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Title: MRI Frequently Asked Questions (nsf15012) 
       | NSF - National Science Foundation
Date: 10/9/2015

   NSF 15-012

MRI Frequently Asked Questions

General

    1. How do I find recent MRI awards to see what types of awards are
       made by the program?
       
       The NSF Award search page (Advanced Search at
       [1]http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearch.jsp) can be used
       to search for MRI awards using MRI "Element Code" 1189 in the box
       under "Element Code". Enter a desired topic for the search under
       "Keyword".

Eligibility

    2. What is the difference between a "non-Ph.D.-granting institution"
       and a "non-degree-granting organization"?
       
       Non -Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are accredited
       colleges and universities (including two-year community colleges)
       that award Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and/or Master's
       degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or fewer
       Ph.D./D.Sc. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the combined
       previous two academic years. Non -degree-granting organizations are
       those that do not award Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees,
       Master's degrees, and/or Ph.Ds. or Ds.Sc. For the purposes of the
       MRI program, non-degree-granting organizations also include
       institutions of higher education that award all of their degrees
       outside of NSF-supported fields; for example, many medical schools
       or colleges of pharmacy.
       
    3. What is the difference between a "consortium" and a "collaborative
       proposal"?
       
       A collaborative proposal represents a funding mechanism, used
       NSF-wide, by which investigators from two or more organizations who
       wish to collaborate on a unified project may submit proposals and
       share funding. Collaborative proposals may be submitted to NSF in
       one of two methods: as a single proposal, in which a single award
       is being requested (with subawards administered by the lead
       organization); or by simultaneous submission of proposals from
       different organizations, with each organization requesting a
       separate award (Chapter II.D.4 of the Grant Proposal Guide provides
       additional information on collaborative proposals). For acquisition
       proposals from Ph.D. -granting or non-degree-granting institutions,
       only the latter method should be used.

       The MRI program defines consortia as a category of submission
       -eligible organizations to better facilitate proposals that provide
       access to unique instrumentation for a broad user base of U.S.
       scientists and engineers, and that encourage greater collaboration
       and sharing of state-of-the-art instrumentation (the MRI-specific
       definitions of consortia are included in the solicitation). The MRI
       program accepts proposals from two types of consortia -legally
       incorporated consortia located in the US with 501(c)(3) status and
       consortia organized specifically to support an MRI project. If a
       consortium has 501(c)(3) status and has the appropriate
       administrative and financial infrastructure to receive and manage a
       federal grant directly, then it may submit a consortium proposal
       directly. Otherwise, a consortium must include at least two MRI
       submission -eligible organizations, and a proposal from such an MRI
       consortium must be submitted by one of its submission -eligible
       organizations on behalf of the consortium. In either case, the
       proposal will count against the submitting organization's MRI
       submission limit.

       Collaborative proposals need not be consortium proposals and
       consortium proposals may or may not be collaborative proposals.

    4. When should I use "MRI Consortium" and/or "MRI Collaborative" in
       the title of the proposal?

       An MRI proposal must be entitled "MRI Collaborative: �" when it is
       linked to one or more other proposals in a simultaneous submission
       of proposals from different organizations, with each organization
       requesting a separate award directly from NSF to support their role
       in a collaborative MRI project. No other type of MRI proposal
       should include the phrase "MRI Collaborative: �". Proposals that
       involve participants from other institutions, but do not involve
       the transfer or sharing of funds, or where partner organizations
       are funded through subawards, should not include "Collaborative" in
       the title.

       An MRI proposal should include the phrase "MRI Consortium" when the
       proposal is from a legally incorporated consortium or one submitted
       by a single submission -eligible organization on behalf of a
       consortium organized specifically to support the MRI project.
       Collaborative work in a "MRI Consortium" for instrument development
       may be funded through a subaward mechanism and may, in some cases,
       include funding for an organization or organizations in the
       consortium that is or are not eligible to submit MRI proposals.

    5. Is resubmission of a previously declined MRI proposal allowed?

       Updated proposals from previous competitions can be submitted, but
       only after they have undergone substantial revision that takes into
       account the major comments or concerns resulting from the prior NSF
       review. The Foundation will treat the revised proposal as a new
       proposal, subject to the standard review procedures. Proposals
       submitted to any prior MRI competition, suitably revised as noted
       above and in compliance with the appropriate MRI solicitation and
       Grant Proposal Guide, may be eligible for the current competition.

