Title: Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights: Defining the Critical Needs
of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Community (nsf15565)
Date: 04/21/2015
Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights: Defining the Critical Needs
of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Community
[1]Program Solicitation
NSF 15-565
NSF Logo
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Engineering
NIST logo [x.gif]
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
July 20, 2015
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be
submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies
& Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 15-1), which is effective for proposals
submitted, or due, on or after December 26, 2014. The PAPPG is
consistent with, and, implements the new Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards (Uniform Guidance) (2 CFR � 200).
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights
Defining the Critical Needs of the Advanced Manufacturing Research
Community
Synopsis of Program:
Accelerating U.S Advanced Manufacturing
([2]http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/PC
AST/amp20_report_final.pdf), the October 2104 report to the
President produced by the Steering Committee of the Advanced
Manufacturing Partnership 2.0 (AMP 2.0) for the President's Council
of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), calls for the
creation of a technology-focused consortium to provide coordinated
private-sector input on national advanced manufacturing technology
research and development priorities. This solicitation is to
establish the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights (the
"Consortium") to implement that recommendation. The consortium will
inform and promote regular and sustained communication and research
coordination across the public and private sectors, provide federal
decision-makers with timely access to top university and industry
experts, and respond quickly to requests from federal
decision-makers for detailed input on nascent opportunities and
priorities in manufacturing. These activities will improve the
coordination of federal advanced manufacturing technology and
research and development strategies. The Consortium will cooperate
with the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) of
NIST, the President's National Science and Technology Council
(NSTC), and the U.S. Government Agencies that support advanced
manufacturing to help provide the timely information needed to
achieve that coordination. NSF is the program lead and is solely
responsible for administration of the solicitation and the resulting
award. NIST, acting on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing National
Program Office, is the program co-sponsor with NSF and provides
financial and administrative support to NSF.
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.
* Bruce Kramer,NSF, 545.01, telephone: (703) 292-5348, email:
[3]bkramer@nsf.gov
* Michael F. Molnar,NIST, telephone: (301) 869-1150, email:
[4]mike.molnar@nist.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
* 47.041 --- Engineering
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 1
Anticipated Funding Amount: $3,000,000 to $6,000,000
for 36 months, subject to the availability of funds.
Eligibility Information
Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
* A Consortium proposal must be submitted by an existing organization
that is a consortium or that represents a consortium, with a stake
in basic research and education in advanced manufacturing. Such an
organization may submit only one Consortium proposal. The
consortium is expected to be broad-based, with membership that
includes institutions of higher education with strong research
track records in advanced manufacturing and other private and
public sector organizations, including industry. The submitting
organization must be a legal entity eligible to receive federal
funding.
Who May Serve as PI:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1
An organization may submit only one Consortium proposal.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
An individual may appear as a PI, co-PI, Senior Personnel or
Consultant on no more than one Consortium proposal.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
* Letters of Intent: Not required
* Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
* 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=grants
govguide)
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
* Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
July 20, 2015
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria.
Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text
of this solicitation for further information.
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
The June 2011 report of the President's Council of Advisors on Science
and Technology (PCAST), Report to the President on Ensuring American
Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing defines advanced manufacturing as
follows:
Advanced manufacturing is a family of activities that (a) depend on the
use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software,
sensing, and networking, and/or (b) make use of cutting edge materials
and emerging capabilities enabled by the physical and biological
sciences, for example nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. It
involves both new ways to manufacture existing products, and the
manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies.
Recommendation #2 of Accelerating U.S Advanced Manufacturing, the
October 2104 report to the President produced by the Steering Committee
of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership 2.0 (AMP 2.0) for PCAST,
calls for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Consortium
to provide coordinated private-sector input on national advanced
manufacturing technology research and development priorities. The
report stresses the importance of effective communication and research
coordination between the public and private sectors and access to top
industry technologists to federal efforts to advance U.S. strengths in
pre-competitive manufacturing. It recommends that a continuous
mechanism for research coordination across the public and private
sectors, with expert input from industry and academia, be established
to provide detailed, coordinated input on nascent opportunities and
priorities in manufacturing that can shape national U.S. technology
priorities and investments at all stages of technology development. It
is intended that the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights
will both coordinate with and serve the Advanced Manufacturing National
Program Office (AMNPO) of NIST, the President's National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC), and key federal research and development
agencies by providing information for formulating and feedback on the
federal government's advanced manufacturing research and development
priorities, thereby helping to advance the linkage of strategies for
advanced manufacturing to an overall R&D strategy.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The National Science Foundation (NSF), with support from the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is calling for the
advanced manufacturing research community to unite in the establishment
of the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Foresights (the
"Consortium"). NSF is the program lead and is solely responsible for
administration of the solicitation and the resulting award. NIST,
acting on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office,
is the program co-sponsor with NSF and provides financial and
administrative support to NSF. The Consortium will:
* Embrace all fields of advanced manufacturing, including emerging
areas and areas overlapping with other disciplines.
