NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION |
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Directorate for Education and Human Resources
Division of Undergraduate Education
Letter of Intent Due Date(s)(optional):
November 08, 2002
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m proposer's local time):
December 18, 2002
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Synopsis of Program:
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
- Ernest L McDuffie, Program Director, Division
of Undergraduate Education, telephone: 703.292.4655, email: emcduffi@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
Eligibility Information
- Organization Limit:
- Scholarship Track: The proposing organization
must be an accredited U.S. university or college that either (1)
has been designated by the National Security Agency as a Center
of Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) or (2)
has an information assurance program that meets the criteria equivalent
to those necessary for designation as a CAE/IAE. In the latter case,
the proposal must demonstrate the program's qualifications for CAE/IAE
designation. (See http://www.nsa.gov/isso/programs/coeiae/measure.htm for
CAE/IAE criteria).
- Capacity Building Track: The proposing organization
may be either an accredited U.S. university or college or a consortium.
The lead institution in the consortium must either (1) have a CAE/IAE
designation or (2) have an information assurance program that meets
criteria equivalent to those necessary for CAE/IAE designation.
In the latter case, the proposal must demonstrate the program's
qualifications for CAE/IAE designation. (See http://www.nsa.gov/isso/programs/coeiae/measure.htm for CAE/IAE
criteria).
- PI Eligibility Limit: None
Specified.
- Limit on Number of Proposals:
An organization may submit no more than
one proposal per track per round of competition.
Award Information
- Anticipated Type of Award: Standard
or Continuing Grant
- Estimated Number of Awards: 12 -
consisting of 5-8 Scholarship Track awards and 3-8 Capacity Building
Track awards
- Anticipated Funding Amount: $11,000,000.00
in FY 2003,
pending availability of funds
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
- Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is Specialized. Please
see the full funding opportunity document for further information.
- Indirect Cost (F&A;) Limitations:
No indirect costs may be charged in Scholarship Track proposals, but
proposers may request up to 8 percent of the total budget to address
the management and administrative costs associated with operating the
SFS scholarship program and may request up to 2 percent of the total
budget to address curriculum, laboratory, and faculty development in
support of the SFS program. Indirect costs may be charged in Capacity
Building Track proposals.
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply.
Please see the full funding opportunity document for further information.
C. Due Dates
- Letters of Intent (optional):
November 08, 2002
- Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m proposer's local
time):
December 18, 2002
D. FastLane Requirements
- FastLane Submission: Full proposal submission is required.
- FastLane Contact(s):
- Antoinette Allen, Computer Specialist,
Division of Undergraduate Education, telephone: 703.292.4646, email:
duefl@nsf.gov
- FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 800.673.6188,
email: fastlane@nsf.gov
Proposal Review Information
- Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria.
Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full funding
opportunity document for further information.
Award Administration Information
- Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
- Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements
apply.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of Program Requirements
- Introduction
- Program Description
- Eligibility Information
- Award Information
- Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
- Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Budgetary Information
- Due Dates
- FastLane Requirements
- Proposal Review Information
- NSF Proposal Review Process
- Review Protocol and Associated Customer
Service Standard
- Award Administration Information
- Notification of the Award
- Award Conditions
- Reporting Requirements
- Contacts for Additional Information
- Other Programs of Interest
I. INTRODUCTION
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The primary objective of the SFS program is to build information assurance
capacity and to provide an educated cadre of information technology
professionals who can help assure the protection of the United States
Government information infrastructure. The two tracks in this program
are described below.
In order to increase information security expertise and capacity at
institutions serving underrepresented populations, application by and
partnerships with minority institutions, as recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education's list at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/minorityinst.html, are encouraged.
Scholarship Track
The SFS program provides funds to colleges and universities for student
scholarships in support of education in information technology areas
relevant to information assurance and computer security. In return for
their scholarship and stipend, scholarship recipients must agree
to work after graduation for two years as an information assurance specialist
in the Federal Cyber Service for a federal agency.
During the scholarship period, the students will participate in internships
at federal agencies and participate in other SFS activities such as
conferences, workshops, and seminars. These activities are aimed at
developing a community of practice that will enhance their individual
and collective skills in an area increasingly important to the health
and safety of the United States. The Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) partners with NSF in this program by providing the internships
at federal agencies and federal agency placement after graduation.
