Nationwide Science Basis
Directorate for Expertise, Innovation and Partnerships
Innovation and Expertise Ecosystems
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
Could 17, 2024
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
September 20, 2024
Essential Data And Revision Notes
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 recurrently 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.
Abstract Of Program Necessities
Common Data
Program Title:
Concepts Lab: Advancing Cell-Free Techniques Towards Elevated Vary of Use-Impressed Purposes (CFIRE)
Synopsis of Program:
The U.S. Nationwide Science Basis’s Directorate for Expertise, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) is charged with accelerating use-inspired and translational analysis and improvement (R&D) to advance U.S. competitiveness in key expertise focus areas.
The Advancing Cell-Free Techniques Towards Elevated Vary of Use-Impressed Purposes (CFIRE) initiative will speed up the adoption of cell-free techniques, allow new functions of this expertise and contribute to the expansion of the U.S. bioeconomy.
A nascent business has fashioned across the skill to hold out biochemical processes, akin to DNA transcription/translation, in cell-free in-vitro techniques as an alternative of in conventional cell-based in-vivo bio-reactors. This strategy has plenty of potential benefits, together with speedy turn-around, distributed and extremely retargetable manufacturing, high-fidelity instrumentation and management of the manufacturing environments – with out the constraints of organic progress and the interference brought on by cell biomass and cell membranes throughout product purification. Moreover, cell-free techniques can produce merchandise which might be difficult to fabricate in cell-based cultures, akin to these inherently poisonous to cells or hydrocarbon merchandise which might be consumed by the mobile equipment.
Regardless of these benefits, present-day cell-free manufacturing is considerably costlier than cell-based strategies and cell-free techniques have a restricted vary of functions.
CFIRE goals to:
1. Scale back the price of cell-free techniques;
2. Enhance the vary and capabilities of cell-free techniques; and
3. Develop and reveal cost-effective use-inspired functions.
CFIRE will handle the important thing limitations of cell-free expertise by figuring out technical approaches that may allow ongoing cycles of enchancment. The target is to put cell-free expertise on an exponential progress path wherein decreased prices result in rising adoption which, in flip, generates the training and funding required to additional scale back prices. To be able to preserve the work targeted and to stimulate rising adoption, efforts funded by way of this initiative will give attention to a number of particular use instances.
CFIRE seeks important breakthroughs that can speed up the adoption of cell-free techniques by:
(a) Demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of cell-free techniques by way of use-inspired functions with particular emphasis on functions past human therapeutics;
(b) Creating infrastructure elements, akin to instruments, protocols, kits, datasets, and characterization companies that may readily be accessed by third events; and
(c) Investing in workforce elements targeted on the coaching of translational expertise with the abilities and fervour to interact in use-driven cell-free functions.
CFIRE will use the Concepts Lab course of (see PAPPG Chapter II.F.6), beginning with an intensive assembly that brings collectively a number of various views. The first aims of this Concepts Lab workshop shall be to: determine particular alternatives to considerably scale back the price of cell-free techniques; set up acceptable requirements for the constancy and reproducibility; increase the vary of capabilities with a purpose to facilitate broader adoption of the expertise; and determine and prioritize use-driven functions past human therapeutics.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please observe 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):
47.084
— NSF Expertise, Innovation and Partnerships
Award Data
Anticipated Kind of Award: Commonplace Grant or Cooperative Settlement
Estimated Variety of Awards: 2 to eight
As much as 8 awards are anticipated relying upon availability of funds and the standard, scale, transformative-potential and variety of undertaking concepts developed on the Concepts Lab. Awards shall be funded as much as $3,750,000 per 12 months for as much as 3 years. The finances for a given proposal ought to be commensurate with the complexity of the proposed analysis and improvement plan and the ultimate maturity degree and translational influence of the outcomes.
Anticipated Funding Quantity: $40,000,000
The full funding out there for this exercise is as much as $40,000,000 over 3 years. Estimated program finances, variety of awards and common award dimension/period are topic to the provision of funds.
Eligibility Data
Who Could Submit Proposals:
Proposals could solely be submitted by the next:
Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with group faculties) accredited in, and having a campus situated within the US, performing
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 an
worldwide 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: Impartial museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and related organizations situated within the U.S. which might be instantly related to academic or analysis actions.
For-profit organizations: U.S.-based industrial organizations, together with small companies, with sturdy capabilities in scientific or engineering analysis or training and a ardour for innovation.
Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or group that the Secretary of the Inside acknowledges as a federally acknowledged tribe pursuant to the Federally Acknowledged Indian Tribe Checklist Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131.
International organizations: For cooperative initiatives involving U.S. and international organizations, help will solely be supplied for the U.S. portion.
Different Federal Companies and Federally Funded Analysis and Improvement Facilities (FFRDCs): Contact the suitable program earlier than getting ready a proposal for submission.
Who Could Function PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
A person could function PI or co-PI on just one Concepts Lab proposal on this competitors however could function Different Senior/Key Personnel on any variety of Concepts Lab proposals on this competitors.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
A. Proposal Preparation Directions
Letters of Intent: Not required
B. Budgetary Data
C. Due Dates
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
Could 17, 2024
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
September 20, 2024
Proposal Overview Data Standards
Advantage Overview Standards:
Nationwide Science Board authorised standards. Further benefit evaluation standards apply. Please see the complete textual content of this solicitation for additional info.
