NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Law and Social Science Research Experiences for Graduates (REG) Supplements Dear Colleague Letter Dear Colleague: To advance the integration of research and education, the Law and Social Science program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) invites existing awardees to request a Research Experiences for Graduates (REG) Supplement. This grant will provide a stipend of up to $6,000 per student in supplemental funds to support the cost of a Ph.D. student's closely mentored but independent research experience. The student's research should be a creative project, not a clerk's or assistant's task. The purpose of these awards is to give students a taste of the excitement of real research and to encourage principal investigators (PIs) to engage in cooperative, collaborative projects. * Requests for REG support should be submitted via Fastlane by March 1, annually. * The request for supplemental funding should include a proposed budget, budget justification, and a description of the proposed effort. The description should state clearly that this is a REG Supplement request, and should articulate in some detail the form and nature of the student's involvement in the research project. In addition, the description should discuss the experience of the PI in involving graduates in research and the process and criteria for selection of student(s). Normally, funds may be available for up to two students per request, but exceptions will be considered for training additional qualified students who are members of underrepresented groups. ( * The request should contain a NSF budget page, including information about the proposed use of funds requested for student support. All student costs should be entered at "Participant Support Costs" (line F). In lieu of indirect costs at a fixed predetermined rate, an administrative allowance limited to 25% of the student stipend support may be requested (enter on line I of the budget). I. INTRODUCTION The National Science Foundation announces the Law and Social Science Research Experiences for Graduates (REG) program, a program for support of active research participation by graduate students. The REG program seeks to expand student participation in all kinds of research -- whether disciplinary or interdisciplinary in focus -- encompassing efforts by individual investigators, groups, centers, national facilities and others. The REG program contributes to the NSF goal of developing a diverse, internationally competitive, and globally-engaged scientific and engineering workforce. It draws on the integration of research and education to attract a diversified pool of talented students into careers in science and engineering and to help ensure that they receive the best education possible. II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Law and Social Science Research Experiences for Graduates program aims to provide appropriate and valuable educational experiences for graduate students through research participation. REG projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specially designed for the purpose. REG projects feature high quality interaction of students with faculty and/or other research mentors and access to appropriate facilities and professional development opportunities. REG opportunities are an excellent way to reach broadly into the student talent pool of our nation. NSF is particularly interested in increasing the participation in research of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities. REG projects are strongly encouraged to involve students who are members of these groups. Underrepresented minorities are African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders. The Law and Social Science REG program welcomes projects with an international dimension. The design of such projects is based on the opportunity at hand, but typically involves partnering of an experienced REG project in the U. S. with international collaborators in a selected organization or institution. Successful projects arise from shared commitment to research and education in a focused area. Projects supported by a REG Supplement may be carried out during the summer months, during the academic year, or both. The term of REG Supplements may not generally exceed that of the underlying research project. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation. Principal Investigator: Proposals may be submitted by universities in support of Principal Investigators (PIs) holding existing NSF grants from the Law and Social Science program. The PI must be currently serving as PI or co-PI on a NSF grant. Eligible Student Participants: Graduate student participants supported with NSF funds in these supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. A graduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a Ph.D. degree. Students who are transferring from one institution to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer may participate. College graduates who have not yet enrolled and students who have received their Ph.D. degrees and are no longer enrolled as graduate students generally are not eligible. IV. AWARD INFORMATION An REG activity is funded as a supplement to an existing award from the Law and Social Science program. It is estimated that awards will average about $7,500 per student (student stipend plus administrative fee) and about 8 awards will be made. The program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds. V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS A. Proposal Preparation Instructions An REG Supplement request is submitted as a supplement request to an ongoing award. The description of the REG activity should discuss the following: 1) the form and nature of each prospective student's involvement in the research project; 2) the experience of the Principal Investigator (or other possible research mentors) in involving graduates in research, including any previous REG Supplement support and the outcomes from that support; and 3) the process and criteria for selection of the student(s). If the student has been pre-selected, as may be the case in supplementation of an ongoing award, then the grounds for selection and a brief biographical description of the student should be included. Normally funds may be available for up to two students per request, but exceptions will be considered for training additional qualified students who are members of underrepresented groups (women, minorities, and persons with disabilities). A request for an REG supplement to an existing NSF award is submitted via Fastlane. In the form entitled Summary of Proposed Work, state simply that this is a request for an REG supplement. In the form entitled Justification for Supplement, include the information enumerated in above paragraphs, limited to 3 pages. Prepare a budget, including a justification of the funds requested for student support and their proposed use. All student costs are entered under line F as participant support costs. An administrative allowance (limited to 25% of the participant stipend support only) is allowed for REG awards in lieu of indirect costs (enter on line I of the proposal budget). Normally, the term of an REG supplement may not exceed that of the underlying research project. The request is then forwarded to the institution's Authorized Organizational Representative for submission to NSF. B. Budgetary Information Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program Announcement. Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: In lieu of indirect costs at a fixed predetermined rate, an administrative allowance limited to 25% of the student stipend support may be requested. C. Deadline/Target Dates March 1, annually D. FastLane Requirements Proposers are required to prepare and submit all supplement requests for this Program Announcement 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 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the Supplement Budget Request 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 certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. 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 Supplement requests submitted in response to this announcement will be reviewed by NSF program staff against the following general review criteria established by the National Science Board as detailed in the Grant Proposal Guide (http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_prep.htm). In addition, special attention will be paid to the following considerations: -- The appropriateness and value of the educational experience for the student participants, particularly the appropriateness of the research project(s) for graduate student involvement and the nature of student participation in these activities; -- The quality of the research environment, including the record of the mentor(s) with graduate research participation, the facilities, and the professional development opportunities; -- Appropriateness of the student recruitment and selection plan, including plans for involving students from underrepresented groups and from institutions with limited research opportunities; -- Quality of plans for student preparation and follow-through designed to promote continuation of student interest and involvement in research. B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard Requests submitted in response to this announcement will be reviewed by internal program review only. After programmatic approval has been obtained, supplement requests 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 its own risk. VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION A. Notification of the Award Notification of the supplement in the form of an amendment to the existing 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. B. Award Conditions The supplement shall be awarded under the same grant award conditions that are applicable to the grant and any numbered amendments thereto and any special conditions stated in this Dear Colleague Letter. C. Reporting Requirements There are no special reporting requirements for these supplements beyond the regular reporting requirements that apply to the grant. VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION General inquiries regarding Law and Social Science Research Experiences for Graduates (REG) Supplements should be made to: * Paul J. Wahlbeck, Director, Law and Social Science Program, telephone: 703-292-8762, e-mail: pwahlbec@nsf.gov. For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact: * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188, e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov. * FastLane Contacts, http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a0/flcontacts.htm. 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 web site 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. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specially designed for the purpose. 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) 292-6865. The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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) 292-5090 or through FRS on 1-800-877-8339. 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. 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. OMB control number: 3145-0058. Publication Number: NSF 02-014