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Title: Research in Biogeosciences 2005 (BioGeo)
Date: 10/22/04
Replaced: NSF 04-535
Research in Biogeosciences 2005 (BioGeo)
Program Solicitation
NSF 05-511
Replaces Document 04-535
[NSF Logo] National Science Foundation
Directorate for Geosciences
Division of Atmospheric Sciences
Division of Earth Sciences
Division of Ocean Sciences
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
February 10, 2005
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Research in Biogeosciences 2005 (BioGeo)
Synopsis of Program:
Within the oceans and on land, microbes exert their impact through active interactions with
earth materials (including minerals, rocks, hydrates, soils and dust). Proposers should
seek: to increase our understanding of microbial processes at the interface with such
materials; to elucidate the geologic record of microbial activity at that interface at any
time scale including the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere through such
interactions; to better understand the impact of microbes on biogeochemical processes
operating at that interface; or to develop new methods and research techniques for the study
of geomicrobial processes.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
* Rachael Craig, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785 S,
telephone: (703) 292-8233, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: rcraig@nsf.gov
* Enriqueta C. Barrera, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences,
785 S, telephone: (703) 292-8551, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: ebarrera@nsf.gov
* L. Douglas James, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785
S, telephone: (703) 292-8549, email: ldjames@nsf.gov
* H. Richard Lane, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785
S, telephone: (703) 292-8551, email: hlane@nsf.gov
* Fredric Lipschultz, Associate Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Ocean
Sciences, 725 N, telephone: (703) 292-8582, fax: (703) 292-9085, email: flipschu@nsf.gov
* Barbara Ransom, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Ocean Sciences, 725 N,
telephone: (703) 292-8581, fax: (703) 292-9085, email: bransom@nsf.gov
* Anne-Marie Schmoltner, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Atmospheric
Sciences, 775 S, telephone: (703) 292-8522, fax: (703) 292-9022, email: aschmolt@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
* 47.050 --- Geosciences
Eligibility Information
* Organization Limit: None Specified.
* PI Eligibility Limit: None Specified.
* Limit on Number of Proposals: None Specified.
Award Information
* Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant
* Estimated Number of Awards: 10 averaging $100,000 per year for up to five years each are
anticipated.
* Anticipated Funding Amount: $5,000,000 (total for all awards) pending the availability of funds
and depending on the quality of proposals received.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
* Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains information that supplements
the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text
of this solicitation for further information.
B. Budgetary Information
* Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.
* Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
* Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this
solicitation for further information.
C. Due Dates
* Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
February 10, 2005
Proposal Review Information
* Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria apply.
Award Administration Information
* Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
* Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of Program Requirements
I. Introduction
II. Program Description
III. Eligibility Information
IV. Award Information
V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Due Dates
D. FastLane Requirements
VI. Proposal Review Information
A. NSF Proposal Review Process
B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
VII. Award Administration Information
A. Notification of the Award
B. Award Conditions
C. Reporting Requirements
VIII.Contacts for Additional Information
IX. Other Programs of Interest
I. INTRODUCTION
Microbial communities exist within a broad spectrum of environmental conditions including those found
at the Earth's surface, deep in the crust, in freshwater environments, within the oceans and the
atmosphere. These communities are involved in a broad array of geological and biological processes
involving the evolution of the Earth, ecology, geochemical cycling, biomineralization, mineral ore
formation, lithification and energy production. Geoscientists and bioscientists alike have discovered
that microorganisms influence the Earth's environment through an astonishing array of chemical
processes. Indeed, at lower temperatures and with geological time, thermodynamic processes may be less
important than kinetic processes mediated by microbes. The presence of certain trace gases in the
atmosphere, the acidification of mine-waste waters, and metal distributions in soils and sediments are
all products of these micro-scale chemical reactors. Microbes form the foundation for all ecosystems
known, both terrestrial and marine. Despite their importance and omnipresence, more than 99% of
microbes on Earth remain uncharacterized, many from unique or incompletely explored environments. This
demonstrates the need for collaboration among biologists and geoscientists in the examination of
microbial communities and their roles in Earth processes and history.
