Title: Information Technology Research (ITR)
Date: September 28, 1999
NSF 99-167
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH (ITR)
PROGRAM SOLICITATION
DIRECTORATE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
DIRECTORATE FOR COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
DIRECTORATE FOR ENGINEERING
DIRECTORATE FOR GEOSCIENCES
DIRECTORATE FOR MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS
DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
DEADLINE DATES:
PROPOSALS WITH BUDGETS OVER $500K
LETTERS OF INTENT (REQUIRED): NOVEMBER 15, 1999
PRE-PROPOSALS: JANUARY 5, 2000
FULL PROPOSALS: APRIL 17, 2000
PROPOSALS WITH BUDGETS NOT EXCEEDING $500K
LETTERS OF INTENT (REQUIRED): JANUARY 5, 2000
FULL PROPOSALS: FEBRUARY 14, 2000
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
_________________________________________________________________
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances
scientific progress in the United States by competitively
awarding grants 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 Web site at:
http://www.nsf.gov
Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230
For General Information (NSF Information Center): (703) 306-1234
TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 306-0090
To Order Publications or Forms:
Send an e-mail to: pubs@nsf.gov
or telephone: (301) 947-2722
To Locate NSF Employees: (703) 306-1234
_________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Program Name: Information Technology Research (ITR)
Short Description/Synopsis of Program:
Over the past decade, the Federal Government has provided
crucial investments in information science and engineering,
such as the High Performance Computing and Communications
(HPCC) Program and the Partnerships for Advanced
Computational Infrastructure (PACI). The recent report of
the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee
(PITAC) noted the important contribution this investment has
made, but cautioned that federal support for long-term
research on information technology has been "dangerously
inadequate." This report has led the Administration to seek
additional funding research in information technology.
Congressional bill HR 2086 also calls for NSF to make grants
for "long-term basic research on networking and information
technology, with priority given to research that helps
address issues related to high end computing and software
and network stability, fragility, reliability, security
(including privacy), and scalability."
This solicitation requests proposals for fundamental
research in information technology, encouraging in
particular research spanning information technology and
scientific applications, and in the area of social, ethical
and workforce issues. Pending availability of funds, a
separate solicitation will be issued for a terascale
computer facility for high-end science and engineering.
NSF encourages multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional
proposals as well as proposals with international
cooperation. NSF has particular responsibility to address
educational and community-extending activities. Thus NSF
expects that proposals will address and include one or more
community-extending concepts such as undergraduate education
or links to minority serving institutions, or institutions
in EPSCOR states.
Cognizant Program Officers:
William Bainbridge, Social, Behavioral and Economic
Sciences (SBE), telephone: 703-306-1741, e-mail:
wbainbri@nsf.gov.
John Cherniavsky, Education and Human Resources (EHR),
telephone: 703-306-1650, email: jchernia@nsf.gov.
Alan Gaines, Geosciences (GEO), telephone: 703-306-
1517, e-mail: againes@nsf.gov.
Michael Lesk, Computer and Information Science and
Engineering (CISE), telephone 703-306-1930, e-mail:
mlesk@nsf.gov.
Dennis Peacock, Office of Polar Programs (OPP),
telephone: 703-306-1033; e-mail: dpeacock@nsf.gov.
Arthur Sanderson, Engineering (ENG), telephone: 703-306-
1339, e-mail: asanders@nsf.gov.
Barry Schneider, Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
telephone: 703-306-1808, e-mail: bschneid@nsf.gov.
Gerald Selzer, Biological Sciences (BIO), telephone:
(703) 306-1469, e-mail: gselzer@nsf.gov .
Mark Suskin, Division of International Programs (INT),
telephone: 703-306-1702; e-mail: msuskin@nsf.gov .
ELIGIBILITY
- Limitation on the categories of organizations that are
eligible to submit proposals:
Eligible institutions include U. S. universities and colleges
and U. S. non-profit research institutions.
Collaboration with foreign researchers, for-profit
corporations, and national laboratories (e.g. Federal agencies
and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
(FFRDCS)) is encouraged but those organizations must provide
their own funding.
