Title:  Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research 
        Initiation Initiative (CRII) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
        (nsf15087) | NSF - National Science Foundation
Date: 06/04/2015

   NSF 15-087

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation
Initiative (CRII) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

   The following set of questions and answers refer to Frequently Asked
   Questions (FAQs) about the CRII Program Solicitation (NSF 15-569;
   [1]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569). They
   are not intended to be a modification of the Program Solicitation. If
   there are any inconsistencies between the CRII Program Solicitation and
   these FAQs, the information in the Program Solicitation prevails.

   Before preparing CRII proposals, please read the CRII solicitation and
   refer to the general information about NSF proposal submission
   including the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) submission guidelines
   available at
   [2]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. If
   choosing to submit via Grants.gov, please refer to the NSF Grants.gov
   Application Guide:
   [3]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide.

   FAQs about FastLane, the NSF site for submitting proposals, can be
   found at
   [4]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/NSFHelp/flashhelp/fastlane/FastLane_Hel
   p/fastlane_help.htm#fastlane_faqs_introduction.htm. Information
   regarding Grants.gov can be found at [5]http://www.grants.gov.

   This document is organized into four sections: (A) Eligibility; (B)
   Proposal and Budget Preparation, Submission, and Review; (C)
   Announcement of CRII Awards; and (D) Post-Award Management.


A. ELIGIBILITY

    1. Whom should I contact to discuss my ideas for a CRII proposal to be
       sure CISE supports the topic area?
       Your primary contact is a Program Officer in the division or
       program that is closest to your area of research. The CISE website
       and the CRII solicitation provide information about the various
       programs. The NSF staff directory (http://www.nsf.gov/staff/)
       provides contact information for Program Officers, by name and by
       organization.
    2. I hold the title of Associate Professor. Am I eligible?
       You may be. One of the CRII eligibility criteria is that you must
       be in the first two years of a tenure-track or research science or
       education position (or equivalent). Thus, the program is intended
       for faculty members who are at or near the beginning of their
       careers. While it is rare that such an individual will hold the
       position of Associate Professor, that in itself is not an issue, so
       long as you are not tenured.
    3. I hold a tenured position. Am I eligible to apply?
       No.
    4. Are the eligibility criteria for CRII and CAREER the same? If I am
       eligible to apply to one of these programs, does that mean I am
       also eligible to apply to the other?
       No, the eligibility criteria are different. You may be eligible to
       apply to one program but not the other. Please carefully read the
       requirements for each program and see if you meet them in order to
       determine your eligibility for that program.
    5. The CRII program solicitation states that, to be eligible, I must
       be in the first two years of a tenure-track or research science or
       education position (or equivalent). I was appointed Assistant
       Professor in August of 2013. May I apply to the CRII program this
       year, if I submit by the end of July?
       No. To be eligible, you must not have reached the second
       anniversary of your appointment as of the deadline date for the
       solicitation. Note that this is a change from the previous
       solicitation.
    6. While finishing up my PhD, I started work as an Acting Assistant
       Professor on August 15, 2013 (pending conferral of my degree). On
       December 16, 2013, after my degree was conferred, I no longer was
       Acting. Am I eligible? OR I received my Doctorate four years ago.
       Am I eligible to apply? OR After receiving my PhD, I worked as a
       research associate for three years, and just began my academic
       position last year. Am I eligible? OR After receiving my PhD, I was
       a postdoctoral fellow for two years, and just began my academic
       position last year. Am I eligible?
       Yes, provided you meet all of the CRII eligibility requirements.
       CRII eligibility is limited to no more than five years after
       official conferral of the PhD (with possible exceptions for family
       and medical leave). Working as a research associate or other
       non-academic positions is not disqualifying, so long as the
       five-year limit is not exceeded. Time spent as a postdoctoral
       fellow does not count toward the two-year eligibility requirement,
       but does count against the five-year limit. The five-year limit is
       a change from the previous solicitation.
