Nationwide Science Basis
Directorate for STEM Schooling Analysis on Studying in Formal and Casual Settings
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
March 06, 2024
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
This solicitation is for ITEST Useful resource Heart proposals solely.
Full proposals involving a number of organizations could also be submitted as individually submitted collaborative proposals, or as a single proposal from the lead group with different collaborating organizations included as subawardees.
The undertaking description could also be as much as 20 pages.
One award will probably be made as a cooperative settlement.
Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation needs to be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) that’s in impact for the related due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is frequently revised and it’s the duty of the proposer to make sure that the proposal meets the necessities specified on this solicitation and the relevant model of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal previous to a specified deadline doesn’t negate this requirement.
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Normal Info
Program Title:
Revolutionary Know-how Experiences for College students and Lecturers Useful resource Heart (ITEST RC)
Synopsis of Program:
The Revolutionary Know-how Experiences for College students and Lecturers (ITEST) program is an utilized analysis and growth program that seeks to actualize a various future STEM (science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic) and ICT (info and communication applied sciences) workforce that’s ready to fulfill urgent native, societal, and international challenges. As a result of STEM and ICT careers more and more depend on applied sciences and computing, the ITEST program funds initiatives that have interaction youth, from pre-kindergarten by way of highschool, and pre-Okay-12 educators in equitable, revolutionary expertise studying and training experiences inside and throughout STEM disciplines in formal or casual settings. These initiatives construct youths’ curiosity and data in STEM careers, they usually prioritize the complete inclusion of all teams to incorporate these which were underrepresented, under-served, or excluded from STEM academic alternatives. This ensures that NSF is healthier postured to leverage the complete spectrum of various expertise throughout the nation.
This solicitation requires a Useful resource Heart for the ITEST program. The Useful resource Heart will assist various, multi-sector stakeholders in actualizing the three pillars of ITEST: (1) methods for fairness in STEM training, (2) partnerships for profession and workforce preparation, and (3) revolutionary use of applied sciences in educating and studying. It’s anticipated that this Useful resource Heart will facilitate particular person and collective dialogue, reflection, and motion relative to those pillars, whereas supporting stakeholders within the conceptualization, actualization, and communication of ITEST initiatives.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please notice that the next info is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.
Relevant Catalog of Federal Home Help (CFDA) Quantity(s):
47.076 — STEM Schooling
Award Info
Anticipated Kind of Award: Cooperative Settlement
Estimated Variety of Awards: 1
In FY2024, NSF anticipates making one ITEST Useful resource Heart award with a most period of 5 years, contingent on availability of funds and receipt of aggressive proposals. The overall quantity of NSF’s funding within the Useful resource Heart will depend on the wants, plans, and alternatives provided by the Useful resource Heart, in addition to the supply of NSF funds.
Anticipated Funding Quantity: $5,000,000
One award with a five-year period.
Eligibility Info
Who Might Submit Proposals:
Proposals could solely be submitted by the next:
Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with neighborhood schools) accredited in, and having a campus situated within the US, appearing on behalf of their college members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal contains funding to be offered to a global department campus of a US establishment of upper training (together with by way of use of subawards and marketing consultant preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the undertaking of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the undertaking actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Unbiased museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and related organizations situated within the U.S. which are instantly related to academic or analysis actions.
For-profit organizations: U.S.-based business organizations, together with small companies, with robust capabilities in scientific or engineering analysis or training and a ardour for innovation.
State and Native Governments: State academic workplaces or organizations and native faculty districts.
Tribal Governments: The governing physique of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or neighborhood that the Secretary of the Inside acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe below the Federally Acknowledged Indian Tribe Checklist Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.)
Who Might Function PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits on the variety of proposals per group.
NOTE: Proposals involving a number of organizations are extremely inspired. These proposals could also be submitted from a lead group with different collaborating organizations included as subawardees as described in PAPPG Chapter II.E.3.a. These proposals can also be submitted as collaborative proposals from a number of organizations as described in PAPPG Chapter II.E.3.b. The proposal ought to specify how every collaborating group will present distinctive experience, organizational capability, and different assets that may, in combination, afford a complete method to partnering collectively to fulfill the wants of the ITEST program with respect to capacity-building, outreach, analysis, portfolio evaluation, and communication.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
A. Proposal Preparation Directions
Letters of Intent: Not required
Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
Full Proposals:
B. Budgetary Info
C. Due Dates
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
March 06, 2024
Proposal Overview Info Standards
Benefit Overview Standards:
Nationwide Science Board permitted standards. Extra advantage evaluate standards apply. Please see the complete textual content of this solicitation for additional info.
Award Administration Info
Award Situations:
Commonplace NSF award circumstances apply.
Reporting Necessities:
Extra reporting necessities apply. Please see the complete textual content of this solicitation for additional info.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract of Program Necessities
Introduction
Program Description
Award Info
Eligibility Info
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
Proposal Preparation Directions
Budgetary Info
Due Dates
Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities
NSF Proposal Processing and Overview Procedures
Benefit Overview Rules and Standards
Overview and Choice Course of
Award Administration Info
Notification of the Award
Award Situations
Reporting Necessities
Company Contacts
Different Info
I. INTRODUCTION
Concerning the Revolutionary Know-how Experiences for College students and Lecturers (ITEST) Program
The ITEST program is located inside the Division of Analysis on Studying in Formal and Casual Settings (DRL). DRL’s mission is to domesticate and catalyze elementary and utilized analysis and growth (R&D) to enhance the training of science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic for the nation.