Proposals are particularly encouraged from minority-serving
institutions, undergraduate institutions, and institutions in
EPSCOR states, either alone or as members of multi-
institutional groups.
Mutually beneficial international collaborations are
encouraged, which may provide access to complementary research
facilities, support comparative international studies, or draw
on individual abilities and knowledge in all countries.
Applicants proposing international collaborations are
encouraged to discuss their plans with the contact person for
International Programs named in the list of cognizant program
officers.
- PI eligibility limitations: No individual may be Principal
Investigator on more than two proposals or a PI or Co-PI on a
total of more than four proposals.
- Limitation on the number of proposals that may be submitted
by an organization: None
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
No.: 47.074 (BIO), 47.070 (CISE), 47.076 (EHR), 47.041
(ENG), 47.050 (GEO), 47.049 (MPS), 47.075 (SBE), 47.078
(OPP).
AWARD INFORMATION SUMMARY
- Type of awards anticipated: Standard Grants, Continuing
Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.
NSF anticipates that funding for this program will be
between $35M and $105M for FY 2000. If funding is near
the lower end of this range, NSF anticipates
distributing, subject to the availability of funds,
- Approximately 1/6 of program funding in awards at a level of
about $2M-3M per year, and
- Approximately 1/3 of program funding in awards at a level of
about $1M/yr, and
- Approximately 1/2 of program funding in awards at a level of
about $150K/yr.
If funding is near or at the high end of this range,
NSF anticipates distributing, subject to the
availability of funds,
- Approximately 30% of program funding in awards at levels of
about $2M-$4M per year, and
- Approximately 40% of program funding in awards at levels of
about $1M/year, and
- Approximately 30% of program funding in awards at levels of
about $150K/year.
Anticipated date of awards: September 2000.
Award numbers and sizes are contingent on availability
of funds.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION SUMMARY
- Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Letter of Intent requirements: Required. Letters of intent
should be sent from the prospective PI by email to itr-
loi@nsf.gov, and should contain the PI and co-PI's names, a list
of possible participating institutions, a possible title, and not
more than 500 words to describe the work enough to permit
intelligent choice of reviewers. Letters of intent will not be
evaluated or used to decide on funding. They are requested to
assist NSF in planning the review process. The submission of
letters of intent enables NSF to begin choosing panelists before
the proposal submission deadline.
- Pre-proposal requirements: Required for proposals requesting
over $500K total.
- Proposal preparation instructions: Standard NSF Grant
Proposal Guide instructions
- Preparation of proposal supplementary information: Up to two
additional pages are allowed to describe the details of any
proposed international collaborations; see instructions later in
the solicitation under the heading "Proposal preparation
instructions".
Deviations from standard (GPG) proposal preparation instructions:
FastLane required. In addition, the signed cover sheet must be
scanned into the Supplementary Documents section of your FastLane
proposal and submitted as part of the proposal. (Note: This
requirement deviates from the Grant Proposal Guide, GPG I.F.1.,
regarding submission of signed proposal cover sheets.)
- Budgetary Information
- Cost sharing/matching requirements: None.
- Indirect cost (F&A) limitations: None.
- Other budgetary limitations:
Projects requesting more than $500K total must
submit pre-proposals. No budget should exceed $3M
per year or five years duration. Only proposals
with budgets above $500K total may request more
than three years duration.
- FASTLANE REQUIREMENTS
- FastLane proposal preparation requirements: FastLane use
required.
FastLane point of contact: FastLane User Support at 703-306-1142,
or fastlane@nsf.gov.
DEADLINE/TARGET DATES
- Budgets exceeding $500K total:
- Letters of intent (Required): November 15, 1999 (email to
itr-loi@nsf.gov)
- Pre-Proposal Deadline 5:00 PM PI's local time, January 5,
2000 (FastLane)
- Full Proposal Deadline5:00 PM PI's local time, April 17,
2000 (FastLane)
- Budgets NOT exceeding $500K total:
- Letters of intent (Required): January 5, 2000 (email to
itr-loi@nsf.gov)
- Full Proposal Deadline: 5:00 PM PI's local time,
February 14, 2000 (FastLane)
PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
- Merit Review Criteria: Standard National Science Board
approved criteria. Both criteria will be applied.
AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
- Grant Award Conditions: GC-1, CA-1 or FDP III
- Special grant conditions anticipated: Award conditions are
dependent on the nature of the project.
- Special reporting requirements anticipated: Reporting
requirements are dependent on the nature of the project.
_________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The purpose of this program is to augment the knowledge base and
the workforce needed to enhance the value of information
technology for everyone. Information technology will be
essential for solving critical national problems in areas such as
fundamental science and engineering, the environment, health
care, and government operations; but new fundamental
understanding is required to make optimal progress. Thus,
proposals must approach research activities in innovative ways
rather than suggesting routine applications of existing
technology.
The breadth of activities covered under this solicitation is
significant. To simplify the process, the program description
highlights key categories for proposal submission. NSF
encourages projects that integrate across these categories.
Specific instances of research in this text are examples of, and
not limitations on, the content of proposals. NSF encourages
researchers from all scientific disciplines to submit innovative
research proposals on any aspect of information technology
including applications areas requiring beyond current state-of-
the-art computational methods and tools. NSF particularly
encourages proposals that contribute to fundamental understanding
of both information technology and other scientific disciplines,
as well as proposals for collaboration with international
researchers, for-profit corporations, and national laboratories.
Program Description
- Software
NSF invites proposals for research to improve both our
ability to write software and the quality of the software we
write. Proposed research should increase the scientific
basis of software engineering, provide a more reliable
process for building software, and help us build highly
reliable software systems. Proposals should focus on
innovations, not elaborations of existing toolkits or
systems.
Improved technology for software creation, and software that
is more reliable, more predictable, more robust, and more
modifiable or adaptable are among the goals for this aspect
of ITR research. Proposals should suggest ways to evaluate
or validate the techniques suggested. Software metrics,
secure software systems, and programming by end-users in
particular discipline areas in high-level languages, are
major emphases for FY2000. Proposals for work in software
for a particular field of application must involve
cooperation of researchers in that area.
Security of information systems, including privacy, is a
critical national need. Developing methods for building
high-confidence software systems that are resistant to
failure and to attack, new technologies suitable for the
design of very large scale systems involving both hardware
and software, and methods for building scalable software
systems that can be extended to large numbers of cooperating
computers are particularly exciting areas for ITR projects.
- Information Technology Education and Workforce
Educating our citizens to fill the estimated one million
vacant positions in the information technology industry is a
critical national need. Fundamental research projects in
universities should contribute to educational needs by
training students, developing new research foci in existing
departments, and increasing the breadth and depth of IT
research activities in U.S. universities.
Research projects should develop new methods for educating
people in IT or explore the use of learning technologies in
educating K-16 students for IT careers. NSF also is
interested in research on methods to increase IT literacy
and skills among the general student and public populations.
Projects which exploit international cooperation and
comparisons in the understanding of workforce and
educational issues are particularly encouraged.
- Human-Computer Interface
Human-computer interface research proposals will address our
understanding of human perceptual, cognitive and social
abilities and their relation to interface design. Proposals
should seek new ways of improving our ability to use
computers, or to extend the communities that use computers.
Interfaces of particular benefit to scientific users, the
elderly, the disabled, or schoolchildren are encouraged.
Examples of interface technologies include: visualization,
graphical techniques, language processing, computer
perception, robotics as related to personal interactions
with computers, and new sensors and/or display methods.
However, NSF urges proposers to consider developing new
interface modes that may move human-computer interface to a
higher level of use.
NSF has special interest in the possibility of assistive
interfaces that cannot only extend human capabilities for
those with limited sight, hearing or dexterity, but can also
offer superior capabilities to all users. Community studies
and collaborative use of computer systems and networks are
also included in this category.
- Information Management
Increasing the utility and scope of online information is
the goal of this element of the ITR research program.
Proposals should outline fundamental research activities
dealing either with online content (transforming the kind,
quality or amount of material online) or with access
(increasing the utility of online information via research
on quality, economics, searching, or other related areas).