    7. Am I eligible if I hold a dual appointment at a university?
       Yes. Generally, only one department will grant tenure. In that
       case, the chair of that department should write the letter of
       support that is required as part of Supplementary Documents. If
       applicable, the letter may be co-signed by the other department
       chair as well.
    8. I am in a shared appointment with my spouse. Both of us are in
       tenure-track lines, and I have the title Assistant Professor. Am I
       eligible?
       Yes, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements.
    9. I do not currently have a CRII-eligible appointment, nor do I have
       a signed contract for an appointment. I have applied for a position
       and may have a contract in place by October 1. May I apply?
       No. To be eligible, you must hold a CRII-eligible appointment at a
       CRII-eligible organization by the submission deadline specified in
       the solicitation.
   10. My department (or organization) does not offer tenure, so I am not
       in a tenure-track appointment. Can I apply to the CRII program?
       Yes, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements. Your
       department chair must verify that your position is CRII-eligible in
       the letter to be included as a Supplementary Document. Note that
       this is another example of a difference in eligibility requirements
       between the CRII program and the CAREER program.
   11. Am I eligible to apply if I work at a non-degree-granting
       organization such as a museum, observatory, or research lab?
       No. To be eligible to apply to the CRII program, you must be
       employed at an academic institution as defined in the solicitation.
   12. I previously received a small EAGER award from NSF. Am I eligible?
       OR I previously received an award from NSF as the PI on a non-lead
       proposal in a collaborative project. Am I eligible? No. To be
       eligible, you must not have received any other grants in the PI
       role from any Federal agency, with certain exceptions as specified
       in the solicitation. On a collaborative proposal to NSF, the lead
       person from each institution is a PI, even if not from the lead
       institution.
       To be eligible, you must not have received any other grants
       (including research contracts) in the PI role from any Federal
       department, agency, or institution (such as NIH, DOE, DoD, etc.),
       with certain exceptions as specified in the solicitation.
   13. Do any of the following disqualify me from the CRII program:
       startup funds from my university, a subcontract from an award to
       another university, an award from my own university, an award from
       a private foundation, an award from a company, and/or an award from
       a state or local agency?
       No, the intention is that you have not received an award as the PI
       from any Federal department, agency, or institution.
   14. Do small awards (e.g., $1,000) disqualify?
       The amount of the award is not relevant, so a $1,000 Federal award
       would disqualify.
   15. Am I eligible if I work at a two-year college or a community
       college? OR I am an assistant professor at an undergraduate
       institution that does not give graduate degrees. Am I eligible to
       apply?
       Yes, as long as you meet the other CRII eligibility requirements.
       NSF encourages submissions from two-year and community colleges
       that award degrees in fields supported by NSF, and from primarily
       undergraduate institutions.
   16. I am a new faculty member at an institution that qualifies as an
       undergraduate institution under the provisions of the Research in
       Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) program solicitation. Is it
       possible to apply for the CRII program under the RUI provisions?
       Yes. If using the RUI designation, you must include the additional
       Certificate of RUI Eligibility or the RUI Impact Statement as a
       Supplementary Document.
   17. Can I submit to the CAREER program and to the CRII program in the
       same year?
       Yes, you may (provided the two proposals are substantially
       different). However, the CRII program is intended to provide
       faculty with resources to enable them to begin their research and
       achieve preliminary results that may, in turn, serve as the basis
       for future competitive research proposals, including to the CAREER
       program.
   18. I have a doctorate in Computer Science Education. Am I eligible to
       apply?
       Yes. CISE supports educational activities, and associated research,
       that focus on computer and information science and engineering (and
       closely related fields).
   19. I am an Assistant Professor in a Mechanical Engineering department.
       Am I eligible?
       You could be. CISE funds research primarily on the basis of its
       relevance to our mission, not on the basis of the name of the
       department in which a given faculty member works. You should
       contact a Program Officer in a division or program that is closest
       to your area of research to determine if CISE supports the topic
       area, and in particular if it is sufficiently related to computer
       and information science and engineering.
