This solicitation has been archived.
Title: Continental Dynamics (CD) (nsf04512)
Date: 07/21/2011
Replaces: NSF 96-50
Continental Dynamics (CD)
[1]Program Solicitation
NSF 04-512
Replaces Document(s):
NSF 96-50
NSF Logo
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Geosciences
Division of Earth Sciences
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
local time):
April 01, 2005
and April 1 annually thereafter
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
November 15, 2004
November, Annually Thereafter
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures
Guide (PAPPG), [2]NSF 11-1, was issued on October 1, 2010 and is
effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 18,
2011. Please be advised that the guidelines contained in [3]NSF 11-1
apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.
Cost Sharing: The PAPPG has been revised to implement the National
Science Board's recommendations regarding cost sharing. Inclusion of
voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. In order to assess the
scope of the project, all organizational resources necessary for the
project must be described in the Facilities, Equipment and Other
Resources section of the proposal. The description should be narrative
in nature and must not include any quantifiable financial information.
Mandatory cost sharing will only be required when explicitly
authorized by the NSF Director. See the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant
Proposal Guide (GPG) [4]Chapter II.C.2.g(xi) for further information
about the implementation of these recommendations.
Data Management Plan: The PAPPG contains a clarification of NSF's long
standing data policy. All proposals must describe plans for data
management and sharing of the products of research, or assert the
absence of the need for such plans. FastLane will not permit
submission of a proposal that is missing a Data Management Plan. The
Data Management Plan will be reviewed as part of the intellectual
merit or broader impacts of the proposal, or both, as appropriate.
Links to data management requirements and plans relevant to specific
Directorates, Offices, Divisions, Programs, or other NSF units are
available on the NSF website at:
[5]http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp. See
[6]Chapter II.C.2.j of the GPG for further information about the
implementation of this requirement.
Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan: As a reminder, each proposal
that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must
include, as a supplementary document, a description of the mentoring
activities that will be provided for such individuals. Please be
advised that if required, FastLane will not permit submission of a
proposal that is missing a Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan. See
[7]Chapter II.C.2.j of the GPG for further information about the
implementation of this requirement.
Revision Summary: The preliminary proposal deadline date has been
changed from June 1 annually to April 1 annually. This will allow
enough time for the review of the preproposals and feedback to the
Principal Investigators for the development of full proposals by the
November 15 deadline. This is the only change in the CD program
solicitation. The program solicitaion number remains NSF 04-512. The
full proposal deadline date remains November 15 annually.
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Continental Dynamics (CD)
Synopsis of Program:
The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) will consider proposals for
multidisciplinary research that focuses on an improved
understanding of the processes governing the origin, structure,
composition, and dynamical evolution of the continents and
continental building blocks. The program is particularly oriented
toward projects whose scope and complexity require a cooperative or
multi-institutional approach and multi-year planning and execution.
The intent of the program is to fund only relatively large projects
that do not fit easily within other Earth Sciences programs and
that have broad support of major sections of the Earth Science
community.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please note that the following information is current at the time of
publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of
contact.
* Leonard E. Johnson, Program Director, 785 S, telephone: (703)
292-8559, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: [8]lejohnso@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
* 47.050 --- Geosciences
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or
Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 20 to 30
Anticipated Funding Amount: $10,250,000 in FY 2004 and similar amounts
in future years.
Eligibility Information
Organization Limit:
None Specified
PI Limit:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
* Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
* Preliminary Proposals: Submission of Preliminary Proposals is
required. Please see the full text of this solicitation for
further information.
* Full Proposals:
+ Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award
Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide
(GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is
available electronically on the NSF website at:
[9]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
+ Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov
Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission
of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note:
The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the
Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:
[10]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gran
tsgovguide)
B. Budgetary Information
* Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost
sharing is prohibited.
* Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable
* Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable
C. Due Dates
* Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m.
proposer's local time):
April 01, 2005
and April 1 annually thereafter
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
November 15, 2004
November, Annually Thereafter
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria.
Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text
of this solicitation for further information.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
Reporting Requirements: Additional reporting requirements apply.
Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[11]Summary of Program Requirements
I. [12]Introduction
II. [13]Program Description
III. [14]Award Information
IV. [15]Eligibility Information
V. [16]Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. [17]Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. [18]Budgetary Information
C. [19]Due Dates
D. [20]FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
VI. [21]NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
A. [22]NSF Merit Review Criteria
B. [23]Review and Selection Process
VII. [24]Award Administration Information
A. [25]Notification of the Award
B. [26]Award Conditions
C. [27]Reporting Requirements
VIII. [28]Agency Contacts
IX. [29]Other Information
I. INTRODUCTION
For more than three decades, the principles of the theory of plate
tectonics have been successfully applied to help understand the
history of and processes active in forming the major structural
subdivisions of the earth. One significant advance is an understanding
of the clear distinction between oceanic and continental crust. It has
been shown that the oceans are the cradle of crustal formation and
represent the result of a single episode in the plate tectonic cycle.
The greatest advances have been made in quantitatively understanding
the process of ocean crust formation and associated processes that
contribute to the nature of the oceanic crust, its sediments and
biota, and the global distribution of continents and oceans.
In contrast, the continents represent an accumulation of the residues
of previous tectonic cycles and the addition of new material through
geologic processes restricted to the continental crust and
lithosphere. Although the result is a complex mass of superimposed
units whose history is difficult to unravel, it is the library that
stores the record of previous tectonic cycles and the principal data
source to reconstruct the long-term history of the earth. In addition,
the growth of the continents has resulted in structural units with
bulk physical, chemical, and mechanical properties sufficiently
different from those of the oceanic crust that the principles of plate
tectonics have yet to be fully applied. Correspondingly, the
geological, geophysical, and geochemical structure and evolution of
the continents is still not clearly understood nor can the processes
that control continental phenomena always be confidently placed within
the plate tectonic theory.
A major unifying frontier of future research in the Earth Sciences is
the study of the dynamical evolution of continents. In this
perspective, the continent as a system includes continental crust, the
subjacent lithosphere and asthenosphere, and the building blocks of
continental evolution that include oceanic sediments, arcs, plateaus,
and marginal basins. The dynamics of continental evolution involve
processes that are currently active at the surface and extend into the
mantle, including earthquakes, structural deformation, generation and
movement of magmas, and the migration of chemically active fluids. The
exposed rocks of the crystalline basement that record up to 4 billion
years of earth history are the only resource of data to study
continental evolution. The study of continental dynamics requires a
combination of geological, geophysical, and geochemical studies of
these rocks in the context of major studies of modern processes and
three-dimensional structure.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
An effective organizational schema for the mobilization of scientific
creativity and project implementation for continental dynamics
research involves the concept of a field laboratory. Each field area
would become an outdoor laboratory, in which techniques such as
sampling, mapping, geophysical studies, and drilling are combined,
over a number of years and a number of investigators. Data and samples
that originate in the field laboratory then go indoors where many
participating investigators engaged in sample analysis, computer
modeling, and data processing work together to develop quantitative
synthesis. In this context, research projects supported by the
Continental Dynamics Program will normally be characterized by many of
the following criteria:
* Be interdisciplinary, requiring coordination of efforts in
geophysics, geology, and geochemistry.
* Be critically dependent on the ability to mobilize high technology
tools for acquisition of data in the field, for study of materials
in the laboratory, and for modeling systems on the computer.
* Include three-dimensional study of the subsurface by geophysical
means, direct measurement of plate motions, detailed monitoring of
earthquakes and of deformation near plate boundaries, and
instrumentation and sampling of the subsurface through drilling.
* Often involve increased coordination and collaboration among
scientists from universities and other government agencies as well
as from industry.
* Be of such a scope that they will require a multiple year effort
to complete.
* Be focused projects of finite duration.
* Involve an initial screening by means of a preliminary proposal
process (see section on "Preliminary Proposals").
III. AWARD INFORMATION
Anticipated funding is $10,250,000 for new awards. The estimated
number of awards is 20 to 30 standard or continuing grants or
cooperative agreements per year.
Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award
size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.
IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the
National Science Foundation are identified in the [30]Grant Proposal
Guide, Chapter I, Section E.
Organization Limit:
None Specified
PI Limit:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:
None Specified
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Preliminary Proposals (required): Preliminary proposals are required
and must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system, even if full
proposals will be submitted via Grants.gov.
Proposals for CD projects will normally be submitted in a two-step
process; step 1: a preliminary proposal, and step 2: a full proposal.
The two steps have separate deadlines and separate formats as
described below. The submission of a preliminary proposal is intended
to provide a review of the basic concept of the project at an early
stage of development, so that if the review is negative the principle
investigators will not have invested a large amount of time and
resources in the preparation of a full proposal. This process is also
expected to improve the success rate at the full proposal review
stage. Preliminary proposals will be treated as informal documents
involving no commitment on the part of either the applying
organization or the Foundation. They will not in any way preclude
later submission of, or affect the review of, a full proposal and no
signatures of institutional representatives or other formal commitment
are required.
