions for submitting updates can be found at the I/UCRC Program Home Page.
Supplement Preparation Instructions: Supplemental funding requests must include a one-page project summary, a project description not to exceed 15 pages, bio sketch of the managing director and current and pending support. The project description should clearly motivate and clearly articulate the following:
- The innovative model to be used for implementing this position within the Center's organization;
- The roles, responsibilities, and interactions of this position relative to others in the center leadership team;
- The current status of the center and the value derived from the position in terms of the key aspects of center performance that will be impacted;
- Milestones reflecting the expectations for the position during the proposed supplemental funding period, including the timeline for the institutional personnel actions required to fill the position; and
- Metrics with baselines and annual targets for the supplement period with which the success of the approach can, in part, be assessed. The metrics must include membership growth, growth in the leveraging of both member and NSF funds by the center, and a quantifiable increase in the value of the center to its constituencies that is consistent with the program's evaluative measures.
Supplemental funding requests must be submitted through FastLane. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. When contacting FastLane, inform the technician that you are required to apply for this opportunity as a supplement.
Additional information about requesting supplemental support is contained in Part II of the NSF PAPPG available at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/index.jsp
Review process: All supplemental requests submitted to this opportunity are reviewed by external experts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Rathindra DasGupta
Program Director, I/UCRC
Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships
Phone: 703-292-8353
Email: rdasgupt@nsf.gov