CHAPTER V
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
A. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION/FACILITIES
The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation by US institutions that is, in general, too costly for support through other NSF programs. The MRI program is designed to improve the condition of scientific and engineering equipment for research and research training in our Nation's academic institutions. This program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, and to foster the integration of research and education by providing instrumentation for research-intensive learning environments. For more information, see the program solicitation or contact the Office of Integrative Activities. (See Appendix A.)
In addition, NSF occasionally provides assistance for the acquisition of specialized facilities. Examples include supercomputers, oceanographic research vessels, polar research facilities and national astronomy centers.
All NSF programs will consider proposals that include funds for facility construction, renovation or improvements where required for the proposed research, in competition with other proposals received. It is, however, NSF policy that the principal responsibility for providing facilities for research and education rests with the proposing organizations. Preliminary inquiry should be made before preparing a formal proposal. (See Section VII.D for additional information on equipment.)
B. CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA AND WORKSHOPS
NSF supports conferences, symposia and workshops in special areas of science and engineering that bring experts together to discuss recent research or education findings or to expose other researchers or students to new research and education techniques. NSF encourages the convening in the US of major international conferences and unions. Conferences will be supported only if equivalent results cannot be obtained at regular meetings of professional societies. Although requests for support of conferences, symposia and workshops ordinarily originate with educational institutions or scientific societies, they may also come from other groups. Shared support by several Federal agencies, States or private organizations is encouraged. Because proceedings of such conferences normally should be published in professional journals, requests for support may include publication costs. Requests should generally be made at least a year in advance of the scheduled date. Conferences or meetings, including the facilities in which they are held, funded in whole or in part with NSF funds, must be accessible to participants with disabilities.
A conference, symposium or workshop proposal (that complies with the page and font size instructions in Section II.C) must be assembled in the following sequence:
For additional coverage on allowability of costs associated with meetings and conferences, proposers should consult GPM Section 625.
C. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIESIn addition to the international projects funded and managed by the disciplinary directorates, the Division of International Programs provides support for bilateral and regional cooperative science and engineering projects to foster and facilitate cooperation between US investigators and their foreign colleagues in joint activities of mutual interest and benefit. Grants may be made for the US portion of the costs of the initial phases of cooperative research, joint seminars and workshops, planning visits, programs to enhance the international perspectives of the next generation of US scientists and engineers, and for fellowships, summer programs and research participation. Information on proposal requirements and award selection procedures is contained in the Program Announcement of the Division of International Programs. The box for "International Cooperative Activities" should be checked and the countries identified on the NSF Form 1207. (For telephone numbers and program contacts by region, see Appendix A, under listings for SBE Directorate.) The program announcement is available electronically on the Division of International Programs Web site at:
"https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/int/9614rev.htm".
D. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS
Proposals for travel support for US participation in international scientific and engineering meetings held abroad are handled by the NSF organizational unit with program responsibility for the area of research interest.
Group travel awards are encouraged as the primary means of support for international travel. A university, professional society or other non-profit organization may apply for funds to enable it to coordinate and support US participation in one or more international scientific meeting(s) abroad. Group travel grants may include as compensation for the grantee a flat rate of $50 per traveler for general administrative costs of preparing announcements, evaluating proposals and handling travel arrangements customarily associated with this type of project. (See GPM Section 765.) Group travel grantees are required to retain supporting documentation that funds were spent in accordance with the original intent of the proposal. Such documentation may be required in final reports and is subject to audit.
E. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH
NSF awards grants in support of doctoral dissertation research in some disciplines, primarily field research in the environmental, behavioral and social sciences. Support may be sought through those disciplinary programs and, in cases involving research abroad, through the Division of International Programs. Proposals are submitted by the thesis advisor or concerned faculty member on behalf of the graduate student. Further information can be obtained from the cognizant program office.
F. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
The Foundation supports a range of activities to increase participation by women, minorities, persons with disabilities and by faculty from minority institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions. Programs that have a strong focus on underrepresented communities are:
In some cases, additional information may be required as part of a proposal. Program announcements describing these activities are available on the NSF Web site at: https://www.nsf.gov or from the NSF Clearinghouse. General information may be obtained from the NSF Information Center at (703) 306-1234.
G. FACILITATION AWARDS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WITH DISABILITIES
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities encourage participation in NSF programs by scientists and engineers (investigators or other staff, postdoctoral associates, student research assistants, and awardees and honorable mention recipients for Graduate Fellowships) with disabilities. This effort provides funds for equipment or assistance specifically required for performance of research on a NSF-supported project. Requests for support may be included in new proposals submitted to any NSF program or in requests for supplements to existing grants. The box for "Facilitation for Scientists/Engineers with Disabilities" should be checked on the NSF Form 1207.
H. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY AWARDS (ROAs)
A faculty member at an organization with limited research opportunities may arrange to work with a PI at another organization who holds or is applying for an NSF research grant. If supplemental funds are required to cover additional costs, the PI should make preliminary contact with the cognizant Program Officer. The formal ROA request letter, endorsed by the organization and addressed to the program office, should be received at least three months before funds will be needed. It must include: a description of the arrangements and the work to be performed by the ROA visitor, a statement of the contribution of this work to the NSF project and to the visitor's future research and home organization, a budget (NSF Form 1030) with appropriate explanatory information; a biographical sketch of the visitor, and any additional information specified by the Program Officer. The box for "Research Opportunity Award" should be checked on the NSF Form 1207. (See the Research in Undergraduate Institutions program announcement for further details.)
I. RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REUs)
REUs provide opportunities for talented undergraduate students to participate in active research in mathematics, science and engineering. Awards are of two types:
See the program announcement for more information.
J. Partnerships for Advanced Computational Infrastructure (PACI)
NSF supports two Partnerships for Advanced Computational Infrastructure that provide access to a variety of high performance computing platforms. These include parallel and vector supercomputers, visualization facilities and data storage capabilities. User access is available at the leading edge sites of the Partnerships and at some of the partner institutions. Major requests for allocations are reviewed by a national committee of computational scientists which meets twice a year. Smaller, local allocations are handled by each Partnership on a quarterly basis. For more information on PACI resources, and how to obtain an allocation see "http://www.npaci.edu".
K. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM
The Small Business Innovation Research Program is a highly competitive three-phase process that provides eligible small businesses with opportunities to propose innovative ideas that meet specific research and development (R&D) needs of the Federal Government. Phase I is a six-month effort to determine the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed concept or idea, and establishes the eligibility for Phase II. Phase II is a two-year effort that further develops the proposed concept and demonstrates the potential for commercialization. Phase III is the commercialization phase and is funded by non-SBIR sources, normally from the private sector. For more detailed information regarding the SBIR Program, proposers should consult the NSF SBIR solicitation.
L. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM
The Small Business Technology Transfer Program is a pilot program encouraging technology transfer through jointly conducted research between small business concerns and non-profit research organizations. The program follows the same three-phase process as the SBIR Program. Proposals must be submitted by the small business, and the proposed effort must be responsive to the program focus described in the annual STTR Program solicitation. Phase I is a 12-month effort to determine the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed concept or idea, and establishes the eligibility for Phase II. Phase II is a 24-month effort that further develops the proposed concept and demonstrates the potential for commercialization. Phase III is to pursue commercialization from the Government-funded research with non-STTR funds, primarily from the private sector. For more detailed information regarding the STTR Program, proposers should consult the NSF STTR solicitation.
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