Continental Dynamics (CD)
Program Solicitation
NSF
04-512
Replaces Document
96-50
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National Science Foundation |
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Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (optional):
April 01, 2005
and April 1 annually thereafter
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
November 15, annually
REVISIONS AND UPDATES
The preliminary proposal deadline date has been changed from June 1 annually to April 1 annually. This will allow enough time for the review of the preproposals and feedback to the Principal Investigators for the development of full proposals by the November 15 deadline. This is the only change in the CD program solicitation. The program solicitaion number remains NSF 04-512. The full proposal deadline date remains November 15 annually.
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Continental Dynamics (CD)
Synopsis of Program:
The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) will consider proposals for multidisciplinary research that focuses on an improved understanding of the processes governing the origin, structure, composition, and dynamical evolution of the continents and continental building blocks. The program is particularly oriented toward projects whose scope and complexity require a cooperative or multi-institutional approach and multi-year planning and execution. The intent of the program is to fund only relatively large projects that do not fit easily within other Earth Sciences programs and that have broad support of major sections of the Earth Science community.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Leonard E. Johnson, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785 S, telephone: (703) 292-8559, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: lejohnso@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
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47.050 --- Geosciences
Eligibility Information
- Organization Limit: None Specified.
- PI Eligibility Limit: None Specified.
- Limit on Number of Proposals: None Specified.
Award Information
- Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant or Cooperative Agreement
- Estimated Number of Awards: 20 to 30
- Anticipated Funding Amount: $10,250,000 in FY 2004 and similar amounts in future years.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Preliminary Proposals: Submission of Preliminary Proposals is optional. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
- Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains information that supplements the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
B. Budgetary Information
- Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.
- Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable.
C. Due Dates
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Preliminary Proposals
(optional)
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April 01,
2005
- and April 1 annually thereafter
- Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
- November 15, annually
Proposal Review Information
- 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: Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Program Description
- Eligibility Information
- Award Information
- Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
- Proposal Review Information
- Award Administration Information
- Contacts for Additional Information
- Other Programs of Interest
I. INTRODUCTION
For more than three decades, the principles of the theory of plate tectonics have been successfully applied to help understand the history of and processes active in forming the major structural subdivisions of the earth. One significant advance is an understanding of the clear distinction between oceanic and continental crust. It has been shown that the oceans are the cradle of crustal formation and represent the result of a single episode in the plate tectonic cycle. The greatest advances have been made in quantitatively understanding the process of ocean crust formation and associated processes that contribute to the nature of the oceanic crust, its sediments and biota, and the global distribution of continents and oceans.
In contrast, the continents represent an accumulation of the residues of previous tectonic cycles and the addition of new material through geologic processes restricted to the continental crust and lithosphere. Although the result is a complex mass of superimposed units whose history is difficult to unravel, it is the library that stores the record of previous tectonic cycles and the principal data source to reconstruct the long-term history of the earth. In addition, the growth of the continents has resulted in structural units with bulk physical, chemical, and mechanical properties sufficiently different from those of the oceanic crust that the principles of plate tectonics have yet to be fully applied. Correspondingly, the geological, geophysical, and geochemical structure and evolution of the continents is still not clearly understood nor can the processes that control continental phenomena always be confidently placed within the plate tectonic theory.
