Where can I find basic information about submitting a grant proposal?
If you decide to prepare a proposal, you should consult the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). All proposals must be submitted electronically via Fastlane.

For which NSF Program shall I designate my proposal?
The ultimate assignment of proposals to NSF programs is the responsibility of NSF. However, when submitting via Fastlane you will be asked to select the organizational unit (division and program within the division) you think most appropriate. The easiest way to determine what program or programs at NSF might be most appropriate for your proposal is to access the database of NSF awards, which contains abstracts of all recent awards, as well as well as their amounts and which program(s) funded them. Use NSF's Fastlane Award Search system to search lists of recent awards made by those programs you might think potentially appropriate. For this purpose, the best starting point is the Fastlane page called Query Awards by Program, You may prefer to browse the list of NSF programs and select from it, rather than typing in the program name, because any tiny error in typing the name may prevent you from finding the information you want.

If, after trying this, you need further information, you should contact the appropriate program director or directors via phone or E-mail. If you use E-mail, attaching a brief abstract of your proposed research is often helpful.

How do I go about having my proposal jointly reviewed? And should I?
Determining whether joint review is appropriate is the responsibility of NSF. Programs review proposals jointly when they fall within the overlap of their areas of responsibility. We try hard to ensure that joint review will neither decrease nor increase a proposal's chance of funding. If you believe that your research might be of interest to two or more programs at NSF, follow Fastlane's instructions when you are selecting the organizational unit or units you wish to consider your proposal. If you do select more than one program, make sure that the most suitable is listed first in the "Current List of selected NSF Units." This will be the primary program taking responsibility for the paperwork involved in processing the proposal.

Can I make suggestions about appropriate reviewers for my proposal?
We encourage you to do so, taking care that those you suggest have no real or apparent conflicts of interest. You may also suggest a modest list of those whom you would prefer, for some reason, not to review your proposal. In Fastlane, the main page for "Form Preparation" has a choice, "List of Suggested Reviewers (optional)," where you can make any reviewer suggestions.

Can my NSF program officer allow me to exceed the 15-page project description limit or include appendices?
These sorts of exceptions can be authorized only by personnel above the level of program officer and are very rarely allowed. (This does not refer to supplementary documentation included in Proposal Section I, as listed in the Grant Proposal Guide.)

Do I need "Human Subjects" approval or "Vertebrate Animal" approval from my institution before I apply to NSF?
If human subjects, non-human vertebrate animals, or endangered species are involved in your project, make sure you check the relevant section of the Grant Proposal Guide. All projects involving human subjects must either: (1) have approval from your organization's Institutional Review Board (IRB) before issuance of an NSF award; or (2) identify the applicable subsection exempting the proposal from IRB review, as established in Section 101(b) of the Common Rule. All projects involving vertebrate animals must have approval from your organization's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to the issuance of an NSF award. If your research involves merely observing animals, rather than experimenting with them, your institution may advise you that formal IACUC approval may not be necessary. Your proposal does not need IRB or IACUC approval to be reviewed, however the approval must be on file before the proposal is recommended for funding. In most cases it makes sense to submit the proposal to your IRB or IACUC at the same time you submit it to NSF.

Does NSF provide funding for unaffiliated and emeritus scholars?
Scholars without regular faculty positions and researchers who are emeritus from full-time university positions can be funded in most cases. Contact your NSF program officer for details before submitting a proposal from such individuals.

Does NSF support research done by organizations other than universities?
In general, this is possible, though there are some exceptions; for guidance, you should consult NSF's Grant Proposal Guide(GPG).

Does NSF fund foreign organizations?
NSF rarely provides regular research support to foreign organizations. NSF will consider proposals for cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations, provided support is requested only for the U.S. portion of the collaborative effort. For more information, you may want to look at International Opportunities for Scientists and Engineers, which will give you a better idea of the activities supported by the Division of International Programs.

What does the Office of International Programs (INT) do?
INT provides funds primarily for the US side of a variety of types of international collaboration, travel of US investigators to foreign countries to pursue cooperative research projects and similar activities, some kinds of doctoral dissertation research abroad for US citizens, international workshops and summer institutes, and fellowships for US citizens to perform postdoctoral research in some foreign countries. Since NSF's agreements differ from country to country, and not all kinds of support are provided for each country, it is recommended that you contact INT to see if what you want to do is supported for the country in which you want to do it.

Does NSF provide funding for non-citizen US faculty?
NSF funds institutions, which generally must be within the US, and allows them to decide who may or may not be a principal investigator for grant proposals they submit; few if any are concerned about the citizenship of the principal investigator. So, as long as an institution allows an individual, citizen or not, to be a principal investigator, NSF has no problem. There are certain special NSF solicitations, however, which do have citizenship or residency requirements; please read such solicitations carefully.

What are the rules on pre-award spending?
A program director "recommends" a proposal for funding, and then the division director concurs with the recommendation; however NSF's Division of Grants and Agreements ultimately makes an award. If it makes sense for your situation, the grants office at your institution has the authority to approve preaward spending for expenses that occur up to 90 days prior to the award start date, provided that their approval predates the spending. This spending is to be charged to the grant when it is made and is at the institution's risk. Most institutional grants offices are willing to approve preaward costs when they can confirm via NSF's Fastlane system that your proposal is in NSF's Division of Grants and Agreements pending award. Since it is very rare for recommended proposals not to be awarded, the risk to your institution is typically minimal.

If I have not completed my research by the scheduled expiration date of my grant, how do I get a no-cost extension?
In most cases, the grants office at your institution can approve an initial no-cost extension. Any further no-cost extensions need to be approved by NSF in response to a request from you, addressed to your NSF program officer, countersigned by an authorized institutional official, in a specific format. For further information, click on the phrase "no-cost extension."