Proposals relating to online information content should
involve a significant body of online information; they
should address the nature of the material, what is new, and
how it will be provided in a sustainable and permanent way.
This includes managing data derived from sensors and imaging
systems, new kinds, media, or genres of data, long-term
digital archiving, data fusion across many kinds and sources
of information, the modeling and assimilation of scientific
data, new methods of assuring data quality, and research
into principles of metadata.
Data systems in scientific areas link NSF's ITR activity
with research across other sciences and engineering.
Eligible areas include the earth, atmospheric and ocean
sciences; the biological sciences; the mathematical,
physical, chemical and astronomical sciences; the
engineering sciences; and the social and behavioral
sciences. Proposals in specific areas should involve
discipline experts in those areas as well as in computer
science and information technology. Proposals on data
quality, data modeling, and similar topics should involve
experts in the statistical sciences where appropriate.
Proposals relating to access should involve new ways of
finding and using information or of providing information to
new communities of users. Proposals may involve multi-
lingual information systems, mobile information systems, new
kinds of information organization and searching, new uses of
multi-media, and the economics of information systems.
- Advanced Computational Science
Proposals in this area should demonstrate a leading-edge
research contribution to algorithms, software, and systems
that is applicable to scientific and engineering
computation. Larger requests must also contribute to
advances in another scientific discipline. Such requests
should involve collaborations of researchers in both
computing and other disciplinary sciences.
Research in advanced computational science combines
algorithms, software, and systems, including topics such as
numerical methods, optimization, symbolic and algebraic
computation, computational geometry, software libraries,
data handling, problem-solving environments, systems design,
computer graphics and scientific visualization. When
coupled with other disciplines, the proposed efforts must
impact fundamental research in both areas, rather than
applying previously known computational techniques to
application areas.
NSF expects advanced computational research coupled to other
sciences to address areas such as: simulation of
biological, physical, geological, or social phenomena, real-
time collection and analysis of experimental data, new
advances in instrumentation, validation of existing models,
and proposal and validation of novel theories. The resulting
advances must impact the core of the field of study. All the
NSF Directorates have expressed interest in this aspect of
the initiative.
Plans for distributing software or other technology
developed in the course of the research should be addressed
in the proposal. NSF expects that others will be able to
build upon the success of these projects. Projects funded at
levels above $500K should disseminate their results in easy-
to-use form for the general scientific community.
- Scalable Information Infrastructure
Fundamental aspects of networking, including network
modeling, simulation, and emulation of very large networks;
underlying network technologies such as optical and wireless
networks; and middleware enabling large scale systems,
information management, and information and service
survivability form the core of research on scalable
information infrastructure. Pervasive networking
environments capable of networking very large numbers of
potentially very small distributed and embedded devices
effectively and efficiently, including network architecture,
middleware, and human interface aspects, represent a broad
area of interest. This includes highly scalable and
adaptable network protocols for evolving application
requirements, quality of service techniques including
mechanisms for network control and scheduling, and network
security and privacy tools.
Research on scalable mobile information infrastructure
should address the fundamental problem of wideband
networking and wideband network access at any time and any
place. Research goals may include multimegabit wireless
access with seamless global roaming.
- Social and Economic Implications of Information Technology
To maximize the benefits of new information technologies
(IT) and infrastructures to the entire United States,
research is needed to develop new knowledge about the
underlying processes by which their development and use
influence and transform society, and by which society
simultaneously influences their development and use.
Especially encouraged are proposals that suggest fundamental
advances in our ability to a) understand the particular
societal values embedded in design processes and products,
b) model the co-evolution of IT and social groups, c) evolve
new information technologies to better fill societal
requirements, and d) sustain distributed and local use of
critical infrastructures and networks over the long term.
Advances in knowledge to overcome various social, economic,
cultural and managerial barriers related to the use of IT
and infrastructures are fundamental to maximizing societal
benefits. These include, for example: IT access equity;
universal participation in networks, infrastructures and
digital economies; privacy issues related to new uses of
digital information and archived communications;
surveillance, monitoring, and tracking of network
activities; the development of trust in distributed social
settings and exchanges with strangers; intellectual property
issues and rights related to electronic publishing, digital
libraries, fair use in educational settings, etc.; and cross-
cultural issues related to any of the above. NSF encourages
international collaborations focused on these topics where
appropriate.