The ITEST Useful resource Heart will assist the ITEST program in its targets to domesticate a various home US STEM and ICT workforce by way of offering equitable revolutionary expertise studying and training experiences for pre-Okay by way of highschool learners throughout a variety of formal and casual settings. The advantages of a various US workforce are many. They embrace however usually are not restricted to elevated financial prosperity and nationwide safety of the USA; the acceleration of STEM innovation by way of the infusion of various views; the development of the financial well-being of people that have been excluded from STEM academic alternatives; and a future STEM workforce that’s higher outfitted to make sure that all folks in society have elevated alternatives to profit from developments in STEM industries.
ITEST seeks initiatives that advance equitable outcomes and studying experiences for youth and communities which were excluded, under-served, or underrepresented in academic alternatives and careers in STEM fields. Fairness could embrace approaches to creating STEM studying environments that acknowledge the rightful presence, contributions, pursuits, and strengths of all who can take part in STEM pathways. Fairness can also embrace enhanced studying alternatives, supplies, or applied sciences for educators in settings which are under-resourced. Moreover, fairness could embrace academic approaches that equip the longer term STEM and ICT workforce to rework STEM careers and workplaces, such that they extra totally take into account the well-being of all folks. Lastly, fairness could embrace many different dimensions and approaches as outlined by youth, their educators, their households, their communities, and/or related theoretical and empirical literature.
As a part of its dedication to advancing fairness, collectively, ITEST initiatives are anticipated to have interaction all segments of society, together with youth and teams who’re traditionally or presently under-served or underrepresented in STEM.
The ITEST program acknowledges {that a} core mechanism for advancing fairness depends on partnerships that join stakeholders who every carry distinctive views, practices, assets, and strengths to bear on shared targets for fairness relative to STEM studying experiences that encourage and put together youth to pursue STEM and ICT careers. To this finish, ITEST initiatives ought to embrace companions comparable to community- or family-based organizations, formal or casual studying organizations, industries, non-profit organizations, neighborhood schools, and others who work collectively to attain the transformation wanted to offer equitable, technology-rich studying environments that put together youth for the STEM workforce of the longer term whereas concurrently fostering the transformation of this workforce.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This solicitation requires an ITEST Useful resource Heart that’s visionary in actualizing fairness in STEM studying environments that encourage and put together youth to pursue careers within the STEM workforce of the longer term. The Useful resource Heart management workforce will facilitate dialogue throughout stakeholders because it actively elicits new views on probably transformative approaches to workforce growth amongst communities and organizations which were missed or under-consulted on this work. This workforce ought to mirror a dedication to fairness and may embrace thought leaders with demonstrated experience, expertise, and analysis concerning fairness in STEM studying and educating.
The ITEST Useful resource Heart will have interaction people and organizations who search to broaden their capability to design, perform, and talk analysis on equitable, revolutionary expertise experiences for all pre-k by way of twelfth grade learners and their lecturers, which is able to put together the subsequent technology of the STEM workforce to fulfill international and societal challenges of the longer term. These audiences embrace however usually are not restricted to:
Present ITEST Principal Investigators (PIs) and undertaking companions on ITEST-funded awards.
Potential ITEST PIs and undertaking companions who search to develop aggressive ITEST proposals and enact their initiatives by way of equitable partnerships and practices. Potential PIs embrace those that are presently unaware of the ITEST program, however whose views on STEM educating and studying have the potential to rework the STEM workforce of the longer term and preparation for this workforce.
Different innovators who search to make use of equity- and evidence-based approaches to revolutionary expertise experiences, comparable to educators in formal and casual settings; community-based organizations; skilled networks and organizations; business stakeholders; policymakers; and STEM academic analysis communities.
The Useful resource Heart for the ITEST program is invited to check, design, and develop revolutionary and promising approaches to offering the next 4 features:
Domesticate a nationwide, multi-sector neighborhood devoted to selling fairness in STEM training amongst pre-Okay-12 youth, and their educators, in ways in which encourage and put together youth to pursue future profession alternatives in STEM.
Strengthen networking, partnerships, and synergies amongst organizations, establishments, networks, and/or industries with distinct strengths, assets, and areas of experience. These networks ought to strengthen capability of the sphere to ship equitable, revolutionary expertise experiences that put together the longer term STEM workforce.
Strengthen community-building and capability amongst STEM academic researchers and practitioners, and their companions, to drive change relative to STEM training that prepares youth for future STEM careers.
Enlist the curiosity and assist of stakeholders and decision-makers, together with industries, creators of academic applied sciences and media, policymakers, directors, academic researchers, educators in formal and casual settings, and different sectors to amplify the affect of efforts to advance fairness by way of revolutionary expertise experiences for youth in formal and casual settings.
Elevate the visibility and affect of equity-based analysis and observe in STEM training, which has the demonstrated potential to foster a various STEM workforce of the longer term.
Develop and promote compelling communications about equity-based academic approaches that enhance youths’ curiosity in, and preparation for, STEM careers of the longer term.