    6. If a PI or Co-PI has received previous MRI awards, does that make
       them ineligible to submit a MRI proposal?

       No. Although institutional submission limits may be a factor, there
       is no limit on the number of MRI projects in which a PI/Co -PI may
       participate in a given proposal cycle or over a period of time.
       Please note that results from prior MRI awards (within the past
       five years) must be summarized in the Project Description of the
       current proposal.

    7. Is there a limit to the number of MRI awards that an organization
       is eligible to receive?

       In any given MRI competition, an organization can submit (and
       potentially receive awards for) three proposals as long as at least
       one is for instrument development. The number of awards received in
       prior MRI competitions is not a factor. However, so that reviewers
       can better assess stewardship of previously awarded instruments,
       the MRI solicitation requires that the institution provide, within
       the organization's commitment letter (two-page maximum), a list of
       the MRI awards made to the organization during the previous five
       years and a brief summary of the status of the
       instrument obtained with each award.

    8. Does a subaward to an organization count against that
       organization's proposal submission limit?

       Acquisition proposals: Subawards may only be included in
       acquisition proposals from non-Ph.D.-granting institutions. In
       general, collaborative acquisition proposals where funding goes to
       multiple partners should be submitted as separately submitted,
       linked, collaborative proposals. Funding to a vendor should appear
       on the Equipment line of the budget, not the Subaward line.
       Inclusion as a funded subawardee on any acquisition proposal will
       be counted against the subawardee organization's proposal
       submission limit.

       Development proposals: Inclusion as a subawardee on a development
       proposal at a level in excess of 20% of the total budget request
       from NSF will be counted against an organization's proposal
       submission limit.  However, if a subaward to an organization in a
       development proposal is 20% or less of the proposal's total budget
       request from NSF, the subawardee's submission limit will not be
       affected.    For subawards within a linked collaborative proposal,
       the 20% threshold applies to the budget request from NSF in the
       proposal containing the subaward(s), not to the combined budget
       request from NSF for the collaborative project.

Cost sharing

    9. What is the required level of cost sharing, and which organizations
       are required to provide it?

       Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and
       non-degree-granting organizations are required to cost-share at the
       level of 30% of the total MRI-eligible project cost (this is not
       30% of the amount requested of NSF, but rather 30% of the total
       amount needed to accomplish the project. Ph.D.-granting
       institutions of higher education are accredited colleges and
       universities that have awarded more than 20 Ph.Ds. or Ds.Sc. in all
       NSF-supported fields during the combined previous two academic
       years.  Additionally, any organization that awards Ph.D. or D.Sc.
       degrees in NSF-supported fields is considered to be a
       Ph.D.-granting institution if the only degrees it awards in
       NSF-supported fields are post-Bachelor's degrees.
       Non-degree-granting organizations are those that do not award
       Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees, and/or
       Ph.Ds. or Ds.Sc.  Non-degree-granting organizations also include
       institutions of higher education that award all of their degrees
       outside of NSF-supported fields; for example, many medical schools
       or colleges of pharmacy.

   10. My organization is required to cost share but is willing to
       contribute MRI-eligible resources that amount to more than 30% of
       the total MRI-eligible project costs. Is this allowed?

       Cost sharing, when required, must be exactly 30% of the total
       project cost. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is
       prohibited and Line M on the prospective awardee's proposal budget
       must include only the mandatory 30% cost-sharing amount.

   11. What resources are eligible cost-sharing expenses?

       Cost sharing must be for eligible MRI expenses, and may be cash or
       in-kind. Eligible (and ineligible) MRI expenses are discussed in
       the solicitation. Cost sharing must come from non-Federal sources.
       Expenditures on required cost sharing are subject to audit for
       amount and eligibility.

   12. Resources beyond those included as cost sharing or being requested
       from NSF are required. How do I demonstrate my organization's
       commitment to provide them?

       In order to assess the scope of the project, all organizational
       resources necessary for the project must be described in the
       Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal.
       The description should be narrative in nature and must not include
       any quantifiable financial information. These resources are not
       financially auditable by NSF and should not be included in the
       proposal budget or budget justification. Additionally, a
       supplemental letter documenting the commitment(s) for operation and
       maintenance of the instrument over its expected lifetime is
       required.  This letter (two-page maximum) should also list the MRI
       awards made to the organization during the previous five years and
       briefly describe the status of the instrument obtained with each
       award.