       B.1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION
   20. What is the best place to start when preparing a CRII Proposal?
       Read the solicitation thoroughly before starting, and refer to it
       as you write your proposal. Discuss your plan with your department
       chair, personal and academic mentors, and individuals who have been
       successful in obtaining awards from NSF. We also encourage you to
       contact a Program Officer, or the appropriate division contact for
       CRII listed at
       [6]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569.
   21. How are proposals reviewed for compliance?
       CRII proposals will be checked for compliance with formatting
       instructions in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG;
       http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg) and the
       specific requirements of the CRII solicitation. Program Officers
       will not approve or accept proposal file updates after the
       deadline, unless there is a technical or print problem with the
       proposal.
   22. What are some reasons why proposals might be determined to be
       non-compliant with the CRII Solicitation? Some reasons include the
       following:
          + A co-principal investigator is listed on the cover page or
            other senior personnel are listed in the budget.
          + The Project Description is more than 10 pages.
          + The PI is not in the first two years of a tenure-track or
            research science or education position (or equivalent) at a
            university or college in the US (please see the solicitation
            for additional limits), as of the deadline date for
            submissions.
          + The PI is more than five years from when the PhD was
            officially conferred.
          + The PI has received other grants in a PI role from NSF or
            another Federal department, agency, or institution (please see
            the solicitation and questions #12-14 in these FAQs for
            exceptions and clarifications).
          + The primary division is not a CISE division.
          + A letter of support from the department chair is missing in
            the Supplementary Documents.
          + The CRII proposal does not follow one or more guidelines
            specified in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide or the NSF
            Grants.gov Application Guide.
   23. The solicitation says that the PI must not have received a prior
       award as a PI. What happens if after I submit the CRII proposal,
       another proposal is selected for award (e.g., a CAREER proposal)?
       At the time of the CRII submission deadline, you must not have
       received another award (including CAREER) from any Federal
       department, agency, or institution as a PI. So long as the CAREER
       (or other) award has not been made as of the CRII submission
       deadline, any subsequent awards will not affect CRII eligibility.
   24. I understand that if one receives a CAREER award he/she cannot
       simultaneously or subsequently receive a CRII award, but is the
       opposite true?
       Receiving a CRII award does not preclude an individual from
       receiving a subsequent CAREER award. Indeed, as noted in the
       solicitation, the CRII program is intended to provide faculty with
       resources to enable them to begin their research and achieve
       preliminary results that may, in turn, serve as the basis for
       future competitive research proposals, including to the CAREER
       program.
   25. Are there abstracts from previous years that can be examined to get
       ideas for typical CRII proposals?
       You can find abstracts from prior awards by visiting
       [7]www.nsf.gov/awardsearch and searching for CRII.
   26. The solicitation talks about mentoring graduate students. For
       faculty at two-year and community colleges as well as at
       undergraduate -only institutions, can funding be allocated to
       supporting undergraduates?
       Yes. The proposal should explain how the PI will provide the
       undergraduate researchers the necessary mentoring, as well as
       strategies for integrating them into a research group given their
       heavy course load.
   27. I have two possible projects. May I submit two CRII proposals?
       No. You may submit only one CRII proposal per annual competition.
   28. Could I put two different projects into one proposal?
       Successful proposals tend to focus on a particular theme,
       especially given the short duration of a CRII award (up to 2 years)
       and limited funding (up to $175,000). The general advice is to stay
       as tightly focused as you can, keeping your combined research and
       education plan doable in the context of a two-year award. If you
       have two separate projects in mind, consider discussing both with
       your mentors and/or an NSF Program Officer.
   29. May I submit a CRII proposal and a regular research proposal on a
       similar topic to NSF at the same time?
       No, submission of duplicate or substantially similar proposals
       concurrently for review by more than one program without prior NSF
       approval will result in the return without review of the redundant
       proposal. In addition, you may not submit a proposal for research
       that is substantially the same as that already supported by any
       Federal agency.
   30. May I submit a CRII proposal and another proposal on a different
       topic to NSF in the same year?
       Yes, but only if the research is substantially different. NSF will
       return without review a second proposal on a closely related
       research topic.