Geomicrobial processes (the dynamic interaction of microbes with earth materials) lie at the heart of
the Biogeoscience program solicitation for FY 2005 and recent community reports provide guidance for
research directions in this field. "Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences" (2001,
National Research Council) points to the crucial role microbes play at the interface of biological and
geological processes both in its "Critical Zone" and "Geobiology" themes. Fundamental questions
relevant to the origin and evolution of life in deep-sea ecosystems derive from the emerging
understanding that "microbes are the biogeochemical engines that power the ecology of vent systems"
(Ridge 2000 Science Plan: Planetary Renewal and Life in the Deep Ocean). Geobiology is further
defined and additional relavant background material is presented at the Biogeosciences.org website.
The Directorate for Geosciences invites the scientific community to submit proposals to conduct
innovative research into fundamental geomicrobial processes, which constitute the foundation of the
biogeosciences. For the purposes of this program solicitation microbes include: viruses, bactera,
archaea, fungi, oomycetes and protists.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The science directions suitable for consideration in this program solicitation are outlined below in
the form of questions about microbial processes and interactions that result in the formation and
alteration of earth materials (i.e. minerals, rocks, hydrates, soils, dust). This program solicitation
invites proposals for fundamental research on any of the following questions:
* [Present processes] What novel strategies to derive energy and nutrients, or to adjust metabolism
are employed by microorganisms (as individuals, populations, symbionts or consortia) in
interactions with earth materials?
* [Present record] What are the signatures of present-day microbial presence and process on or in
earth materials?
* [Past processes] By what strategies (e.g. ecological succession, consortia) do microbes and
microbial communities adjust during the alteration of earth materials and what are the
biogeochemical requirements (i.e. necessary feedbacks) in the environment for such adjustments?
* [Past record] On what basis (e.g. molecular, paleobiological) do we identify microbes, microbial
associations and microbial metabolisms that have existed in the geologic past?
* [Forcing factors] What environmental forcings, responses and feedbacks are related to changes in
microbes, geomicrobial associations and geomicrobiological processes over geological time?
* [Changes in forcing factors] Have geomicrobiological processes changed over geological time?
* [Systemic changes] What has been the progression of geologically important microbes with time?
* [Mediated interactions] How do fluid (atmospheric/hydrologic/oceanic) processes influence or how
are they influenced by the interactions of microbes with earth materials (changing, e.g., gross
rock properties, condensation nuclei or density gradients)?
* [Methods] What new research techniques address geomicrobiologic questions such as those posed
above?
III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals
under this program announcement/solicitation.
IV. AWARD INFORMATION
Approximately $5 million is available for proposals selected for funding (total for all awards and
facilities) pending the availabilty of funds and depending on the quality of proposals received.
Approximately 10 awards, averaging $100,000 per year for up to five years each are anticipated.
Estimated award amount, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the
availability of funds. These estimates are offered as guides to interested researchers and are not
intended to direct the details of budgets or timelines. Since facilities costs, such as ship time, are
part of the total available funding, they will be a consideration along with other budget items in all
final funding decisions.
Projects suitable for this program solicitation include small-scale pilot studies, single- or
multiple-investigator projects or large interdisciplinary research projects. Projects can be proposed
for up to five years duration. Proposals for workshops that explore new directions in Biogeosciences
or that define significant new research opportunities are also encouraged. Potential workshop
organizers are encouraged to discuss the topic with the Biogeosciences program officer. Proposals
related to this topic may also be submitted separately to the CAREER program.
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Full Proposal Instructions:
Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/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:
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF
Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
The following instructions supplement the GPG guidelines.
Proposals that are submitted to this program solicitation and are either previously or subsequently
submitted in a substantially similar form to another NSF Program or special announcement, will be
returned without completion of the review.
Protocols for safety and security - Proposals that work directly with microbes retrieved from extreme
environments are expected to address appropriate safety and security issues (isolation, ultraclean
facilities, decontamination and access) in the research and management plans. Investigators are
expected to follow appropriate guidelines established for the Microbial Observatories announcement
(http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf03571).