Present ITEST recipients (PIs and undertaking companions) with alternatives to spotlight their work to a broad vary of stakeholders.
Synthesize and disseminate ITEST initiatives’ findings nationally to tell and affect stakeholders. This contains conducting complete analyses of the ITEST portfolio for inner and exterior stakeholders yearly and as wanted. It additionally contains enacting a complete dissemination plan to speak ITEST outcomes and assets to formal and casual STEM training skilled organizations, policymakers, business stakeholders, and STEM academic researchers.
Help ITEST PIs, potential PIs, and companions in designing and researching STEM studying environments that contribute to equitable or expansive workforce preparation efforts and outcomes.
Present ITEST recipients (PIs and undertaking companions) with alternatives to deepen connections throughout initiatives and to take part in steady studying, reflection, and motion, with a particular give attention to equitable academic practices which have the potential to rework the STEM workforce of the longer term.
Present help relative to the design and enactment of equitable analysis and analysis strategies that may construct the collective proof base relative to equitable STEM studying environments.
Present technical help to potential ITEST PIs and potential companions, with emphases on growing aggressive proposals that enact fairness of their preparation and undertaking design. The Useful resource Heart ought to envision and enact a plan to offer technical help in proposal growth to organizations which are presently under-served by the ITEST program, together with these in EPSCoR states and rural areas, by way of regional workshops and different codecs. Below-served organizations additionally embrace cultural establishments, neighborhood schools, and Minority-Serving Establishments (as listed and outlined by the US Division of Schooling listing of MSIs: https://www2.ed.gov/about/workplaces/listing/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html), amongst others.
Promote equitable practices that assist the ITEST program.
Present visibility and assist for the ITEST program, its funding calls, and different NSF funding alternatives and insurance policies related to the ITEST program. The Useful resource Heart will present enhanced helps for teams, communities, and organizations that search larger participation in vision-setting across the STEM workforce of the longer term, and the tutorial alternatives in pre-Okay by way of twelfth grade that may assist to make this workforce a actuality.
Broaden participation within the ITEST PI neighborhood, such that it contains extra folks from various geographic areas, organizations, and communities. This contains these which are underrepresented or not-yet-represented within the ITEST portfolio. This postures NSF to leverage the complete spectrum of various expertise throughout society
Host biennial ITEST Awardee Conferences to share rising findings and challenges with respect to equitable analysis and observe relative to revolutionary expertise experiences for youth. The conferences will probably be organized in collaboration with NSF.
Host webinars and in-person workshops that assist organizations and people in dialogue, reflection, and motion relative to methods for fairness in STEM training, partnerships for profession and workforce preparation, and revolutionary use of applied sciences in educating and studying.
It’s requested that one of many mechanisms to satisfy these features needs to be a digital infrastructure, which can embrace parts comparable to a web site, a digital useful resource repository, social media, and/or different means to attach stakeholders to assets, the ITEST program, and each other. Outdoors of this request, the ITEST program has deliberately left unspecified the mechanisms for fulfilling these features as a way to encourage inventive approaches pushed by proposers.
III. AWARD INFORMATION
NSF anticipates making one ITEST Useful resource Heart award with a most period of 5 years, contingent on availability of funds and receipt of aggressive proposals. The award will probably be made as a Cooperative Settlement. The overall quantity of NSF’s funding within the Useful resource Heart will depend on the wants, plans, and alternatives provided by the Useful resource Heart, in addition to the supply of NSF funds.
IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Who Might Submit Proposals:
Proposals could solely be submitted by the next:
Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with neighborhood schools) accredited in, and having a campus situated within the US, appearing on behalf of their college members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal contains funding to be offered to a global department campus of a US establishment of upper training (together with by way of use of subawards and marketing consultant preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the undertaking of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the undertaking actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Unbiased museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and related organizations situated within the U.S. which are instantly related to academic or analysis actions.
For-profit organizations: U.S.-based business organizations, together with small companies, with robust capabilities in scientific or engineering analysis or training and a ardour for innovation.
State and Native Governments: State academic workplaces or organizations and native faculty districts.
Tribal Governments: The governing physique of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or neighborhood that the Secretary of the Inside acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe below the Federally Acknowledged Indian Tribe Checklist Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.)
Who Might Function PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits on the variety of proposals per group.
NOTE: Proposals involving a number of organizations are extremely inspired. These proposals could also be submitted from a lead group with different collaborating organizations included as subawardees as described in PAPPG Chapter II.E.3.a. These proposals can also be submitted as collaborative proposals from a number of organizations as described in PAPPG Chapter II.E.3.b. The proposal ought to specify how every collaborating group will present distinctive experience, organizational capability, and different assets that may, in combination, afford a complete method to partnering collectively to fulfill the wants of the ITEST program with respect to capacity-building, outreach, analysis, portfolio evaluation, and communication.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Directions
Full Proposal Preparation Directions: Proposers could choose to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation by way of Analysis.gov or Grants.gov.
Full Proposals submitted by way of Analysis.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation needs to be ready and submitted in accordance with the final pointers contained within the NSF Proposal and Award Insurance policies and Procedures Information (PAPPG). The whole textual content of the PAPPG is accessible electronically on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected]. The Put together New Proposal setup will immediate you for this system solicitation quantity.
