Eligibility

Criteria for Eligibility

Eligibility to participate in the NSF EPSCoR program is based on the level of NSF research funding. Each year, the NSF EPSCoR office compiles summary data for the preceding three years of NSF research funding by State. The data are reported by the NSF Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management and listed on the NSF's Budget Internet Information System.

Twenty-five states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently participate in the NSF EPSCoR program. The states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Data detailing the eligibility of each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is available at this URL: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/epscor/investment/eligibility005.xls (Excel file, 33KB) ¹.

Planning Grants (New Jurisdictions)

Proposals for EPSCoR planning grants may be considered from those non-EPSCoR states (new jurisdictions) receiving 0.75% or less of the total NSF research funds to all sources within a state averaged over the past three years. The planning proposal will be reviewed by the Foundation to determine its merit for support under the EPSCoR program or any other appropriate NSF program.

Any state wishing to submit a proposal for an EPSCoR planning grant must notify the NSF EPSCoR office and meet with NSF EPSCoR officials. Depending on the outcome of these discussions, the state may submit an EPSCoR planning proposal, using NSF's grant proposal guidelines.

Planning proposals for consideration of EPSCoR funding should describe formation of a suitable state EPSCoR governing committee comprised of leaders in academe, state government, and the private sector. A 12-24 month planning process will allow the EPSCoR governing committee to carry out a statewide study of existing barriers and possible solutions to improved research competitiveness and determine science and/or engineering focal areas that represent areas of exceptional opportunity.

(1) In the rare instances where a single large NSF-funded national or international facility skews the data, an adjustment will be made. For example, West Virginia's funding to calculate EPSCoR eligibility does not include funds to operate the Green Bank Observatory which is located in the State.

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