   13. Where can I find further information on cost sharing?

       Prospective proposers should contact their sponsored projects
       office for guidance on cost sharing. Further information can be
       found in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles,
       and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) ([2]2
       CFR, Part 200).  2 CFR �200.306 describes criteria and procedures
       for the allowability of cash and in-kind contributions in
       satisfying cost sharing and matching requirements. Additional
       guidance on cost sharing is available from NSF's Cost Analysis and
       Audit Resolution Branch at
       [3]http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/caar/index.jsp. Some additional
       limitations on eligibility of costs are described in the
       solicitation.

   14. Can a vendor discount be used as cost sharing?

       No. As noted in the solicitation, manufacturers' discounts are
       strongly encouraged for reducing project costs but they may not be
       designated as cost sharing.

   15. If a room needs to be renovated or modified to accommodate an
       instrument, can the associated expense be used as cost-sharing?

       No. Cost sharing must be associated with MRI-eligible expenses.
       Room renovations and other categories of expenses that MRI does not
       support cannot be used as cost sharing.

   16. Does cost sharing have to be provided in the first year of an
       award?

       Cost-sharing commitments must be met by the end of the award
       period, which may be greater than one year depending on the award.

   17. My institution is required to cost share, but our development
       proposal has subawards to organizations that are exempt from the
       cost-sharing requirement. What is the required cost-sharing level?

       If the submitting organization is required to cost share, but one
       or more subawardee is exempt from the cost-sharing requirement, the
       30% cost-sharing requirement applies to only the portion of the
       total project cost budgeted to the non-exempt organization(s). The
       submitting organization, as the entity that is legally responsible
       for ensuring the commitment is met, must list the total cost
       sharing amount in its budget (Line M). Cost sharing must be for
       MRI-eligible expenses, may come from third party sources, but
       cannot come from Federal sources.

   18. My institution is exempt from the cost-sharing requirement, but we
       have subawards to organizations that are not exempt. Is cost
       sharing still required and at what level?

       If the submitting organization is exempt from the cost-sharing
       requirement, but one or more subawardee is subject to cost-sharing,
       the 30% cost-sharing requirement applies to only the portion of the
       total project cost budgeted to the non-exempt organization(s). Cost
       sharing can come from any organization participating in the project
       that belongs to a category for which cost sharing would be
       required, or third party sources, but the submitting organization,
       as the entity that is legally responsible for ensuring the
       commitment is met, must list the total cost-sharing amount in its
       budget (Line M). Cost sharing must be for MRI-eligible expenses and
       cannot come from Federal sources.

   19. Which organizations are exempt from cost sharing?

       Only non-Ph.D.-granting academic institutions of higher education
       (accredited colleges and universities, including two-year community
       colleges, that award Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees,
       and/or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded
       20 or fewer Ph.D./D.Sc. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during
       the combined previous two academic years) are exempt from the
       cost-sharing requirement.

   20. My organization is exempt from cost share but is willing to
       contribute resources as voluntary cost sharing. Is this allowed?

       No. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited and
       Line M on the proposal budget must remain blank if cost sharing is
       not required for the project as a whole.  In order to assess the
       scope of the project, all organizational resources necessary for
       the project must be described in the Facilities, Equipment and
       Other Resources section of the proposal.  The description should be
       narrative in nature and must not include any quantifiable financial
       information. These resources are not financially auditable by NSF
       and should not be included in the proposal budget or budget
       justification.

Eligible Requests

   21. I have been told that my budget request seems high compared to the
       average award size from recent years (as found from an abstract
       search on the NSF web page). Should I make my budget more in line
       with the average award size?

       MRI proposals should describe the science and engineering research
       and research training that are planned. The scope of the instrument
       request should follow from the planned activities, and the budget
       should be well-aligned with the scope of the instrument to be
       acquired or developed. Requests that ask for too little to
       accomplish the goals will appear to reviewers as poorly thought
       out, just as requests that ask for too much to accomplish the goals
       will be perceived as poorly thought out. Ask for what you need; no
       more, no less. Remember that MRI awards can be as high as $4
       million, and as low as $100,000 (or lower for non-Ph.D.-granting
       institutions or certain research fields called out in the
       solicitation).

