Replaces Doc(s):
NSF 21-628
Nationwide Science Basis
Directorate for Geosciences Division of Earth Sciences
Full Proposal Goal Date(s):
March 15, 2024
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
Letters of Intent (LOI) are not required.
This solicitation is just for Heart Operation proposals.
Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation ought 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 commonly revised and it’s the accountability 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
Common Info
Program Title:
Facilities for Innovation and Neighborhood Engagement in Stable Earth Geohazards
Synopsis of Program:
The Facilities for Innovation and Neighborhood Engagement in Stable Earth Geohazards program helps university-based facilities to advance analysis on the elemental strong Earth processes that underpin pure hazards. Facilities will catalyze, coordinate, and produce transformative analysis, lead innovation, and allow convergent approaches for systems-level insights that require the collective efforts of a big group of people.
Facilities concentrate on addressing main, elementary science challenges for understanding strong Earth geohazards, primarily these associated to faulting, volcanoes, mass actions, and different dynamic processes. Particularly, the Facilities will advance understanding in a number of of the priorities outlined within the Nationwide Academies of Science, Engineering, and Drugs decadal survey report The Earth in Time, together with; What’s an earthquake? What drives volcanism? What are the causes and penalties of topographic change? and How can Earth science analysis cut back the danger and toll of geohazards?
Facilities will even foster totally different dimensions of neighborhood engagement to meaningfully enhance the nationwide welfare. Flagship neighborhood engagement actions will take daring and artistic motion to broaden participation of underrepresented teams within the geoscience workforce and increase the influence of elementary analysis in strong Earth geohazards to tell and put together a broader neighborhood. Facilities will set up partnerships to allow public outreach, hazard mitigation and different neighborhood engagement actions.
In 2024, the Program competitors will assist Heart Operation awards supposed to assist the operation of a totally developed middle addressing matters specializing in the elemental processes that create strong Earth geohazards, comparable to earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and/or different strong Earth or tectonic processes.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please observe that the next data 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):
Award Info
Anticipated Kind of Award: Cooperative Settlement
Estimated Variety of Awards: 1 to 2
Anticipated Funding Quantity: $7,000,000
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 positioned within the US, appearing on behalf of their college members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal consists of funding to be supplied to a world department campus of a US establishment of upper schooling (together with by use of subawards and guide preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the mission of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the mission actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Who Might Function PI:
There are not any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group: 1
Just one proposal could also be submitted by any Lead establishment.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
Anyone particular person will be the Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI for just one Heart Operation proposal. People could also be listed as collaborating Different Senior/Key Personnel on a couple of proposal.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
A. Proposal Preparation Directions
Letters of Intent: Not required
Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
Full Proposals:
B. Budgetary Info
Value Sharing Necessities:
Inclusion of voluntary dedicated price sharing is prohibited.
Oblique Value (F&A) Limitations:
Not Relevant
Different Budgetary Limitations:
Different budgetary limitations apply. Please see the total textual content of this solicitation for additional data.
C. Due Dates
Full Proposal Goal Date(s):
March 15, 2024
Proposal Overview Info Standards
Advantage Overview Standards:
Nationwide Science Board authorised standards. Further benefit assessment standards apply. Please see the total textual content of this solicitation for additional data.
Award Administration Info
Award Situations:
Normal NSF award situations apply.
Reporting Necessities:
Normal NSF reporting necessities apply.
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
Advantage Overview Ideas and Standards
Overview and Choice Course of
Award Administration Info
Notification of the Award
Award Situations
Reporting Necessities
Company Contacts
Different Info
I. INTRODUCTION
The Earth’s tectonics underpin lots of the planet’s processes at a broad vary of spatial and temporal scales, together with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and allied hazards. These strong Earth geohazards are accountable for trillions of {dollars} in harm and the lack of thousands and thousands of lives within the historical past of the U.S., and these dangers are anticipated to extend sooner or later as inhabitants will increase in hazardous areas. Main advances in our understanding of the elemental forces that drive catastrophic occasions are wanted to reply successfully to this threat and to interact a well-informed populace residing within the midst of those hazards.
The Facilities for Innovation and Neighborhood Engagement in Stable Earth Geohazards are supposed to catalyze, coordinate, and produce transformative analysis within the Earth processes that result in strong Earth geohazards. Facilities present community-scale management in two areas: convergence and innovation in systems-level science, and neighborhood engagement to develop a various and inclusive workforce, in addition to a well-prepared and knowledgeable public.
