Title: Frequently Asked Questions for [1]NSF 13-605, Catalyzing New
International Collaborations (CNIC)
Date: 9/18/2013
NSF 13-129
Frequently Asked Questions for [1]NSF 13-605, Catalyzing New International
Collaborations (CNIC)
ELIGIBILITY
1. Who is eligible for the CNIC program?
See the Grant Proposal Guide at
[2]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg for
information on eligibility. CNIC has no additional requirements or
restrictions.
2. How is a 'new' collaboration defined?
Note that CNIC supports only new international collaborations. A
'new' collaboration is one that is new to the investigator (and
co-PI(s) if applicable). This can mean a new collaborative
relationship or a substantially different research direction.
Proposed projects for which collaborators have only met at a
conference or maybe not at all, not yet undertaken any joint
research, and not yet visited each other's locations, would be
considered new. Projects for which the collaborators have already
published or received funding together will not necessarily be
ineligible, but will require detailed justification for why they
should be considered new.
3. Where can I use a CNIC award?
Travel can be proposed to any country(ies) that is(are) not
explicitly proscribed by the Department of State (see current
information at
[3]http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Page
s/Programs.aspx and [4]http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm).
No countries have a favored status for CNIC funding; rather,
funding decisions are based on how well the proposal meets the
program guidelines and NSF's review criteria.
4. What areas of research are supported by CNIC awards?
CNIC proposals may cover any field of science and engineering
research and education supported by NSF. The expected outcome of a
CNIC award should be submission of a full research proposal(s) to
an NSF research program. Information on the NSF Directorates is at
[5]http://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp; multi-disciplinary or
cross-cutting programs are listed at
[6]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?type=xcut. Program
websites contain information on what is supported, including lists
of previously funded projects. The Directorates should be
contacted directly with questions concerning technical area
eligibility for NSF funding.
5. What forms of collaboration are funded?
The CNIC program will support US-based researchers' participation
in activities such as short research planning visits,
international workshops, initial data gathering activities, and
initial proof-of-concept. CNIC awards are meant to be a direct
precursor to submission of a research proposal to an NSF core
research program. A CNIC award is not required, however, prior to
submission of an NSF research proposal including an international
collaboration.
6. Can CNIC support international workshops?
Yes. This is a change from the FY2013 solicitation.
7. What is the difference between a workshop and a planning visit?
A CNIC planning visit generally involves one PI plus, possibly, a
small number of student(s) and/or co-PI(s) and/or postdoctoral
researcher(s) visiting a potential collaborator(s) abroad, to work
out specifics for future collaborative work that could be
supported by NSF. A CNIC workshop should explore a broader topic
rather than focusing on one project, should involve researchers
from several US institutions and several foreign institutions, and
should lead to multiple collaborative proposals in a new
scientific area. NSF will support expenses of the US-based
workshop attendees only.
8. What if I have an active NSF Award?
PIs with active NSF awards may be eligible to seek Supplemental
funding additional to their existing award, which may be co-funded
by ISE through a non-CNIC internal mechanism. PIs wishing to
submit a Supplement proposal should correspond first with the
cognizant Program Officer for their existing award.
9. What is the difference between Supplement and CNIC support?
Supplement proposal CNIC proposal
Must PI currently Yes, in the same technical Doesn't matter
hold an NSF award? field as the proposed
international activity
Submission must... be approved beforehand by be discussed beforehand
the cognizant PO for the with the OISE
original award (no formal Country/Regional PO
CNIC involvement)
Submission timing Consult cognizant PO Four target dates
per year
Project description GPG limit applies Eight pages
maximum length
Limitation on PIs may request additional Funds requested must be
funding request funding for any other limited to those for a
activities in the same new international
Supplement proposal, catalytic activity only
subject to agreement by
the cognizant PO
Maximum award Total of all Supplement $75,000 including
awards must not exceed 20% indirect costs
of the initial award
amount
Indirect cost % = Indirect cost % rate Based on institution's
rate applied on initial current policy (in some
proposal cases, an off-campus
rate may apply)
Must proposals For international Yes
adhere to all the activities, proposers are
requirements of recommended to follow the
the CNIC documentation
solicitation? requirements specified by
the CNIC solicitation
Review is internal by experts for planning visits,
usually... within NSF external by experts
outside NSF; for
workshops, may be
internal or external
Period between Consult cognizant PO Minimum of eight months
proposal submission after target date is
and first travel advised
COMMUNICATION WITH NSF REQUIRED BEFORE SUBMISSION
10. What is the difference between disciplinary and Country/Regional
program officers?
Disciplinary Program Officers are associated with NSF programs in
a specific field of science and engineering research and education
supported by the NSF Directorates; they are listed on the
respective website for each NSF Directorate. OISE
Country/Regional Program Officers are associated with NSF activity
in a specific country or geographic region, and are listed at
[7]http://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/country-list.jsp.
11. Why do I need to contact a Country/Regional program officer prior
to submission?
It is always good practice to discuss planned proposals with a
Program Officer prior to submission. In CNIC, the Country/Regional
Program Officer may wish to discuss technical issues (e.g., to
which active NSF program the follow-on proposal(s) is(are) to be
submitted), budgetary issues (e.g., compliance with the
solicitation), eligibility (e.g. newness of the collaboration),
and unique country or regional issues. The Country/Regional
Program officer may in turn refer the inquirer to other NSF
Program Officers as appropriate. As a courtesy for information
purposes, it is also good practice for a potential proposer to
inform the disciplinary Program Officer(s), for the NSF program(s)
to which the follow-on proposal(s) would be submitted, of the
intent to submit a CNIC proposal, although no response from the
Disciplinary Program Officer is required. If the Country/Regional
or other Program Officers offer advice, be sure to follow it
carefully.
12. What information is useful to provide in correspondence with the
Country/Regional Program Officer?
It is helpful to summarize the scientific issues to be explored
and to indicate the names and institutional affiliations of key
foreign collaborators, the necessity and prior history (if any) of
the proposed international collaboration or workshop, to which
active NSF program the follow-on proposal(s) is(are) to be
submitted, and perhaps a non-binding guestimate of expected budget
categories and approximate amounts (one or two significant
figures). In first instance, all this should be limited to one
page absolute maximum. The Country/Regional Program Officer may
subsequently ask for more clarification or suggest consultation
with other NSF Program Officers as appropriate in each individual
case. Remember to keep copies of all these e-mails, as they must
be included in the Supplementary Documents of the resulting CNIC
proposal.
WRITING A CNIC PROPOSAL
13. What can be supported with CNIC funds?
The award supports travel expenses for international planning
visits taken by the PI (and a small number of other researchers,
if applicable) or small international workshops. PIs are
encouraged to include student(s) and/or postdoctoral researcher(s)
accompanying the PI abroad. CNIC support for students or
postdoctoral researchers is limited to US citizens and legal US
permanent residents. Other small expenses incurred undertaking the
catalytic activity, such as supplies, can be included. CNIC funds
cannot be used to support travel, salary, or any other expenses of
any non-US-based researchers or participants. Equipment purchases
cannot be supported by CNIC. Salary can be claimed only for time
spent on the project while located outside the US plus necessary
time to get there. Persons splitting time between the US and
another country cannot claim salary through CNIC for the time
spent conducting research in the US. For projects needing more
than the maximum award under CNIC, funding should be sought
directly through NSF's disciplinary or core programs.
14. Do I need to include students in a CNIC project?
No, but it is strongly encouraged. Students may be undergraduate
or graduate.
15. Can postdoctoral researchers or students apply independently for a
CNIC award?
This depends upon whether their home institution allows them to
act as PIs on NSF proposals. CNIC is not intended to function as
fellowship funding for students or postdoctoral researchers.
16. How long can visits be?
CNIC projects may run for 12 months maximum, but the time abroad
undertaking planning or a workshop is typically much shorter than
that.
17. What information do I need to include about the non-US-based
collaborator(s)?
The solicitation specifies the formal requirements. Taken
together, these should provide evidence of true intellectual
collaboration abroad. The 'principal foreign collaborator(s)' on
which most details are needed may be interpreted to mean the
equivalent of Assistant Professor level and above. On the Cover
Sheet, do not include the foreign collaborator(s) as Co-PIs as
they cannot be awarded support under CNIC.
18. How much detail is needed in the budget?
An ideal Budget Justification will itemize separately the cost of
airfares per person to each destination, cost and destination(s)
of ground travel per person (or per vehicle) and mode of
transport, budgeted amounts per person per day for lodging,
budgeted amounts per person per day for meals and incidental
expenses (M&IE), trip lengths, total budgeted per diems per
person, description and amounts for materials needed, precise
durations for which salaries/stipends are requested, annual
equivalent salaries/stipends, benefits %, total salary request per
person, any other essential costs requested with a clear
description, and indirect cost category (e.g. 'on-campus' or
'off-campus'), % rate and $ basis. CNIC budgets are merit-reviewed
along with the rest of the CNIC proposal.
19. How will my non-US-based collaborator be funded?
NSF expects that foreign collaborators will seek support from the
science funding agencies in their home countries. In some
countries, funding for non-US scientists can be sought through the
USAID Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)
program. Information about PEER is available at
[8]http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/dsc/peer/index.htm.
AFTER SUBMISSION
20. How will CNIC proposals be reviewed?
CNIC proposals may be reviewed by external ad-hoc or panel
reviewers, as well as by internal reviewers as needed.
21. How long will it take to get an answer?
CNIC proposals must be merit-reviewed, so the timing will depend
on how quickly reviews are returned and on how many other
proposals are received around the same time. While we aim to
respond to CNIC proposals as quickly as possible, it can take up
to six months after the later of the submission or the respective
target date for an award decision to be finalized.
22. How is a CNIC proposal checked for compliance?
Before being sent for review, CNIC proposals are routinely checked
for the following:
General:
+ Start date more than eight months ahead of target date
+ Inclusion of all sections of proposal required in program
guidelines and GPG
+ Compliance with margin, font and page limits
Cover Page:
+ Title includes collaboration country(ies)
+ Cover Page contains Country Code(s)
+ Electronic signature present
Project Summary:
+ Names, Institutions, and roles of foreign collaborators
+ Follow-on NSF Program (destination of subsequent proposals)
identified clearly
+ Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact addressed
Project Description:
+ Research and education objectives described
+ Intellectual collaboration: expertise, contributions,
division of labor
+ History of collaboration, why it is 'new'
+ Justification for selecting the destination venue
+ Student and/or early career researcher involvement described
if travel is requested for them
+ Schedule of trip activities included
+ Strategies to continue the collaboration & relevance to the
NSF Program identified in the Summary
+ Broader impacts
+ Results from prior NSF support
Biographical Sketches:
+ 2-page biosketch in NSF format for US PI (and each Co-PI if
applicable)
Budget:
+ Maximum budget within limit
+ Salaries requested only for time abroad
+ No support for overseas-based persons
+ No equipment requested
+ No voluntary cost-sharing
+ Detailed Budget Justification present
Current & Pending support:
+ Current & Pending support listed
Facilities:
+ Facilities & equipment at US institution
Supplementary Documents:
+ Data management plan
+ Postdoc mentoring plan included, if postdoc travel is
requested
+ Inclusion of 2-page biosketch (in NSF format) and letter of
collaboration from each non-US-based collaborator. (In the
case of Workshops, biosketches and letters showing intent to
attend from all principal foreign attendees known at the time
of submission must be included.)
+ Facilities & equipment at partner institution(s)
+ Evidence of prior contact with OISE Country/Regional
Program Officer, and other Program Officers if applicable
If any of these aspects are non-compliant, the CNIC program may
request that the proposal be withdrawn or it may be Returned
Without Review (RWR).
References
1. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13605
2. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
3. http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/
Programs.aspx
4. http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm
5. http://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp
6. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?type=xcut
7. http://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/country-list.jsp
8. http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/dsc/peer/index.htm