   22. Can my organization submit more than one development proposal?

       Yes. Eligible organizations may submit up to three MRI proposals as
       long as at least one is a development proposal.

   23. Can an instrument development proposal include research activities
       which are needed to mature enabling technologies that will later be
       used to develop an instrument, provide an upgrade for the
       instrument in the future, or otherwise develop another instrument?

       No. The MRI program does not support early research and development
       of enabling technologies for future use in instrument development.
       Development proposals should incorporate relatively mature
       technologies that can lead to a usable, stable instrument for
       research at the end of the award period.

   24. Does MRI support renovation or modernization of facilities or
       infrastructure if the costs are associated with installation of an
       instrument?

       No. Expenses associated with construction and/or improvements of
       supporting infrastructure are not eligible MRI costs, either as a
       request from NSF or as cost sharing. This includes (but is not
       limited to) the installation of or upgrades to infrastructure
       related to the supply of power, ventilation, water or research
       gases, routine multi-purpose computer networks, standard safety
       features, and other general purpose systems (e.g., toxic waste
       removal systems and telecommunications equipment.)

   25. Is an auxiliary piece of equipment part of the instrument or part
       of the facility infrastructure?

       Auxiliary equipment, such as a vacuum pump or power supply, that is
       integral and dedicated to the operation of the instrument, and
       would follow the instrument if it were to be moved, might be
       considered to be part of the instrument. Auxiliary equipment that
       would remain and be repurposed if an instrument is moved, that is
       not specifically designed to support the instrument, or that is not
       dedicated to a single instrument is generally considered
       infrastructure and is not supported by MRI.

   26. Does MRI allow for acquisition of multiple instruments?

       No; however, a single instrument may consist of an ensemble of
       pieces of equipment. For the purposes of the MRI program, proposals
       must be for either acquisition or development of a single,
       shared-use, state-of-the art, well-integrated instrument. A
       well-integrated research instrument means that the ensemble of
       equipment that defines the instrument enables a specific research
       experiment or type of research experiment to be undertaken;
       separating or removing an element or component of such an
       integrated instrument would preclude the planned experiments from
       occurring or succeeding. NSF and/or reviewers have to be convinced
       that the combined equipment can be viewed as a single instrument
       and not a suite of instruments to outfit a research laboratory/
       facility nor a capability that is intended to be used as separate
       components. The statement of the specific research and research
       training for which the instrument will be used and the management
       plan should serve to establish that an ensemble of equipment
       constitutes a single well-integrated instrument. Examples include,
       an array of seismometers deployed to study a specific fault zone,
       or a pair of telescopes that will be permanently used as an
       interferometer.

   27. Can you give me an example of an appropriate request for equipment
       that when combined (physically or virtually) serves as an
       integrated research instrument?

       The PI has the responsibility to justify that the equipment being
       requested will be integrated and will serve as an integrated
       research instrument, and NSF reserves the right to return without
       review proposals that are deemed to violate MRI guidelines on
       appropriate requests. Examples of proposals for integrated
       instrumentation that have been generally accepted and reviewed in
       the past include arrays of homogenous instruments (e.g.
       interferometric arrays of sensors), distributed heterogeneous
       arrays of sensors to capture comprehensive time-series data on
       complex phenomena, and multiple instruments tightly integrated into
       a single instrumentation package that is deployed into the field as
       a single unit. Similarity of a proposal to a past MRI proposal that
       was accepted for review, however, does not guarantee that the
       current proposal will be accepted.

   28. The instrumentation I am requesting will be used for research, but
       it will also be available for educational and outreach purposes
       (e.g., courses and outreach activities) as well. Will this use
       disqualify the proposal?

       No. The use of the instrument in educational and outreach efforts
       can be cited as a broader impact, but the preponderance of use of
       the instrument must be research and research training.