Facilities will likely be constructed round a compelling analysis problem or theme of serious scale and complexity that will require a coordinated strategy past what could be achieved by a small group of researchers. This system will assist fundamental analysis on Earth processes, in addition to the event of latest strategies wanted to advance the science. This system will assist facilitate new collaborations inside observational, experimental, theoretical and computational domains that will likely be important to deal with probably the most thrilling questions on the reducing fringe of Earth science. This program doesn’t assist efforts to operationalize monitoring, forecasting, or prediction of hazards, although partnerships may present assist for these actions.
Progress in advancing science requires a various and inclusive workforce that’s extremely expert. Facilities will meaningfully enhance the nationwide welfare by broadening participation actions, together with traditionally underrepresented teams, and advance the geoscience workforce. This system’s concentrate on societally related issues offers a platform to interact and prepare college students and postdocs from communities which have been traditionally underrepresented in science, know-how, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM). Moreover, knowledge-sharing between teams finishing up elementary analysis and people centered on mitigating and forecasting future hazards is vital for the well being and security of our nation. Consequently, Facilities will increase the influence of elementary analysis to a variety of stakeholders.
II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Facilities for Innovation and Neighborhood Engagement in Stable Earth Geohazards will need to have the next attributes:
1) Facilities will need to have a imaginative and prescient for revolutionary and transformative analysis that’s bold in scope. The complexity of the analysis would require extra in depth sources, comparable to mixtures of skills, expertise, and/or disciplines or specialised infrastructure, that will not be possible with customary assist to particular person investigators or small collaborative teams, comparable to is supplied by core packages within the NSF Earth Sciences Division (for instance, Geophysics, Tectonics, Geomorphology and Land-use Dynamics, Hydrologic Sciences, Petrology and Geochemistry, and others). Whereas middle proposals could be constructed upon prior assist, Principal Investigators ought to be certain that their proposed mission doesn’t considerably overlap with ongoing federally-funded analysis for themselves or any of their group members. Growing a definite and distinctive science portfolio is crucial for every middle. PIs contemplating potential tasks that cross the shoreline ought to contact Program Officers within the Marine Geology and Geophysics program within the Division of Ocean Sciences.
2) Facilities will need to have a imaginative and prescient and built-in set of actions for neighborhood engagement that locations a significant emphasis on supporting actions that educate the subsequent era of researchers. Facilities should present an exceptionally stimulating and dynamic setting for schooling through which the wants of scholars and researchers from all sectors of U.S. society are thought-about whereas positioning them to profit from interactions with a big, interdisciplinary group of scientists in any respect profession ranges. Facilities will even prioritize broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented teams in all sides of middle actions, and proposals ought to show how this will likely be achieved. Facilities will likely be anticipated to take specific steps to develop a tradition of fairness and inclusion in any respect ranges of operation and in all analysis endeavors.
3) Strategic planning will likely be a key factor of a Heart. Strategic plans will cowl all features of a middle, together with analysis, workforce growth and different broader influence actions; administration; broadening participation; and center-wide knowledge approaches, together with the event of specific milestones to be achieved in every of those domains. Strategic plans will likely be brazenly obtainable to the broader scientific neighborhood.
4) Facilities may have appropriately-scaled administration plans that deal with the management of the middle, how choices will likely be made, together with the roles of any inner committees, and the way synergy amongst tasks and actions will likely be actively promoted in service of the Heart’s imaginative and prescient. They embody appropriately scaled mechanisms for the continuing evaluation of analysis outcomes and broader impacts; growth and implementation of strategic plans; allocation of sources; the flexibility to provoke new traces of analysis and terminate assist for decrease precedence efforts; and approaches to encourage and promote efficient communication all through the middle and with companions. Serving because the Principal Investigator of a middle award requires scientific management and imaginative and prescient. It is usually a big dedication of time and will likely be a main skilled focus for the lifetime of the Heart. Equally, all group members ought to anticipate the middle to be a big a part of their skilled efforts. Reviewers will likely be requested to guage the {qualifications} of the group and the sources obtainable to the mission, together with researcher time and dedication.
Facilities will observe robust mission administration. Due to this fact, facilities will align proposed scope with life like budgets and timelines for reaching these targets. Facilities will even determine essential milestones throughout the timeline of their award interval that progress to the accomplishment of the Heart’s targets. Further data on mission administration expectations for Heart Operation proposals is supplied within the proposal preparation steering beneath.
5) Facilities will likely be accountable for sound growth and administration of any shared amenities, infrastructure or cyberinfrastructure required to satisfy the scientific targets of the middle. Facilities ought to show a plan for equitable growth and entry to instrumentation, laboratory, and analytical amenities; evaluation instruments; neighborhood fashions; computing and software program sources; and knowledge. NSF encourages the use and re-use of current instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, and amenities, together with instrumentation swimming pools, experimental or analytical capabilities, computational sources, software program, and knowledge units. Facilities are anticipated to deploy trendy finest practices in cyberinfrastructure growth and implementation, together with working in direction of FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) knowledge practices, and data-sharing throughout collaborative teams, growing open-source and sustainable software program and enhancing entry to excessive efficiency computing, amongst others. New approaches to knowledge administration and cyberinfrastructure and improvements in offering assist to the scientific neighborhood are inspired. All middle researchers are anticipated to retailer, entry, share, and archive knowledge, with emphasis on data-sharing throughout collaborative groups.
6) Partnerships between the Heart and Different Organizations will likely be outlined by robust collaborations which can be led by the Heart’s Principal Investigators. Collaborations with accomplice organizations will assist the execution of the Principal Investigators’ and Heart’s imaginative and prescient and strategic plan. Proposals will show the alignment of the companions’ targets with total targets of the middle. The function of the companions in middle actions will likely be clearly articulated, and sources that companions convey to the Heart will likely be explicitly acknowledged. The mission scope that will likely be supported by these sources will even be clearly outlined. Companions’ stage of involvement within the middle administration group and their affect on programmatic determination making will likely be defined within the administration plan. Partnerships could embody stakeholders on the interface of the constructed setting and the pure system. Partnerships with engineers, determination and coverage makers, and different stakeholders with mandates outdoors of fundamental science, can function essential broader impacts for facilities relying on their focus or organizational construction. Robust collaborations with pc and knowledge scientists and amenities that assist leading edge computational strategies, comparable to clever programs like machine studying, may forge new modes of inquiry on the frontiers of this rising subject. Moreover, collaborations throughout these domains and establishments ought to present cross-training and alternatives for a various and inclusive workforce that may rise to tomorrow’s challenges.
Heart Operations
In FY 2024, this system will think about proposals constructed round a compelling analysis problem or theme associated to any strong Earth Geohazard processes, together with earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and different strong Earth or tectonic course of. The proposal’s scope will align with a number of of the priorities outlined within the Nationwide Academies of Science, Engineering, and Drugs decadal survey report. The Earth in Time together with: What’s an earthquake? What drives volcanism? What are the causes and penalties of topographic change? and How can Earth science analysis cut back the danger and toll of geohazards?
Heart Operations proposals are anticipated to stipulate broad, strategic, center-scale actions in accordance with the Heart Attributes, as described earlier on this part. Facilities will likely be agile constructions that reply quickly to rising alternatives, promote synergy, improve collaborations, and interact in doubtlessly transformative analysis. Facilities will combine analysis, innovation, schooling, science communication, and efforts to broaden participation.
Heart proposals will manage their scope into Main Actions, which can present the framework for aligning the proposed scope with life like budgets and timelines for reaching Heart targets. A Main Exercise will most incessantly be a significant analysis thrust of the Heart however may additionally be a large-scale effort for workforce growth, community-building, broadening participation, or different comparable effort to assist broader impacts.
Facilities might have flexibility to advance Main Actions or to reply shortly and successfully to rising analysis and/or broader influence alternatives by subaward seed funding. These rising areas could embody (however aren’t restricted to): high-risk analysis tasks; rising areas of interdisciplinary analysis; growth of latest cyberinfrastructure to assist the Heart; assist for early-career college or for investigators altering fields; and revolutionary instructional, diversity-promoting, or outreach ventures. Seed funding will not be supposed to offer an alternative choice to NSF particular person investigator funding, nor ought to it’s used to fund foundational operational assist for the Heart. Proposals ought to describe the factors and mechanisms for choosing and evaluating tasks which will require seed funding.
Key milestones will embody periodic web site visits and different oversight by NSF workers. The preliminary Heart Operation awards will likely be made for as much as 5 years (contingent on acceptable progress). Further data is supplied within the proposal preparation steering for Heart Operation full proposal.
III. AWARD INFORMATION
In FY 2024, NSF anticipates making as much as two new Heart Operation awards (as much as $3,000,000 per yr for as much as 5 years) as cooperative agreements. Plans for anticipated awards are pending availability of funds and submission of ample high quality proposals.
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 positioned within the US, appearing on behalf of their college members. Particular Directions for Worldwide Department Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal consists of funding to be supplied to a world department campus of a US establishment of upper schooling (together with by use of subawards and guide preparations), the proposer should clarify the profit(s) to the mission of efficiency on the worldwide department campus, and justify why the mission actions can’t be carried out on the US campus.
Who Might Function PI:
There are not any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group: 1
Just one proposal could also be submitted by any Lead establishment.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
Anyone particular person will be the Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI for just one Heart Operation proposal. People could also be listed as collaborating Different Senior/Key Personnel on a couple of proposal.
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 ought 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 obtainable 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 ought to be ready and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information: A Information for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Functions by way of Grants.gov. The whole textual content of the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information is obtainable 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 Utility Information and Utility Types Bundle, click on on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov web site, then click on on the Apply Step 1: Obtain a Grant Utility Bundle and Utility Directions hyperlink and enter the funding alternative quantity, (this system solicitation quantity with out the NSF prefix) and press the Obtain Bundle button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Utility Information additionally could also be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, phone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from [email protected].
See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for steering on the required sections of a full analysis proposal submitted to NSF. Please observe that the proposal preparation directions supplied on this program solicitation could deviate from the PAPPG directions.
Collaborative proposals ought to be submitted as a single proposal with subawards administered by the lead group as described in Chapter II.D of the PAPPG. Individually submitted collaborative proposals aren’t permitted.
Along with the steering within the PAPPG and NSF Grants.gov Utility Information, the next gadgets ought to be included and/or addressed within the proposal:
Kind of Proposal. The “Heart” sort of proposal ought to be chosen.
Title. Present a brief informative title for the proposed mission. To help NSF workers in sorting proposals for assessment, proposal titles should embody “Heart Operations:”. Please observe that if submitting by way of Analysis.gov, the system will routinely insert the prepended title “Heart”.
Venture Abstract. The Venture Abstract consists of an summary, an announcement on the mental benefit of the proposed exercise, and an announcement on the broader impacts of the proposed exercise. Embody an outline of proposed actions in schooling and human useful resource growth; particular particulars for actions to advertise the participation of teams historically underrepresented within the sciences and outreach to each the scientific neighborhood and most of the people.
Venture Description. The Venture Description includes of the next sections and is restricted to not more than 50 pages, whatever the variety of Main Actions described. This part ought to be accomplished in response to the final pointers detailed within the NSF PAPPG, together with the requirement for a separate part labeled “Broader Impacts.”
Government Abstract. Present a transparent rationale for and outline of the proposed Heart and its potential influence. Briefly describe the institutional setting of the Heart, its proposed scope and group, actions in analysis and schooling and their integration, particular efforts to advertise range and outreach actions to the scientific neighborhood and most of the people, any shared experimental amenities, any collaborative actions with trade or different sectors, hyperlinks with associated main analysis facilities on or off campus, and a concise abstract of the administration plan.
Checklist of Members. Checklist the PI, any co-PIs, and every collaborating senior personnel (college stage or equal) by full identify, and his or her institutional and departmental affiliation (Further biographical data ought to be inserted within the Biographical Sketch part.)
Outcomes from Prior NSF Assist. Describe achievements below prior NSF assist that pertain to the current proposal. This could embody each analysis outcomes and the outcomes of actions that pertain to broader impacts.
Analysis plan and Main Actions (MAs). Describe proposed Heart actions, in ample element for reviewers to have the ability to consider the feasibility of the proposed work and its potential for transformative influence. The scope of the Heart ought to be damaged into high-level Main Actions, which can present the framework for aligning the proposed scope with life like budgets and timelines for reaching Heart targets. For every proposed MA that entails a analysis thrust, present a concise description of the long-term analysis targets and mental focus, and describe the deliberate analysis actions in ample element to allow evaluation of their scientific benefit and significance. For an MA that entails workforce growth, community-building, or different comparable actions, the necessity for the exercise ought to be clearly established, together with justification for the strategy, arguments for why the proposed Heart is the suitable automobile for the exercise, and the anticipated impacts on science and the neighborhood. In all instances, describe the function and mental contribution of every senior participant within the MA, and briefly define the obtainable or deliberate sources to perform the acknowledged targets. The necessity for a center- or institute-like strategy involving a number of investigators and the technique of reaching this ought to be clearly established. The function of the MA within the context of the Heart as a complete ought to be outlined, and connections between MAs making up the unit ought to be sufficiently articulated to justify their inclusion throughout the Heart. Interactions with companions and different teams ought to be described. Initially of every MA part, identify the senior personnel who will take part (these collaborating senior personnel additionally ought to be included within the total Checklist of Members) and state the proposed variety of postdoctoral, undergraduate pupil, and graduate pupil contributors.
Shared Services or Infrastructure to be established. Describe the shared amenities and infrastructure, together with cyberinfrastructure, to be established. Additionally embody particular plans for the event of instrumentation. Describe plans for sustaining and working the amenities, together with staffing, and plans for guaranteeing entry to the amenities by outdoors contributors. Distinguish clearly between current amenities and people nonetheless to be acquired or developed.
Partnerships. Describe any proposed partnerships, interactions, and collaborations with different establishments and sectors, together with different federal companies, nationwide laboratories and trade, as applicable. Outline the targets of the collaborations and actions that will contain the companions. Describe the roles in these collaborations of any contributors which have been listed as collaborating senior investigators. Checklist the senior collaborating contributors (Word {that a} assertion of intent to take part is required from exterior collaborators as a Supplementary Doc), the mechanisms deliberate to stimulate and facilitate information switch, and the potential long-term influence of the collaborations.
Administration Plan. Describe the plans for administration of the Heart, together with the capabilities of key personnel and the function of any advisory committee, government committee, program committee, or their equal. Describe the procedures and standards used to pick, administer, and consider the Main Actions of the Heart, and collaborative packages with different teams and establishments. Plans for administering shared amenities ought to be described on this part. Describe plans for administering the academic packages and outreach actions of the Heart, as applicable.
References Cited. Checklist solely references cited within the Venture Description. See PAPPG for format directions.
Along with the necessities specified within the PAPPG, the next Supplementary Paperwork ought to be included:
A one-paragraph assertion (to not exceed one-half web page) from every of these listed as collaborating senior investigators outlining how they view their function within the Heart. This should be particular and never a basic letter of assist.
Letters of Collaboration. Embody solely official letters of collaboration verifying particular collaborations and/or commitments of non-financial sources from collaborating establishments. Letters of collaboration should observe the single-sentence format:
“If the proposal submitted by Dr. [insert the full name of the Principal Investigator] entitled [insert the proposal title] is chosen for funding by the NSF, it’s my intent to collaborate and/or commit sources as detailed within the Venture Description.”
Knowledge Administration Plan to not exceed two pages and observe EAR Knowledge Coverage Pointers.
B. Budgetary Info
Value Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary dedicated price sharing is prohibited.
Different Budgetary Limitations:
Awards are as much as $3,000,000 per yr for as much as 5 years. These proposals ought to embody funds within the funds for personnel to take part in oversight occasions (web site visits or reverse web site visits) within the second, fourth and fifth years of the mission.
Present separate funds pages for the Heart as a complete and for every collaborating establishment. Within the abstract funds desk, as described beneath, present the general assist ranges deliberate for every of the Main Actions of the Heart (solely yr 1 and five-year totals are required.) This ought to be included as a part of the funds justification narrative. This data augments however doesn’t exchange the NSF official funds web page.
Abstract Desk of Requested NSF Assist
Exercise
12 months One
5 12 months Complete
Main Exercise (MA) 1 (Title)
MA 2 (title) (repeat for every MA)
Shared Services or Infrastructure
Administration and Administration
Complete
For every entry within the Desk, embody oblique prices. Column totals should equal the overall funds requested from NSF for the interval proven. Embody main capital tools below shared amenities.
C. Due Dates
Full Proposal Goal Date(s):
March 15, 2024
D. Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities
For Proposals Submitted By way of 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 person assist, name the Analysis.gov Assist Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected]. The Analysis.gov Assist Desk solutions basic technical questions associated to the usage of the Analysis.gov system. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation ought to be referred to the NSF program workers contact(s) listed in Part VIII of this funding alternative.
For Proposals Submitted By way of 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 obtainable on the Grants.gov Applicant Sources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/internet/grants/candidates.html. As well as, the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information (see hyperlink in Part V.A) offers directions relating to the technical preparation of proposals by way of Grants.gov. For Grants.gov person assist, contact the Grants.gov Contact Heart at 1-800-518-4726 or by e mail: [email protected]. The Grants.gov Contact Heart solutions basic technical questions associated to the usage of Grants.gov. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation ought 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 Approved Organizational Consultant (AOR) should submit the appliance to Grants.gov and confirm the specified funding alternative and company to which the appliance is submitted. The AOR should then signal and submit the appliance to Grants.gov. The finished software will likely be transferred to Analysis.gov for additional processing.