The submission of preliminary proposals is optional, but strongly
encouraged. The preliminary proposal should provide a brief
description of the proposed research, the need for a
multidisciplinary, cooperative or multi-institutional consortia
approach, the management structure, the key personnel and their
duties, and a rough estimate of cost and duration. Preliminary
proposals may not exceed ten pages in length (inclusive of figures).
No appendices are to be included.
Preliminary proposals must be submitted using the Proposal Preparation
module in FastLane. Complete the sections of the Cover Sheet that are
appropriate for the preliminary proposal, and click on the
"preproposal" check box.
Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit
proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or
via the NSF FastLane system.
* Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in
response to this program solicitation should be prepared and
submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in
the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG
is available electronically on the NSF website at:
[31]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications
Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from
[32]nsfpubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify this
program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on
the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science
Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to
determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure
to submit this information may delay processing.
* Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in
response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be
prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov
Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of
NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF
Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov
website and on the NSF website at:
([33]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgo
vguide). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application
Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then
click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package
and Application Instructions link and enter the funding
opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the
NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of
the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF
Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail
from [34]nsfpubs@nsf.gov.
In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation
and submission of the proposal, please note the following:
Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as
separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via
the NSF FastLane system. Chapter II, Section D.4 of the Grant Proposal
Guide provides additional information on collaborative proposals.
Except as modified below, full proposals should be prepared in
accordance with the guidelines in the Grant Proposal Guide.
In the Project Description section, particular attention should be
given to the following:
1. Description of Research: The proposal should describe the proposed
research activities in sufficient detail to allow assessment of
their scientific merit. Indicate what impact the research will
have on an improved understanding of the processes governing the
origin, structure, composition, and dynamical evolution of the
continents.
2. Rationale for a Collaborative Approach: Justify the need for a
cooperative or multi-institutional approach. Indicate what unique
opportunities will be provided by the collaborative approach
compared to separate individual research projects.
3. Management Plan: Outline the capability of the group to conduct
the research and manage the required personnel and equipment
needed to successfully complete the proposal objectives. If there
is joint use of equipment or facilities, describe the provisions
for maintenance and a management plan for operation of shared-use
equipment or facilities. Include specific details on the role of
each principal investigator.
4. Duration of Project: The proposal should contain a carefully
thought-out plan to complete the proposed research in a specified
amount of time. Any project lasting more than five years will
normally be required to submit a new formal proposal at the end of
five years.
5. Distribution of Data and/or Samples and Publication of Results:
Where data or samples are collected as part of the project, it is
necessary to provide a management plan for the secure preservation
of all materials, and the mechanisms by which they may be used by,
or distributed to, responsible scientists. Provisions must also be
made for the rapid publication of reports that describe the nature
of stored data and sample resources and research results of the
project.
6. Education and Human Resources: A statement must be included
specifying the potential of the proposed research to contribute to
the education and the development of human resources in science
and engineering at the postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate
levels. This statement may include, but is not limited to, the
role of the research in student training, course preparation, and
seminars, particularly for undergraduates. Special effectiveness
or achievement in the area of producing professional scientists
and engineers from groups presently underrepresented should be
addressed.
7. Include at the front of the Project Description section a summary
budget sheet indicating the total annual project cost for each
institution.
NOTE: THE SECTIONS OF THE PROPOSAL DEALING WITH ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7
ABOVE SHOULD NOT EXCEED A TOTAL OF 36 PAGES. THIS COUNT INCLUDES
LISTS, TABLES AND FIGURES .
8. Biographical Sketches: Provide a biographical sketch that includes
a list of only up to five (5) publications most relevant to the
research proposed and only up to five (5) other significant
research publications. Include biographical sketches for principal
and co-principal investigators only.
9. Current and Pending Support: A table should be provided to
summarize the current and pending support of each principal and
co-principal investigator from all sources. The project title,
current year's amount, source of funding, and future commitments
should be included. Pending proposals should also be listed.
10. Budget: Include separate annual budget pages indicating the cost
for each year. For any subawards, provide separate budget pages
for each subawarding organization.
11. Official letters of support and/or participation: Only official
letters that verify specific institutional and other sector
resource commitments or participants should be included. (This
information should be uploaded to Supplementary Documents.) NOTE:
Cost sharing is not required. Any information submitted under this
item is not considered to be cost sharing and is not auditable.