Award Administration Data
Award Situations:
Further award circumstances apply. Please see the complete textual content of this solicitation for additional info.
Reporting Necessities:
Commonplace NSF reporting necessities apply.
Desk Of Contents
Abstract of Program Necessities
Introduction
Program Description
Award Data
Eligibility Data
Proposal Preparation and Submission Directions
Proposal Preparation Directions
Budgetary Data
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 Data
Notification of the Award
Award Situations
Reporting Necessities
Company Contacts
Different Data
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nationwide Science Basis’s Directorate for Expertise, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) is charged with accelerating use-inspired and translational analysis and improvement (R&D) to advance U.S. competitiveness in key expertise focus areas.
The Advancing Cell-Free Techniques Towards Elevated Vary of Use-Impressed Purposes (CFIRE) initiative will speed up the adoption of cell-free techniques, allow new functions of this expertise and contribute to the expansion of the U.S. bioeconomy.
A nascent business has fashioned across the skill to hold out biochemical processes, akin to DNA transcription/translation, in cell-free in-vitro techniques as an alternative of in conventional cell-based in-vivo bio-reactors. This strategy has plenty of potential benefits, together with speedy turn-around, distributed and extremely retargetable manufacturing, excessive constancy instrumentation and management of the manufacturing environments – with out the constraints of organic progress and the interference brought on by cell biomass and cell membrane throughout product purification. Moreover, cell-free techniques can produce merchandise which might be difficult to fabricate in cell-based cultures, akin to these inherently poisonous to cells or hydrocarbon merchandise which might be consumed by the mobile equipment.
Regardless of these benefits, present-day cell-free manufacturing is considerably costlier than cell-based strategies and cell-free techniques have a restricted vary of functions.
CFIRE goals to:
1. Scale back the price of cell-free techniques;
2. Enhance the vary and capabilities of cell-free techniques; and
3. Develop and reveal cost-effective use-inspired functions.
CFIRE will handle the important thing limitations of cell-free expertise by figuring out technical approaches that may allow ongoing cycles of enchancment. The target is to put cell-free expertise on an exponential progress path wherein decreased prices result in rising adoption which, in flip, generates the training and funding required to additional scale back prices. To be able to preserve the work targeted and to stimulate rising adoption, efforts funded by way of this initiative will give attention to a number of particular use instances.
CFIRE seeks important breakthroughs that can speed up the adoption of cell-free techniques by:
(a) Demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of cell-free techniques by way of use-inspired functions with particular emphasis on functions past human therapeutics;
(b) Creating infrastructure elements, akin to instruments, protocols, kits, datasets, and characterization companies that may readily be accessed by third events; and
(c) Investing in workforce elements targeted on the coaching of translational expertise with the abilities and fervour to interact in use-driven cell-free functions.
II. Program Description
CFIRE will use the Concepts Lab course of (see PAPPG Chapter II.F.6), beginning with an intensive assembly that brings collectively a number of various views. The first aims of this Concepts Lab workshop shall be to: determine particular alternatives to considerably scale back the price of cell-free techniques; set up acceptable requirements for the constancy and reproducibility; increase the vary of capabilities with a purpose to facilitate broader adoption of the expertise; and determine and prioritize use-driven functions past human therapeutics.
CFIRE has the next tracks:
Monitor I: Lowering the price of cell-free techniques.
Proposals on this observe will reveal approaches that may allow a sequence of ongoing and important reductions in the price of using cell-free techniques, akin to an strategy that might, by way of a sequence of steps, scale back the fee by an element of two each two years. Over the course of a number of generations, these enhancements might slender the financial hole between cell-free and cell-based manufacturing.
Whether or not using reconstituted techniques or cell extracts, proposals on this part ought to handle reducing the general price per unit output of cell-free techniques. Proposals could handle particular person elements of the cell-free system, or the system as an entire to considerably improve the yield and the speed of manufacturing. Approaches could embrace however are usually not restricted to: engineering proteins or different system elements for stability and/or processivity; engineering organisms and/or using quite a lot of totally different organisms for enhanced productiveness of cell extracts; enhancing ribosomal exercise and longevity; optimizing response circumstances; optimizing purification circumstances/methods; stabilizing storage circumstances (e.g., lyophilization) for elevated shelf-life and ease of distribution; and using/adopting cheaper elements, e.g., power enter, co-factors (co-factor analogs), switch RNAs, native and non-native amino acids and so on.
Proposals on this observe should handle the constancy and reproducibility of the system, and meet the fee discount targets and reproducibility targets established within the Concepts Lab workshop.
Monitor II: Growing the vary and capabilities of cell-free techniques.
Proposals on this observe will handle the flexibility of cell-free techniques and can give attention to increasing the vary of functions.
Proposals could allow the “scale-up” of cell-free manufacturing from milliliters to liters and kiloliters. Alternatively, proposals might allow “scale-out” functions of cell-free applied sciences by way of using huge numbers of pico/micro-liter reactors as biosensors and/or level of use diagnostics.