Full proposals submitted by way of Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation by way of Grants.gov needs to be ready and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Software Information: A Information for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Purposes by way of Grants.gov. The whole textual content of the NSF Grants.gov Software Information is accessible on the Grants.gov web site and on the NSF web site at: (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). To acquire copies of the Software Information and Software Kinds Package deal, click on on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov website, then click on on the Apply Step 1: Obtain a Grant Software Package deal and Software Directions hyperlink and enter the funding alternative quantity, (this system solicitation quantity with out the NSF prefix) and press the Obtain Package deal button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Software Information additionally could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected].
In figuring out which methodology to make the most of within the digital preparation and submission of the proposal, please notice the next:
Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from a number of organizations have to be submitted by way of Analysis.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 supplies extra info on collaborative proposals.
See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for steering on the required sections of a full analysis proposal submitted to NSF. Please notice that the proposal preparation directions offered on this program solicitation could deviate from the PAPPG directions.
The next directions complement pointers within the NSF PAPPG and NSF Grants.gov Software Information:
1. Title
Title of Proposed Challenge: The title of the proposed undertaking should start with “ITEST-RC”.
2. Challenge Description
The undertaking description is restricted to twenty pages and should adjust to all formatting necessities of essentially the most present PAPPG. Along with the necessities outlined within the NSF PAPPG, proposals ought to handle the next parts within the undertaking description.
a. Rationale and Actions
Proposers ought to outline their imaginative and prescient for fairness relative to the three pillars of ITEST: methods for fairness in STEM training, partnerships for profession and workforce preparation, and revolutionary use of applied sciences in educating and studying. They need to current a concept of motion, grounded in related empirical or theoretical literature, for example how they may obtain this imaginative and prescient. This concept of motion ought to join with the 4 features of the Useful resource Heart by describing particular actions that align with these features and connecting them with attainable outcomes. The outline ought to have sufficient element for reviewers to guage the standard and anticipated outcomes of the middle.
b. Administration Plan
This plan ought to describe how the undertaking workforce will implement the Useful resource Heart over a five-year interval. This part ought to embrace descriptions of the ITEST Useful resource Heart’s workers positions, companions, and evaluator(s)/advisory board(s); experience, roles and obligations of every; strategies of coordination and collaboration between companions; and the effort and time every will commit to Heart actions. This part ought to embrace a undertaking timeline with milestones.
c. Analysis Plan
The proposal ought to define an analysis plan that stems from the speculation of motion and contains each formative (or developmental) and summative elements. The plan ought to lay out a schedule for annual evaluate; establish exterior evaluator(s) (and doable extra advisory board(s)); and clarify how analysis actions map to the middle’s concept of motion. Ongoing formative (developmental) analysis ought to describe how information will probably be used to tell the Useful resource Heart’s approaches and decision-making and embrace administration and efficiency indicators of progress for assessing the undertaking’s implementation processes and variations. The summative analysis ought to assess the affect of the undertaking actions and progress towards the middle’s total targets and aims. Contemplate consulting the American Analysis Affiliation web site for extra details about developmental evaluations, and the next NSF publication for formative and summative analysis plans: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf02057.
3. Different Required Sections
Per steering within the PAPPG, the Challenge Description should comprise, as a separate part inside the narrative, a bit labeled “Broader Impacts.” Proposers can determine the place to incorporate this part inside the Challenge Description. The proposal should additionally embrace a bit describing outcomes from prior NSF assist for the PI or co-PI, if relevant, as described within the PAPPG.
4. Finances and Finances Justification
Budgets needs to be ready in accordance with the steering within the PAPPG or NSF Grants.gov Software Information and embrace as much as 5 pages of finances justification. The finances justification needs to be in narrative type and embrace detailed explanations for every line merchandise with finances assets listed within the finances. For proposals with subawards, every subaward should embrace a separate finances and finances justification of not more than 5 pages.
5. Supplementary Documentation
a. Knowledge Administration Plan
Proposals should embrace a Supplementary Doc of not more than two pages labeled “Knowledge Administration Plan.” This supplementary doc ought to describe how the proposal will conform to NSF coverage on information assortment, storage, and sharing, in addition to the dissemination and sharing of findings and merchandise. The Knowledge Administration Plan ought to assist the sharing of knowledge, merchandise, and strategies in a fashion that others can perceive, validate, and replicate findings (see Chapter II.D.2.i of the PAPPG for full coverage implementation). All information collected by the Heart should additionally align with the “Knowledge Administration for NSF EHR Directorate Proposals and Awards” steering, which can be discovered right here: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/dmpdocs/ehr.pdf.