   31. What documentation should I submit to show any collaborative
       efforts?
       Describe the collaborative efforts within the Project Description.
       In addition, submit brief letters (limited to one page or less)
       describing the nature of the collaboration. Letters of
       collaboration are vital when partnering with existing programs or
       when collaborating with others. The letters should briefly describe
       how the collaborator would contribute to the project. The specific
       details of the proposed collaborations should be described in the
       proposal's Project Description. The collaborative letters cannot be
       used to circumvent the 10-page limit for the Project Description.
       Letters of support or recommendation for the PI are not permitted,
       and NSF will not consider these during the review process. It is up
       to the PI to explain what is requested and approach the
       collaborator in a timely fashion to get these letters before the
       deadline for submission. Scan the signed and dated letter(s) into
       the Supplementary Documents section, and place them after the
       departmental support letter. Do not submit any other documentation
       for the collaborators such as biographical sketches, appendices, or
       other NSF forms. You will not be allowed to submit these letters
       after the submission deadline, so please plan in advance.
   32. I am interested in adding an international dimension to my
       proposal. How would I find out what kinds of activities are
       eligible for support?
       Plans for international cooperative research and education
       activities are encouraged. The opportunity to collaborate with
       outstanding foreign researchers and educators, and to gain access
       to unique sites, equipment or facilities, may provide substantial
       benefits to the research and education activities proposed. For
       information on the types of activities that are eligible for
       support, contact your disciplinary Program Officer and the
       appropriate country Program Officer in the Office of International
       Science and Engineering (OISE) ([8]http://www.nsf.gov/oise). The
       OISE webpage also lists guidelines (four bullet points) for
       proposals to be considered for OISE co-funding. OISE will consider
       co-funding the international components of successful CRII
       proposals submitted to NSF disciplinary programs that adhere to
       these guidelines.
   33. I have additional information posted on my website I would like the
       reviewers to see. May I refer readers to my web site within the
       Project Description?
       PIs are advised that the Project Description must be self-contained
       and are cautioned that a website that provides information related
       to the proposal should not be used because: 1) the information
       could circumvent page limitations; 2) the reviewers are under no
       obligation to view such a site; and 3) the site could be altered or
       abolished between the time of submission and the time of review.
   34. I have a postdoctoral researcher budgeted on my proposal and I am
       required to submit a Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan. Where
       in the proposal is the mentoring plan submitted and what must be
       included in the plan?
       Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral
       researchers must include, as a Supplementary Document, a
       description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for
       such individuals. In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must
       describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral
       researchers supported by the project, irrespective of whether they
       reside at the submitting organization or at a subawardee
       organization. Examples of mentoring activities include, but are not
       limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of grant
       proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to
       improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to
       effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds
       and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional
       practices. The proposed mentoring activities will be evaluated as
       part of the merit review process under the Foundation's broader
       impacts merit review criterion. Proposers are advised that the
       mentoring plan may not be used to circumvent the 10-page Project
       Description limitation.
   35. What should be included in the Data Management Plan and where
       should I place this section?
       Information about the contents and submission of data management
       plans can be found in Chapter II.C.2.j of the NSF Grant Proposal
       Guide. Additional Data Management Guidance for CISE Proposals and
       Awards can be found at [9]http://www.nsf.gov/cise/cise_dmp.jsp. All
       proposals submitted to NSF must describe plans for data management
       and sharing of the products of research, or assert the absence of
       the need for such plans. FastLane will not permit submission of a
       proposal that is missing a Data Management Plan. Proposals must
       include the plan as a Supplementary Document of no more than two
       pages.
   36. If I held an NSF postdoctoral fellowship, do I need to include a
       "Results from Prior Support" section?
       Yes, you must include a "Results from Prior Support" section if you
       have received a NSF postdoctoral fellowship, and/or if you have
       served as a co-PI on any NSF grant [including
       infrastructure/equipment grants through programs such as Major
       Research Instrumentation (MRI), educational grants, etc.] within
       the last 5 years. If you have received more than one prior award
       (excluding amendments), you must report on the award that is most
       closely related to the CRII proposal. (See the GPG for the required
       information.) Recall that, as noted in Section A above, to be
       eligible for CRII, you must not have received any other awards in
       the PI role from any Federal department, agency, or institution,
       with certain exceptions as specified in the solicitation.