The NSF Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov informational web page offers submission steering to candidates and hyperlinks to useful sources together with the NSF Grants.gov Utility Information, Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov how-to information, and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Often 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 enough time to deal with NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting group’s native time on the deadline. Please observe 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 appropriate 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 software has been acquired and validated by NSF, the Approved Organizational Consultant could test the standing of an software on Grants.gov. After proposers have acquired an e-mail notification from NSF, Analysis.gov ought to be used to test the standing of an software.
VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
Proposals acquired by NSF are assigned to the suitable NSF program for acknowledgement and, in the event that they meet NSF necessities, for assessment. All proposals are rigorously reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and normally by three to 10 different individuals outdoors 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 assessment course of. Proposers are invited to counsel names of individuals they imagine are particularly nicely certified to assessment the proposal and/or individuals they would favor not assessment the proposal. These recommendations could function one supply within the reviewer choice course of on the Program Officer’s discretion. Submission of such names, nonetheless, is non-obligatory. Care is taken to make sure that reviewers haven’t any conflicts of curiosity with the proposal. As well as, Program Officers could receive feedback from web site visits earlier than recommending remaining motion on proposals. Senior NSF workers additional assessment suggestions for awards. A flowchart that depicts the whole NSF proposal and award course of (and related timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.
A complete description of the Basis’s benefit assessment course of is obtainable on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/merit_review/.
Proposers must also pay attention to core methods which can be important to the achievement 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 assessment is one half. NSF’s mission is especially well-implemented by the combination of analysis and schooling and broadening participation in NSF packages, tasks, and actions.
One of many strategic targets in assist of NSF’s mission is to foster integration of analysis and schooling by the packages, tasks, 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, know-how, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) workforce by investing in constructing the information that informs enhancements in STEM instructing and studying.
NSF’s mission requires the broadening of alternatives and increasing participation of teams, establishments, and geographic areas which can be underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is crucial to the well being and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is dedicated to this precept of range and deems it central to the packages, tasks, and actions it considers and helps.
A. Advantage Overview Ideas and Standards
The Nationwide Science Basis strives to put money into a sturdy and various portfolio of tasks that creates new information and allows breakthroughs in understanding throughout all areas of science and engineering analysis and schooling. To determine which tasks to assist, NSF depends on a benefit assessment course of that comes with consideration of each the technical features of a proposed mission 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 benefit assessment course of for the number of tasks.
1. Advantage Overview Ideas
These rules are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when making ready proposals and managing tasks, 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 fundamental analysis and schooling, the next three rules apply:
All NSF tasks ought to be of the very best high quality and have the potential to advance, if not rework, the frontiers of data.
NSF tasks, within the combination, ought to contribute extra broadly to reaching societal targets. These “Broader Impacts” could also be achieved by the analysis itself, by actions which can be straight associated to particular analysis tasks, or by actions which can be supported by, however are complementary to, the mission. The mission actions could also be primarily based on beforehand established and/or revolutionary strategies and approaches, however in both case should be nicely justified.
Significant evaluation and analysis of NSF funded tasks ought to be primarily based on applicable metrics, preserving in thoughts the possible correlation between the impact of broader impacts and the sources supplied to implement tasks. If the scale of the exercise is restricted, analysis of that exercise in isolation will not be more likely to be significant. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of those actions could finest be finished at the next, extra aggregated, stage than the person mission.
With respect to the third precept, even when evaluation of Broader Impacts outcomes for specific tasks is completed at an aggregated stage, PIs are anticipated to be accountable for finishing up the actions described within the funded mission. Thus, particular person tasks ought to embody 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 benefit assessment rules present the premise for the benefit assessment standards, in addition to a context inside which the customers of the factors can higher perceive their intent.
2. Advantage Overview Standards
All NSF proposals are evaluated by use of the 2 Nationwide Science Board authorised benefit assessment standards. In some situations, nonetheless, NSF will make use of extra standards as required to spotlight the precise targets of sure packages and actions.
The 2 benefit assessment standards are listed beneath. Each standards are to be given full consideration through the assessment and decision-making processes; every criterion is critical however neither, by itself, is ample. Due to this fact, proposers should absolutely deal with each standards. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). incorporates extra data to be used by proposers in growth of the Venture Description part of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly inspired to assessment the factors, together with PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), previous to the assessment of a proposal.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will likely be requested to contemplate what the proposers wish to do, why they wish to do it, how they plan to do it, how they’ll know in the event that they succeed, and what advantages may accrue if the mission is profitable. These points apply each to the technical features of the proposal and the best way through which the mission could make broader contributions. To that finish, reviewers will likely be requested to guage all proposals towards two standards:
Mental Advantage: The Mental Advantage criterion encompasses the potential to advance information; 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 components ought to be thought-about within the assessment for each standards:
What’s the potential for the proposed exercise to
Advance information and understanding inside its personal subject or throughout totally different fields (Mental Advantage); and
Profit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
To what extent do the proposed actions counsel and discover inventive, unique, or doubtlessly transformative ideas?
Is the plan for finishing up the proposed actions well-reasoned, well-organized, and primarily based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to evaluate success?
How nicely certified is the person, group, or group to conduct the proposed actions?
Are there enough sources obtainable to the PI (both on the residence group or by collaborations) to hold out the proposed actions?
Broader impacts could also be achieved by the analysis itself, by the actions which can be straight associated to particular analysis tasks, or by actions which can be supported by, however are complementary to, the mission. NSF values the development of scientific information and actions that contribute to achievement of societally related outcomes. Such outcomes embody, however aren’t restricted to: full participation of ladies, individuals with disabilities, and different underrepresented teams in science, know-how, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM); improved STEM schooling and educator growth at any stage; elevated public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and know-how; improved well-being of people in society; growth of a various, globally aggressive STEM workforce; elevated partnerships between academia, trade, and others; improved nationwide safety; elevated financial competitiveness of the USA; and enhanced infrastructure for analysis and schooling.
Proposers are reminded that reviewers will even be requested to assessment the Knowledge Administration Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as applicable.
Further Solicitation Particular Overview Standards
Along with the NSF Advantage Overview Standards, reviewers of those proposals will likely be requested to contemplate the next:
How nicely does the proposal articulate the imaginative and prescient of the longer term Heart to advance revolutionary and transformative analysis that’s bold in scope?
How robust is the Heart’s imaginative and prescient for growing neighborhood engagement actions that prepare the subsequent era of researchers and have potential for broadening participation of underrepresented teams?
How nicely does the proposal articulate a administration plan that describes how the Heart’s targets and actions will likely be achieved and assessed, together with the management construction of the Heart, how choices will likely be made, the roles of any inner committees, and the function of partnerships within the middle?
How nicely does the proposal align the proposed scope with life like budgets and timelines for reaching these targets, and does the proposal determine essential milestones throughout the timeline of the award interval that progress to the accomplishment of the Heart’s targets?
How nicely does the Heart infrastructure plan describe how shared amenities, infrastructure, and cyberinfrastructure will likely be developed and managed utilizing trendy requirements and to be used by the broader neighborhood?
B. Overview and Choice Course of
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will likely be reviewed by Advert hoc Overview and/or Panel Overview, or Reverse Website Overview.
The assessment of particular person proposals could use advert hoc written critiques from consultants within the areas of science, neighborhood engagement and middle administration . Further assessment enter could also be supplied by a panel of consultants spanning the broad vary of matters coated by the proposals. This system may additionally request that the PIs reply in writing and/or to a panel with a presentation aimed to answer points recognized throughout prior assessment phases. This presentation will likely be adopted by a question-and-answer interval to permit without spending a dime trade between the PIs and the panel.
Reviewers will likely be requested to guage proposals utilizing two Nationwide Science Board authorised benefit assessment standards and, if relevant, extra program particular standards. A abstract ranking and accompanying narrative will usually be accomplished and submitted by every reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to handle the proposal’s assessment will think about the recommendation of reviewers and can formulate a advice.
After scientific, technical and programmatic assessment and consideration of applicable components, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether or not the proposal ought to be declined or really useful for award. NSF strives to have the ability to inform proposers whether or not their proposals have been declined or really useful for funding inside six months. Massive or significantly complicated proposals or proposals from new recipients could require extra assessment 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 advice.
After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals really useful for funding will likely be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Assist for assessment of enterprise, monetary, and coverage implications. After an administrative assessment 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 ought 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 threat.
As soon as an award or declination determination has been made, Principal Investigators are supplied suggestions about their proposals. In all instances, critiques are handled as confidential paperwork. Verbatim copies of critiques, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying data, are despatched to the Principal Investigator/Venture 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 likely be suggested as promptly as potential by the cognizant NSF Program administering this system. Verbatim copies of critiques, not together with the identification of the reviewer, will likely be supplied routinely to the Principal Investigator. (See Part VI.B. for added data on the assessment 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 funds, which signifies the quantities, by classes of expense, on which NSF has primarily based 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 situations, comparable to Grant Common Situations (GC-1)*; or Analysis Phrases and Situations* and (5) any announcement or different NSF issuance which may 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 data on NSF Award Situations and different essential data 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 Staff (86 FR 7475), it’s the coverage of the manager department to make use of phrases and situations of Federal monetary help awards to maximise, according to legislation, the usage of items, merchandise, and supplies produced in, and companies provided in, the USA.
In keeping 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 this funding alternative could also be obligated for an award until all iron, metal, manufactured merchandise, and building supplies used within the mission are produced in the USA. For added data, 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 mission report back to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days previous to the top of the present funds interval. (Some packages or awards require submission of extra frequent mission reviews). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI is also required to submit a remaining mission report, and a mission outcomes report for most of the people.
Failure to offer the required annual or remaining mission reviews, or the mission outcomes report, will delay NSF assessment 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 reviews prematurely to guarantee availability of required knowledge.
PIs are required to make use of NSF’s digital project-reporting system, obtainable by Analysis.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and remaining mission reviews. Such reviews present data on accomplishments, mission contributors (particular person and organizational), publications, and different particular merchandise and impacts of the mission. 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 mission outcomes report additionally should be ready and submitted utilizing Analysis.gov. This report serves as a quick abstract, ready particularly for the general public, of the character and outcomes of the mission. This report will likely be posted on the NSF web site precisely as it’s submitted by the PI.
Extra complete data on NSF Reporting Necessities and different essential data 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.
VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS
Please observe that this system contact data is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.
Common inquiries relating to this program ought to be made to:
For questions associated to the usage of NSF programs 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 Approved Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not acquired a affirmation message from Grants.gov inside 48 hours of submission of software, please contact by way of phone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [email protected].
IX. OTHER INFORMATION
The NSF web site offers probably the most complete supply of knowledge on NSF Directorates (together with contact data), 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 modifications in proposal and award insurance policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences. Subscribers are knowledgeable by e-mail or the person’s Net browser every time new publications are issued that match their recognized pursuits. “NSF Replace” additionally is obtainable on NSF’s web site.
Grants.gov offers an extra digital functionality to seek for Federal government-wide grant alternatives. NSF funding alternatives could also be accessed by way of this mechanism. Additional data 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 schooling in all fields of science and engineering.”
NSF funds analysis and schooling in most fields of science and engineering. It does this by grants and cooperative agreements to greater than 2,000 schools, universities, Okay-12 faculty programs, 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 fundamental analysis.
NSF receives roughly 55,000 proposals annually for analysis, schooling and coaching tasks, of which roughly 11,000 are funded. As well as, the Basis receives a number of thousand purposes for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The company operates no laboratories itself however does assist Nationwide Analysis Facilities, person amenities, sure oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic analysis stations. The Basis additionally helps cooperative analysis between universities and trade, 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 tasks. See the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information Chapter II.F.7 for directions relating to preparation of all these proposals.
The Nationwide Science Basis has Telephonic System 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 basic data. 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 schooling within the sciences, arithmetic, and engineering.
To get the newest 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 Common Info(NSF Info Heart):
(703) 292-5111
TDD (for the hearing-impaired):
(703) 292-5090
To Order Publications or Types:
Ship an e-mail to:
or phone:
(703) 292-8134
(703) 292-5111
PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The data requested on proposal types and mission reviews is solicited below the authority of the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended. The data on proposal types will likely be utilized in reference to the number of certified proposals; and mission reviews submitted by proposers will likely be used for program analysis and reporting throughout the Government Department and to Congress. The data requested could also be disclosed to certified reviewers and workers assistants as a part of the proposal assessment course of; to proposer establishments/grantees to offer or receive knowledge relating to the proposal assessment course of, award choices, or the administration of awards; to authorities contractors, consultants, volunteers and researchers and educators as mandatory to finish assigned work; to different authorities companies or different entities needing data relating to proposers or nominees as a part of a joint software assessment 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 Report Notices, NSF-50, “Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Related Data,” and NSF-51, “Reviewer/Proposal File and Related Data.” Submission of the knowledge is voluntary. Failure to offer full and full data, nonetheless, could cut back the opportunity of receiving an award.
An company could not conduct or sponsor, and an individual will not be required to answer, an data assortment until it shows a sound Workplace of Administration and Price range (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 relating to the burden estimate and some other facet of this assortment of knowledge, together with recommendations for lowering this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Experiences Clearance Officer
Coverage Workplace, Division of Establishment and Award Assist
Workplace of Price range, Finance, and Award Administration
Nationwide Science Basis
Alexandria, VA 22314