Facilities requests - Proposals may require the scheduling of special facilities such as aircraft or
ship time. These proposals must include a completed facilities request such as NSF-UNOLS Request Form
(NSF Form 831). The UNOLS form may be obtained from the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences Ship Operations
Program, National Science Foundation by calling (703) 292-8581, or directly from the UNOLS World Wide
Web site at http://www.unols.org. For science projects that plan to use NCAR lower atmospheric
observing facilities and/or large amounts of computing resources (900 General Accounting Units or
greater), a facilities request should be sent to the manager of the facility or facilities. Procedures
for requesting a facility are established by the providing institution. For Lower Atmospheric
Facilities requests, contact the program manager (jhuning@nsf.gov) at NSF. Contact the Division
Director for the Scientific Computing Division at NCAR for questions on computing proposals
(alloc@ucar.edu).
For studies requesting facilities access, please note that costs of facilities to be paid by NSF in
direct support of the research award will be factored into the total cost of the proposed work (see
also Award Information section).
Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the formal submission of the proposal, the principal investigator must send a
compilation of conflicts of interest information in a spreadsheet format (preferably in MS-Excel
format) by e-mail directly to the cognizant program officer. The spreadsheet must be submitted no
later than one week after the proposal-submission deadline.
The top of the list should include the proposal number of the proposal submitted. Include the full
names of all people for whom there would be a conflict of interest related to reviewing this proposal
because of their association with one or more of the senior personnel on the project. Conflicts to be
identified are: (1) Ph.D. thesis advisors or advisees, (2) postdoctoral advisors or advisees, (3)
collaborators or co-authors for the past 48 months, and (4) any other individuals or institutions with
which the investigator has financial ties (please specify type). For further clarification of
conflicts of interests, please refer to the NSF Grant Policy Manual, Section 510. Five columns are
suggested for the spreadsheet: the senior personnel (last name) whose relationship makes the person
in that row conflicted, outside person for whom there is a conflict (last name, first name),
institution of outside person, the relationship that causes the conflict of interest. Please use the
following definitions to provide the corresponding information.
* Principal Investigators--Individuals who would assume responsibility for an award resulting from
this competition, would manage the award, and are listed on the cover sheet of the proposal.
* Senior Personnel--All Principal Investigators, as well as any named other personnel who will
receive salary support, as well as non-salaried senior investigators who will play lead roles in
the conduct of the project.
* Project Participants--Every person involved with the research project, including students.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation number (05-511) in the
program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement
is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this
information may delay processing.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing:
Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
Major Equipment - major equipment purchases (cumulative value exceeding $50,000) will not be supported
under this program solicitation.
C. Due Dates
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
February 10, 2005
D. FastLane Requirements
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this announcement/solicitation through
the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are
available at: 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 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 announcement/solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed
in Section VIII of this announcement/solicitation.
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. Proposers are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed
Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane
Website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov
VI. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
A. NSF Proposal Review Process
Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area
of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers
charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of
submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that
reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from
non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent disciplines to that principally
addressed in the proposal.
The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating proposals at its meeting on March
28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In
some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific
objectives of certain programs and activities.
On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal
Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the
importance of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals submitted to
NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to ensure that both of the merit review
criteria are addressed when making funding decisions.
In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January 2002 issuance of the GPG
incorporated revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to the development of the Project
Summary and Project Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators (PIs)
must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within the one-page Project Summary.
This chapter also reiterates that broader impacts resulting from the proposed project must be
addressed in the Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.
Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do not separately address
both merit review criteria within the Project Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF
proposal preparation and processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of broader
impacts to NSF-funded projects.
The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed below (see the Grant Proposal
Guide Chapter III.A for further information). 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 he/she is qualified to
make judgments.
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 and original
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?
NSF staff 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.
B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in
the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this
announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Ad Hoc Review followed by 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.
