Title: Frequently Asked Questions for NSF 08-573 (XD solicitation). Date: 07/29/08 Frequently Asked Questions for NSF 08-573 (XD solicitation). For further information, please send email to hpc-input@nsf.gov or to the cognizant program officers listed in the solicitation. Added 7/11/08 1. How many categories of proposals are identified in the solicitation? Proposals are solicited on five topics.  These five topics are divided into two classes.  The first class contains only one topic.  The names of the first class and the topic it contains are identical.  This name is “High-Performance Remote Visualization and Data Analysis Services.”  The second class is called, “Integrating Services.”  The second class is divided into four topics (services): the Coordination and Management Service (CMS), the Technology Audit and Insertion Service (TAIS), the Advanced User Support Service (AUSS), and the Training, Education and Outreach Service (TEOS). 2. How many proposals may an institution submit? There is no restriction on the number of proposals an institution may submit to the class, “High-Performance Remote Visualization and Data Analysis Services.” There is a restriction on the number of proposals for topics in the class, “Integrating Services,” that an institution may be involved with.  Defining “institutional involvement” to mean either being the submitting institution or a sub-awardee on a proposal, an institution may be involved with no more than one proposal that falls in the class, “Integrating Services.”  Examples of actions that would violate this restriction include the following:  (A) Proposal 1 for the topic CMS is submitted by Institution X, Proposal 2 covering topics CMS, TAIS and AUSS is submitted by Institution Y with Institution X as a sub-awardee;  (B) Proposal 1 for CMS is submitted by Institutions X with Institutions Y and Z as sub-awardees, Proposal 2 for TEOS for TEOS is submitted by Institution X; (C) Institution X submits Proposal 1 for TAIS and Proposal 2 for TEOS; (D) Institution X submits Proposal 1 for the topic AUSS with Institution Z as a sub-awardee, Institution Y submits Proposal 2 for the topic TEOS with Institution Z as a sub-awardee. 3. Can for-profit organizations be involved in proposals? Yes.  The NSF Grant Proposal Guide, http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf08_1/gpg_1.jsp#IE states that, “Except where a program solicitation establishes more restrictive eligibility criteria, individuals and organizations in the following categories may submit proposals:  For-profit organizations - US commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education. … NSF is interested in supporting projects that couple industrial research resources and perspectives with those of universities; therefore, it especially welcomes proposals for cooperative projects involving both universities and the private commercial sector.” In addition, the solicitation states that:  “Proposals are welcome to include academic-industrial partnerships. Examples of possible partnerships include, but are not limited to, instances in which the private sector partners: * Add assets to XD subject to meeting all XD compatibility requirements, * Draw on services provided by XD based on a quid-pro-quo arrangement with the awardee, * Contribute software and data to the XD under open-source/open-access arrangements. Other innovative partnership arrangements with industry are encouraged.”