For added info on the NSF Knowledge Administration Plan Necessities, see: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/dmp.jsp. DMPs will probably be reviewed by exterior advantage reviewers and NSF program administrators and needs to be written with enough readability and element to assist proposal processing and the advantage evaluate course of. Generic Knowledge Administration Plans needs to be averted.
b. Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan
Proposals that request funding to assist postdoctoral researchers should develop a complete mentoring plan for the postdoctoral researcher(s). The plan needs to be uploaded below “Mentoring Plan” within the supplementary documentation part and embrace an outline of the mentoring actions that will probably be offered for such people. Mentoring actions offered to postdoctoral researchers supported on the undertaking will probably be evaluated below the Mental Benefit and Broader Impacts evaluate standards. For added info concerning postdoctoral researcher mentoring plans, see Chapter II.D.2.i of the PAPPG.
c. Letters of Collaboration
Letters of Collaboration from undertaking companions could also be included. An outline of Letters of Collaboration, and advised textual content is included within the NSF PAPPG. Letters of assist from individuals endorsing the undertaking however not making a considerable dedication to the undertaking usually are not allowed.
d. Checklist of Challenge Personnel
Along with steering offered within the PAPPG on required Particular Info and Supplementary Paperwork, please present an inventory of all undertaking personnel within the Supplementary Doc part. Present present, correct info for all personnel and organizations concerned within the undertaking. NSF workers will use this info within the advantage evaluate course of to handle reviewer choice. The listing should embrace all PIs, co-PIs, Senior Personnel, paid/unpaid Consultants or Collaborators, Subawardees, Postdocs, project-level advisory committee members, and writers of letters of collaboration. This listing needs to be numbered and embrace on this order Full identify, Group(s), and Function within the undertaking, with every merchandise separated by a semi-colon. Every particular person listed ought to begin a brand new numbered line.
e. Appendix
Not permitted. The 20 pages of the Challenge Description ought to comprise all the data wanted to explain the undertaking. Proposals submitted with an Appendix will probably be returned with out evaluate.
B. Budgetary Info
Price Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary dedicated value sharing is prohibited.
C. Due Dates
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
March 06, 2024
D. Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities
For Proposals Submitted Through Analysis.gov:
To arrange and submit a proposal by way of Analysis.gov, see detailed technical directions obtainable at: https://www.analysis.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission.html. For Analysis.gov consumer assist, name the Analysis.gov Assist Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected]. The Analysis.gov Assist Desk solutions normal technical questions associated to the usage of the Analysis.gov system. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation needs to be referred to the NSF program workers contact(s) listed in Part VIII of this funding alternative.
For Proposals Submitted Through Grants.gov:
Earlier than utilizing Grants.gov for the primary time, every group should register to create an institutional profile. As soon as registered, the applicant’s group can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov web site. Complete details about utilizing Grants.gov is accessible on the Grants.gov Applicant Sources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/net/grants/candidates.html. As well as, the NSF Grants.gov Software Information (see hyperlink in Part V.A) supplies directions concerning the technical preparation of proposals by way of Grants.gov. For Grants.gov consumer assist, contact the Grants.gov Contact Heart at 1-800-518-4726 or by e-mail: [email protected]. The Grants.gov Contact Heart solutions normal technical questions associated to the usage of Grants.gov. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation needs to be referred to the NSF program workers contact(s) listed in Part VIII of this solicitation.
Submitting the Proposal: As soon as all paperwork have been accomplished, the Licensed Organizational Consultant (AOR) should submit the applying to Grants.gov and confirm the specified funding alternative and company to which the applying is submitted. The AOR should then signal and submit the applying to Grants.gov. The finished utility will probably be transferred to Analysis.gov for additional processing.
The NSF Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov informational web page supplies submission steering to candidates and hyperlinks to useful assets together with the NSF Grants.gov Software Information, Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov how-to information, and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Continuously Requested Questions. Grants.gov proposals should cross all NSF pre-check and post-check validations as a way to be accepted by Analysis.gov at NSF.
When submitting by way of Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends candidates provoke proposal submission no less than 5 enterprise days prematurely of a deadline to permit sufficient time to handle NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting group’s native time on the deadline. Please notice that some errors can’t be corrected in Grants.gov. As soon as a proposal passes pre-checks however fails any post-check, an applicant can solely right and submit the in-progress proposal in Analysis.gov.
Proposers that submitted by way of Analysis.gov could use Analysis.gov to confirm the standing of their submission to NSF. For proposers that submitted by way of Grants.gov, till an utility has been obtained and validated by NSF, the Licensed Organizational Consultant could verify the standing of an utility on Grants.gov. After proposers have obtained an e-mail notification from NSF, Analysis.gov needs to be used to verify the standing of an utility.
VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
Proposals obtained by NSF are assigned to the suitable NSF program for acknowledgement and, in the event that they meet NSF necessities, for evaluate. All proposals are rigorously reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and often by three to 10 different individuals exterior NSF both as advert hoc reviewers, panelists, or each, who’re consultants within the specific fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are chosen by Program Officers charged with oversight of the evaluate course of. Proposers are invited to counsel names of individuals they consider are particularly effectively certified to evaluate the proposal and/or individuals they would like not evaluate the proposal. These ideas could function one supply within the reviewer choice course of on the Program Officer’s discretion. Submission of such names, nevertheless, is non-obligatory. Care is taken to make sure that reviewers don’t have any conflicts of curiosity with the proposal. As well as, Program Officers could get hold of feedback from website visits earlier than recommending closing motion on proposals. Senior NSF workers additional evaluate suggestions for awards. A flowchart that depicts the complete NSF proposal and award course of (and related timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.
A complete description of the Basis’s advantage evaluate course of is accessible on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/merit_review/.
