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November 4, 2016

Dear Colleagues:

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a vital asset to the Nation contributing significantly to the education of African American and other students. HBCUs also contribute to the research enterprise consistent with the National Science Foundation’s mission “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.” With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) in FY 2017, NSF builds on the success of DCL 16-080, which resulted in the award of numerous excellent research proposals to further strengthen the research capacity at HBCUs.

A recent report by the Subcommittee on Advancing Historically Black Colleges and Universities of the Advisory Committee of NSF's Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) recommended a focus on improving research capacity at HBCUs so that individual investigators would be more successful in receiving funding from NSF’s Research and Related Activities (R&RA) directorates. NSF invites researchers at HBCUs to submit research proposals to its over 300 programs.

Prospective principal investigators are encouraged to contact one of the program officer representatives listed below from each of NSF’s R&RA directorates to inquire as to which program to apply to and which cognizant program officer to contact. Submission deadlines vary by directorate, division and program.

Proposals should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidance in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (PAPPG) available at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp and any applicable solicitation-specific instructions.

Contact information for representatives from NSF’s R&RA directorates is as follows:

BIO:   Casonya Johnson  casjohns@nsf.gov

           Emelia Martins  emartins@nsf.gov

           Christopher Meyer  cmeyer@nsf.gov

CISE:  Kamau Bobb  kbobb@nsf.gov

ENG:   James Moore  jamoore@nsf.gov

            Eduardo Misawa  emisawa@nsf.gov

GEO:   Brandon Jones  mbjones@nsf.gov

            Lina Patino  lpatino@nsf.gov

MPS:   Kathleen McCloud  kmccloud@nsf.gov

            Guebre X. Tessema  gtessema@nsf.gov

SBE:    Holly Hapke  hhapke@nsf.gov

            Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong  kgyimahb@nsf.gov

NSF also funds conferences, EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID), and supplements to existing awards. Such proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines in the PAPPG.

To ensure proper processing, please begin titles of proposals submitted pursuant to this DCL with: DCL: HBCU

Sincerely,

James L. Olds, Assistant Director Biological Science	Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Assistant Director Education and Human Resources
James Kurose, Assistant Director Computer and Information Science and Engineering	Grace Wang, Acting Assistant Director Engineering
Roger Wakimoto, Assistant Director Geosciences	Fay Cook, Assistant Director Social Behavior & Economical Sciences
F. Fleming Crim, Assistant Director Mathematical & Physical Sciences	Suzanne C. Iacono, Head Office of Integrative Activities