   37. I would like to submit some additional tabular material that would
       exceed the 10-page limit on the length of the Project Description.
       Can I submit this information as an appendix?
       No. The Project Description cannot exceed 10 pages (including
       Results from Prior NSF Support, which is limited to five pages).
       All visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs
       and other pictorial presentations are included in the 10-page
       limitation. Appendices are not permitted for CRII proposals.
   38. What should be in the department chair letter?
       The proposal must include a letter of support from the PI's
       department chair/head certifying that the PI meets the eligibility
       criteria (as specified in the solicitation and elaborated in these
       FAQs). Specifically, it should affirm that the PI is in the first
       two years of a tenure-track or research science or education
       position (or equivalent), and is no more than five years since
       official conferral of the PhD. Only official leaves of absence (for
       illness, family, etc.) may be subtracted from the total time in the
       position, as certified by the PI's department chair/head in this
       required letter of support. Postdoctoral appointments do not count
       toward the two-year limit. The letter may not contain any
       information other than that necessary to establish eligibility for
       a CRII award.
       B.2. BUDGET PREPARATION
   39. What is an appropriate level of funding to request?
       The CRII proposal budget request should be consistent with the
       proposed activities not to exceed $175,000 for up to 24 months.
   40. May I request academic year salary on a CRII proposal?
       No summer salary, course buyouts, or academic year salary costs are
       allowed. Most of the funds should go toward student(s).
   41. How many students may be supported on a CRII grant? Is there a
       limit on dollars per student?
       There are no limits specified for either the number of students or
       dollars per student. However, supporting more than two or three
       students at one time is probably unwise when beginning an academic
       career.
   42. I will have a collaborator on my proposal. May I include the
       collaborator as a Co-PI or other senior personnel on my budget?
       No, you may not include any co-PIs or senior personnel - either in
       the primary budget or within a subaward to a collaborating
       institution. However, you may provide funds for others to work on
       your research activities as consultants.
       B.3. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
   43. Do I submit a proposal to just CRII or to a particular program at
       NSF, and how do I decide to which program I should submit my CRII
       proposal?
       CRII proposals must be submitted to at least one primary program or
       unit through FastLane or Grants.gov, as specified in Section V.A of
       the solicitation. The title of the proposal should begin with the
       string "CRII:", followed by the acronyms for one or more from the
       following list of allowable divisions or programs (URLs provided
       for further information on each program):
          + Cyberinfrastructure (ACI) -
            [10]http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ACI
          + Algorithmic Foundations (AF) -
            [11]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503299
          + Communications and Information Foundations (CIF) -
            [12]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503300
          + Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) -
            [13]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503301
          + Computer Systems Research (CSR) -
            [14]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503306
          + Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) -
            [15]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503307
          + Information Integration and Informatics (III) -
            [16]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503303
          + Cyber-Human Systems (CHS) -
            [17]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504958
          + Robust Intelligence (RI) -
            [18]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503305
          + Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies (Cyberlearning)
            - [19]https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504984
          + Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) -
            [20]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503286
          + Smart and Connected Health (SCH) -
            [21]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504739
          + Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) -
            [22]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504709
          + STEM+Computing (STEM+C) Partnerships (replacing CE21):
            [23]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006
       First, you should determine if the proposed research project falls
       within the realm of research that NSF's CISE Directorate normally
       supports. Then you will need to identify one or more of the above
       disciplinary programs related to your research goals. One way to
       get a good overview of CISE is to look at the titles of the
       divisions and programs. The NSF Guide to Programs
       ([24]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=CISE) and CISE
       Directorate website ([25]http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE)
       provide descriptions of the topic areas supported by CISE
       disciplinary programs.