OPM is also responsible for the coordination of students as Federal
employees, for ensuring that contractual obligations are met by the
students during their scholarship period and after graduation, and for
assessing whether the program helps meet the personnel needs of the
federal government for information infrastructure protection.
Grantee institutions will provide scholarship support to students who
compete successfully in a selection process developed by the institution,
who meet the SFS eligibility criteria, and who are selected as qualified
for employment in the Federal Cyber Service by OPM. It is expected that
scholarship participants will receive their degree (undergraduate, master's,
or Ph.D.) within two years of the beginning of their scholarships. Each
proposing institution must provide a description of its selection criteria
and process, and explain and justify the proposed distribution of scholarship
recipients. In particular, institutions must ensure that groups underrepresented
in information technology have fair access to scholarships.
To be eligible for consideration for an SFS scholarship, a student
must be
- a United States citizen and
- a full-time student within two years of graduation in a coherent
formal program that is focused on computer security or information
assurance at an awardee institution.
Students identified by their institutions for scholarships must meet
selection criteria for federal employment. In addition, internship placements
and final job placements may require security clearances. Scholarship
recipients may be required to undergo the background investigation required
to obtain such clearances.
The selection process for scholarship recipients should include indicators
of academic merit and other indicators of future professional success.
Multiple indicators may be appropriate in gauging both academic merit
(e.g., grade point average, class rank) and professionalism (e.g., motivation,
ability to manage time and resources, communication skills). Selection
criteria should be flexible enough to accommodate applicants who have
diverse backgrounds and with diverse career goals. Federal Cyber Service
scholars must continue to demonstrate their eligibility in each semester/quarter
of SFS support.
Awardee institutions must submit their lists of candidates for SFS
scholarships to OPM for final eligibility approval. OPM will manage
the scholars' internships and job placements. OPM will also manage compliance
with the mandatory employment component of this program.
It is expected that grantee institutions will provide the infrastructure
to recruit and support students, so that a sufficient number of scholarship
recipients will graduate. Such an infrastructure might include, for
example:
- recruitment of students, with special consideration to groups underrepresented
in SFS fields (i.e., women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons
with disabilities);
- academic support and mentoring to support students in making progress
toward the degree and to prepare students for the workplace;
- application-oriented experiences to increase the students' understanding
of information assurance needs and their relationship to educational
preparation and to build their leadership skills;
- mechanisms to ensure retention of scholarship recipients to degree
completion.
Grantee institutions are also expected to have clearly articulated
management and administrative plans for the following program elements:
- Verification of scholarship candidates' eligibility, including the
recipients' academic merit, appropriate affective skills, and enrollment
in a designated or equivalent information assurance program.
- Provision of scholarship amounts to be used for expenses normally
incurred by full-time students in the institution, including tuition,
room and board, and equipment. These shall be included in Participant
Support costs.
- Provision of academic-year stipends of $8,000 per year for undergraduate
students and $12,000 per year for graduate students. These charges
shall be included in Participant Support costs.
- Provision for coordination with OPM for summer intern placements
for each student. Students are expected to take Federal intern positions
in the summer between their first and second year of scholarship study.
The payments for summer internships will take place outside the university
grant structure and are not to be included in the budget.
- Provisions for tracking the academic progress of students to determine
their continued eligibility throughout the academic part of the program.
Subsequent tracking of students to verify that they meet the service
obligation will be done by OPM.
- Evaluation of program outcomes.
- Demonstration of ability to partner with the OPM in student hiring
and agency placement.
The above items must be clearly detailed in the Budget Justification
section of the proposal.
No indirect costs may be charged in Scholarship Track proposals, but
proposers may request up to 8 percent of the total budget to address
the management and administrative costs associated with operating the
SFS scholarship program, and institutions may also request up to 2 percent
of the total budget to address curriculum, laboratory, and faculty development
in support of the SFS program. Funds requested for management and administrative
costs, as well as for curriculum, laboratory, and faculty development,
must be included in standard budget categories in the proposal budget,
and appropriate justification must be provided in the Budget Justification.
Collaborations with industry, non-profit, or state organizations are
strongly encouraged to allow students not chosen for scholarships to
participate in student internships and in Federal Cyber Service activities.