Specific areas of emphasis include: the economic and
technical systems that comprise the digital economy,
electronic markets, and Internet commerce, etc.; the causes
and effects of unequal participation in IT by different
social groups; the interdependence of technologies,
institutions, and communities; and the evolution and
functioning of IT-based collaboratories and distributed work
environments. Also relevant are studies of how laws, ethics
and social norms may be changing in relation to IT, of
public access to government information, and of the
involvement of IT in public decision-making.
Development of new data and indicators that would facilitate
tracking IT use and creation of new research methodologies
to study the socio-economic implications of IT are also
appropriate in this category.
- Revolutionary Computing
Research into alternative technological substrates for
computing looks beyond CMOS silicon to potential new
technologies that do not share the physical limitations of
CMOS and that offer additional possibilities for extensions
either to smaller systems or to systems that compute in
different ways. Potential topics include DNA molecules,
quantum effects, and neuromorphic, optical and hybrid
computing models.
Proposals in revolutionary computing should describe the new
technology, the plans for technological progress, and the
ultimate limits of the technology as currently understood.
The goal of the research should be a proof-of-concept
demonstration of the power and applicability of the new
technology.
As noted in the Introduction, specific instances of research in
this text are examples of, and not limitations on, the content of
proposals. NSF encourages researchers from all scientific
disciplines to submit innovative research proposals on any aspect
of information technology including applications areas requiring
beyond current state-of-the-art computational methods and tools.
NSF particularly encourages proposals that contribute to
fundamental understanding of both information technology and
other scientific disciplines, as well as proposals for
collaboration with international researchers, for-profit
corporations, and national laboratories.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible institutions include U. S. universities and colleges
and U. S. non-profit research institutions.
Collaboration with foreign researchers, for-profit
corporations, and national laboratories (e.g. Federal agencies
and federally funded research and development centers
(FFRDCS)) is encouraged but those organizations must provide
their own funding.
Proposals are particularly encouraged from minority-serving
institutions, undergraduate institutions, and institutions in
EPSCOR states, either alone or as members of multi-
institutional groups.
Mutually beneficial international collaborations are
encouraged, which may provide access to complementary research
facilities, support comparative international studies, or draw
on individual abilities and knowledge in all countries.
Applicants proposing international collaborations are
encouraged to discuss their plans with the contact person for
International Programs named in the list of cognizant program
officers.
- PI eligibility limitations: No individual may be Principal
Investigator on more than two proposals or a PI or Co-PI on a
total of more than four proposals.
- Limitation on the number of proposals that may be submitted
by an organization: None
AWARD INFORMATION
Under this solicitation, proposals may be submitted for any
funding amount up to $3.0 million per year for up to five years.
Any proposer requesting more than $500K total must submit a pre-
proposal. Only proposals requesting more than $500K total may
request a duration of more than three years. Grants may be
awarded in a wide variety of sizes and durations; the majority of
the funds available will be given in awards of not more than $1M
per year. Awards above this threshold require a compelling
justification. This justification should explain why a large
project is the best way to perform the research, whether required
by the breadth of the proposed activities, the interdisciplinary
nature of the activities, or other reasons. Cooperative
agreements may be used as the funding mechanism for large
projects. The number of awards made will depend on the quality
of submissions and the availability of funds. Anticipated date of
awards: September 2000.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Letters of intent (Required)
Letters of intent should be sent from the prospective PI by email
to itr-loi@nsf.gov, and should contain the PI and co-PI's names,
a list of possible participating institutions, a possible title,
and not more than 500 words to describe the work enough to permit
intelligent choice of reviewers. Letters of intent will not be
evaluated or used to decide on funding. They are requested to
assist NSF in planning the review process. The submission of
letters of intent enables NSF to begin choosing panelists before
the proposal submission deadline.
