GEO/OCE Newsletter, January 30, 2020
January 30, 2020
Dear OCE community,
We would like to remind our community of the importance of following the proposal preparation guidelines of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
While NSF has instituted several automatic compliance checkers in the last few years, there are errors that persist. When errors are identified, all NSF Programs have the option of returning non-compliant proposals without review, however OCE has traditionally tried to be flexible, and allow PIs to correct proposals after submission. We want to share that the level of non-compliance with PAPPG guidelines for OCE proposals has reached 50%, so we need to enlist your help in reducing that number. These compliance errors delay the start of the review process and put additional pressure on our reviewer community. In addition to identified errors resulting in your proposals potentially being returned without review, uncorrected errors in proposals that have gone through the review process can also lead to delays in making awards or, infrequently, in our not being able to recommend a particular proposal for award.
The following are examples of issues we currently encounter most frequently:
- Inclusion of URLs in the Project Description (including Results of Prior Support)
- Not including distinct subheadings for Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in the Project Summary, Project Description, and Results of Prior Support
- Not including Results of Prior Support for all project PIs and Co-PIs
- Incomplete budget documentation for subawards
These four items are just common examples, and do not cover all the errors that we ask PIs to correct. We also note that new releases of the PAPPG, which are issued every year, often contain new requirements. The PAPPG itself contains a checklist that you may find useful in proposal preparation:
We also call your attention to the Division of Ocean Sciences Sample and Data Policy, for guidance in preparing data management plans that conform with OCE Policy:
If you have any questions about proposal submission, please consult with your sponsored projects office and/or the program to which you are submitting, as far in advance as possible.
We appreciate your help in contributing to a smooth and successful proposal submission and review process.
Sincerely,
Terry Quinn
Division Director, OCE
The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.
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