Proposals can also embrace the mixing of capabilities, akin to: post-translational modifications; optimized manufacturing of newly designed enzymes; manufacturing of membrane proteins; multi-step reactions to provide advanced biomolecules; coupling metabolic cycles with protein manufacturing; elevated size of DNA transcription / translation (e.g., bacteriophage-scale). New capabilities could embrace high quality management (QC) strategies to evaluate the purity and yield of intermediate or ultimate merchandise, and means to include these assays inside cell-free techniques. Proposals to increase capabilities ought to give attention to the mixing of beforehand demonstrated capabilities into cell-free techniques quite than primary analysis.
The Concepts Lab workshop will determine and prioritize the capabilities to be pursued, along with related metrics, targets, and QC standards.
Monitor III: Develop and reveal cost-effective use-inspired functions.
Proposals on this observe will give attention to the demonstration of particular functions, past prototyping and human therapeutics, akin to superior manufacturing, environmental sustainability/remediation, agriculture, and local weather resilience.
Proposals should embrace the event and demonstration of a prototype that addresses a number of particular functions.
Purposes could embrace at scale manufacturing of particular materials or biomolecules, e.g., engineered enzymes that promote sustainability, or could embrace ready-to-use kits or paper/plastic-based modules that require very small response volumes, e.g., simply deployable biosensors that profit animal or plant well being and/or to be used in environmental security functions, akin to wastewater monitoring.
The Concepts Lab workshop will prioritize the use-inspired functions and the particular metrics and targets to be demonstrated.
Proposals in Tracks I and II should embrace a minimum of one Monitor III use case, wherein the appliance is demonstrated by a 3rd social gathering.
The Concepts Lab workshop will set up aggressive (but attainable) targets to advance cell-free techniques, set requirements for strong and dependable batch-to-batch consistency, determine key approaches to cut back prices to aggressive ranges, pinpoint key areas for increasing the vary and capabilities of cell-free techniques, and choose use-inspired functions for cell-free techniques.
The Concepts Lab workshop can even set up the metrics by way of which progress shall be measured in every observe, and acceptable deliverables to be accomplished on the finish of the undertaking.
Particular sub-goals for the infrastructure, functions and workforce elements shall be recognized.
The Concepts Lab workshop will handle the biosafety and biosecurity ramifications posed by cell-free techniques and advocate measures to curb and circumvent associated security and safety points.
The Concepts Lab
An Concepts Lab is an interactive workshop of consultants and stakeholders, from academia and business, thinking about collaboratively growing options to a particular subject/downside. The workshop sometimes includes roughly 30-40 members.
The intensive and targeted Concepts Lab workshop will run for as much as 5 days beginning mid-morning on Day One and ending mid-afternoon on the Last Day. On the workshop, the members will work collaboratively to determine an built-in R&D strategy to: use-driven functions; price discount and/or elevated vary of capabilities of cell-free techniques; requirements; and infrastructure and workforce elements. Following the Concepts Lab workshop, proposals could also be submitted by groups invited to submit a full proposal.
The members are drawn from various backgrounds and a broad vary of experience related to the posed subject/downside of curiosity. The aim is to facilitate a brainstorming effort amongst a staff of consultants who could not in any other case come collectively. Therefore, the members are usually not essentially anticipated to have had important prior analysis or expertise improvement interactions amongst themselves. Contributors shall be anticipated to interact constructively in dialogue with each other, the facilitators, and the Director and Mentors to develop collaborative proposals. Collaboration is an integral side of the exercise.
How will the Concepts Lab Work?
The Concepts Lab is an intensive, interactive, and free-thinking atmosphere, the place a various group of members from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds will get collectively for as much as 5 days – away from their on a regular basis worlds – to immerse themselves in collaborative pondering and give you revolutionary approaches. The in-person workshop could also be preceded and adopted by a set of digital conferences to permit the members to get to know one another and assemble groups to additional alternate and develop their concepts.
The character of the Concepts Lab requires a excessive diploma of belief amongst members. This belief extends to permitting the free and frank alternate of scientific and different pre-competitive concepts. It’s anticipated that these concepts could be shared throughout the Concepts Lab, however their confidentiality could be revered outdoors the Concepts Lab.
The Concepts Lab could also be led by a Workshop Director (or Administrators) whose position shall be to help in defining the subjects and assist facilitate discussions on the occasion. The workshop shall be joined by a small variety of mentors and a staff {of professional} facilitators. The Workshop Director(s) and Mentors shall be chosen by NSF based mostly on their mental standing and their broad understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the topic space. The Workshop Director(s) and mentors will take full half within the Concepts Lab however is not going to be eligible to obtain analysis funding underneath this collaborative exercise. Some or all of them, due to this fact, will act as neutral peer reviewers within the course of, offering a perform analogous to that of an NSF evaluation panel.
The workshop course of could be damaged down into a number of phases:
Defining the scope of the challenges;
Evolving frequent languages and terminologies amongst individuals from academia, business, vertical markets, and expertise translation;
Sharing views and understanding of the challenges, in addition to the varied experience introduced by the members to the Concepts Lab;
Participating in break-out classes targeted on the challenges, utilizing artistic pondering and collaborative problem-solving methods;
Capturing the outputs within the type of revolutionary potential options; and
Utilizing “real-time” peer evaluation to revise and refine proposed options.