The Principal Investigator (PI) will have overall responsibility for
the administration of the institution's award, the management of the
project, and interactions with NSF and OPM. The PI and the grantee institution
are expected to have or to develop an administrative structure that
enables faculty, academic administrators, scholarship recipients, and
others involved in the project to interact productively during the award
period. The PI is expected to be an integral participant in the educational
activities of the SFS project. The management plan will be an integral
part of the proposal evaluation.
Within the grantee institution, the departments making up the Center
of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education or equivalent
are expected to collaborate in implementing the project plan. To broaden
the support of their activities, proposers are encouraged to establish
collaborative arrangements with other organizations.
A proposing institution must have a strong program of activity in information
assurance with Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance
Education (CAE/IAE) designation, or must be able to demonstrate that
its programs meet criteria equivalent to those necessary for designation
as a CAE/IAE by the National Security Agency. Additionally, the institution
must demonstrate its continuing commitment to both faculty development
and curriculum excellence in information assurance. Proposals should
contain documentation of CAE/IAE designation or demonstrate how the
program meets the criteria published by the National Security Agency
at http://www.nsa.gov/isso/programs/coeiae/measure.htm.
Proposals should clearly describe the activities to be undertaken,
the processes through which the program elements will be implemented,
and plans for documentation. Proposals should also clearly describe
the student support structure, plans to manage and administer the program,
and evidence of the quality of the institution's educational program
in information assurance.
Capacity Building Track
The SFS program provides for capacity building in information assurance
and computer security fields by providing funds to support faculty,
institutional, and partnership development.
The intent of the Capacity Building Track is to increase the production
of high quality information assurance and computer security professionals
by providing support for efforts within the higher education system.
These efforts may take many forms, but must be designed to:
- increase national capability for the high-quality education of information
technology professionals in critical information infrastructure protection
disciplines, or
- strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education,
government, and relevant employment sectors leading to improved educational
opportunities in information assurance studies.
Funding for up to $100,000 per year for two years is available.
Additional funding of up to $100,000 per year for two years is
available to partnerships that include minority institutions as recognized
by the U.S. Department of Education's list at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/minorityinst.html.
Indirect costs may be charged against all costs except Participant
Support and Equipment.
Typical projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Adaptation and Implementation: The program wishes to foster
collaboration and dialogue among institutions offering courses and
programs in information assurance. Consequently, the SFS program supports
proposals for the adaptation and implementation of exemplary educational
materials, courses, and curricula that have been developed at CAE/IAE
or comparable institutions to promote increased educational capacity
in information assurance and computer security education programs.
- Curriculum and Educational Materials Development: Supported
activities should affect the learning environment, course content,
and the experience of instruction. Projects often result in textbooks,
laboratory experiments and manuals, software, CD-ROMS, videos, and
other courseware. Such products are expected to be widely disseminated
through commercial publishers, conferences, workshops, electronic
networks, journal articles, and other means. A project's focus may
range from the substantial revision of existing instructional materials
to the creation of entirely new ones; from a few modules at a single
educational level to comprehensive curriculum for multiple years;
and from a single subject to the integration of several disciplines.
- Faculty Development: Grants are made to CAE/IAE designated
or equivalent institutions for the development and implementation
of activities that assist faculty from other institutions to learn
about recent advances in information assurance and computer security
and to improve their instructional capability in these areas. Such
activities might include residencies, conferences, workshops, intensive
seminars, distance learning opportunities, or a combination of these
to bring about the desired professional development for faculty. These
activities typically last from a few days to several weeks and are
usually conducted in the summer, with follow-up activities during
the academic year. To effect long-term change, projects for faculty
development should normally span at least two academic years.
Proposals must describe how faculty participants will be recruited,
what level of support will be provided for participants, what evaluation
procedures will be used, and what type of follow-up will be provided
as participants implement new courses and curricula in information
assurance and computer security. Proposals must also describe how
institutional teams of two or more members will be formed, and provide
evidence of the institutional support that assures that these teams
can continue to work towards building institutional capacity once
the teams complete their faculty development activities.
Inclusion of faculty belonging to underrepresented populations
and from institutions serving underrepresented populations in such
partnerships is strongly encouraged.
- Technical Experiences: Well-designed technical experiences
in the classroom and in a work environment can give students and faculty
a broad, up-to-date, real-world perspective on the information assurance
fields. Such experiences typically allow participants to get hands-on
exposure to the field and thereby gain confidence in their abilities
in technical areas; interact closely with computer security experts;
obtain information about various careers available in information
assurance and computer security; become aware of academic preparation
necessary for such careers; become acquainted with the environments
of other academic institutions, private industry, and government agencies;
and develop leadership skills.