Proposers must also concentrate on core methods which are important to the success of NSF’s mission, as articulated in Main the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Expertise Growth and the Supply of Advantages from Analysis – NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 – 2026. These methods are built-in in this system planning and implementation course of, of which proposal evaluate is one half. NSF’s mission is especially well-implemented by way of the combination of analysis and training and broadening participation in NSF packages, initiatives, and actions.
One of many strategic aims in assist of NSF’s mission is to foster integration of analysis and training by way of the packages, initiatives, and actions it helps at educational and analysis establishments. These establishments should recruit, prepare, and put together a various STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and take part within the U.S. technology-based financial system. NSF’s contribution to the nationwide innovation ecosystem is to offer cutting-edge analysis below the steering of the Nation’s most inventive scientists and engineers. NSF additionally helps growth of a robust science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) workforce by investing in constructing the data that informs enhancements in STEM educating and studying.
NSF’s mission requires the broadening of alternatives and increasing participation of teams, establishments, and geographic areas which are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is important to the well being and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is dedicated to this precept of variety and deems it central to the packages, initiatives, and actions it considers and helps.
A. Benefit Overview Rules and Standards
The Nationwide Science Basis strives to spend money on a sturdy and various portfolio of initiatives that creates new data and permits breakthroughs in understanding throughout all areas of science and engineering analysis and training. To establish which initiatives to assist, NSF depends on a advantage evaluate course of that comes with consideration of each the technical features of a proposed undertaking and its potential to contribute extra broadly to advancing NSF’s mission “to advertise the progress of science; to advance the nationwide well being, prosperity, and welfare; to safe the nationwide protection; and for different functions.” NSF makes each effort to conduct a good, aggressive, clear advantage evaluate course of for the number of initiatives.
1. Benefit Overview Rules
These ideas are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when making ready proposals and managing initiatives, by reviewers when studying and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program workers when figuring out whether or not or to not advocate proposals for funding and whereas overseeing awards. Provided that NSF is the first federal company charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in primary analysis and training, the next three ideas apply:
All NSF initiatives needs to be of the very best high quality and have the potential to advance, if not remodel, the frontiers of data.
NSF initiatives, within the combination, ought to contribute extra broadly to reaching societal targets. These “Broader Impacts” could also be achieved by way of the analysis itself, by way of actions which are instantly associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by way of actions which are supported by, however are complementary to, the undertaking. The undertaking actions could also be based mostly on beforehand established and/or revolutionary strategies and approaches, however in both case have to be effectively justified.
Significant evaluation and analysis of NSF funded initiatives needs to be based mostly on applicable metrics, protecting in thoughts the seemingly correlation between the impact of broader impacts and the assets offered to implement initiatives. If the scale of the exercise is restricted, analysis of that exercise in isolation isn’t more likely to be significant. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of those actions could greatest be finished at a better, extra aggregated, stage than the person undertaking.
With respect to the third precept, even when evaluation of Broader Impacts outcomes for specific initiatives is finished at an aggregated stage, PIs are anticipated to be accountable for finishing up the actions described within the funded undertaking. Thus, particular person initiatives ought to embrace clearly acknowledged targets, particular descriptions of the actions that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to doc the outputs of these actions.
These three advantage evaluate ideas present the premise for the advantage evaluate standards, in addition to a context inside which the customers of the factors can higher perceive their intent.
2. Benefit Overview Standards
All NSF proposals are evaluated by way of use of the 2 Nationwide Science Board permitted advantage evaluate standards. In some cases, nevertheless, NSF will make use of extra standards as required to spotlight the particular aims of sure packages and actions.
The 2 advantage evaluate standards are listed under. Each standards are to be given full consideration through the evaluate and decision-making processes; every criterion is important however neither, by itself, is enough. Due to this fact, proposers should totally handle each standards. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). accommodates extra info to be used by proposers in growth of the Challenge Description part of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly inspired to evaluate the factors, together with PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), previous to the evaluate of a proposal.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will probably be requested to think about what the proposers wish to do, why they wish to do it, how they plan to do it, how they may know in the event that they succeed, and what advantages might accrue if the undertaking is profitable. These points apply each to the technical features of the proposal and the best way by which the undertaking could make broader contributions. To that finish, reviewers will probably be requested to guage all proposals towards two standards:
Mental Benefit: The Mental Benefit criterion encompasses the potential to advance data; and
Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to profit society and contribute to the achievement of particular, desired societal outcomes.
The next parts needs to be thought of within the evaluate for each standards:
What’s the potential for the proposed exercise to
Advance data and understanding inside its personal subject or throughout completely different fields (Mental Benefit); and
Profit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
To what extent do the proposed actions counsel and discover inventive, unique, or probably transformative ideas?
Is the plan for finishing up the proposed actions well-reasoned, well-organized, and based mostly on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to evaluate success?
How effectively certified is the person, workforce, or group to conduct the proposed actions?
Are there sufficient assets obtainable to the PI (both on the dwelling group or by way of collaborations) to hold out the proposed actions?
Broader impacts could also be achieved by way of the analysis itself, by way of the actions which are instantly associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by way of actions which are supported by, however are complementary to, the undertaking. NSF values the development of scientific data and actions that contribute to achievement of societally related outcomes. Such outcomes embrace, however usually are not restricted to: full participation of girls, individuals with disabilities, and different underrepresented teams in science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM); improved STEM training and educator growth at any stage; elevated public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and expertise; improved well-being of people in society; growth of a various, globally aggressive STEM workforce; elevated partnerships between academia, business, and others; improved nationwide safety; elevated financial competitiveness of the USA; and enhanced infrastructure for analysis and training.
Proposers are reminded that reviewers may also be requested to evaluate the Knowledge Administration Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as applicable.
Extra Solicitation Particular Overview Standards
To what extent and in what methods are the proposed mechanisms for collaboration throughout organizations, establishments, and stakeholders more likely to contribute to the profitable achievement of the 4 features of an ITEST Useful resource Heart?
To what extent and in what methods are the proposed actions more likely to broaden participation relative to equitable and revolutionary expertise studying and training for pre-Okay by way of twelfth grade learners, and their later participation within the STEM workforce?
B. Overview and Choice Course of
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will probably be reviewed by Advert hoc Overview and/or Panel Overview, or Reverse Website Overview.
Reviewers will probably be requested to guage proposals utilizing two Nationwide Science Board permitted advantage evaluate standards and, if relevant, extra program particular standards. A abstract score and accompanying narrative will usually be accomplished and submitted by every reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to handle the proposal’s evaluate will take into account the recommendation of reviewers and can formulate a suggestion.
After scientific, technical and programmatic evaluate and consideration of applicable components, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether or not the proposal needs to be declined or really helpful for award. NSF strives to have the ability to inform proposers whether or not their proposals have been declined or really helpful for funding inside six months. Giant or notably complicated proposals or proposals from new recipients could require extra evaluate and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or goal date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer’s suggestion.
After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals really helpful for funding will probably be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Help for evaluate of enterprise, monetary, and coverage implications. After an administrative evaluate has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers carry out the processing and issuance of a grant or different settlement. Proposers are cautioned that solely a Grants and Agreements Officer could make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No dedication on the a part of NSF needs to be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or group that makes monetary or personnel commitments within the absence of a grant or cooperative settlement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their very own danger.
As soon as an award or declination determination has been made, Principal Investigators are offered suggestions about their proposals. In all circumstances, critiques are handled as confidential paperwork. Verbatim copies of critiques, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying info, are despatched to the Principal Investigator/Challenge Director by the Program Officer. As well as, the proposer will obtain an evidence of the choice to award or decline funding.
VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
A. Notification of the Award
Notification of the award is made to the submitting group by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. Organizations whose proposals are declined will probably be suggested as promptly as doable by the cognizant NSF Program administering this system. Verbatim copies of critiques, not together with the id of the reviewer, will probably be offered robotically to the Principal Investigator. (See Part VI.B. for extra info on the evaluate course of.)
B. Award Situations
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award discover, which incorporates any particular provisions relevant to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the finances, which signifies the quantities, by classes of expense, on which NSF has based mostly its assist (or in any other case communicates any particular approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced within the award discover; (4) the relevant award circumstances, comparable to Grant Normal Situations (GC-1)*; or Analysis Phrases and Situations* and (5) any announcement or different NSF issuance that could be integrated by reference within the award discover. Cooperative agreements are also administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Settlement Monetary and Administrative Phrases and Situations (CA-FATC) and the relevant Programmatic Phrases and Situations. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the group by way of e-mail.
*These paperwork could also be accessed electronically on NSF’s Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected].
Extra complete info on NSF Award Situations and different essential info on the administration of NSF awards is contained within the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) Chapter VII, obtainable electronically on the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
Administrative and Nationwide Coverage Necessities
Construct America, Purchase America
As expressed in Government Order 14005, Making certain the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Employees (86 FR 7475), it’s the coverage of the manager department to make use of phrases and circumstances of Federal monetary help awards to maximise, per regulation, the usage of items, merchandise, and supplies produced in, and companies provided in, the USA.
In line with the necessities of the Construct America, Purchase America Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Division G, Title IX, Subtitle A, November 15, 2021), no funding made obtainable by way of this funding alternative could also be obligated for an award until all iron, metal, manufactured merchandise, and development supplies used within the undertaking are produced in the USA. For added info, go to NSF’s Construct America, Purchase America webpage.
C. Reporting Necessities
For all multi-year grants (together with each customary and persevering with grants), the Principal Investigator should submit an annual undertaking report back to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days previous to the top of the present finances interval. (Some packages or awards require submission of extra frequent undertaking experiences). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI is also required to submit a closing undertaking report, and a undertaking outcomes report for most of the people.
Failure to offer the required annual or closing undertaking experiences, or the undertaking outcomes report, will delay NSF evaluate and processing of any future funding increments in addition to any pending proposals for all recognized PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs ought to study the codecs of the required experiences prematurely to guarantee availability of required information.
PIs are required to make use of NSF’s digital project-reporting system, obtainable by way of Analysis.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and closing undertaking experiences. Such experiences present info on accomplishments, undertaking contributors (particular person and organizational), publications, and different particular merchandise and impacts of the undertaking. Submission of the report by way of Analysis.gov constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are correct and full. The undertaking outcomes report additionally have to be ready and submitted utilizing Analysis.gov. This report serves as a short abstract, ready particularly for the general public, of the character and outcomes of the undertaking. This report will probably be posted on the NSF web site precisely as it’s submitted by the PI.
Extra complete info on NSF Reporting Necessities and different essential info on the administration of NSF awards is contained within the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG) Chapter VII, obtainable electronically on the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
The ITEST Useful resource Heart will probably be required to submit annual and analysis experiences on progress and plans, which will probably be used as a foundation for efficiency evaluate and figuring out the duty of cooperative settlement increments. Annual critiques of progress will embrace a set of administration and efficiency indicators and also will take the type of website go to(s) or reverse website go to(s).
VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS
Please notice that this system contact info is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.
Normal inquiries concerning this program needs to be made to:
For questions associated to the usage of NSF techniques contact:
NSF Assist Desk: 1-800-381-1532
Analysis.gov Assist Desk e-mail: [email protected]
For questions regarding Grants.gov contact:
Grants.gov Contact Heart: If the Licensed Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not obtained a affirmation message from Grants.gov inside 48 hours of submission of utility, please contact by way of phone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [email protected].
IX. OTHER INFORMATION
The NSF web site supplies essentially the most complete supply of knowledge on NSF Directorates (together with contact info), packages and funding alternatives. Use of this web site by potential proposers is strongly inspired. As well as, “NSF Replace” is an information-delivery system designed to maintain potential proposers and different events apprised of latest NSF funding alternatives and publications, essential adjustments in proposal and award insurance policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences. Subscribers are knowledgeable by way of e-mail or the consumer’s Internet browser every time new publications are issued that match their recognized pursuits. “NSF Replace” additionally is accessible on NSF’s web site.
Grants.gov supplies a further digital functionality to seek for Federal government-wide grant alternatives. NSF funding alternatives could also be accessed by way of this mechanism. Additional info on Grants.gov could also be obtained at https://www.grants.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The Nationwide Science Basis (NSF) is an impartial Federal company created by the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the aim of the NSF is “to advertise the progress of science; [and] to advance the nationwide well being, prosperity, and welfare by supporting analysis and training in all fields of science and engineering.”
NSF funds analysis and training in most fields of science and engineering. It does this by way of grants and cooperative agreements to greater than 2,000 schools, universities, Okay-12 faculty techniques, companies, casual science organizations and different analysis organizations all through the US. The Basis accounts for about one-fourth of Federal assist to educational establishments for primary analysis.
NSF receives roughly 55,000 proposals every year for analysis, training and coaching initiatives, of which roughly 11,000 are funded. As well as, the Basis receives a number of thousand functions for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The company operates no laboratories itself however does assist Nationwide Analysis Facilities, consumer services, sure oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic analysis stations. The Basis additionally helps cooperative analysis between universities and business, US participation in worldwide scientific and engineering efforts, and academic actions at each educational stage.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) present funding for particular help or tools to allow individuals with disabilities to work on NSF-supported initiatives. See the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information Chapter II.F.7 for directions concerning preparation of some of these proposals.
The Nationwide Science Basis has Telephonic Gadget for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Info Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that allow people with listening to impairments to speak with the Basis about NSF packages, employment or normal info. TDD could also be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The Nationwide Science Basis Info Heart could also be reached at (703) 292-5111.
The Nationwide Science Basis promotes and advances scientific progress in the USA by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for analysis and training within the sciences, arithmetic, and engineering.
To get the most recent details about program deadlines, to obtain copies of NSF publications, and to entry abstracts of awards, go to the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314
For Normal Info(NSF Info Heart):
(703) 292-5111
TDD (for the hearing-impaired):
(703) 292-5090
To Order Publications or Kinds:
Ship an e-mail to:
or phone:
(703) 292-8134
(703) 292-5111
PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The knowledge requested on proposal types and undertaking experiences is solicited below the authority of the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended. The knowledge on proposal types will probably be utilized in reference to the number of certified proposals; and undertaking experiences submitted by proposers will probably be used for program analysis and reporting inside the Government Department and to Congress. The knowledge requested could also be disclosed to certified reviewers and workers assistants as a part of the proposal evaluate course of; to proposer establishments/grantees to offer or get hold of information concerning the proposal evaluate course of, award choices, or the administration of awards; to authorities contractors, consultants, volunteers and researchers and educators as vital to finish assigned work; to different authorities businesses or different entities needing info concerning proposers or nominees as a part of a joint utility evaluate course of, or as a way to coordinate packages or coverage; and to a different Federal company, courtroom, or celebration in a courtroom or Federal administrative continuing if the federal government is a celebration. Details about Principal Investigators could also be added to the Reviewer file and used to pick potential candidates to function peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See System of Document Notices, NSF-50, “Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Related Information,” and NSF-51, “Reviewer/Proposal File and Related Information.” Submission of the data is voluntary. Failure to offer full and full info, nevertheless, could cut back the potential of receiving an award.
An company could not conduct or sponsor, and an individual isn’t required to reply to, an info assortment until it shows a legitimate Workplace of Administration and Finances (OMB) management quantity. The OMB management quantity for this assortment is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this assortment of knowledge is estimated to common 120 hours per response, together with the time for reviewing directions. Ship feedback concerning the burden estimate and another side of this assortment of knowledge, together with ideas for decreasing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Experiences Clearance Officer
Coverage Workplace, Division of Establishment and Award Help
Workplace of Finances, Finance, and Award Administration
Nationwide Science Basis
Alexandria, VA 22314