The Concepts Lab shall be an intensive occasion. For the well-being of members, the venue presents alternatives for rest, and the timetable will embrace networking and different actions as a break from the detailed technical discussions.
Award Choice Course of
This Concepts Lab program will encompass the next three phases:
1) Preliminary Proposal: Any particular person (not a corporation) thinking about taking part on this Concepts Lab ought to reply to this solicitation by submitting a preliminary, 2-page, proposal (see Part V). The preliminary proposals shall be reviewed by NSF and a subset of respondents shall be invited to take part within the Concepts Lab Workshop. Contributors shall be chosen on the idea of their pursuits, experience, expertise and different related traits described within the submitted preliminary proposals. Submission of a preliminary proposal shall be thought-about a sign of availability to attend and take part within the full course of the Concepts Lab Workshop described beneath.
2) Concepts Lab Workshop: The Concepts Lab workshop shall be held to permit the invited consultants to alternate concepts and kind collaborative groups formulating complete options to the issues/challenges posed on this solicitation. On the finish of the workshop, the self-assembled collaborative groups will pitch proposed initiatives that embrace their built-in R&D strategy to use-driven functions, price discount and/or elevated vary of capabilities of cell-free techniques, requirements, and infrastructure and workforce elements to the NSF Program Officer(s).
3) Full proposal: Collaborative groups from the Concepts Lab could also be invited to submit full proposals to NSF by the complete proposal deadline. Further experience wanted for the success of the proposed actions could be added after the concepts Lab Workshop. These full proposals should replicate the define developed and pitched to NSF on the Concepts Lab workshop. The complete proposals will bear benefit evaluation, and a subset of the complete proposals shall be chosen for awards.
Who Ought to Apply to Take part?
Having the correct mix of members is critically essential to reaching the targets of this Concepts Lab. Purposes are inspired from people representing various areas, akin to startups, established corporations, academia, and non-profits, with experience throughout a variety of disciplines of relevance to the appliance of cell-free techniques together with, however not restricted to, application-specific experience, biochemistry, enzymology, bioengineering, molecular biology, bio-processing/bio-manufacturing, biophysics, mathematical modeling, statistics, chemistry, pc science, requirements, biosafety/biosecurity, techno-economic evaluation, and the analysis of the moral, authorized and social implications of rising biotechnologies. Nevertheless, we aren’t limiting the disciplines that ought to be represented at this Concepts Lab; quite we’re asking potential members to point how their experience can handle the challenges related to cell-free techniques.
The flexibility to develop and pursue a brand new strategy can even be essential. Candidates shouldn’t really feel restricted by standard perceptions; the Concepts Lab strategy is about bringing collectively individuals who wouldn’t usually work together. We actively encourage functions from people who find themselves consultants in their very own domains however haven’t but utilized it to this problem.
This is a chance to share concepts and develop future collaborations. Contributors at any stage of their profession are welcomed.
Location and Date
This Concepts Lab will happen in particular person at a location to be decided, within the neighborhood of NSF headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, from July 15 to 19, 2024. The atmosphere will encourage free and open-minded pondering, that are very important for the success of such an occasion. Further details about the venue and assembly logistics shall be supplied to the chosen members. All journey to the Concepts Lab, lodging, refreshments, breakfast, lunch and dinner prices shall be coated by NSF. Nevertheless, all incidental prices incurred whereas on the occasion shall be borne by the participant.
Purposes for this Exercise
Any particular person thinking about taking part within the Concepts Lab ought to reply to this solicitation by submitting a preliminary proposal. Participation within the Concepts Lab is by invitation solely from the pool of candidates who submitted a preliminary proposal.
Submission of the preliminary proposal shall be thought-about a sign of availability to attend and take part by way of the complete course of as much as 5 days of the residential workshop and the previous and follow-up digital conferences.
Contributors shall be chosen on the idea of their pursuits, experience, expertise and different related traits described within the submitted preliminary proposals. The members ought to be keen to interact in frank disclosure and evaluation of concepts in a collegial, skilled, and accountable style. An impartial choice committee will advocate a listing of potential members from all candidates. NSF Workers will choose the ultimate listing of members from the submitted preliminary proposals.
Following the Concepts Lab workshop, some or the entire groups fashioned within the Concepts Lab workshop shall be invited to submit full proposals to NSF, based mostly on the define developed on the workshop, by the September 20, 2024, deadline. Proposals could also be reviewed as they’re acquired.
III. Award Data
Anticipated Kind of Award: Cooperative Settlement or Commonplace Grant
Estimated Variety of Awards: 2 to 8
As much as 8 awards are anticipated relying upon availability of funds and the standard, scale, transformative-potential and variety of undertaking concepts developed on the Concepts Lab. Awards shall be funded as much as $3,750,000 per 12 months for as much as 3 years. The finances for a given proposal ought to be commensurate with the complexity of the proposed analysis and improvement plan and the ultimate maturity degree and translational influence of the outcomes.
Anticipated Funding Quantity: $40,000,000
The full funding out there for this exercise is as much as $40,000,000 over 3 years. Estimated program finances, variety of awards and common award dimension/period are topic to the provision of funds.