Projects providing technical experiences may consist of any combination
of activities involving instruction, problem solving, research, deployment
of security solutions, and industrial internships. Proposals should
describe recruitment strategies, criteria for selection of participants,
and the relevance of the planned experiences to the goal of developing
expertise in information assurance and computer security.
- Laboratory Development: Laboratory or field experiences
using suitable modern instrumentation are crucial elements in advanced
technology fields. The SFS program supports the development of innovative
methods for using laboratory and field exercises to improve students'
understanding of basic principles. It also supports use by faculty
of modern instrumentation, new technologies, or applications of instruments
that extend their instructional capability. The program also encourages
the establishment of equipment-sharing arrangements through consortia
of institutions developing capacity in information assurance and computer
security.
- Partnerships: Partnerships between CAE/IAE and equivalent
institutions and institutions seeking to enhance their IA programs
are strongly encouraged. Such partnerships serve to increase the capacity
of the educational system to produce high-quality information assurance
and security degree recipients. Including private companies and local,
state, and federal governmental agencies greatly increases the value
of such partnerships.
Inclusion of institutions serving underrepresented populations
in such partnerships is strongly encouraged.
Proposals must clearly explain how their project will
address the previously stated objectives of the program.
Proposals must describe impact on the production of qualified students,
plans to evaluate the success of the project, and plans to provide effective
dissemination of results.
III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
IV. AWARD INFORMATION
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Letters of Intent (optional):
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 (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
A Project Data Form must be submitted (via Fastlane) as part of all proposals.
The information on this form is used to direct proposals to appropriate
reviewers and to determine the characteristics of projects supported by
the Division of Undergraduate Education. In Fastlane, this form will show
up in the list of forms for your proposal only after you have selected
the correct Program Announcement/ Solicitation No. on the Cover Sheet
and saved the Cover Sheet.
A Budget Justification of up to three pages must accompany the
budget forms and provide details about line items. Proposals that involve
subawards should include a Budget Justification of up to three pages for
each subawardee organization.
Organizations intending to submit simultaneous Collaborative Proposals
must carefully follow the instructions for electronic submission specified
in GPG,
Chapter II, Section D.3.b. The titles of the related proposals must
be identical and must begin with the words "Collaborative Project," and
the combined budgets of the related proposals should conform
to the anticipated individual award sizes specified in Section IV ("AWARD
INFORMATION") above. These simultaneous Collaborative Proposals
will be treated as a single proposal (with a single Project Summary, Project
Description, and References Cited) during the review process.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation
number ((02-181)) 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:
The proposed cost sharing must be shown on Line M on the proposal budget.
Documentation of the 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 awardee'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 award. All cost-sharing amounts are subject to audit. Failure
to provide the level of cost-sharing reflected in the approved award budget
may result in termination of the NSF award, disallowance of award costs
and/or refund of award funds to NSF.
Indirect Cost (F&A;) Limitations:
No indirect costs may be charged in Scholarship
Track proposals, but proposers may request up to 8 percent of the total
budget to address the management and administrative costs associated with
operating the SFS scholarship program and may request up to 2 percent
of the total budget to address curriculum, laboratory, and faculty development
in support of the SFS program. Indirect costs may be charged in
Capacity Building Track proposals.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
C. Due Dates
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Letters of Intent (optional):
November 08, 2002
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m proposer's local time):
December 18, 2002
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: http://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 judgements.
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.
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
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 applicants whether their proposals
have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time
interval begins on the date of receipt. 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 (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, 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.
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 that PI. 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:
- Ernest L McDuffie, Program Director, Division
of Undergraduate Education, telephone: 703.292.4655, email: emcduffi@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane,
contact:
- Antoinette Allen, Computer Specialist, Division
of Undergraduate Education, telephone: 703.292.4646, email: duefl@nsf.gov
- FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 800.673.6188,
email: fastlane@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
11, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types
of proposals.
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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4201 Wilson Blvd.
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- For General Information
(NSF Information Center):
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(703) 292-5111 |
- TDD (for the hearing-impaired):
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- To Order Publications or Forms:
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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, Information Dissemination
Branch, Division of Administrative Services, National Science Foundation,
Arlington, VA 22230.
OMB control number: 3145-0058.
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