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 Director. In
addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
In most cases, proposers will be contacted by the Program Officer after his or her recommendation to
award or decline funding has been approved by the Division Director. This informal notification is not
a guarantee of an eventual award.
NSF is striving to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended
for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the closing date of an
announcement/solicitation, or the date of proposal receipt, whichever is later. The interval ends when
the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
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 Division 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.A. 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 (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal
Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance
that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards also are
administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail
notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail
capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications
Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual
(GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for
subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Website at
http://www.gpo.gov.
C. Reporting Requirements
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an
annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current
budget period.
Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to submit a final project
report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending
proposals for the PI and all Co-PIs. 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. This system permits electronic
submission and updating of project reports, including information on project participants (individual
and organizational), activities and findings, 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.
VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
* Rachael Craig, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785 S,
telephone: (703) 292-8233, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: rcraig@nsf.gov
* Enriqueta C. Barrera, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences,
785 S, telephone: (703) 292-8551, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: ebarrera@nsf.gov
* L. Douglas James, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785
S, telephone: (703) 292-8549, email: ldjames@nsf.gov
* H. Richard Lane, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785
S, telephone: (703) 292-8551, email: hlane@nsf.gov
* Fredric Lipschultz, Associate Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Ocean
Sciences, 725 N, telephone: (703) 292-8582, fax: (703) 292-9085, email: flipschu@nsf.gov
* Barbara Ransom, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Ocean Sciences, 725 N,
telephone: (703) 292-8581, fax: (703) 292-9085, email: bransom@nsf.gov
* Anne-Marie Schmoltner, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Atmospheric
Sciences, 775 S, telephone: (703) 292-8522, fax: (703) 292-9022, email: aschmolt@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
* Lerome D. Jackson, Program Technology Specialist, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth
Sciences, 785 S, telephone: (703) 292-8551, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: ljackson@nsf.gov
IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science,
mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and
eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.
Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To
obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices.
Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be
announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers
can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified
of new funding opportunities that become available.
Because of the variety of programs within NSF that offer support for microbe-related research it is
important for researchers to understand that this program is focused on projects that directly examine
the geo-bio interface. A broad range of programs within and across many directorates of NSF support
research on microbes. The most relevant are listed below. Investigators are encouraged to contact
appropriate program officers to determine which program, initiative or special focus solicitation is
most appropriate as a funding source to avoid inappropriate proposals and to expedite the
proposal-writing and review process.
The Biological Sciences Directorate (http://www.nsf.gov/bio), Division of Environmental Biology
supports microbial research within these programs: Biotic Surveys & Inventories; Ecology; Ecosystem
Studies; and Population Biology. The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports
microbial studies through the Microbial Genetics; and Microbial Observatories programs.
Within the Engineering Directorate (ENG), the Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems
(BES) has a program in Environmental Engineering and Technology that considers proposals related to
microbes
http://www.eng.nsf.gov/bes/Programs/Environmental_Engineering_Basi/environmental_engineering_basi.htm.
The Directorate for Geosciences (http://www.geo.nsf.gov) supports microbe-related research within each
Division including programs and special foci in the Ocean Sciences Division: Biological Oceanography;
Chemical Oceanography; Marine Geology and Geophysics (MGG); the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP); and
several within the Earth Sciences Division (Hydrologic Sciences; Geobiology and Environmental
Geochemistry; Paleobiology and Stratigraphy) and the Atmospheric Sciences Division including the
Biogeosciences Initiative at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
The Directorate for Geosciences participates in the federal effort in microbial science coordinated
through the Microbe Project Interagency Working Group (MPIWG).
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and
engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the
results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or
their interpretation.
NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly
encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In
accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color,
age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial
assistance from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special
assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including
student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II, Section D.2
for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
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 http://www.nsf.gov
* Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
* For General Information (703) 292-5111
(NSF Information Center):
* TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090
* To Order Publications or Forms:
Send an e-mail to: pubs@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; 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 applicant 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 needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate
programs; 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, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated
Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). 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 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 this burden
estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.
OMB control number: 3145-0058.
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