IV. Eligibility Data
Who Could Submit Proposals:
Proposals could solely be submitted by the next:
Establishments of Increased Schooling (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (together with group faculties) accredited in, and having a campus situated within the US, performing
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 an
worldwide 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: Impartial museums, observatories, analysis laboratories, skilled societies and related organizations situated within the U.S. which might be instantly related to academic or analysis actions.
For-profit organizations: U.S.-based industrial organizations, together with small companies, with sturdy capabilities in scientific or engineering analysis or training and a ardour for innovation.
Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or group that the Secretary of the Inside acknowledges as a federally acknowledged tribe pursuant to the Federally Acknowledged Indian Tribe Checklist Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131.
International organizations: For cooperative initiatives involving U.S. and international organizations, help will solely be supplied for the U.S. portion.
Different Federal Companies and Federally Funded Analysis and Improvement Facilities (FFRDCs): Contact the suitable program earlier than getting ready a proposal for submission.
Who Could Function PI:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per Group:
There aren’t any restrictions or limits.
Restrict on Variety of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
A person could function PI or co-PI on just one Concepts Lab proposal on this competitors however could function Different Senior/Key Personnel on any variety of Concepts Lab proposals on this competitors.
V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Directions
A. Proposal Preparation Directions
Preliminary Proposals (required): Preliminary proposals are required and have to be submitted by way of Analysis.gov, even when full proposals shall be submitted by way of Grants.gov.
Submission of Preliminary Proposals is required for participation within the Concepts Lab. Please observe, the preliminary proposal should come from one particular person and can’t embrace co-PIs or collaborators. Contributors within the Concept Lab shall be chosen on the idea of knowledge submitted within the preliminary proposal.
Preliminary Proposal Set-Up: Choose “Put together New Preliminary Proposal” in Analysis.gov. Seek for and choose this solicitation title in Step 1 of the Preliminary Proposal wizard. The data in Step 2 is pre-populated by the system.
Title: The title format is “Concepts Lab: CFIRE Preliminary Proposal:” adopted by a descriptive title. Please observe that Analysis.gov will routinely prepend the title with “Concepts Lab:”.
As described within the PAPPG Chapter II.F.6, the Venture Description part of the preliminary proposal is restricted to 2 pages and may conform to the next tips:
Web page One:
Please embrace the sentence, “I’m out there July 15 to 19, 2024 and might decide to attend all 5 days of the occasion”. If you happen to can’t decide to attend all 5 days of the occasion, please clarify.
Present a short abstract about your skilled background (Restrict: 200 phrases). Please embrace any related technical, R&D, expertise improvement, translation, and commercialization expertise associated to the Concepts Lab subject. Please observe, in case you are chosen as a participant, info supplied in reply to this query shall be made out there to the opposite members to facilitate networking on the Concepts Lab workshop.
How do you see your experience and pursuits contributing to realizing the aim of this workshop? (Restrict: 200 phrases)
Briefly summarize your recommended strategy or different contribution in direction of the challenges posed on this Concepts Lab. (restrict: 200 phrases)
The full shouldn’t exceed one web page.
Web page Two:
Please spend a while contemplating your solutions to the next questions. Your responses (not more than 150 phrases every) will assist assess your suitability (unrelated to your analysis observe file) for the revolutionary and collaborative setting of this intensive, interactive, fast-paced occasion.
What’s your strategy to teamwork? What strengths do you carry to a staff effort?
How would you clarify your space of curiosity to people with totally different experience to your individual?
This workshop is particularly suited to people who take pleasure in stepping outdoors their areas of experience or curiosity, are positively pushed, take pleasure in artistic exercise, and might suppose innovatively. It’s an intensive setting requiring you to develop novel approaches with people chances are you’ll not know. How do you contemplate your self suited to the sort of atmosphere?
What do you hope to realize from taking part on this workshop, personally and professionally?
The full shouldn’t exceed one web page.
Candidates should embrace a Biographical Sketch and a Present and Pending Assist doc (ready in accordance with customary NSF formatting tips) utilizing SciENcv at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/. FAQs on utilizing SciENcv could be discovered at https://assets.analysis.gov/frequent/attachment/Desktop/SciENcv-FAQs.pdf.
No appendices or supplementary paperwork could also be submitted.
Chosen members shall be notified, and logistics organized for journey to, and participation in, the Concepts Lab. Following the conclusion of the Concepts Lab workshop, NSF program employees will invite the submission of full proposals associated to a number of of the concepts developed throughout the Concepts Lab.
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 tips contained within the NSF Proposal and Award Insurance policies and Procedures Information (PAPPG). The entire 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 ought 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 entire 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 web site, 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 technique to make the most of within the digital preparation and submission of the proposal, please observe 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 observe that the proposal preparation directions supplied on this program solicitation could deviate from the PAPPG directions.
The disposition of rights to innovations made by small enterprise corporations, massive enterprise corporations, and non-profit organizations, together with universities, throughout NSF-assisted analysis is ruled by Chapter 18 of Title 35 of the USC, generally referred to as the Bayh-Dole Act and EO12591, as amended by EO 12618. Further info could be discovered within the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information (PAPPG Chapter XI.D). Mental property (IP) developed with funds from this solicitation is topic to the Bayh-Dole Act and ought to be differentiated from IP developed individually and contributed by companions.
An Mental Property Administration Plan is a required factor of each proposal involving collaborations amongst a number of organizations (see supplementary paperwork beneath).