       If NSF determines that your proposal is more appropriate for a
       different program than the primary one you selected, the proposal
       will be reassigned to the appropriate organizational unit. NSF will
       make the final determination of where your proposal will be
       assigned and considered. Should the proposal be reassigned, you
       will be contacted, given reasons for the transfer, and be offered
       the opportunity to withdraw the proposal from consideration if
       desired. You can track your proposal's assignment and progress
       through FastLane.
   44. My proposal seems to fit in two different programs. What should I
       do to indicate which program(s) I want to consider my proposal?
       You may designate more than one disciplinary program in the cover
       sheet if you think two or more programs should jointly review your
       proposal, by including more than one program acronym in your
       proposal title (as described in the solicitation). It is very
       important that you select the most relevant program as the primary
       organization since that is the organization that is most likely to
       have primary responsibility for reviewing your proposal. Do not
       submit duplicate CRII proposals to multiple disciplinary programs.
       You are strongly encouraged to contact the Program Officer most
       closely related to the subject matter when preparing a
       cross-disciplinary proposal.
   45. What if my proposal is submitted after the submission deadline?
       The proposal will be returned without review. A CRII proposal must
       be submitted in FastLane or Grants.gov by your organization by 5:00
       p.m. your local time on the deadline date. NSF Program Officers are
       not authorized to grant extensions of solicitation deadlines.
   46. I am having problems submitting my proposal and the CRII deadline
       is almost here. Who should I contact?
       Issues and questions related to the NSF FastLane system should be
       directed to the FastLane User Support desk at (800) 673-6188. You
       can also send an e-mail message to [26]fastlane@nsf.gov. For
       information on the availability of the NSF FastLane system, phone
       (800) 437-7408 for a recorded message. For Grants.gov user support,
       contact the Grants.gov Contact Center by phone at (800) 518-4726 or
       by email at [27]support@grants.gov. If FastLane or Grants.gov is
       unable to resolve the submission problem and you cannot submit your
       proposal by the deadline, please make sure to get documentation
       that you tried to contact these support centers before your
       deadline. For NSF to consider a deadline extension you must provide
       NSF with supporting documentation from FastLane or Grants.gov that
       there was a problem at the time of submission that could not be
       resolved in time. A possible slowdown of these systems due to
       volume is not a valid reason for an extension. PIs are strongly
       encouraged to submit their CRII proposals well in advance of the
       deadline to allow time to correct any problems that may occur in
       the submission process.
   47. I just noticed a major problem with my CRII proposal. The CRII
       deadline has not passed so can I fix the problem?
       Yes, if you see a problem before the deadline, you may use the
       FastLane Proposal File Update Module to replace files or revise
       other Proposal Attributes of a submitted proposal. An automatic
       request for a proposal file update will be accepted only if
       submitted prior to the CRII deadline. On rare occasions, a proposal
       has technical problems due to PDF Conversion or printing problems.
       If the deadline has passed and you discover this problem, contact
       your disciplinary Program Officer to discuss whether NSF will
       approve a proposal file update. You should thoroughly review your
       proposal before it is submitted, including identifying any PDF
       conversion or printing problems. You are encouraged to download the
       final submitted version of your proposal from the FastLane site to
       ascertain that that version contains all the proposal parts and
       that it is compliant.
       B.4. PROPOSAL REVIEW
   48. My work is multidisciplinary and I want to request that two
       different programs review my CRII proposal. To which program should
       I submit my proposal and how will my proposal be reviewed?
       NSF encourages multidisciplinary proposals and every attempt is
       made to ensure the best fit for these proposals. Proposals with a
       multidisciplinary focus are commonly reviewed by different
       programs, or by special multidisciplinary panels and/or ad-hoc
       reviewers. However, only one program can serve as the managing or
       primary program. Do not submit duplicate proposals. The primary
       organization you select on the cover page in FastLane or Grants.gov
       should be the program that supports the main thrust of your
       proposed research. NSF may choose to have your proposal reviewed by
       two panels. Alternatively, the managing Program Officer might ask
       for names of suggested reviewers from the second program.
   49. In addition to the two NSF merit review criteria (intellectual
       merit and broader impacts), what other factors will be considered
       in the review process?