   29. Can I, as a faculty member, request salary support?

       Any requests for salary to be included as part of the total project
       cost (whether funds directly requested from NSF or cost sharing, if
       applicable) must be consistent with the Grant Proposal Guide
       requirements and allowable by the MRI guidelines. (For example, for
       acquisition projects, salary support, including fringe benefits and
       indirect costs, is considered an eligible cost only for personnel
       directly involved in maintaining the instrument or providing
       appropriate technical support to operate the instrument.) Such
       requests must be well justified, and be commensurate with the
       technical expertise and time required for the scale and scope of
       the instrument. Salary support, including fringe benefits and
       indirect costs, is considered an eligible cost only for personnel
       directly involved in maintaining the instrument or providing
       appropriate technical support to operate the instrument.) Such
       requests must be well justified, and be commensurate with the
       technical expertise and time required for the scale and scope of
       the instrument.

   30. Is technician time an allowable expense for operating and
       maintaining the instrument?

       Costs to support a technician directly involved in maintaining the
       instrument or providing appropriate technical support to operate
       the instrument are eligible MRI costs during the award period for
       the time she or he spends in that role.  Costs for a technician or
       other personnel to assist in obtaining research results, research
       training, outreach or education are not eligible MRI costs.

   31. What is meant by operations and maintenance?

       "Operations and maintenance" includes only those activities which
       are required to keep the instrument ready for use by the research
       community, such as calibration, routine maintenance (e.g.
       lubrication, replacement of limited-life components), performing
       start-up/shutdown procedures as required, etc. "Operations" does
       not include operating the instrument for the purpose of conducting
       research or to obtain research results or demonstrating the
       usefulness of the instrument to interested parties.

   32. Is there a limit on salary requests for personnel associated with
       development proposals?

       No. However, proposals must justify the skill level and time
       commitment (and hence the associated portion of the total project
       cost) for any personnel associated with development efforts. While
       there is no prescribed balance between the funding requested for
       labor and materials in a development proposal, reviewers will
       carefully examine the appropriateness of salary requests.

   33. Are education/outreach expenses eligible costs?

       No. MRI supports the acquisition and development of instruments,
       but does not fund the activities that are enabled by the
       instrument. Expenses associated with education and outreach
       activities are not allowed.

   34. Can a foreign co-PI or collaborator be included in my proposal?

       Yes, but MRI will not pay the expenses of the foreign
       participation. An unfunded foreign collaborator can be included in
       the proposal, with roles and responsibilities described in the
       Project Description and a statement of collaboration (per the
       solicitation guidelines) provided as a supplemental document. An
       unfunded foreign collaborator can be included on the Cover Sheet as
       a co-PI only if the collaborator has been registered in FastLane by
       their home organization.

   35. Is the duration of this grant limited to one year for acquisition,
       or can the duration include more than one year of maintenance
       expenses, including service contracts?

       Proposers may request an award period of up to three years for
       acquisition proposals. The costs of service contracts and supplies
       needed to maintain and calibrate the equipment during the award
       period may be included in the total project cost if justified in
       the proposal. For acquisition proposals from organizations subject
       to the cost-sharing requirement, these may only be included in the
       cost share portion of the total project cost. Costs for supplies
       that are consumed during research or research training activities
       (e.g. reagents, solvents, and sample preparation materials) are not
       MRI eligible expenses.

   36. Can I request an upgrade of an existing instrument?

       Yes. As noted in the solicitation, MRI proposals may include the
       upgrade of an existing instrument.

   37. Can I request a used/refurbished instrument or must it be a new
       model?

       The MRI program does support the acquisition of used/refurbished
       instruments. A strong case must be made in any proposal that the
       requested instrument is appropriate for the scale and scope of the
       proposed projects, and that proper maintenance and technical
       support will be provided to keep the instrument available for use.
       The proposal will have to carefully document and justify the fair
       market price of the instrument.

   38. My institution is currently leasing an instrument and would like to
       purchase it. Is this allowed by MRI?

       Yes. The MRI program will consider requests to purchase an
       instrument that is currently being leased. The proposal will have
       to carefully document and justify the fair market price of the
       instrument.

   39. The MRI solicitation notes that incremental costs associated with
       the implementation of the Data Management Plan are allowable
       expenses. What can I ask for?