Proposal Set-Up: Choose “Put together New Full Proposal” in Analysis.gov. Seek for and choose this solicitation title in Step One of many Full Proposal wizard. The data in Steps 2 and three are pre-populated by the system.
Title: The title format is “Concepts Lab: CFIRE:” adopted by a descriptive title. Please observe that if submitting by way of Analysis.gov, the system will routinely prepend the title with “Concepts Lab:”.
Venture Description:
Full proposals based mostly on undertaking concepts developed by way of interactions on the Concepts Lab workshop ought to conform to the undertaking define developed on the conclusion of the workshop. If substantive modifications are contemplated, an NSF Program Officer ought to be contacted for steering.
Concepts Lab full proposals should clearly determine outcomes and deliverables from the proposed work and embrace a undertaking schedule with milestones.
Moreover, the place relevant, proposals ought to embrace a transition plan describing how the elements funded by the proposed undertaking will turn into organizationally and financially self-sustaining.
Services, Gear, and Different Assets: As a part of the hassle described within the proposal, members could contribute effort and/or assets, which ought to be mentioned within the Services, Gear, and Different Assets part of the proposal. See the PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.g for steering on this required doc.
Different Supplementary Paperwork: Along with the necessities within the PAPPG, the next particular info have to be supplied as a Supplementary Doc. This info is just not thought-about a part of the 15-page undertaking description limitation.
A Administration Plan (as much as 5 pages) together with: 1) listing of undertaking personnel together with their affiliation, experience and undertaking roles; 2) plan for staff coordination and undertaking administration; 3) detailed undertaking schedule.
Mental Property (IP) Administration Plan (as much as three pages): Proposals involving collaborations amongst a number of organizations should embrace an IP Administration Plan. Each possession and administration of IP ought to be addressed.
The IP Administration Plan ought to embrace:
1) IP contributed by companions included on this proposal,
2) IP that could be developed throughout the undertaking, and
3) a plan for entry to IP from (1) and (2) by potential future companions.
Present and future companions could embrace, however are usually not restricted to, establishments of upper training, non-profit organizations akin to foundations or group organizations, for-profit organizations akin to corporations or funding teams, native/state/federal authorities, and others. The Mental Property Administration Plan is protected by the Privateness Act (as is the complete proposal) and is the kind of personal info that NSF sometimes is not going to launch past the closed, confidential evaluation course of, even underneath FOIA or different request.
B. Budgetary Data
Value Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary dedicated price sharing is prohibited.
Funds Preparation Directions:
Every full proposal finances should embrace funding for journey to Washington, DC, for a PI or Co-PI and as much as one different undertaking participant to attend as much as two PI conferences per 12 months within the Washington, DC, space throughout the award interval.
C. Due Dates
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
Could 17, 2024
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):
September 20, 2024
D. Analysis.gov/Grants.gov Necessities
For Proposals Submitted Through Analysis.gov:
To organize and submit a proposal by way of Analysis.gov, see detailed technical directions out there 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 help, 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 using the Analysis.gov system. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation ought to be referred to the NSF program employees 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 Assets 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 help, contact the Grants.gov Contact Middle at 1-800-518-4726 or by e-mail: [email protected]. The Grants.gov Contact Middle solutions basic technical questions associated to using Grants.gov. Particular questions associated to this program solicitation ought to be referred to the NSF program employees 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 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 shall 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 Often Requested Questions. Grants.gov proposals should move all NSF pre-check and post-check validations with a purpose to be accepted by Analysis.gov at NSF.
When submitting by way of Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends candidates provoke proposal submission a minimum of 5 enterprise days prematurely of a deadline to permit satisfactory 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 Licensed Organizational Consultant could verify 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 verify the standing of an software.
VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Overview Procedures
Proposals acquired by NSF are assigned to the suitable NSF program for acknowledgement and, in the event that they meet NSF necessities, for evaluation. All proposals are fastidiously reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and often by three to 10 different individuals outdoors NSF both as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or each, who’re consultants within the explicit fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are chosen by Program Officers charged with oversight of the evaluation course of. Proposers are invited to recommend names of individuals they consider are particularly nicely certified to evaluation the proposal and/or individuals they would like not evaluation the proposal. These strategies could function one supply within the reviewer choice course of on the Program Officer’s discretion. Submission of such names, nonetheless, is optionally available. 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 web site visits earlier than recommending ultimate motion on proposals. Senior NSF employees additional evaluation 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 evaluation 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 might be important to the achievement of NSF’s mission, as articulated in Main the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Expertise Improvement 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 evaluation is one half. NSF’s mission is especially well-implemented by way of the mixing of analysis and training and broadening participation in NSF applications, initiatives, and actions.
One of many strategic aims in help of NSF’s mission is to foster integration of analysis and training by way of the applications, initiatives, and actions it helps at tutorial and analysis establishments. These establishments should recruit, practice, 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 supply cutting-edge analysis underneath the steering of the Nation’s most artistic scientists and engineers. NSF additionally helps improvement of a powerful science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM) workforce by investing in constructing the information 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 might be underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is important to the well being and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is dedicated to this precept of range and deems it central to the applications, initiatives, and actions it considers and helps.