       As described in the solicitation, reviewers are asked to address
       the two NSF merit review criteria, but they are also asked to note
       any solicitation-specific review criteria. In the case of CRII,
       reviewers are specifically asked to evaluate:
          + the appropriateness of the research objectives for the
            relatively short duration of this award;
          + the potential of the research initiation activities to produce
            sufficient preliminary results to serve as the basis for
            future competitive research proposals; and
          + whether the activities are seen to be the necessary and
            critical steps for the PI to achieve research independence.
       Reviewers will also be asked to evaluate the information provided
       in the required Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section
       of the proposal, which is used to assess the adequacy of the
       organizational resources available to perform the effort proposed.
       In addition, the cognizant NSF Program Officer will review this
       information for programmatic and technical sufficiency. Reviewers
       will read the Letter of Support from the Department Chair/Head
       certifying that the PI meets the eligibility criteria, including
       that he or she is in the first two years of a tenure-track or
       research science or education position (or equivalent) and is no
       more than five years since official conferral of the PhD.
       The proposed mentoring activities, e.g., as described in the
       Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan submitted in the Supplementary
       Documents section of the proposal (if applicable), will also be
       evaluated as part of the merit review process under the
       Foundation's broader impacts merit review criterion.
       The Data Management Plan will be reviewed as an integral part of
       the proposal, coming under intellectual merit, broader impacts, or
       both, as appropriate for the scientific community of relevance.
       C. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CRII AWARDS
   50. When will I be notified of the final decision on my CRII proposal?
       Most proposers will be notified within six months of submission.
       You can check the status of your CRII proposal by accessing the
       FastLane website. If you have not received notification of a
       decision on your proposal by February and your proposal status is
       shown as "pending" in FastLane, you can contact the program or
       division to which your proposal was assigned to inquire about the
       status of your proposal.
       D. POST-AWARD ADMINISTRATION
   51. Are the reporting requirements for CRII awards the same as for
       other NSF awards?
       Yes, all of the requirements for annual and final reports that
       apply to other NSF awards also apply to CRII awards.
   52. What types of supplemental funds are available for CRII awards? OR
       Can CRII awards receive Research Experiences for Undergraduates
       (REU) supplements?
       CRII awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in
       the NSF Awards and Administration Guide
       ([28]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp).
       Contact your disciplinary Program Officer to ask about possible
       supplemental funding opportunities for CRII awards. CRII awards can
       receive REU supplements.
   53. What happens to my CRII award if I leave my academic appointment?
       CRII awards must be relinquished if the PI transfers any time prior
       to or during the period of the award to a position that is not
       tenured, not tenure-track, nor tenure-track equivalent and/or to an
       institution that is not CRII-eligible. This includes transfer to a
       university or college outside the US or to a non-academic,
       non-CRII-eligible institution. In some cases, if you leave an
       eligible position while the CRII award is active, funding may be
       expended to allow the student(s) to continue to be supported on the
       award for the remaining funded year. The award would then terminate
       at the end of that funded year. Contact the disciplinary Program
       Officer as soon you know you will be leaving to inquire about this
       possibility. If approved, a substitute PI will be placed on the
       award for the remaining year of support. The substitute PI will not
       receive any salary support on the CRII award.

References

   1. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569
   2. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
   3. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
   4. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/NSFHelp/flashhelp/fastlane/FastLane_Help/fastlane_help.htm#fastlane_faqs_introduction.htm
   5. http://www.grants.gov/
   6. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569
   7. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15087/www.nsf.gov/awardsearch
   8. http://www.nsf.gov/oise
   9. ttp://www.nsf.gov/cise/cise_dmp.js
  10. http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ACI
  11. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503299
  12. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503300
  13. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503301
  14. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503306
  15. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503307
  16. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503303
  17. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504958
  18. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503305
  19. https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504984
  20. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503286
  21. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504739
  22. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504709
  23. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006
  24. tp://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=CISE
  25. http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE
  26. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
  27. mailto:support@grants.gov
  28. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp