CISE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
NSF 00-5
DIRECTORATE FOR COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
DEADLINE DATE: JANUARY 25, 2000
Subsequent Fiscal years will have a due date on the Third Monday in October
of each year (2000 and After)
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Program Name: CISE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
Short Description/Synopsis of Program:
The CISE (Computer and Information Science and Engineering) Research Infrastructure Program provides support to aid in the establishment, enhancement, and operation of major experimental facilities planned to support all of the research areas in the CISE Directorate. It may also assist activities for integration of research and education. The Research Infrastructure Program recognizes the emergence of research groups requiring strengthening of experimental facilities in a variety of environments - those solely within a single academic department, those drawing from several departments in a single institution, and those spanning several different institutions. The areas of research supported by this program are those supported by the CISE Directorate as described in the NSF Guide to Programs.
Cognizant Program Officer(s): Dr. Dragana Brzakovic, Program Director, Room 1160, Division of Experimental and Integrative Activities, telephone (703) 306-1981, e-mail: dbrzakov@nsf.gov.
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 47.070 ¾ Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
ELIGIBILITY
Proposals may be submitted by US universities in support of individual investigators or small groups. Universities must have PhD degree granting programs in one or more areas of CISE research.
AWARD INFORMATION
PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
December 17, 1999 for FY 2000 competition
Third Monday in September for later competitions
5:00 PM, local time, January 25, 2000 (FastLane)
5:00 PM, local time, Third Monday in October in 2000 and later years (FastLane)
PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
A primary objective of the RI program is to stimulate experimental work in CISE-research, as measured by increased scientific activity and increased participation in research of both faculty and graduate students. It also provides assistance to activities for integration of research and education.
The NSF encourages proposers to address the full participation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities (hereinafter referred to as underrepresented groups) in research activities. Examples of activities appropriate to the RI program include: a departmental effort to recruit female graduate students, a research collaboration with a minority institution, or a project that is focused on designing a system to provide systems access to persons with a visual disorder.
The CISE Directorate is particularly interested in balancing support for institutions that have not had prior RI awards with support for those that have had prior RI awards.
The CISE Research Infrastructure Program will be abbreviated as "RI"; this designation will also include predecessors of the program: the Coordinated Experimental Research (CER) program, the Institutional Infrastructure - Large Scale program, and the Institutional Infrastructure - Small Scale program. Similarly, the statement "all of the research areas supported in the CISE Directorate" will be abbreviated as "CISE-research".
To qualify for an RI grant, the proposing research group should have an existing core of active researchers and research projects in CISE-research. The RI program is open to all core CISE disciplines listed in the NSF Guide to Programs. The RI program is interested in promoting multidisciplinary applications in areas funded by other NSF Directorates. However, a competitive, multidisciplinary RI proposal must contain a significant component in core CISE-research.
The RI program provides support for acquisition of experimental facilities not normally available under individual research grants. Before applying for an RI grant, the proposing group is asked to consider whether individual research or equipment grants would be more appropriate. An important consideration in evaluating RI proposals is whether the provided experimental facilities will enable the researchers to undertake important work that otherwise would not be possible under individual awards.
Another important criterion is whether the provided support will likely result in more or better results than would separate support for the individual research projects at the same total funding level. Thus, RI proposals are expected to have strong synergism among researchers and among projects that requires the coordinated RI funding. The synergism present in an RI proposal should also be evidenced by enabling new sources of research support, appropriate recognition in the host(s) university, participation in new partnerships, or other ways.
The RI program provides support for the acquisition of major experimental facilities in CISE-research. Eligible project costs are equipment, software, maintenance and appropriate technical support. Appropriate technical support refers to technical personnel and associated indirect costs that are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the experimental facilities. Travel expenses necessary for training technical support staff in the operation and maintenance of the experimental facilities may be eligible project costs if appropriate justification for training is presented.