* Serve as a catalyst and enabler for and give a voice to the
national advanced manufacturing research community in shaping the
future of advanced manufacturing.
* Consider issues, challenges and opportunities facing U.S. advanced
manufacturing, and source novel and unanticipated perspectives on
technology priorities that can inform both the broad advanced
manufacturing community and agency work.
* Provide a resource for rapid response expert advice to help inform
cross-cutting federal research and development initiatives in
advanced manufacturing. It is anticipated that these responses
might be provided within from several days for simple informational
items to several months for more complex issues.
* Serve as an intermediary for the Administration in soliciting the
input of the broader manufacturing community and supply chains on
technology strategies.
In fulfilling its roles, the Consortium will:
* Enable the advanced manufacturing community to communicate to a
broad audience the myriad ways in which advances in manufacturing
will create a brighter future and encourage the alignment of
advanced manufacturing research with pressing national priorities
and national challenges.
* Facilitate the generation of visions for advanced manufacturing
research and education and communicate them to a wide range of
stakeholders.
* Provide flexible mechanisms that allow single or multiple federal
agencies to sponsor and participate in studies of specific agency
interest.
* Respond to federal agency requests and identify key technology
challenges facing the private sector.
* Convene experts from U.S. industry and academia to consider issues,
challenges, and opportunities in advanced manufacturing.
* Form focus teams to "deep dive" into particular technology areas.
* Engage experts from the private sector (industry and academia),
with the support of and participation from federal agency
leadership.
* Provide input to the federal government and engage with advisory
committees and groups consistent with law and regulations, as
appropriate for a body that is not chartered under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
The Consortium may also be tasked with organizing and conducting
activities that incorporate community outreach, such as advanced
manufacturing national summits or regional workshops. It is expected
that Consortium activities will employ, leverage or be co-located with
events of other study groups, regional/national trade associations, or
professional societies when it is efficient to do so. Activities can
also be undertaken in cooperation with Manufacturing Innovation
Institutes, to provide focused industry expertise from and visibility
to the Institutes.
The following items are outside the Consortium's scope:
* Assessment of U.S. policy with respect to manufacturing. Such
policy recommendations must be rendered by a FACA-compliant
advisory committee.
* Coordination of federal agency programs. Such coordination will be
provided within the structure of the National Science and
Technology Council.
* Funds from this award may not be used for lobbying activities.
Financial support provided under this solicitation is for the base
operations of the Consortium only and will be provided by NSF and NIST.
While this solicitation will be fully responsive to the mechanisms and
structures proposed to implement the desired roles of the Consortium,
base support is expected to provide, at a minimum, for:
* Establishment and maintenance of a standing committee that will
meet at least two times per year and whose members can be called
upon for advice and to support the recruitment, guidance, and
oversight of rapid response studies.
* Seed funding for accepting and developing responses to inquiries
from federal agencies, offices, councils or working groups.
* The conduct of activities for which the requested response time
frame does not allow for the identification of funding sources in
advance.
* Operational support, staff and related expenses for management of
logistics and the recruitment of experts.
The Consortium will be expected to secure funding for individual
studies from interested U. S. Government Agencies, either single or
multiple agencies. NSF and NIST will coordinate oversight of the
studies with the participation of other interested agencies.
The awardee must maintain and will publish up-to-date accomplishments
and activities on a dedicated Consortium website.
III. AWARD INFORMATION
Anticipated Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 1
Anticipated Funding Amount: $3,000,000 to $6,000,000 for 36 months,
subject to the availability of funds.
IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
* A Consortium proposal must be submitted by an existing organization
that is a consortium or that represents a consortium, with a stake
in basic research and education in advanced manufacturing. Such an
organization may submit only one Consortium proposal. The
consortium is expected to be broad-based, with membership that
includes institutions of higher education with strong research
track records in advanced manufacturing and other private and
public sector organizations, including industry. The submitting
organization must be a legal entity eligible to receive federal
funding.
Who May Serve as PI:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1
An organization may submit only one Consortium proposal.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
An individual may appear as a PI, co-PI, Senior Personnel or
Consultant on no more than one Consortium proposal.
Additional Eligibility Info:
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
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:
[26]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
[27]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:
([28]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgov
guide). 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 [29]nsfpubs@nsf.gov.
See Chapter II.C.2 of the [30]GPG for guidance on the required sections
of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the
proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation
may deviate from the GPG instructions.
For this solicitation, the following supplementary guidance is
provided:
Proposers are encouraged to engage the broadest range of stakeholders,
including members representing academic,industrial, and other types of
organizations.
Project Description
The Project Description section must not exceed 15 pages and must
conform with the requirements of the NSF Grant Program Guide, NSF 15-1:
[31]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. The
Consortium Management Plan and Organizational Structure and Project
Staffing sections described below are included in the Project
Description and are included in the 15-page limitation.
Consortium Management Plan: Provide a detailed Consortium management
plan, including schedule and milestones, to establish the Consortium as
an effective community proxy for the advanced manufacturing research
community. Describe the activities the Consortium will undertake to
identify and secure funding for promising advanced
manufacturing-related studies to enable large-scale, systems-level
research in advanced manufacturing and provide plans for education,
workforce development, and outreach activities.
Organizational Structure and Project Staffing: Describe the broad-based
membership of the consortium, developed to ensure that the broad
research interests of the advanced manufacturing community, including
academe, government and industry, are represented. Discuss the
administrative and organizational structure of the Consortium,
including any necessary advisory, administrative and expert support
activities, and the Consortium's relationship to the proposing
organization. Describe the experience of the submitting institution in
managing projects of a similar nature. Describe the relevant
qualifications of the PI, Co-PI, and other senior personnel. Describe
the roles of subawardees (if any) and consultants (if any).
Supplementary Document: Provide, as a supplementary document, a table
that describes the following for each member of the management team,
including all subawardees and consultants: name, administrative
position/project title, activities assigned, and responsibilities for
achievement of key milestones and outcomes. This table does not count
towards the 15-page limitation.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is
prohibited
C. Due Dates
* Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
July 20, 2015
D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:
To prepare and submit a proposal via FastLane, see detailed
technical instructions available at:
[32]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
[33]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: [34]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:
[35]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 [36]Exhibit III-1.
A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is
available on the NSF website at:
[37]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 [38]Investing in
Science, Engineering, and Education for the Nation's Future: NSF
Strategic Plan for 2014-2018. 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 strategic objectives 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 must recruit, train, and prepare a
diverse STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and
participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to
the national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research
under the guidance of the Nation's most creative scientists and
engineers. NSF also supports development of a strong science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing
in building the knowledge that informs improvements in STEM teaching
and learning.
NSF's mission calls for the broadening of 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.
([39]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 [40]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.
Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria
Reviewers will be asked to comment explicitly on the issues discussed
below, in the context of each proposal's Intellectual Merit and Broader
Impacts.
* How well does the submitting organization represent the broad
advanced manufacturing research community, particularly the
academic and industrial communities?
* Is the organization and management structure sufficient to meet the
project goals? Does the submitting organization have experience
with similar types of projects? How qualified are the PI(s) and
other named personnel to meet the project goals? Are the milestones
and associated activities appropriate?
* Does the proposal present a comprehensive and timely approach to
gathering and providing critical information and insights on
advanced manufacturing? Are the milestones and associated
activities appropriate?
* How well does the proposing team understand current U. S.
Government advanced manufacturing research, educational and
workforce development activities and priorities? Does the plan
adequately incorporate those activities and priorities and include
effective mechanisms for obtaining input from and consulting with
the community?
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review, or Reverse Site Review.
The review process will employ a panel and may also employ ad hoc
reviews and/or reverse site visits if they are needed to obtain
additional information.
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
[41]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 [42]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
[43]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
[44]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:
* Bruce Kramer, NSF, 545.01, telephone: (703) 292-5348, email:
[45]bkramer@nsf.gov
* Michael F. Molnar, NIST, telephone: (301) 869-1150, email:
[46]mike.molnar@nist.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
* FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
[47]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:
[48]support@grants.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 [49]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
[50]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 mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov
may be obtained at [51]http://www.grants.gov.
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 [52]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,
[54]NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated
Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and [55]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
[56]Policies and Important Links
|
[57]Privacy | [58]FOIA | [59]Help | [60]Contact NSF | [61]Contact Web
Master | [62]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
[63]Text Only
References
1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#toc
2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/PCAST
/amp20_report_final.pdf
3. mailto:bkramer@nsf.gov
4. mailto:mike.molnar@nist.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
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16. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#fastlane
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20. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#awardadmin
21. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#awardnotify
22. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#grantcond
23. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#reportreq
24. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15565/nsf15565.htm#cont
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27. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
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29. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
30. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
31. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
32. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm
33. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
34. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html
35. mailto:support@grants.gov
36. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf14001/gpg_3ex1.pdf
37. http://nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/
38. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14043/nsf14043.pdf
39. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf15001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2di
40. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf15001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2di
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42. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
43. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
44. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag
45. mailto:bkramer@nsf.gov
46. mailto:mike.molnar@nist.gov
47. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
48. mailto:support@grants.gov
49. http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach.jsp
50. https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/subscriber/new?
topic_id=USNSF_179
51. http://www.grants.gov/
52. http://www.nsf.gov/
53. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov
54. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-50_Principal_Investigator_
Proposal_File.pdf
55. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-51_Reviewer_Proposal_File.pdf
56. http://www.nsf.gov/policies
57. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/privacy.jsp
58. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp
59. http://www.nsf.gov/help/
60. http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp
61. mailto:webmaster@nsf.gov
62. http://www.nsf.gov/help/sitemap.jsp
63. http://transcoder.usablenet.com/tt/referrer