A major unifying frontier of future research in the Earth Sciences is the study of the dynamical evolution of continents. In this perspective, the continent as a system includes continental crust, the subjacent lithosphere and asthenosphere, and the building blocks of continental evolution that include oceanic sediments, arcs, plateaus, and marginal basins. The dynamics of continental evolution involve processes that are currently active at the surface and extend into the mantle, including earthquakes, structural deformation, generation and movement of magmas, and the migration of chemically active fluids. The exposed rocks of the crystalline basement that record up to 4 billion years of earth history are the only resource of data to study continental evolution. The study of continental dynamics requires a combination of geological, geophysical, and geochemical studies of these rocks in the context of major studies of modern processes and three-dimensional structure.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
An effective organizational schema for the mobilization of scientific creativity and project implementation for continental dynamics research involves the concept of a field laboratory. Each field area would become an outdoor laboratory, in which techniques such as sampling, mapping, geophysical studies, and drilling are combined, over a number of years and a number of investigators. Data and samples that originate in the field laboratory then go indoors where many participating investigators engaged in sample analysis, computer modeling, and data processing work together to develop quantitative synthesis. In this context, research projects supported by the Continental Dynamics Program will normally be characterized by many of the following criteria:
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Be interdisciplinary, requiring coordination of efforts in geophysics, geology, and geochemistry;
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Be critically dependent on the ability to mobilize high technology tools for acquisition of data in the field, for study of materials in the laboratory, and for modeling systems on the computer;
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Include three-dimensional study of the subsurface by geophysical means, direct measurement of plate motions, detailed monitoring of earthquakes and of deformation near plate boundaries, and instrumentation and sampling of the subsurface through drilling;
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Often involve increased coordination and collaboration among scientists from universities and other government agencies as well as from industry;
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Be of such a scope that they will require a multiple year effort to complete;
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Be focused projects of finite duration; and
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Involve an initial screening by means of a preliminary proposal process (see section on "Preliminary Proposals").
III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation.
IV. AWARD INFORMATION
Anticipated funding is $10,250,000 for new awards. The estimated number of awards is 20 to 30 standard or continuing grants or cooperative agreements per year.
Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Preliminary Proposals
(optional):
Proposals for CD projects will normally be submitted in a two-step process; step 1: a preliminary proposal, and step 2: a full proposal. The two steps have separate deadlines and separate formats as described below. The submission of a preliminary proposal is intended to provide a review of the basic concept of the project at an early stage of development, so that if the review is negative the principle investigators will not have invested a large amount of time and resources in the preparation of a full proposal. This process is also expected to improve the success rate at the full proposal review stage. Preliminary proposals will be treated as informal documents involving no commitment on the part of either the applying organization or the Foundation. They will not in any way preclude later submission of, or affect the review of, a full proposal and no signatures of institutional representatives or other formal commitment are required.
The submission of preliminary proposals is optional, but strongly encouraged. The preliminary proposal should provide a brief description of the proposed research, the need for a multidisciplinary, cooperative or multi-institutional consortia approach, the management structure, the key personnel and their duties, and a rough estimate of cost and duration. Preliminary proposals may not exceed ten pages in length (inclusive of figures). No appendices are to be included.
Preliminary proposals must be submitted using the Proposal Preparation module in FastLane. Complete the sections of the Cover Sheet that are appropriate for the preliminary proposal, and click on the "preproposal" check box.
Full Proposal Instructions:
Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/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: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
Except as modified below, full proposals should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines in the Grant Proposal Guide.
In the Project Description section, particular attention should be given to the following:
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Description of Research: The proposal should describe the proposed research activities in sufficient detail to allow assessment of their scientific merit. Indicate what impact the research will have on an improved understanding of the processes governing the origin, structure, composition, and dynamical evolution of the continents.
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Rationale for a Collaborative Approach: Justify the need for a cooperative or multi-institutional approach. Indicate what unique opportunities will be provided by the collaborative approach compared to separate individual research projects.
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Management Plan: Outline the capability of the group to conduct the research and manage the required personnel and equipment needed to successfully complete the proposal objectives. If there is joint use of equipment or facilities, describe the provisions for maintenance and a management plan for operation of shared-use equipment or facilities. Include specific details on the role of each principal investigator.
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Duration of Project: The proposal should contain a carefully thought-out plan to complete the proposed research in a specified amount of time. Any project lasting more than five years will normally be required to submit a new formal proposal at the end of five years.
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Distribution of Data and/or Samples and Publication of Results: Where data or samples are collected as part of the project, it is necessary to provide a management plan for the secure preservation of all materials, and the mechanisms by which they may be used by, or distributed to, responsible scientists. Provisions must also be made for the rapid publication of reports that describe the nature of stored data and sample resources and research results of the project.
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Education and Human Resources: A statement must be included specifying the potential of the proposed research to contribute to the education and the development of human resources in science and engineering at the postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels. This statement may include, but is not limited to, the role of the research in student training, course preparation, and seminars, particularly for undergraduates. Special effectiveness or achievement in the area of producing professional scientists and engineers from groups presently underrepresented should be addressed.
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Include at the front of the Project Description section a summary budget sheet indicating the total annual project cost for each institution.