Students, research assistants, postdoctoral research associates, secretarial and clerical personnel are not eligible project costs. Faculty salaries are eligible project costs only in the case of the project director when one month per year of salary and associated indirect costs may be allowable if the requested experimental facilities are sufficiently complex and appropriate justification is presented.
There should be strong existing institutional or multi-institutional support through cost sharing for the RI projects. The institution(s) must be prepared to provide substantial cost sharing for the proposed project equal to at least one third of the amount requested from NSF. The RI program requires that the institution(s) assume an increasing share of the maintenance and technical support personnel costs each year throughout the grant period as part of their cost share. See the Budgetary Information section below for more information on cost sharing.
Industrial supporting letters may be included with the budget justification or included with the cover sheet and certifications page that are mailed to the NSF (see PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS below).
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions. Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), NSF 00-2. The complete text of the GPG (including electronic forms) is available electronically on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement number (NSF 00-5) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the NSF Form 1207, "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. CISE Research Infrastructure Proposal Format: The 15 page limit for proposals is waived for this program. A strict format and page limits, specified in this section, is imposed on RI proposals. Research proposals not meeting these limits will be returned as inappropriate for the program.
Introductory Material:
The following parts should be submitted as directed in the FastLane Instructions.
Cover page
Up to five investigators may be listed as PI’s and CoPI’s. Additional participating scientists for the project should provide biographical sketches and results from prior awards as described below.
Proposal Summary (Eighteen page limit):
The Project Summary should consist of the following sections: Executive Summary, Research Infrastructure Description, Resource Allocation, Management Structure, Multi-Institutional Agreements and Results from Prior Awards. The total limit for the Proposal Summary section will be 18 pages with section limits as indicated.
¾ Executive Summary (Three page limit)
This should consist of a summary of the remaining sections in the proposal.
¾ Research Infrastructure Description (Five page limit)
Include a summary description of the requested experimental facilities and an indication of how the research infrastructure will be developed over the five year period of the grant.
¾ Resource Allocation (Five page limit)
Describe the way in which the requested funds will be used to acquire the experimental facilities needed to support the research projects, including:
¾ Management Structure (One page limit)
A proposed management structure for managing the experimental facilities is to be included here. The plan should indicate not only how the proposed facilities would be managed but also how this research infrastructure would fit into and be integrated with the existing infrastructure in the unit.
¾ Multi-Institutional Agreements (One page limit)
Proposals involving inter-institutional sharing arrangements must include a copy of the arrangement. This must detail the administrative and financial responsibility of each institution, and it must be formally approved by appropriate scientific and administrative officers of each institution
¾ Results from Prior Awards: (Three page limit):
If an institution has received RI, CISE Instrumentation, or CISE Minority Institutions Infrastructure award funding in the past five years, whether an initial award or continuing award, a summary of that project including a compilation of the significant research results and impacts with a listing of the most pertinent publications, is to be included. Principal participants in the project should also provide results from prior awards that are most relevant to the proposed research.
Budget: (No page limits)
Research Description (Fifteen page limit):
Provide a description and explanation of the proposed associated research with appropriate scientific justification and literature references. This should demonstrate how the research depends upon both the experimental facilities proposed and the requested level of support with particular emphasis given to identifying new directions, expansions and extensions not possible without such support. The scientific merit of the research made possible by the requested support is a particularly important selection criterion. The synergism of the research projects should be explained. Project components for increasing participation of under-represented groups should be described. Criteria for measuring success of the project and the expected impact to the departments, institutions and CISE community should be provided. The proposed facilities may also be used in support of activities for integrating research and education. All proposals must contain sufficient detail for an evaluation of the intrinsic scientific merit of the proposed research. When sub-projects are described, the investigators participating in those subprojects should be identified.The intention is that this section of the proposal be structured by the proposing institution so as to present its case in the best possible light. Therefore, the structure and sub-sections within this section are not specified.
All diagrams, etc. are included in the 15 page limit. No appendices will be accepted.
References:
References are in a separate section of the proposal.