       Incremental costs associated with implementing the Data Management
       Plan requirement (see the NSF Grant Proposal Guide Chapter
       II.C.2.j) may be included in the total project cost of MRI projects
       provided that they are treated in a way that is consistent with the
       solicitation. MRI provides for the acquisition or development of an
       instrument but does not support the research that is enabled.
       However, a plan for managing data that is generated by the
       instrument is required. The incremental costs associated with
       implementing this plan will vary greatly depending on the project,
       but may include expenses related to data storage and archiving,
       creating the capability to place data in a regional or national
       repository, cyberinfrastructure that enables data sharing, etc. For
       example, if there are equipment costs associated with the data
       management plan, these may be included in the equipment part of the
       requested funds, or in cost sharing, if applicable. Costs
       associated with the implementation of the Data Management Plan
       should be incremental.

Required Documentation

   40. Do I need to include a letter certifying my organization's
       degree-granting status, even if I have a cost sharing commitment
       letter, or even if the organization is not subject to cost sharing?

       Yes, a letter certifying the organization's status as PhD-granting,
       non-PhD-granting, or non-degree-granting (per the definitions in
       the solicitation) is required for all funded organizations in all
       proposals. Failure to provide the required certification(s) may be
       grounds for returning the proposal without review. A "Research in
       Undergraduate Institutions" (RUI) certification may not be used for
       non-PhD-granting institutions.

   41. If I am requesting funds in the budget for postdoctoral personnel,
       am I required to provide a postdoctoral mentoring plan as part of
       the proposal?

       Yes. If a proposal requests funds to support postdoctoral personnel
       then a mentoring plan is required as a one-page maximum
       supplemental document. Failure to provide a mentoring plan when
       required will result in the proposal being returned without review.
       For further information on this topic, please consult the Grant
       Proposal Guide (Chapter II.C.2.j).

Suggested Documentation

   42. From whom is a statement of collaboration needed?

       Reviewers should know that an individual participant in the project
       knows and agrees that she or he will play a role in a project. It
       is up to the PI to determine which, if any, of the project's
       participants should provide a formal statement of collaboration.
       Statements of collaboration from major users of the proposed
       instrument may also be included. Statements from every possible
       user of an instrument, or from minor participants in a project, are
       not necessary and are discouraged. Note that the format for
       statements of collaboration from individuals is specified in the
       solicitation. More extensive statements of collaboration or letters
       endorsing the project will not be accepted.

       If a proposed effort involves a private sector partner, a large
       formal collaboration or an organization (as opposed to an
       individual(s)) serving as a partner, a separate supplementary
       document letter (one page maximum) confirming the participation
       must be included. Proposals involving large formal collaborations
       are encouraged to utilize this letter to document the priority of
       the requested instrument in the overall efforts being undertaken by
       the collaboration.

Unallowed Documentation

   43. Does the MRI program accept hard-copy proposals, statements of
       collaboration, or other documents outside of the FastLane or
       Grants.gov systems?

       No. All allowed documents must be included in the electronic
       submission (FastLane or Grants.gov) of the proposal. There is no
       mechanism to accept any documentation outside of the approved
       electronic submission processes. Material sent by U.S. mail or
       overnight delivery will not be accepted.

   44. Can I submit color hard copies of my proposal by regular mail?
       No. The MRI program is not able to accept documents, including
       color copies, outside of the electronic submission process.

   45. Is a letter of intent required?

       No. A letter of intent is neither required nor accepted.

Proposals and Proposal Submission

   46. What is the earliest start date that I can request?

       The earliest anticipated start date that can be requested is August
       1, after submission. Please note, because of the time required to
       process award recommendations, it may not be possible for NSF to
       honor a request for an August 1 start date. If there is an urgent
       requirement for an August 1 start, this should be noted and
       explained in the proposal.

   47. Should I use FastLane or Grants.gov for my proposal submission?

       The option to use either FastLane or Grants.gov has been provided
       for this competition. You may use either method to submit most
       proposals. However, all linked-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. For technical reasons, the order in which supplemental
       documents are included in the proposal may not be preserved for
       proposal submitted through Grants.gov.

   48. Is the submission deadline flexible?

       No. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
       The MRI program strongly recommends that organizations submit
       proposals well before the deadline, and that PIs check to ensure
       that the proposal as submitted is actually correct in format and
       content, and that it appears exactly as it was intended to be
       submitted. Corrections to proposals can be made by proposal file
       updates prior to the submission deadline, but not after the
       deadline has passed.

References

   1. http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearch.jsp
   2. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/
   2cfr200_main_02.tpl
   3. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/caar/index.jsp