NOTE: THE SECTIONS OF THE PROPOSAL DEALING WITH ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7 ABOVE SHOULD NOT EXCEED A TOTAL OF 36 PAGES. THIS COUNT INCLUDES LISTS, TABLES AND FIGURES.
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Biographical Sketches: Provide a biographical sketch that includes a list of only up to five (5) publications most relevant to the research proposed and only up to five (5) other significant research publications. Include biographical sketches for principal and co-principal investigators only.
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Current and Pending Support: A table should be provided to summarize the current and pending support of each principal and co-principal investigator from all sources. The project title, current year's amount, source of funding, and future commitments should be included. Pending proposals should also be listed.
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Budget: Include separate annual budget pages indicating the cost for each year. For any subawards, provide separate budget pages for each subawarding organization.
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Official letters of support and/or participation: Only official letters that verify specific institutional and other sector resource commitments or participants should be included. (This information should be uploaded to Supplementary Documents.) NOTE: Cost sharing is not required. Any information submitted under this item is not considered to be cost sharing and is not auditable.
Continental Dynamics projects usually will involve principal investigators from several different institutions, each submitting his/her own proposal. Only the lead institutions proposal need contain the full text as described above. The other institutions' proposals need only contain cover sheets, project summary, budgets, and PI information (biographical sketches, current and pending support statements, results from prior NSF support) particular to the institution submitting the proposals.
Proposals that are related to a CD project or to the research focus of the CD Program, but do not meet the criteria for a CD proposal, will normally go to other EAR programs. If favorably reviewed, they may be eligible for split-funding by the CD Program and the other program.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation number (04-512) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing:
Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.
C. Due Dates
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Preliminary Proposals
(optional):
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April 01,
2005
- and April 1 annually thereafter
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
- November 15, annually
D. FastLane Requirements
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this announcement/solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: 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 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 announcement/solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this announcement/solicitation.
Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Proposers are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov
VI. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
A. NSF Proposal Review Process
Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.
The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making funding decisions.
In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January 2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators (PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.
Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of broader impacts to NSF-funded projects.
The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information). The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which he/she is qualified to make judgments.
- What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
- What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?
NSF staff will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:
- Integration of Research and Education
One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives.
- Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities -- 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.
- Additional Review Criteria:
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The scientific merit of the research for the overall project and the special justification for adopting a collaborative approach.
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The relation of the project to the current, major scientific questions regarding the dynamic evolution of the continents.
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The degree to which the proposed mix of principal investigators and their specialities match to achieve the broad objectives outlined in the proposal.
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The proposed management plan to achieve the overall objectives of the project.
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The adequacy and appropriateness of the budget items, including those in the subawards.
Preliminary proposals will be evaluated by EAR Program Staff and the Continental Dynamics Review Panel. The response to the principal investigator will be a letter containing a summary of review comments that either encourages or discourages a full proposal. This response is the consensus of review by EAR staff members and the panel and represents their collective opinion of the prospect for eventual funding. The opinion is informal and does not preclude submission of a full proposal.
Review of full proposals is described above, with additional criteria as follows:
B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Ad Hoc Review followed by Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
NSF is striving to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the closing date of an announcement/solicitation, or the date of proposal receipt, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
In all cases, 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 and 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.
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 Division 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.A. for additional information on the review process.)
B. Award Conditions
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, 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 letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Website at http://www.gpo.gov.
C. Reporting Requirements
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.
Data Policy: Principal investigators are required to adhere to the EAR Data Policy available on the NSF website. Final reports for all awards should include a statement describing how the data policy requirements have been met.
Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for the PI and all Co-PIs. 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 FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. This system permits electronic submission and updating of project reports, including information on project participants (individual and organizational), activities and findings, publications, and other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.
VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
Leonard E. Johnson, Program Director, Directorate for Geosciences, Division of Earth Sciences, 785 S, telephone: (703) 292-8559, fax: (703) 292-9025, email: lejohnso@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
Brian E Dawson, telephone: 703-292-4727, fax: 703-292-9024, email: bdawson@nsf.gov
IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.
Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.
NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
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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 http://www.nsf.gov
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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; 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 applicant 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 needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; 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, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). 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 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 this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.
OMB control number: 3145-0058.
