This document has been archived and replaced by NSF 15-509.
(http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15509).

Title: Research on Education and Learning (REAL)(nsf13604)
Date: 12/30/2013
Replaces: NSF 10-516, NSF 12-542, NSF 12-552

Research on Education and Learning (REAL)

[1]Program Solicitation
NSF 13-604

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 10-516, NSF 12-542, NSF 12-552

   NSF Logo

   National Science Foundation
   Directorate for Education & Human Resources
        Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings

   Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
   local time):

        October 25, 2013

   Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

        January 10, 2014

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

   Revision Summary

   This solicitation has been revised to incorporate into the Other
   Information section a newly issued publication jointly developed by
   the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education
   Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education entitled, Common
   Guidelines for Education Research and Development. The Guidelines
   describe six types of research studies that can generate evidence
   about how to increase student learning. Research types include those
   that generate the most fundamental understandings related to education
   and learning; examinations of associations between variables;
   iterative design and testing of strategies or interventions; and
   assessments of the impact of a fully-developed intervention on an
   education outcome. For each research type, there is a description of
   the purpose and the expected empirical and/or theoretical
   justifications, types of project outcomes, and quality of evidence.

   The Guidelines publication can be found on the NSF website with the
   number NSF 13-126
   ([2]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13126/nsf13126.pdf). A set of FAQs
   regarding the Guidelines are available with the number NSF
   13-127([3]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13127/nsf13127.pdf). Grant
   proposal writers and PIs are encouraged to familiarize themselves with
   both documents and use the information therein to help in the
   preparation of proposals to NSF.

   Revision Summary

   REAL represents the substantive foci of three previous EHR programs:
   Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering
   (REESE), Research in Disabilities Education (RDE), and Research on
   Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE). This solicitation replaces
   NSF 10-516, NSF 12-542, and NSF 12-552; details regarding integration
   and revision of each can be found in the body of this solicitation.

   The first sentence of the Project Summary should indicate the project
   type (i.e., early, middle and late- stage empirical, synthesis,
   fostering interdisciplinary research in education (FIRE), or
   conference/workshop).

   In part II, under Program Description, Elements of REAL Proposals, the
   solicitation provides additional detail on expectations for research
   design and methodology for all proposals to REAL.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

   Program Title:

     Research on Education and Learning (REAL)

   Synopsis of Program:

     The Research on Education and Learning (REAL) program represents
     the substantive foci of three previous EHR programs: Research and
     Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE),
     Research in Disabilities Education (RDE), and Research on Gender in
     Science and Engineering (GSE). What is distinctive about the new
     REAL program is the emphasis placed on the accumulation of robust
     evidence to inform efforts to (a) understand, (b) build theory to
     explain, and (c) suggest interventions (and innovations) to address
     persistent challenges in STEM interest, education, learning, and
     participation. The program supports advances in research on STEM
     (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and
     education by fostering efforts to explore all aspects of education
     research from foundational knowledge to improvements in STEM
     learning and learning contexts, both formal and informal, from
     childhood through adulthood, for all groups, and from the earliest
     developmental stages of life through participation in the
     workforce, resulting in increased public understanding of science
     and engineering. The REAL program will fund research on, human
     learning in STEM; learning in STEM learning environments, and
     broadening participation research.

   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.
     * Address questions to REAL program officers, telephone:
       (703)292-8650, email: [4]DRLREAL@nsf.gov

   Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
     * 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources

Award Information

   Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

   Estimated Number of Awards: 45 to 52

   new awards per year (across a mix of all research areas and including
   all types of awards).

   Anticipated Funding Amount: $51,000,000

   for new awards, pending the availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

   Who May Submit Proposals:

     The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the
     National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal
     Guide, Chapter I, Section E.

   Who May Serve as PI:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

   Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

   Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

   A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
     * Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is optional.
       Please see the full text of this solicitation for further
       information.

     * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

     * 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:
            [5]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:
            [6]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grant
            sgovguide)

   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
     * Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
       local time):
            October 25, 2013
     * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
            January 10, 2014

Proposal Review Information Criteria

   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

     [7]Summary of Program Requirements 

    I. [8]Introduction
   II. [9]Program Description
   III. [10]Award Information
   IV. [11]Eligibility Information
    V. [12]Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
         A. [13]Proposal Preparation Instructions
         B. [14]Budgetary Information
         C. [15]Due Dates
         D. [16]FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
   VI. [17]NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
         A. [18]Merit Review Principles and Criteria
         B. [19]Review and Selection Process
   VII. [20]Award Administration Information
         A. [21]Notification of the Award
         B. [22]Award Conditions
         C. [23]Reporting Requirements
   VIII. [24]Agency Contacts
   IX. [25]Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

   About the Education and Human Resources Directorate

   The National Science Foundation (NSF) is charged with promoting the
   vitality of the nation's science, technology, engineering and
   mathematics (STEM) research and education enterprises. As part of this
   mission, the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) has
   primary responsibility for providing national, research-based
   leadership in STEM education. The mission of EHR is to advance
   excellence in U.S. STEM education at all levels and in all settings
   (both formal and informal) through the support of research and
   development and the preparation of a diverse workforce of scientists,
   technicians, engineers, mathematicians and educators. Within EHR's
   overall charge, the role of the Division of Research on Learning in
   Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) is to advance innovative and
   transformative research and development, and evaluation of learning
   and teaching in all STEM disciplines.

   The Research on Education and Learning (REAL) program supports
   advances in research on STEM learning and education by fostering
   efforts to explore all aspects of education research resulting in
   foundational knowledge to improve STEM learning and learning contexts,
   both formal and informal, from childhood through adulthood, for all
   groups, and from the earliest developmental stages through
   participation in the workforce. The program represents the substantive
   foci of three previous EHR programs: Research and Evaluation on
   Education in Science and Engineering (REESE), Research in Disabilities
   Education (RDE), and Research on Gender in Science and Engineering
   (GSE). The new REAL program emphasizes the accumulation of robust
   evidence to inform efforts to (a) understand, (b) build theory to
   explain, and (c) suggest interventions to increase participation in
   STEM education, learning, and workforce participation.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

   The research REAL supports advances the frontiers of understanding
   about how more people learn, and use more STEM, more effectively. To
   do this, REAL projects are grounded in theory, ask well formulated
   research questions, employ relevant data and analytic techniques, and
   contribute to the growing body of literature on STEM education. REAL
   projects focus on learning of STEM content and practices and bring
   together the expertise, literatures, methods and learning priorities
   of the entire range of scientific communities represented by the NSF
   research directorates as well as EHR. REAL also supports research on
   efforts to make that knowledge available to other researchers,
   education developers, leaders and practitioners so that research is
   used broadly to improve STEM education.

   To achieve these goals, REAL funds research that:
     * Addresses basic, foundational research questions about STEM
       learning and/or education using rigorous standards for theory,
       methods, and analysis. Such projects must be deeply rooted in STEM
       content and knowledge building practices.
     * Develops innovative research methods, measures, and conceptual
       models to test theory, to measure existing or emerging phenomena
       that address critically important issues in STEM education.
     * Investigates educational phenomena operating in and across
       learning environments to understand what works, for whom, why, and
       under what conditions, to inform future implementation
       possibilities and opportunities.
     * Explores lessons that can be learned in context or through
       practice to enhance basic knowledge and theoretical findings. Such
       implementation research would answer theoretical questions while
       using real world contexts to gather data.

   Research Areas

   REAL research advances the frontiers of knowledge about STEM learning
   and participation across the following overlapping areas:
     * Research on Human Learning in STEM. REAL seeks to provide the
       foundational knowledge necessary to improve and to advance STEM
       learning and education for all populations (including students of
       all ages, parents, and teachers), in all contexts (formal,
       informal and technological) across the life course. To this end
       REAL supports research combining theory, techniques, and
       perspectives from a wide range of disciplines and contexts.
       Proposals may address topics including, but not limited to: the
       neural bases of STEM learning, the cognitive bases of such
       learning (how people learn in and across STEM disciplines and
       settings); the affective dimensions of learning (what motivates
       and sustains learner interest in STEM and what fosters engagement
       and persistence); education policy and policy-relevant research
       grounded in the cognitive and social conditions of STEM learning;
       along with the development of methods, models and measures; and
       the use of new and existing datasets (including large-scale
       datasets).
     * Research on Learning in STEM Learning Environments. REAL supports
       projects that investigate how learning in organizations (schools,
       classrooms museums, systems, work places, and technologies of any
       type) can make fundamental and far-reaching improvements in a
       range of learning outcomes. REAL research attends to the
       interfaces between teaching and learning and the mediation of STEM
       learning (see e.g., National Research Council, 2012d). To this end
       REAL supports research on: (1) the alignment of curriculum,
       instruction and assessment; (2) the development of diagnostic and
       performance assessments; and (3) design based iterative research
       around implementation of new models of teaching and learning.
     * Broadening Participation Research. REAL supports the investigation
       of issues underlying the differential learning and participation
       of members of groups underrepresented in STEM fields.
       Underrepresented groups may include (but are not necessarily
       limited to) women and girls, people with disabilities, and/or
       underrepresented minorities, i.e., (e.g., African Americans,
       Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native Hawaiians,
       and Pacific Islanders.), and students from rural or lower
       socio-economic backgrounds. REAL seeks to catalyze the knowledge
       building through research that informs the development of
       interventions to impact learning, persistence, and success in STEM
       for members of various groups under specific conditions and in
       specific contexts. Proposers must document the STEM disciplinary
       underrepresentation of the groups they wish to study and place the
       proposed work in the broader context of STEM education and
       workforce participation in the U.S. This effort is in
       collaboration with and complements similar research tracks in the
       various programs in the Division of Human Resource Development
       (HRD) in EHR and the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and
       Economic Science (SBE) as outlined in the Dear Colleague Letter
       "Stimulating Research Related to the Science of Broadening
       Participation" (NSF 13-020)
       ([26]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13020/nsf13020.pdf).

     * Research in Disabilities Education. The Research in Disabilities
       Education (RDE) track supports fundamental and implementation
       research about learners (of all ages) with disabilities in STEM.
       This track encourages efforts to understand and address
       disability-based differences in STEM education and workforce
       participation. Fundamental research projects typically address
       areas such as stereotype threat, an individual's identity (e.g.
       STEM and disability identity), underlying attention and physical
       barriers that impact STEM learning, and the societal and
       organizational characteristics that influence learning and
       educational pathways. Implementation research projects typically
       address such areas as inclusive educational practices, universally
       designed STEM curricula, assistive technology, and supportive
       learning and/or educational environments. Implementation projects
       are expected to be experimental and/or quasi-experimental studies.
       Projects must employ evidence-based educational exemplars, have a
       strong theoretical base, and be justified by relevant educational,
       disability, and social science research.
     * Research on Gender in Science and Engineering. The Research on
       Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE) track supports efforts to
       understand and address gender-based differences in STEM education
       and workforce participation through education and implementation
       research that will lead to a larger and more diverse domestic STEM
       workforce. Typical projects will contribute to the knowledge base
       addressing gender-related differences in learning and in the
       educational experiences that affect student interest, performance,
       and choice of careers; how pedagogical approaches and teaching
       styles, curriculum, student services, and institutional culture
       contribute to causing or closing gender gaps that persist in
       certain fields.

   The Fostering Interdisciplinary Research in Education Program (FIRE)
   is an eligible proposal type for investigators particularly interested
   in collaboration and in growing their interdisciplinary research
   skills. It is described in more detail later in this solicitation.
     * Special Emphases (fiscal 2014): Within the three research areas
       described above (human learning of STEM content; learning in STEM
       learning environments; and broadening participation research), in
       FY2014 the program also calls for proposals in the following three
       areas:

     * Research on advancing the assessment of STEM learning and 21^st
       century STEM skills (cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal)
       and teacher practices to support that learning (NRC, 2012 a & b).
     * Research on STEM learning for undergraduates to advance current
       knowledge by leveraging insights from DUE programs and the
       Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) agenda (NRC, 2012c).
     * Research on the use and impact of technology on STEM learning.
       Innovative learning systems research (ILSR) explores opportunities
       for promoting and assessing learning made possible by new
       technologies, ways to help learners capitalize on those
       opportunities, and ways of using technology to promote deep and
       lasting learning of content, practices, skills, attitudes, and/or
       dispositions needed for engaged and productive citizenship. This
       effort complements other research and development occurring in the
       Directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
       (CISE), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and other
       EHR programs, including the [27]Cyberlearning: Transforming
       Education program.

   Elements of REAL Proposals

   High quality REAL proposals should address the following elements:
     * Linkages to theory and extant research in the field: All research
       proposals should be located in a body of literature to which a
       contribution would be made. They should identify the disciplinary
       (or interdisciplinary) and conceptual framework for the study.
       They should include a discussion of the theory or theories
       grounding the research or the concepts or framework of interest.
       The program will allow descriptive studies of phenomena that could
       lead to the development of a theory or model or that contribute to
       theory.
     * Research plan: Proposals should include research questions and/or
       testable hypotheses that reflect the current state of knowledge in
       the area and the theory or conceptual framework being used. The
       proposal should discuss in detail the methods used to answer the
       research questions and/or test the hypotheses posed, along with
       the types of data to be collected and methods for data collection.
       Methods should directly link to the theory or theories being used.
       If a population sample is used, this should be described along
       with the rationale for sample selection, and the investigator's
       access to the sample. The proposal should address whether the
       design is premised on special needs and interests due to
       educational level, gender, race, ethnicity, economic status, or
       disability, and to what extent data will be disaggregated for
       multiple characteristics.
     * Contributions to implementation (where applicable): Proposals to
       conduct research on implementation should highlight implications
       for subsequent enactments of the intervention paying particular
       attention to subjects, measures, application of the treatment and
       settings.
     * Contributions to knowledge: Proposals should include a coherent
       and persuasive chain of reasoning that shows how the research
       claims will be warranted and how the results have the potential to
       add new insights to the conceptual and/or methodological knowledge
       bases.
     * Communication strategy: Proposals should include a strategy for
       reaching a broad audience for the findings of the project
       including, where appropriate, scholars, practitioners, and public
       audiences. The potential results of the proposed research are
       expected to be of sufficient significance to merit peer-review and
       broader publication. (For additional information on dissemination
       and communication see the resources available from the American
       Association for the Advancement of Science's [28]Center for Public
       Engagement with Science & Technology; and the [29]Dissemination
       and Communication Resources available from the Center for
       Advancing Research & Communication.)
     * Data management plan: Consistent with REAL's interest in
       supporting secondary analyses of extant data, projects proposing
       original data collection are required to plan to archive and
       provide access to relevant data and supporting materials where
       feasible and consistent with data protection policies and
       procedures. (For additional information on NSF Data Sharing Policy
       and Data Management Plan Requirements see the [30]Dissemination
       and Sharing of Research Results.)
     * Objective external feedback: Proposals should include a strategy
       for ongoing objective external feedback using benchmarks,
       indicators, logic models, roadmaps or other evaluative methods to
       document progress toward goals, objectives and outcomes defined in
       the proposal. All projects are expected to track and report their
       accomplishment of proposal targets for broader impacts and
       intellectual merit. This objective external feedback can be
       provided through a number of vehicles: the advisory board, or
       through a formal evaluation. A plan for such soliciting objective
       external feedback should be documented in the proposal.

   Eligible Proposal Types

   REAL supports a wide range of research activities. The bulk of the
   portfolio is comprised of empirical investigations that address basic,
   fundamental research questions with direct and immediate, or indirect
   and long-term implications for STEM learning and education
   improvement. This includes projects that: (1) explore lessons that can
   be learned in context or through practice to enhance basic knowledge
   and theoretical findings; (2) investigate educational phenomena
   operating in and across learning environments to understand what
   works, for whom, why, and under what conditions, to inform future
   implementation possibilities and opportunities; (3) leverage theories
   of organization, institutional change, and leadership in analyzing
   factors which support and constrain implementation that achieves
   intended change in STEM learning outcomes; and (4) generate knowledge
   about human, social, and/or institutional capacity to enhance STEM
   learning and workforce participation. REAL seeks to fund both
   empirical research that involves the collection of new data, and
   secondary analyses that leverage extant state, national, international
   or other databases. Substantively, these research projects may fall
   within or cut across any of the Research Areas described above. In
   addition, REAL supports research to develop innovative research
   methods, metrics, and conceptual models to measure existing and
   emerging phenomena, and test theory that informs core scientific
   questions about STEM education and learning. Three levels of funding
   and durations are available to support these investigations: (1) Early
   Stage Research proposals have a maximum total award size of $500,000
   and a maximum duration of 3 years; (2) Middle Stage Research proposals
   have a maximum total award size of $1,500,000 and a maximum duration
   of 3 years; (3) Later Stage Research proposals have a maximum total
   award size of $2,500,000 and a maximum duration of 5 years. The stages
   refer to the maturity of the proposed work, the size and scope of the
   empirical effort, as well as the capacity of the interdisciplinary
   team to conduct the proposed research.

   As noted above, a hallmark of the REAL portfolio is the
   multidisciplinary nature of the research REAL supports. In addition to
   supporting projects rooted in a broad array of scientific literatures,
   REAL seeks to foster interdisciplinary approaches within individual
   projects. To this end, REAL invites Fostering Interdisciplinary
   Research in Education (FIRE) proposals for projects that facilitate
   scholars crossing disciplinary boundaries to acquire the skills and
   knowledge that would improve their abilities to conduct rigorous
   research on STEM learning and education. FIRE proposals must: (1) have
   both a research and a professional development component; and (2)
   include one individual who will serve as the mentor and one individual
   who will be mentored. (There is no restriction about whether the
   mentor is designated as the PI and the mentee as the co-PI, or vice
   versa, except as allowed by the submitting organization; other
   personnel and co-PIs are also allowed.) Awards are open to
   investigators who have received a doctoral degree in a disciplinary
   STEM field outside of education proper and wish to pursue research in
   learning and education, or who have received a doctoral degree from an
   educational research program and wish to complement their expertise
   with training in a disciplinary STEM field outside of education. For
   the purposes of evaluating FIRE proposals, REAL defines non-education
   STEM fields as those communities largely represented by a program at
   NSF in the directorates of Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and
   Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG),
   Geosciences (GEO), Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS), or Social,
   Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), or the Office of Polar
   Programs (OPP). The maximum award size for FIRE projects is $500,000,
   with duration of 3 years.

   REAL also supports a small number of synthesis projects and
   conferences and workshops related to the goals of the program.
   Synthesis proposals seek support for the synthesis and/or
   meta-analysis of existing knowledge on a topic of critical importance
   to STEM learning and/or education, or for the diffusion of
   research-based knowledge. Investigators are permitted to propose
   workshops and other meetings as one of the means of completing the
   syntheses and diffusing the research-based knowledge that is
   developed. Additional emphasis will be placed on the proposed
   dissemination plan. Maximum award size for Synthesis proposals is
   $300,000 (total) for duration of up to two years. Conference and
   Workshop proposals seek support to conduct well-focused conferences or
   workshops related to the goals of the program. Budgets are expected to
   be commensurate with the duration of the event and the number of
   participants. Proposals should include a conceptual framework for the
   conference, draft agenda, possible participant list, and the outcomes
   or products that will result. Conference and workshop proposals are
   evaluated on an ad hoc basis and so may be submitted at any time (not
   only to the competition deadline), generally at least one year in
   advance of when the event would be held. Investigators are encouraged
   to contact a Program Officer prior to submission. Typical costs are
   $25,000 to $75,000. Please see the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG
   Section II. D.) for additional information about conference and
   workshop proposals.

   References

   National Research Council. (2012a). Education for life and work:
   Developing transferable knowledge and skills in the 21^st century.
   Committee on Defining Deeper Learning and 21^st Century Skills, J.W.
   Pellegrino and M.L. Hilton, Editors. Board on Testing and Assessment
   and Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social
   Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

   National Research Council. (2012b). A framework for K-12 science
   education practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. Committee
   on a Conceptual Framework for New K-12 Science Education Standards.
   Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
   and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

   National Research Council. (2012c). Discipline-based education
   research: Understanding and improving learning in undergraduate
   science and engineering. Committee on the Status, Contributions, and
   Future Directions of Discipline-Based Education Research. Board on
   Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and
   Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

   National Research Council (2012d). Monitoring progress toward
   successful K-12 STEM education: A nation advancing? Committee on the
   Evaluation Framework for Successful K-12 STEM Education. Board on
   Science Education and Board on Testing and Assessment, Division of
   Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The
   National Academies Press.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

   NSF expects to make standard or continuing grant awards. Pending the
   availability of funds, the estimated number of awards will be 64 new
   awards in FY 2014. Approximately 10 Early Stage Research, 20 Middle
   Stage Research, 8 Later Stage Research, 10 Synthesis, 6 FIRE, and 10
   Conference and Workshop awards will be funded. The anticipated funding
   available for new awards in FY 2014 for REAL is $51,000,000. The
   maximum award amount for Early Stage Research projects is $500,000,
   with duration of up to three years. The maximum award amount for
   Middle Stage Research projects is $1,500,000, with duration of up to
   three years. The maximum award amount for Later Stage Research
   projects is $2,500,000, with duration of up to five years. The maximum
   award amount for Synthesis projects is $300,000, with duration of up
   to two years. The maximum award amount for FIRE projects is $500,000,
   with duration of up to three years. The maximum award amount for
   Conferences and Workshops is $75,000.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

   Who May Submit Proposals:

     The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the
     National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal
     Guide, Chapter I, Section E.

   Who May Serve as PI:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

   Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

   Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI:

     There are no restrictions or limits.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   Letters of Intent(optional):

   A Letter of Intent (LOI) is optional. LOIs are due on or before the
   October 25, 2013. The LOI must contain (1) a proposed title; (2) the
   names of Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators,
   including organizational affiliations and departments; (3) a list of
   the partnering institutions; (4) a brief synopsis (limited to 250
   words) describing the proposed project in sufficient detail to permit
   selection of reviewers. LOIs will not be used to encourage or
   discourage the submission of full proposals. They will be used only to
   help NSF plan for the merit review process, and they are nonbinding.
   Thus, changes may be made between the submission of the LOI and
   submission of the full proposal.

   Letter of Intent Preparation Instructions:

   When submitting a Letter of Intent through FastLane in response to
   this Program Solicitation please note the conditions outlined below:
     * Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) Submission is not required when
       submitting Letters of Intent
     * Submission of multiple Letters of Intent is not allowed

   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.

   Important Proposal Preparation Information: FastLane will check for
   required sections of the full proposal, in accordance with Grant
   Proposal Guide (GPG) instructions described in Chapter II.C.2. The GPG
   requires submission of: Project Summary; Project Description;
   References Cited; Biographical Sketch(es); Budget; Budget
   Justification; Current and Pending Support; Facilities, Equipment &
   Other Resources; Data Management Plan; and Postdoctoral Mentoring
   Plan, if applicable. If a required section is missing, FastLane will
   not accept the proposal. 

   Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in
   this program solicitation may deviate from the GPG instructions. If
   the solicitation instructions do not require a GPG-required section to
   be included in the proposal, insert text or upload a document in that
   section of the proposal that states, "Not Applicable for this Program
   Solicitation." Doing so will enable FastLane to accept your proposal.

   Please note that per guidance in the GPG, the Project Description must
   contain, as a separate section within the narrative, a discussion of
   the broader impacts of the proposed activities. Unless otherwise
   specified in this solicitation, you can decide where to include this
   section within the Project Description.

B. Budgetary Information

   Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is
   prohibited

   Budget Preparation Instructions: 

   The budget must include funds to support travel to annual PI meetings

C. Due Dates

     * Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
       local time):
            October 25, 2013
     * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
            January 10, 2014

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane: 

     To prepare and submit a proposal via FastLane, see detailed
     technical instructions 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.

   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: [37]http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html. In
     addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (see link in
     Section V.A) provides instructions regarding the technical
     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: [38]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.

   Proposers that submitted via FastLane are strongly encouraged to use
   FastLane to verify the status of their submission to NSF. For
   proposers that submitted via Grants.gov, until an application has been
   received and validated by NSF, the Authorized Organizational
   Representative may check the status of an application on Grants.gov.
   After proposers have received an e-mail notification from NSF,
   Research.gov should be used to check the status of an application.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

   Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program
   for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review.
   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 either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists,
   or both, who are experts in the particular fields represented by the
   proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged
   with 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. In addition, Program Officers
   may obtain comments from site visits before recommending final action
   on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for
   awards. A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award
   process (and associated timeline) is included in the GPG as
   [39]Exhibit III-1.

   A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process
   is available on the NSF website at:
   [40]http://nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/.

   Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential
   to the fulfillment of NSF's mission, as articulated in [41]Empowering
   the Nation Through Discovery and Innovation: NSF Strategic Plan for
   Fiscal Years (FY) 2011-2016. These strategies are integrated in the
   program planning and implementation process, of which proposal review
   is one part. NSF's mission is particularly well-implemented through
   the integration of research and education and broadening participation
   in NSF programs, projects, and activities.

   One of the core strategies in support of NSF's mission 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 variety of learning perspectives.

   Another core strategy in support of NSF's mission is broadening
   opportunities and expanding participation of groups, institutions, and
   geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines,
   which 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.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

   The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and
   diverse portfolio of projects that creates new knowledge and enables
   breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and
   engineering research and education. To identify which projects to
   support, NSF relies on a merit review process that incorporates
   consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and
   its potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission
   "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health,
   prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other
   purposes." NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive,
   transparent merit review process for the selection of projects.

   1. Merit Review Principles

   These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and
   organizations when preparing proposals and managing projects, by
   reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program
   staff when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for
   funding and while overseeing awards. Given that NSF is the primary
   federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in
   basic research and education, the following three principles apply:
     * All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the
       potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of
       knowledge.
     * NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to
       achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" may be
       accomplished through the research itself, through activities that
       are directly related to specific research projects, or through
       activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the
       project. The project activities may be based on previously
       established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in
       either case must be well justified.
     * Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should
       be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely
       correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the
       resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the
       activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is
       not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of
       these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated,
       level than the individual project.

   With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader
   Impacts outcomes for particular projects is done at an aggregated
   level, PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the
   activities described in the funded project. Thus, individual projects
   should include clearly stated goals, specific descriptions of the
   activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document
   the outputs of those activities.

   These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit
   review criteria, as well as a context within which the users of the
   criteria can better understand their intent.

   2. Merit Review Criteria

   All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National
   Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances,
   however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight
   the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

   The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to
   be given full consideration during the review and decision-making
   processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is
   sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria.
   ([42]GPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i. contains additional information for use
   by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the
   proposal.) Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria,
   including [43]GPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i., prior to the review of a
   proposal.

   When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider
   what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan
   to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could
   accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the
   technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may
   make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to
   evaluate all proposals against two criteria:
     * Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses
       the potential to advance knowledge; and
     * Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the
       potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of
       specific, desired societal outcomes.

   The following elements should be considered in the review for both
   criteria:

    1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to
         a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or
            across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
         b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader
            Impacts)?
    2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore
       creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
    3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities
       well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale?
       Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
    4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to
       conduct the proposed activities?
    5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the
       home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the
       proposed activities?

   Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself,
   through the activities that are directly related to specific research
   projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are
   complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of
   scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of
   societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not
   limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities,
   and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering,
   and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator
   development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and
   public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of
   individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive
   STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and
   others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness
   of the United States; and enhanced infrastructure for research and
   education.

   Proposers are reminded that reviewers will also be asked to review the
   Data Management Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan,
   as appropriate.

    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 evaluate proposals using two National
   Science Board approved merit review criteria and, if applicable,
   additional program specific criteria. A summary rating and
   accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each
   reviewer. 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 strives to be able to tell applicants
   whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding
   within six months. Large or particularly complex proposals or
   proposals from new awardees may require additional review and
   processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or target
   date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the
   Division Director acts upon the Program Officer's recommendation.

   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. After an administrative review has occurred, Grants and
   Agreements Officers perform 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.

   Once an award or declination decision has been made, Principal
   Investigators are provided feedback about their proposals. In all
   cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies
   of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers or any
   reviewer-identifying information, 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.

  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 notice, 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 notice; (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 notice. 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
   [44]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 [45]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
   [46]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 prior to the
   end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require
   submission of more frequent project reports). Within 90 days following
   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 all
   identified PIs and co-PIs on a given award. 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 Research.gov, for preparation and submission of
   annual and final project reports. Such reports provide information on
   accomplishments, project participants (individual and organizational),
   publications, and other specific products and impacts of the project.
   Submission of the report via Research.gov constitutes certification by
   the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The
   project outcomes report also 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.

   More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements 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
   [47]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.

  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:
     * Address questions to REAL program officers, telephone:
       (703)292-8650, email: [48]DRLREAL@nsf.gov

   For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
     * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
       [49]fastlane@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:
       [50]support@grants.gov.

   Contact cognizant Program Officers at DRLREESE@nsf.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, "NSF Update" is an
   information-delivery system 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 [51]Grants Conferences. Subscribers are
   informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new
   publications are issued that match their identified interests. "NSF
   Update" also is available on NSF's website at
   [52]https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/subscriber/new?topic
   _id=USNSF_179.

   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 [53]http://www.grants.gov.

     The National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education
     Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education developed Common
     Guidelines for Education Research and Development. The Guidelines
     describe six types of research studies that can generate evidence
     about how to increase student learning. Research types include
     those that generate the most fundamental understandings related to
     education and learning; examinations of associations between
     variables; iterative design and testing of strategies or
     interventions; and assessments of the impact of a fully-developed
     intervention on an education outcome. For each research type, there
     is a description of the purpose and the expected empirical and/or
     theoretical justifications, types of project outcomes, and quality
     of evidence.

     The Guidelines publication can be found on the NSF website with the
     number NSF 13-126
     ([54]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13126/nsf13126.pdf). A set of
     FAQs regarding the Guidelines are available with the number NSF
     13-127([55]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13127/nsf13127.pdf).
     Grant proposal writers and PIs are encouraged to familiarize
     themselves with both documents and use the information therein to
     help in the preparation of proposals to NSF.

  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 55,000 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 Arctic 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 [56]http://www.nsf.gov
	 
     * Location:                                4201 Wilson Blvd.
                                                Arlington, VA 22230
     * For General Information
       (NSF Information Center):                (703) 292-5111
	   
     * TDD (for the hearing-impaired):          (703) 292-5090
	 
     * To Order Publications or Forms:
             Send an e-mail to:                 [57]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, [58]NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and
   Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and
   [59]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
   Office of the General Counsel
   National Science Foundation
   Arlington, VA 22230

   [60]Policies and Important Links

   |
   [61]Privacy | [62]FOIA | [63]Help | [64]Contact NSF | [65]Contact Web
   Master | [66]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
   [67]Text Only
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References

   1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#toc
   2. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13126/nsf13126.pdf
   3. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13127/nsf13127.pdf
   4. mailto:DRLREAL@nsf.gov
   5. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
   6. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
   7. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#summary
   8. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#pgm_intr_txt
   9. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#pgm_desc_txt
  10. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#awd_info
  11. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#elig
  12. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#prep
  13. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#prep
  14. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#budg_cst_shr_txt
  15. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#dates
  16. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#fastlane
  17. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#review
  18. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#reviewcrit
  19. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#reviewprot
  20. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#awardadmin
  21. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#awardnotify
  22. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#grantcond
  23. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#reportreq
  24. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#cont
  25. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13604/nsf13604.htm#othpgm
  26. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13020/nsf13020.pdf
  27. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503581
  28. http://www.aaas.org/programs/centers/pe/
  29. https://arc.uchicago.edu/reese/
  dissemination-and-communication-resources
  30. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp
  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. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html
  38. mailto:support@grants.gov
  39. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_3ex1.pdf
  40. http://nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/
  41. http://www.nsf.gov/news/strategicplan/nsfstrategicplan_2011_2016.pdf
  42. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2di
  43. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2di
  44. http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF
  45. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  46. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
  47. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
  48. mailto:DRLREAL@nsf.gov
  49. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
  50. mailto:support@grants.gov
  51. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach.jsp
  52. https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/
  subscriber/new?topic_id=USNSF_179
  53. http://www.grants.gov/
  54. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13126/nsf13126.pdf
  55. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13127/nsf13127.pdf
  56. http://www.nsf.gov/
  57. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
  58. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/
  SOR_PA_NSF-50_Principal_Investigator_Proposal_File.pdf
  59. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/
  SOR_PA_NSF-51_Reviewer_Proposal_File.pdf
  60. http://www.nsf.gov/policies
  61. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/privacy.jsp
  62. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp
  63. http://www.nsf.gov/help/
  64. http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp
  65. mailto:webmaster@nsf.gov
  66. http://www.nsf.gov/help/sitemap.jsp
  67. http://transcoder.usablenet.com/tt/referrer