B. Pre-Proposal Preparation Instructions
Pre-proposals are required for proposals requesting more than
$500K and must be submitted via FastLane. Preproposals should
include:
- Cover page. (NSF Form 1207; only page 1, page 2 not
required)
- Information about the Principal Investigator (Form 1225) is
automatically generated by FastLane.
- Project summary. Provide a brief description of the
project, identifying the scientific research problems to be
addressed, the methodologies to be used, and the potential
outcomes.
- Project Description, Goals and Objectives (maximum five
pages): Discuss the goals, objectives and anticipated impact of
the proposed project. Make clear that the proposed project is a
research project, and that it contributes to advances in
information technology and related sciences as appropriate.
- Budget Outline. Prepare a one-page cumulative budget for
the full duration of the project. The budget need not be
detailed but should be sufficient for reviewers to grasp the
intended scale of the proposed project. (In FastLane, enter your
cumulative budget in Budget Year 1. FastLane will automatically
fill out a cumulative budget for your proposal.)
- Biographical Sketches. For all senior personnel (see
Appendix C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a definition of senior
personnel) provide a brief curriculum vitae including only name,
current address, educational background, and up to 5 publications
most closely related to the research. This section must not
exceed two pages per person.
C. Proposal Preparation Instructions.
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation
should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general
guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), NSF 00-2,
and Fastlane is required. The complete text of the GPG
(including electronic forms) is available electronically on the
NSF Web site at: . 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 solicitation
number (NSF 99-167) 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.
Proposers requesting more than $500K total must submit a pre-
proposal by January 5, 2000. Pre-proposal feedback will be
provided by February 15, 2000. Final proposals are due by April
17, 2000. Pre-proposal feedback will either encourage or
discourage submission of a full proposal. Relatively few awards
of more than $1M per year will be encouraged.
Pre-proposal feedback is advisory; PIs may submit a final
proposal even if discouraged by pre-proposal feedback, but no
final proposal above $500K total budget or 3 year duration will
be accepted which does not have an associated pre-proposal, and
no more than one such final proposal may be submitted for each
pre-proposal.
Proposals for under $500K and not more than three years need not
have pre-proposals, and should be submitted by February 14, 2000.
Up to two additional pages are allowed to describe the details of
any proposed international collaborations. This section should be
clearly labeled "International Special Information" and should be
included in Section I - Supplementary Documentation in Fastlane;
it will not be included in the project description page count. It
should include the names of major foreign collaborators, the
objective of the collaboration, and the added benefit it would
bring to the research project. A plan of visits to other
countries and identification of who will travel should be
included in the budget justification section.
D. Budgetary Information
Any proposal for more than $500K in total budget or more than 3
years duration must reference a pre-proposal on the NSF cover
sheet (NSF Form 1207). (This is done in Fastlane by using the
designated box on the NSF cover sheet) . Other budgetary
requirements are in accordance with the Grant Proposal Guide.
Cost-sharing is not required for proposals responding to this
solicitation.
E. Proposal Due Dates.
For proposals with budgets exceeding $500K, letters of intent are
requested by November 15, 1999. These are required but are not
considered in the decision process; they are to assist scheduling
the review process. The letters of intent will increase the
quality of the match between the proposal and the reviewers.
Pre-proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., PI's local time,
January 5, 2000.
Full proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., PI's local time,
April 17, 2000. (Note: The signed cover sheet must be scanned
into the Supplementary Documents section of your FastLane
proposal and submitted as part of the proposal. Hard copies
should not be sent to NSF.)
For proposals with budgets NOT exceeding $500K, letters of intent
are requested by January 5, 2000. These are required and are not
considered in the decision process; they are to assist scheduling
the review process. The letters of intent will increase the
quality of the match between the proposal and the reviewers.
Full proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., PI's local time,
February 14, 2000.
Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. Proposals must be submitted
electronically via FastLane, and you should print the
certification page (page 2 of the cover sheet), obtain the
necessary signatures, and scan the signed certification page into
the Supplementary Documents section of your FastLane proposal for
electronic submission as part of your proposal. (Note: This
requirement deviates from the Grant Proposal Guide, GPG I.F.1.,
regarding submission of signed proposal cover sheets.)