Continental Dynamics projects usually will involve principal
investigators from several different institutions, each submitting
his/her own proposal. Only the lead institutions proposal need contain
the full text as described above. The other institutions' proposals
need only contain cover sheets, project summary, budgets, and PI
information (biographical sketches, current and pending support
statements, results from prior NSF support) particular to the
institution submitting the proposals.
Proposals that are related to a CD project or to the research focus of
the CD Program, but do not meet the criteria for a CD proposal, will
normally go to other EAR programs. If favorably reviewed, they may be
eligible for split-funding by the CD Program and the other program.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is
prohibited
C. Due Dates
* Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m.
proposer's local time):
April 01, 2005
and April 1 annually thereafter
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
November 15, 2004
November, Annually Thereafter
D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
* For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:
Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of
preparation and submission via FastLane are available at:
[35]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user
support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail
[36]fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general
technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system.
Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be
referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section
VIII of this funding opportunity.
Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the
proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal
certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal
Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide
the required electronic certifications within five working days
following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further
instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane
Website at: [37]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.
* For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:
Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must
register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the
applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on
the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using
Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources
webpage: [38]http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp.
In addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides
additional technical guidance regarding preparation of proposals
via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the
Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email:
[39]support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact Center answers
general technical questions related to the use of Grants.gov.
Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be
referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section
VIII of this solicitation.
Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed,
the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the
application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding
opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The
AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The
completed application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane
system for further processing.
VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program
where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation
requirements. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist,
engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually
by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the
particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are
selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review
process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they
believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or
persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions
may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the
Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is
optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of
interest with the proposal.
A. NSF Merit Review Criteria
All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National
Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit
and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances,
however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight
the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The
criteria include considerations that help define them. These
considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given
proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria,
reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are
relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer
is qualified to make judgements.
What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the
project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality
of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity
suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially
transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the
proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the
proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented
groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To
what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and
education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and
partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance
scientific and technological understanding? What may be the
benefits of the proposed activity to society?
Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts
are available electronically on the NSF website at:
[40]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.
Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral researchers supported on
the project, as described in a one-page supplementary document, will
be evaluated under the Broader Impacts criterion.
NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in
making funding decisions:
Integration of Research and Education
One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to
foster integration of research and education through the programs,
projects, and activities it supports at academic and research
institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities
where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as
researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in
joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of
discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning
perspectives.
Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of
science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of
diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and
activities it considers and supports.
Additional Review Criteria:
Preliminary proposals will be evaluated by EAR Program Staff and
the Continental Dynamics Review Panel. The response to the
principal investigator will be a letter containing a summary of
review comments that either encourages or discourages a full
proposal. This response is the consensus of review by EAR staff
members and the panel and represents their collective opinion of
the prospect for eventual funding. The opinion is informal and
does not preclude submission of a full proposal.
Review of full proposals is described above, with additional
criteria as follows:
1. The scientific merit of the research for the overall project and
the special justification for adopting a collaborative approach.
2. The relation of the project to the current, major scientific
questions regarding the dynamic evolution of the continents.
3. The degree to which the proposed mix of principal investigators
and their specialties match to achieve the broad objectives
outlined in the proposal.
4. The proposed management plan to achieve the overall objectives of
the project.
5. The adequacy and appropriateness of the budget items, including
those in the subawards.
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either
support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to
manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and
will formulate a recommendation.
After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration
of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the
cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or
recommended for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants
whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding
within six months. The time interval begins on the deadline or target
date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the
Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and
submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as
confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the
names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project
Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will
receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the
proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of
Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy
implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other
agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements
Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF
or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of
NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a
NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that
makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or
cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer
does so at their own risk.
VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
A. Notification of the Award
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a
Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations
whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible
by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim
copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be
provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section
VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)
B. Award Conditions
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any
special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments
thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of
expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates
any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3)
the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award
conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1); * or Research
Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance
that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative
agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative
Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC)
and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are
electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and
transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
[41]http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF.
Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from [42]nsfpubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other
important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained
in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available
electronically on the NSF Website at
[43]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.
C. Reporting Requirements
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing
grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project
report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the
end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require
more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a
grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report, and a
project outcomes report for the general public.
Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or
the project outcomes report will delay NSF review and processing of
any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for
that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in
advance to assure availability of required data.
PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system,
available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual
and final project reports. Such reports provide information on
activities and findings, project participants (individual and
organizational), publications, and other specific products and
contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information
previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates
using the electronic system. Submission of the report via FastLane
constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report
are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report must be
prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a
brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and
outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website
exactly as it is submitted by the PI.
Data Policy: Principal investigators are required to adhere to the EAR
Data Policy available on the NSF website. Final reports for all awards
should include a statement describing how the data policy requirements
have been met.
VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS
Please note that the program contact information is current at the
time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points
of contact.
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
* Leonard E. Johnson, Program Director, 785 S, telephone: (703)
292-8559, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: [44]lejohnso@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
* FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
[45]fastlane@nsf.gov.
* Lerome D. Jackson, Program Technology Specialist, 785 S,
telephone: (703) 292-8551, fax: (703) 292-9025, email:
[46]ljackson@nsf.gov
For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:
* Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational
Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from
Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please
contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail:
[47]support@grants.gov.
IX. OTHER INFORMATION
The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information
on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and
funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is
strongly encouraged. In addition, National Science Foundation Update
is a free e-mail subscription service designed to keep potential
proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding
opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and
award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants
Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail when new
publications are issued that match their identified interests. Users
can subscribe to this service by clicking the "Get NSF Updates by
Email" link on the [48]NSF web site.
Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for
Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities
may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on
Grants.gov may be obtained at [49]http://www.grants.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency
created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42
USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the
progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity,
and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of
science and engineering."
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and
engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to
more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems,
businesses, informal science organizations and other research
organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about
one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic
research.
NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research,
education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are
funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand
applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency
operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research
Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic
research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research
between universities and industry, US participation in international
scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at
every academic level.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons
with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant
Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding
preparation of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf
(TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that
enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the
Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD
may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800)
877-8339.
The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at
(703) 292-5111.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit
the NSF Website at [101]http://www.nsf.gov
* Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,
VA 22230
* For General Information (703) 292-5111
(NSF Information Center):
* TDD (for the (703) 292-5090
hearing-impaired):
* To Order Publications or
Forms:
Send an e-mail to: nsfpubs@nsf.gov
or telephone: (703) 292-7827
* To Locate NSF Employees: (703) 292-5111
PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act
of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project
reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and
reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information
requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants
as part of the proposal review process; to proposer
institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal
review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to
government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and
educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government
agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or
nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to
coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court,
or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the
government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may
be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates
to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems
of Records, [52]NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and
[53]NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69
Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information
is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information,
however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control
number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for
this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments
regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
[54]Policies and Important Links
|
[55]Privacy | [56]FOIA | [57]Help | [58]Contact NSF | [59]Contact Web
Master | [60]SiteMap
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington,
Virginia 22230, USA
Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749
Last Updated:
11/07/06
[61]Text Only
[x.gif]
References
1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#toc
2. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf11001
3. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf11001
4. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2gxi
5. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp
6. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2j
7. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2j
8. mailto:lejohnso@nsf.gov
9. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
10. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
11. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#summary
12. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#pgm_intr_txt
13. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#pgm_desc_txt
14. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#awd_info
15. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#elig
16. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#prep
17. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#prep
18. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#budg_cst_shr_txt
19. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#dates
20. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#fastlane
21. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#review
22. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#reviewcrit
23. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#reviewprot
24. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#awardadmin
25. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#awardnotify
26. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#grantcond
27. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#reportreq
28. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#cont
29. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04512/nsf04512.htm#othpgm
30. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
31. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
32. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
33. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
34. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
35. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm
36. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
37. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp
38. http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp
39. mailto:support@grants.gov
40. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf
41. http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF
42. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
43. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
44. mailto:lejohnso@nsf.gov
45. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
46. mailto:ljackson@nsf.gov
47. mailto:support@grants.gov
48. http://www.nsf.gov/
49. http://www.grants.gov/
50. http://www.nsf.gov/
51. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
52. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-50_Principal_Investigator_
Proposal_File.pdf
53. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-51_Reviewer_Proposal_File.pdf
54. http://www.nsf.gov/policies
55. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/privacy.jsp
56. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp
57. http://www.nsf.gov/help/
58. http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp
59. mailto:webmaster@nsf.gov
60. http://www.nsf.gov/help/sitemap.jsp
61. http://transcoder.usablenet.com/tt/referrer