A. Advantage Overview Ideas and Standards
The Nationwide Science Basis strives to spend money on a sturdy and various portfolio of initiatives that creates new information and permits breakthroughs in understanding throughout all areas of science and engineering analysis and training. To determine which initiatives to help, NSF depends on a benefit evaluation course of that comes with consideration of each the technical points 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 benefit evaluation course of for the collection of initiatives.
1. Advantage Overview Ideas
These rules are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when getting ready proposals and managing initiatives, by reviewers when studying and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program employees when figuring out whether or not or to not advocate proposals for funding and whereas overseeing awards. On condition that NSF is the first federal company charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in primary analysis and training, the next three rules apply:
All NSF initiatives ought to be of the very best high quality and have the potential to advance, if not remodel, the frontiers of information.
NSF initiatives, within the mixture, ought to contribute extra broadly to reaching societal targets. These “Broader Impacts” could also be completed by way of the analysis itself, by way of actions which might be instantly associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by way of actions which might be 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 nicely justified.
Significant evaluation and analysis of NSF funded initiatives ought to be based mostly on acceptable metrics, protecting in thoughts the seemingly correlation between the impact of broader impacts and the assets supplied to implement initiatives. If the scale of the exercise is restricted, analysis of that exercise in isolation is just not more likely to be significant. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of those actions could greatest be carried out at a better, extra aggregated, degree than the person undertaking.
With respect to the third precept, even when evaluation of Broader Impacts outcomes for explicit initiatives is completed at an aggregated degree, 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 benefit evaluation rules present the idea for the benefit evaluation 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 way of use of the 2 Nationwide Science Board authorised benefit evaluation standards. In some cases, nonetheless, NSF will make use of extra standards as required to focus on the particular aims of sure applications and actions.
The 2 benefit evaluation standards are listed beneath. Each standards are to be given full consideration throughout the evaluation and decision-making processes; every criterion is critical however neither, by itself, is adequate. Subsequently, proposers should totally handle each standards. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). comprises extra info to be used by proposers in improvement of the Venture Description part of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly inspired to evaluation the factors, together with PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), previous to the evaluation of a proposal.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers shall be requested to think about what the proposers need to do, why they need to do it, how they plan to do it, how they are going to know in the event that they succeed, and what advantages might accrue if the undertaking is profitable. These points apply each to the technical points of the proposal and the best way wherein the undertaking could make broader contributions. To that finish, reviewers shall be requested to judge 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 parts ought to be thought-about within the evaluation for each standards:
What’s the potential for the proposed exercise to
Advance information and understanding inside its personal discipline or throughout totally different fields (Mental Advantage); and
Profit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
To what extent do the proposed actions recommend and discover artistic, unique, or doubtlessly 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 nicely certified is the person, staff, or group to conduct the proposed actions?
Are there satisfactory assets out there to the PI (both on the house group or by way of collaborations) to hold out the proposed actions?
Broader impacts could also be completed by way of the analysis itself, by way of the actions which might be instantly associated to particular analysis initiatives, or by way of actions which might be supported by, however are complementary to, the undertaking. NSF values the development of scientific information and actions that contribute to achievement of societally related outcomes. Such outcomes embrace, however are usually 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 improvement at any degree; elevated public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and expertise; improved well-being of people in society; improvement 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 can even be requested to evaluation the Knowledge Administration Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as acceptable.
Further Solicitation Particular Overview Standards
This exercise, significantly the Concepts Lab strategy, is designed to foster the event and implementation of artistic and revolutionary initiatives. We anticipate that awards made by way of this solicitation shall be high-risk/high-impact, as they signify new approaches to analysis translation and/or the creation (or rejuvenation) of business ecosystems. Tasks that contain the appliance of novel, collaborative, or interdisciplinary approaches will due to this fact obtain precedence throughout the consideration course of.
Full proposals should clearly handle the next solicitation-specific evaluation standards by way of well-identified proposal parts:
If profitable, how considerably will the proposed work speed up the adoption of cell-free applied sciences and improve their use in functions of significance to the U.S. bioeconomy?
To what diploma does the proposal contribute to reaching the particular targets set throughout the Concepts Lab workshop, together with the particular sub-goals for infrastructure, functions and workforce elements?
Does the proposed undertaking have an acceptable mixture of stakeholders to realize the use-inspired aims of the solicitation?
Are the themes/aims/strategy within the proposal congruent with these decided on the Concepts Lab, and have any important modifications in undertaking scope or assets from these offered on the Concepts Lab been justified?
B. Overview and Choice Course of
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation shall be reviewed by Ad hoc Overview and/or Panel Overview.
The Concepts Lab evaluation and choice course of is printed in PAPPG Chapter II.F.6.
Preliminary Proposal Overview: Preliminary proposals shall be reviewed by a Choice Panel by way of a panel managed by the Program Officers. As much as 40 candidates shall be chosen for participation within the Concepts Lab.
Full Proposal Overview: Invited full proposals shall be reviewed internally by the cognizant NSF Program Officers, the Concepts Lab panelists, and different exterior reviewers, as acceptable.
Reviewers shall be requested to judge proposals utilizing two Nationwide Science Board authorised benefit evaluation 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 evaluation will contemplate the recommendation of reviewers and can formulate a advice.
After scientific, technical and programmatic evaluation and consideration of acceptable 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 advanced proposals or proposals from new recipients could require extra evaluation 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 shall be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Assist for evaluation of enterprise, monetary, and coverage implications. After an administrative evaluation 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, opinions are handled as confidential paperwork. Verbatim copies of opinions, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying info, 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 Data
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 shall be suggested as promptly as attainable by the cognizant NSF Program administering this system. Verbatim copies of opinions, not together with the id of the reviewer, shall be supplied routinely to the Principal Investigator. (See Part VI.B. for added info on the evaluation 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 help (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, akin to Grant Common 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, out there 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 Govt Order 14005, Making certain the Future is Made in All of America by All of Americas Staff (86 FR 7475), it’s the coverage of the chief department to make use of phrases and circumstances of Federal monetary help awards to maximise, in line with legislation, using items, merchandise, and supplies produced in, and companies supplied in, the USA.
Per 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 out there by way of this funding alternative could also be obligated for an award except all iron, metal, manufactured merchandise, and building supplies used within the undertaking are produced in the USA. For extra info, go to NSFs Construct America, Purchase America webpage.
Particular Award Situations for Cooperative Agreements:
Some or all CFIRE awards shall be made as cooperative agreements. The cooperative settlement awards will embrace Particular Situations referring to the interval of efficiency, assertion of labor, recipient tasks, NSF tasks, joint NSF-recipient tasks, funding and funding schedule, reporting necessities, Senior/Key Personnel, and different circumstances. Inside the first roughly 60 days of the Award, all Senior/Key Personnel shall be required to take part in an roughly two-day assembly at NSF or just about. As well as, some or the entire Senior/Key Personnel could also be required to attend as much as two conferences per 12 months at NSF or just about. The aim of those conferences is to: present undertaking updates; coordinate efforts; and talk about Program Officer(s) suggestions and strategies for mid-course corrections.
Close to the tip of the primary 18 months of the award, the NSF Program Officer(s) could convene an analysis assembly to evaluate the progress that some or the entire recipients have made in direction of advancing undertaking targets. As a part of an analysis assembly the recipient will submit briefing materials (anticipated to be 10 pages or much less) describing their accomplishments and make a brief presentation which shall be adopted by questions and solutions. The reviewers will consider the recipient’s progress in direction of its acknowledged targets and, particularly, progress in direction of creating deliverables. Considering reviewers’ enter, NSF will resolve whether or not the recipient will obtain funding for the rest of the award.
No-cost extensions are usually not permitted besides underneath clearly documented distinctive circumstances. Recipients should first contact the cognizant Program Officer previous to submitting a request.
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 tip of the present finances interval. (Some applications 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 ultimate undertaking report, and a undertaking outcomes report for most people.
Failure to supply the required annual or ultimate undertaking experiences, or the undertaking outcomes report, will delay NSF evaluation 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, out there by way of Analysis.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and ultimate undertaking experiences. Such experiences present info on accomplishments, undertaking members (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 shall 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, out there electronically on the NSF Web site at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
VIII. Company Contacts
Please observe that this system contact info is present on the time of publishing. See program web site for any updates to the factors of contact.
Common inquiries concerning this program ought to be made to:
For questions associated to using NSF techniques contact:
NSF Assist Desk: 1-800-381-1532
Analysis.gov Assist Desk e-mail: [email protected]
For questions referring to Grants.gov contact:
Grants.gov Contact Middle: If the Licensed 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. Different Data
The NSF web site supplies essentially the most complete supply of knowledge on NSF Directorates (together with contact info), applications 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 recent NSF funding alternatives and publications, essential modifications 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 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 info on Grants.gov could also be obtained at https://www.grants.gov.
About The Nationwide Science Basis
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 faculties, 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 help to tutorial 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 help Nationwide Analysis Facilities, consumer amenities, 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 tutorial degree.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) present funding for particular help or gear 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 most of these proposals.
The Nationwide Science Basis has Telephonic Machine for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Data Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that allow people with listening to impairments to speak with the Basis about NSF applications, employment or basic info. TDD could also be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The Nationwide Science Basis Data Middle 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 Common Data
(NSF Data Middle):
(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
Privateness Act And Public Burden Statements
The data requested on proposal varieties and undertaking experiences is solicited underneath the authority of the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended. The data on proposal varieties shall be utilized in reference to the collection of certified proposals; and undertaking experiences submitted by proposers shall be used for program analysis and reporting throughout the Govt Department and to Congress. The data requested could also be disclosed to certified reviewers and employees assistants as a part of the proposal evaluation course of; to proposer establishments/grantees to supply or get hold of information concerning the proposal evaluation course of, award selections, 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 info concerning proposers or nominees as a part of a joint software evaluation course of, or with a purpose to coordinate applications or coverage; and to a different Federal company, courtroom, or social gathering 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 out 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 knowledge is voluntary. Failure to supply full and full info, nonetheless, could scale back the potential for receiving an award.
An company could not conduct or sponsor, and an individual is just not required to reply to, an info assortment except it shows a sound Workplace of Administration and Funds (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 strategies for decreasing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Stories Clearance Officer
Coverage Workplace, Division of Establishment and Award Assist
Workplace of Funds, Finance, and Award Administration
Nationwide Science Basis
Alexandria, VA 22314