F. 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 cover sheet must be
scanned into the Supplementary Documents section of your FastLane
proposal and submitted as part of the proposal. (Note: This
requirement deviates from the Grant Proposal Guide, GPG I.F.1.,
regarding submission of signed proposal cover sheets.)
PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
A. Merit Review Criteria.
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, adjacent disciplines
to that principally addressed in the proposal.
Proposals will be reviewed against the following general merit
review criteria established by the National Science Board.
Following each criterion are potential considerations that the
reviewer may employ in the evaluation. These are suggestions and
not all will apply to any given proposal. Each reviewer will be
asked to address only those that are relevant to the proposal 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 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?
PIs should address the following elements in their proposal to
provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond
fully to both NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will give
these factors careful consideration 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 learner 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 - are 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 persons
outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented
by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this
solicitation will be reviewed by panel review only. Pre-
proposals will also be reviewed by panels only.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either
support or decline each proposal. A program officer assigned to
manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of
reviewers and will formulate a recommendation. In most cases,
proposers will be contacted by the program officer after his or
her recommendation to award or decline funding has been approved
by his or her supervisor, the division director. This informal
notification is not a guarantee of an eventual award. NSF will
be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been
declined or recommended for funding within six months for 95
percent of proposals. The time interval begins on the proposal
deadline or target date or from the date of receipt, if deadlines
or target dates are not used by the program. 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
an NSF 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.
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
(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, solicitation 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.
Cooperative agreement awards also are administered in accordance
with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1).
* These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Web
site at: . 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: . 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 format for 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 97-
100) includes information on: Administration and Management
Information; Accounting System Requirements and Auditing
Information; and Payments to Organizations with 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: .
CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
General inquiries should be made to the ITR: Information
Technology Program, first by consulting the FAQ at
http://www.itr.nsf.gov, or by email to itr-prog@nsf.gov; or to
one of the cognizant program officers listed in the Summary of
Program Requirements. For questions related to use of FastLane,
contact FastLane User Support at 703-306-1142, or
fastlane@nsf.gov.
OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
The NSF guide to programs is a compilation of funding for
research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering.
General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and
eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in
each chapter. Many NSF programs offer announcements concerning
specific proposal requirements. to obtain additional information
about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program
offices listed in Appendix A of the GPG. Any changes in NSF's
fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to
Programs will be announced in the NSF Bulletin, available monthly
(except July and August), and in individual program
announcements. The Bulletin is available electronically via the
NSF Web Site at: http://www.nsf.gov. The direct URL for recent
issues of the Bulletin is
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/publicat/bulletin/bulletin.htm
Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service to
find out what funding opportunities are available.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and
education in most fields of science and engineering. Grantees
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 (unless otherwise specified in the
eligibility requirements for a particular program).
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 program announcement or contact
the program coordinator at (703) 306-1636.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the
Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS)
capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to
communicate with the Foundation regarding NSF programs,
employment, or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703)
306-0090 or through FIRS on 1-800-877-8339.
The National Science Foundation is committed to making all of the
information we publish easy to understand. If you have a
suggestion about how to improve the clarity of this document or
other NSF-published materials, please contact us at
plainlanguage@nsf.gov.
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 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.
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 H.
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer; Division of Administrative
Services; National Science Foundation; Arlington, VA 22230.
YEAR 2000 REMINDER
In accordance with Important Notice No. 120 dated June 27, 1997,
Subject: Year 2000 Computer Problem, NSF awardees are reminded of
their responsibility to take appropriate actions to ensure that
the NSF activity being supported is not adversely affected by the
Year 2000 problem. Potentially affected items include: computer
systems, databases, and equipment. The National Science
Foundation should be notified if an awardee concludes that the
Year 2000 will have a significant impact on its ability to carry
out an NSF funded activity. Information concerning Year 2000
activities can be found on the NSF web site at
http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/y2k/start.htm .
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 47.074 (BIO),
47.070 (CISE), 47.076 (EHR), 47.041 (ENG), 47.050 (GEO), 47.049
(MPS), 47.075 (SBE), 47.078 (OPP).
OMB No.: 3145-0058
NSF 99-167
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