Biographical Sketches:
In no more than two pages each, include the current curriculum vitae and a brief summary of their research accomplishments over the past five years for each faculty member who will be directly involved in the use, development or formation of the research facility, or in the research projects. Biographical sketches should be provided for each listed investigator as well as other participating scientists. These sketches should include the name of the investigators’ thesis advisor, names and institutions of past PhD students, and names and institutions of current collaborators.
If there are other senior personnel who will be responsible for the purchasing, management or operations of the requested equipment, provide their names and recent accomplishments in one page for each person.
Current and Pending Support Forms:
Supply the information requested in Form 1239 of the Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 00-2) i.e., indicate all current and pending research support for each investigator listed in the Biographical Sketches section above.
Cost Sharing Requirements.
Cost sharing at a level of one-third of the total amount requested from NSF is required for all proposals submitted in response to this announcement. The proposed cost sharing must be shown on line M on the proposal budget (NSF Form 1030.) The amount of cost sharing must be shown in the proposal in enough detail to allow NSF to determine its impact on the proposed project. Documentation of availability of cost sharing must be included in the proposal. Only items which would be allowable under the applicable cost principles, if charged to the project, may be included as the grantee’s contribution to cost sharing. Contributions may be made from any non-Federal source, including non-Federal grants or contracts, and may be cash or in-kind (see OMB Circular A-110, Section 23). It should be noted that contributions counted as cost-sharing toward projects of another Federal agency may not be counted towards meeting the specific cost-sharing requirements of the NSF grant. All cost-sharing amounts are subject to audit. Failure to provide the level of cost-sharing reflected in the approved grant budget may result in termination of the NSF grant, disallowance of grant costs and/or refund of grant funds to NSF. C. Proposal Due Dates. FastLane (electronic) proposals MUST be submitted by 5:00 PM local time, January 25, 2000. Copies of the signed proposal cover sheet must be submitted in accordance with the instructions identified below. In October 2000 and following years, proposals are due 5:00 PM local time on the third Monday in October of each year. Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. The signed proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded to the following address and received by NSF within five working days after the proposal due date. National Science Foundation
A proposal may not be processed until the complete proposal (including signed Cover Sheet) has been received by NSF.
D. FastLane Requirements. Proposers are required to prepare and submit proposals using the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. The signed paper copy of the proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded to NSF within five working days following proposal submission in accordance with FastLane proposal preparation and submission instructions referenced above.
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 will be reviewed by an initial panel; at that point some will be declined and some will be asked to participate in site reviews. After site reviews, award decisions will be made by NSF staff or a panel.
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 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 an 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 Officer does so at its own risk.
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA). 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.
B. Grant Award Conditions. An NSF grant consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the grant 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 grant conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF GC-1)* or Federal Demonstration Partnership Phase III (FDP) Terms and Conditions* and (5) any NSF brochure, program guide, announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF grants 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 Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 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, (NSF 95-26) available electronically on the NSF Web site. The GPM also is available in paper copy by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Web site at: http://www.gpo.gov/. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. 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. Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Approximately 30 days before expiration, NSF will send a notice to remind the PI of the requirement to file the final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data. NSF has implemented a new electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane, which 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. Reports will continue to be required annually and after the expiration of the grant, but PIs will not need to re-enter information previously provided, either with the proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system. Effective October 1, 1999, PIs are required to use the new reporting system for submission of annual and final project reports. D. New Awardee Information. If the submitting organization has never received an NSF award, it is recommended that the organization’s appropriate administrative officials become familiar with the policies and procedures in the NSF Grant Policy Manual which are applicable to most NSF awards. The "Prospective New Awardee Guide" (NSF 99-78) includes information on: Administrative and Management Information; Accounting System Requirements and Auditing Information; and Payments to Organizations with NSF Awards. This information will assist an organization in preparing documents that NSF requires to conduct administrative and financial reviews of an organization. The guide also serves as a means of highlighting the accountability requirements associated with Federal awards. This document is available electronically on NSF’s Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf9978.htm.
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