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March 24, 2016

Dear Colleague:

The National Science Foundation's Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) Program seeks to encourage projects that develop data resources to support research that advances the scientific basis of science and innovation policy. The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to invite EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals for projects that use, augment, improve or create data on the U.S. science and innovation enterprise.

Data may be from a variety of sources, including but not limited to: STAR METRICS® (Science and Technology for America's Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science), the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), the administrative records of Federal science agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, or the administrative records from other entities in the science and innovation enterprise, such as universities, government labs and standard setting organizations. Other efforts to pilot the collection of new data relevant to science and innovation are encouraged.

STAR METRICS® (https://www.starmetrics.nih.gov/) is a multi-agency venture led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. STAR METRICS Level II – Federal RePORTer (Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool), provides a searchable database of scientific awards from Federal agencies. Investigators may familiarize themselves with the details of the STAR METRICS data collection effort by reviewing information available online at https://www.starmetrics.nih.gov/. STAR METRICS Level I (now U-Metrics, https://www.cic.net/projects/umetrics) provides data that allows investigators to conduct research using data from university administrative records. Investigators are encouraged to propose projects to develop similar institutional data.

NCSES, the nation's leading provider of statistical data on the U.S. science and engineering enterprise, collects data related to the science and engineering enterprise in the United States and other nations. More information is available at www.nsf.gov/statistics. An overview of available data can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/NCSES/Datasets.pdf.

Researcher access to administrative records can strengthen the evidence base through research analyses. To promote open exchange and dialogue with the broader academic community about the most rigorous methods, tools, and data sources a joint NIH-NSF workshop (https://palladianpartners.cvent.com/ScienceofScienceWorkshop) will be held April 7 & 8, 2016. Research that develops, improves and expands models, analytical tools, data and metrics using these types of agency administrative records are encouraged to apply for funding under this DCL.

This is not a new competition or a new program; interested investigators should first submit a one page summary of their ideas to initiate discussion with the program director listed below by April 29, 2016. Upon approval, investigators may then submit an EAGER proposal to the SciSIP program via PD 09-7626. EAGER proposals should be prepared in accordance with the guidance found in Chapter II.D.2 of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide. To be considered for funding this fiscal year, proposal should be submitted by June 9, 2016.

Questions should be directed to Maryann Feldman, Program Director, at mfeldman@nsf.gov.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fay Lomax Cook
Assistant Director
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences