Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) (nsf24520) | NSF

The Directorates for Organic Sciences and Geosciences at NSF require that proposers who embody off-campus or off-site analysis as a part of their mission submit, as supplementary documentation, a Plan for Secure and Inclusive Working Environments. For this solicitation, this doc replaces the required plan related to the certification in Chapter II.E.9 of the NSF Proposal and Award Insurance policies and Procedures Information (PAPPG). Directions for inclusion of the Plan for Secure and Inclusive Working Environments could be discovered within the extra proposal preparation directions on this solicitation.

The LTER Program solicitation consists of numerous language simplification and clarifications.

A requirement to broaden participation by means of LTER actions has been added to the solicitation.

Analysis Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Schoolyard actions are actually non-compulsory parts of LTER proposals.

Language has been added to acknowledge that explicitly finding out the position of people in and on ecological processes is welcome, however not required, at any non-urban LTER website.

Annually, between 1 and 12 websites are scheduled for renewal.

Roughly 1/3 of websites are eligible for renewal in every even-numbered yr however on account of probationary websites solely being renewed for two years, occasional website retirement and websites being pushed off-cycle for numerous causes, substantial variation might happen. Renewal proposals could also be thought-about in odd-numbered years.

All awards are topic to the supply of funds.

All ecological populations, communities, and ecosystems face long-term change. Figuring out the character of those modifications and the mechanisms driving them requires the gathering, evaluation, and interpretation of knowledge over lengthy intervals of time. To handle questions that can’t be resolved with short- time period observations or experiments, NSF established the Lengthy-Time period Ecological Analysis Program (LTER). Two parts characterize LTER analysis: 1) it’s situated at particular websites chosen to signify main biomes or ecosystem sorts, and a pair of) it emphasizes the examine of phenomena over lengthy intervals of time based mostly on knowledge collected in 5 core areas. Ongoing analysis at LTER websites offers a singular alternative for researchers to acquire an built-in, holistic understanding of populations, communities, and ecosystems that’s not doable by means of particular person, short-term awards.

Over forty years of LTER analysis have produced distinctive and worthwhile information about ecological change in response to pure and human influences. The disciplinary breadth of LTER analysis consists of inhabitants and group ecology, ecosystem science, evolutionary biology, city ecology, oceanography, and social and financial sciences, amongst different fields. LTER analysis has superior the fields of Ecology and the Earth Sciences and helped to offer the empirical knowledge wanted to forecast change. It has additionally superior understanding of regional and continental-scale processes, by means of cross-site analyses of ecological change. City LTER websites have contributed to the event of social-ecological concept as a principal goal.

Because the LTER Program progresses by means of its fifth decade, new challenges and alternatives come up that demand long-term analysis. New frontiers have grown out of the popularity that essential ecological processes are context-dependent and non-linear, that ecological and evolutionary processes work together regularly by means of feedbacks, and that the results of environmental change on ecosystem construction and performance are poorly understood. The LTER program will proceed to offer the essential scientific understanding required to discover these new frontiers.

The proposed analysis should be organized round a set of compelling questions that deepen understanding of ecological processes and require uninterrupted, long-term assortment, evaluation, and interpretation of environmental knowledge. LTER analysis should be developed round a conceptual framework that motivates questions requiring experiments and observations over very long time frames. The conceptual framework ought to explicitly justify the long-term query(s) posited by the analysis, and it ought to establish how knowledge in LTER core areas and any experimental work contribute to an understanding of the query(s) whereas testing main ecological theories or ideas. The framework ought to present the justification for all research outlined within the proposal and ought to be knowledgeable by ongoing analyses of long-term knowledge. Proposed analysis ought to have the targets of attaining a mechanistic understanding of organic responses to previous and current environmental change at a number of scales and of utilizing this understanding to foretell ecological responses at inhabitants, group, and ecosystem ranges, and, if applicable, evolutionary responses and social responses to ongoing or future environmental change.

NSF has invested in coordination throughout the 27 lively websites by means of cross-site or network-level actions, recognizing the worth of addressing questions throughout broader spatial scales inside the LTER community and of collaborations with broader analysis communities. Renewal proposals might embody comparative analysis with different LTER or non-LTER tasks. These broader-scale actions ought to prolong the conceptual framework proposed for modern site-based analysis. Analysis should justify the necessity for long-term assist to know ecological techniques and processes.

Core knowledge assortment at LTER websites will proceed to heart on 5 areas: 1) major manufacturing, 2) inhabitants dynamics and trophic construction, 3) natural matter accumulation, 4) inorganic inputs and actions of vitamins by means of the ecosystem, and 5) patterns and frequency of disturbances. Analyses of those knowledge present the muse for testing main theories and for figuring out new questions that demand long-term examine. These 5 areas focus and combine LTER analysis inside and amongst websites.

Along with the core knowledge collected for all websites, City LTER websites should additionally relate the human influence on land use and land-cover change in city environments to ecosystem dynamics, look at the results of human-environmental interactions in city ecosystems, and develop built-in approaches to linking human and pure dynamics.

Extra typically, NSF acknowledges that human choices, habits, and actions might contribute to LTER analysis at non-urban websites to the extent that they affect long-term ecological and ecosystem processes. Explicitly finding out the position of people in and on ecological processes is welcome, however not required, at any non-urban LTER website. Moreover, LTER renewal tasks might elect to combine social sciences in assist of ecological analysis, if essential to reply key, conceptually-motivated ecological questions.

The scientific targets of the proposed analysis might be evaluated based mostly on the next ideas:

Please learn fastidiously the program-specific evaluate standards described under.

Publicly accessible knowledge are a essential end result of NSF’s funding in LTER websites. Renewal proposals should articulate milestones and deliverables for data according to steering offered under in Part V: Supplementary Paperwork: 2. Information Administration Plan. Renewal proposals might be evaluated partly based mostly on the supply of knowledge collected utilizing LTER funds, significantly knowledge for the 5 core areas, with the expectation that each one knowledge collected for the reason that inception of a website might be publicly obtainable.

All awards are topic to the supply of funds.

The next directions complement the PAPPG and NSF Grants.gov Software Information tips:

A desk that lists all datasets from the location which were deposited into the Environmental Information Initiative or different public knowledge repository (see 2. Information Administration Plan under). Present the creator’s identify, yr of publication, dataset title, a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a Information Package deal Identifier issued by the repository, and point out which datasets are related to the 5 core areas. Datasets related to the ten most important publications listed in Outcomes from Prior Analysis must also be highlighted.

Information Administration Plan (DMP) (most of 5 pages): Since this doc exceeds the NSF restrict of two pages, it should be submitted as a separate supplementary doc. A separate doc should even be uploaded into the DMP module that states ‘As instructed within the solicitation, this data is being submitted as Different Supplementary Documentation’.

It’s anticipated that knowledge derived from LTER funding might be made freely and publicly obtainable inside a most of two years of assortment, and that LTER knowledge and knowledge merchandise utilized in revealed manuscripts may even be publicly obtainable. The DMP ought to describe how knowledge administration is concerned in experimental design, knowledge assortment, processing, validation, documentation, curation, entry, evaluation, and publication of knowledge generated by, or integral to, LTER-funded analysis. The DMP ought to doc insurance policies and procedures for assembly the location’s obligation for dissemination of knowledge and associated merchandise. It ought to specify clearly what datasets might be produced and the place and when they are going to be made public. Insurance policies relating to prioritization, delay, or limits on entry should be justified. Within the occasion of an award, annual stories ought to embody a report on progress on the gathering and publication of those datasets. Be aware that renewal proposals for Arctic or Antarctic websites should meet extra knowledge administration and knowledge reporting necessities as outlined within the related program solicitations (i.e., Antarctic Sciences, Arctic Sciences).

Submitters are suggested to seek the advice of the next sources for greatest practices and insurance policies that apply to the LTER community as a complete or to the actual NSF division below which their mission is to be funded:

Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) Pattern and Information Coverage (NSF 17-037)

The LTER program expects knowledge to be deposited a nationwide, public knowledge repository able to assigning Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) and searchable by way of group accepted portals reminiscent of DataONE (https://www.dataone.org/). A number of such repositories can be found to the LTER group and PIs are inspired to make use of them in accordance with the relevant insurance policies for his or her website. For an expanded record of knowledge repositories which may be applicable, see the DataONE record of member nodes (https://www.dataone.org/community). Examples embody:

These paperwork, vetted by the LTER Community governance, establish requirements that members of the LTER group have agreed to fulfill and be reviewed in opposition to. They cowl insurance policies relating to the well timed publication of knowledge, necessities for accessing LTER knowledge, and phrases of applicable use of LTER knowledge. In addition they present group requirements for knowledge administration, evaluation metrics and procedures, technological suggestions, and community collaboration.

For proposals that embody specimen assortment: If amassing or producing specimens (e.g., organisms, components of organisms, fossils together with hint fossils, microbial isolates, and so on.) is proposed, the Information Administration Plan should embody an outline of how the specimens and related knowledge might be accessioned into and maintained in a longtime organic assortment.

Challenge Administration Plan (most of three pages): This part ought to embody a cohesive administration plan that’s sufficient for a mission of the dimensions and complexity proposed. The plan ought to describe how choices associated to funding, analysis, and personnel might be made and carried out. The Challenge Administration Plan additionally should deal with continuity of management and succession planning, together with descriptions of efforts to recruit new scientists to the mission, and efforts to extend variety amongst website individuals. New individuals carry new concepts and recent views, that are more likely to enrich the event of analysis on the website. Clarify any main modifications anticipated or proposed, together with a change within the mission’s lead PI since the latest award.

Ship time: Proposals might require the scheduling of ship time. Help for ship time for websites managed by the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) is usually offered by the College-Nationwide Oceanography Laboratory System (UNOLS). For OCE-managed websites, assist for any non-UNOLS platforms would have to be included within the LTER website proposal budgets.

Logistical Help for Antarctic and Arctic LTER websites: 5 present LTER websites depend on analysis assist and logistics offered by means of GEO/Workplace of Polar Applications (OPP). The Arctic Analysis Help and Logistics (ARSL) Program helps the sector part of analysis tasks funded by means of science applications within the Arctic Sciences a part of OPP and thru different applications at NSF. Third social gathering logistics suppliers at present embody Battelle Arctic Analysis Operations, which manages assist at many Arctic websites; and UIC (Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Company) to assist work on Alaska’s North Slope; and the Toolik Area Station, which is operated by the Institute of Arctic Biology on the College of Alaska Fairbanks. The Antarctic Sciences Part, as a part of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), helps scientific analysis in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean with logistics offered by OPP’s Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Part (AIL). Proposals involving Antarctic fieldwork should embody the assertion, “This proposal requires fieldwork within the Antarctic” because the final line of the Challenge Abstract. As well as, investigators proposing fieldwork should comply with particular directions present in Part V.A. “Extra Directions” part of the Antarctic Analysis Program solicitation. Tasks requiring analysis vessel assist should submit an educational fleet request type as a Supplementary Doc. For additional data for Polar websites, investigators might contact their cognizant Program Director or the Analysis Help or Ocean Tasks Managers within the Workplace of Polar Applications and as listed within the related program solicitations (i.e., Antarctic Sciences, Arctic Sciences).

Secure and Inclusive Work Environments Plan:

All proposals submitted to this solicitation that embody analysis that might be carried out off-campus or off-site should submit a plan for secure and inclusive fieldwork as a supplemental doc that might be thought-about below the broader impacts evaluate criterion. This supplemental doc is in lieu of the required plan related to the certification referred to as for in Chapter II.E.9 of the PAPPG. Extra data relating to evaluate of the plan is offered below Solicitation Particular Evaluate Standards.

It’s NSF coverage to foster secure and harassment-free environments wherever science is carried out. Work carried out off-campus or off-site ought to be an enriching expertise for everybody and assist draw researchers to organic and geological sciences analysis. By requiring superior planning and a spotlight to sustaining an inclusive atmosphere, NSF is working to make sure that off-campus or off-site analysis is secure and inclusive for all individuals.

Off-campus or off-site analysis is outlined as knowledge/data/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, reminiscent of fieldwork and analysis actions on vessels and plane. The plan should be now not than two pages.

The plan for secure and inclusive3 working environments should embody:

a quick description of the sector setting and distinctive challenges for the crew;
the steps the proposing group will take to nurture an inclusive off-campus or off-site working atmosphere, together with processes to determine shared crew definitions of roles, duties, and tradition, e.g., codes of conduct, trainings, mentor/mentee mechanisms and subject assist which may embody common check-ins, and/or developmental occasions;
communication processes inside the off-site crew and to the group(s) that decrease singular factors inside the communication pathway (e.g., there shouldn’t be a single particular person overseeing entry to a single satellite tv for pc cellphone); and
the organizational mechanisms that might be used for reporting, responding to, and resolving problems with harassment in the event that they come up.

B. Budgetary Info

Value Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary dedicated value sharing is prohibited.

Different Budgetary Limitations:

Federal company scientists and scientists based mostly in different international locations might take part contingent on funding from different federal company or international company companions, however not by way of NSF funding.

Tasks might request as much as $1,275,000 per yr. This quantity should embody no less than $75,000 in participant assist or personnel prices to foster broadening participation actions; proposed actions can embody assist for analysis experiences for undergraduates, Schoolyard actions, tribal partnerships, group outreach, postdoctoral or investigator salaries, or different actions as applicable. Initiatives that may broaden participation of LTER investigators are inspired.

C. Due Dates

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s native time):

     March 14, 2024

     March 06, 2025

     First Thursday in March, Yearly Thereafter

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 offered on the Grants.gov Applicant Sources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/net/grants/candidates.html. As well as, the NSF Grants.gov Software Information (see hyperlink in Part V.A) offers directions relating to the technical preparation of proposals by way of Grants.gov. For Grants.gov person assist, 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 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 applying to Grants.gov and confirm the specified funding alternative and company to which the applying is submitted. The AOR should then signal and submit the applying to Grants.gov. The finished software might 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 Software Information, Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Analysis.gov how-to information, and Grants.gov Submitted Proposals Ceaselessly Requested Questions. Grants.gov proposals should go all NSF pre-check and post-check validations so as 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 upfront of a deadline to permit sufficient time to handle NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting group’s native time on the deadline. Please notice that some errors can’t be corrected in Grants.gov. As soon as a proposal passes pre-checks however fails any post-check, an applicant can solely right and submit the in-progress proposal in Analysis.gov.

Proposers that submitted by way of Analysis.gov might 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 obtained and validated by NSF, the Approved Organizational Consultant might test the standing of an software on Grants.gov. After proposers have obtained 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 obtained by NSF are assigned to the suitable NSF program for acknowledgement and, in the event that they meet NSF necessities, for evaluate. All proposals are 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 advert hoc reviewers, panelists, or each, who’re specialists within the specific fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are chosen by Program Officers charged with oversight of the evaluate course of. Proposers are invited to counsel names of individuals they imagine are particularly nicely certified to evaluate the proposal and/or individuals they would like not evaluate the proposal. These solutions might function one supply within the reviewer choice course of on the Program Officer’s discretion. Submission of such names, nevertheless, is non-compulsory. Care is taken to make sure that reviewers don’t have any conflicts of curiosity with the proposal. As well as, Program Officers might get hold of feedback from website visits earlier than recommending closing motion on proposals. Senior NSF workers additional evaluate suggestions for awards. A flowchart that depicts all the NSF proposal and award course of (and related timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.

A complete description of the Basis’s advantage evaluate course of is offered on the NSF web site at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/coverage/merit_review/.

Proposers must also concentrate on core methods which are important to the success of NSF’s mission, as articulated in Main the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Expertise 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 evaluate is one half. NSF’s mission is especially well-implemented by means of the mixing of analysis and schooling and broadening participation in NSF applications, tasks, and actions.

One of many strategic aims in assist of NSF’s mission is to foster integration of analysis and schooling by means of the applications, tasks, and actions it helps at tutorial 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 educating and studying.

NSF’s mission requires the broadening of alternatives and increasing participation of teams, establishments, and geographic areas which are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is important to the well being and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is dedicated to this precept of variety and deems it central to the applications, tasks, and actions it considers and helps.

A. Benefit Evaluate Ideas and Standards

The Nationwide Science Basis strives to spend money on a strong and various portfolio of tasks that creates new information and permits breakthroughs in understanding throughout all areas of science and engineering analysis and schooling. To establish which tasks to assist, NSF depends on a advantage evaluate course of that includes consideration of each the technical facets 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 advantage evaluate course of for the choice of tasks.

1. Benefit Evaluate Ideas

These ideas 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. On condition that NSF is the first federal company charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in primary analysis and schooling, the next three ideas apply:

All NSF tasks ought to be of the best high quality and have the potential to advance, if not remodel, the frontiers of data.
NSF tasks, within the mixture, ought to contribute extra broadly to attaining societal targets. These “Broader Impacts” could also be achieved by means of the analysis itself, by means of actions which are immediately associated to particular analysis tasks, or by means of actions which are supported by, however are complementary to, the mission. The mission actions could also be based mostly on beforehand established and/or modern strategies and approaches, however in both case should be nicely justified.
Significant evaluation and analysis of NSF funded tasks ought to be based mostly on applicable metrics, holding in thoughts the doubtless correlation between the impact of broader impacts and the sources offered to implement tasks. If the dimensions of the exercise is restricted, analysis of that exercise in isolation isn’t more likely to be significant. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of those actions might greatest be achieved at a better, extra aggregated, degree 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 degree, PIs are anticipated to be accountable for finishing up the actions described within the funded mission. Thus, particular person tasks ought to embody clearly said targets, particular descriptions of the actions that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to doc the outputs of these actions.

These three advantage evaluate ideas present the idea for the advantage evaluate standards, in addition to a context inside which the customers of the standards can higher perceive their intent.

2. Benefit Evaluate Standards

All NSF proposals are evaluated by means of use of the 2 Nationwide Science Board authorized advantage evaluate standards. In some situations, nevertheless, NSF will make use of extra standards as required to spotlight the particular aims of sure applications and actions.

The 2 advantage evaluate standards are listed under. Each standards are to be given full consideration throughout the evaluate 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). accommodates extra data to be used by proposers in growth of the Challenge Description part of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly inspired to evaluate the standards, together with PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), previous to the evaluate of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers might 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 may know in the event that they succeed, and what advantages may accrue if the mission is profitable. These points apply each to the technical facets of the proposal and the best way through which the mission might make broader contributions. To that finish, reviewers might be requested to judge all proposals in opposition to two standards:

Mental Benefit: The Mental Benefit 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 evaluate for each standards:

What’s the potential for the proposed exercise to
Advance information and understanding inside its personal subject or throughout completely different fields (Mental Benefit); and
Profit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?


To what extent do the proposed actions counsel and discover inventive, authentic, or probably transformative ideas?
Is the plan for finishing up the proposed actions well-reasoned, well-organized, and based mostly on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to evaluate success?
How nicely certified is the person, crew, or group to conduct the proposed actions?
Are there sufficient sources obtainable to the PI (both on the house group or by means of collaborations) to hold out the proposed actions?

Broader impacts could also be achieved by means of the analysis itself, by means of the actions which are immediately associated to particular analysis tasks, or by means of actions which are 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 will not be 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 degree; 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, business, and others; improved nationwide safety; elevated financial competitiveness of the USA; and enhanced infrastructure for analysis and schooling.

Proposers are reminded that reviewers may even be requested to evaluate the Information Administration Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as applicable.

Extra Solicitation Particular Evaluate Standards

B. Evaluate and Choice Course of

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation might be reviewed by Panel Evaluate.

Reviewers might be requested to judge proposals utilizing two Nationwide Science Board authorized advantage evaluate standards and, if relevant, extra program particular standards. A abstract score and accompanying narrative will typically be accomplished and submitted by every reviewer and/or panel. The Program Officer assigned to handle the proposal’s evaluate will contemplate the recommendation of reviewers and can formulate a advice.

After scientific, technical and programmatic evaluate and consideration of applicable components, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether or not the proposal 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. Giant or significantly advanced proposals or proposals from new recipients might require extra evaluate and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or goal date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer’s advice.

After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals really useful for funding might be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Help for evaluate of enterprise, monetary, and coverage implications. After an administrative evaluate has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers carry out the processing and issuance of a grant or different settlement. Proposers are cautioned that solely a Grants and Agreements Officer might 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 danger.

As soon as an award or declination determination has been made, Principal Investigators are offered 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/Challenge Director by the Program Officer. As well as, the proposer will obtain an evidence of the choice to award or decline funding.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting group by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. Organizations whose proposals are declined might be suggested as promptly as doable by the cognizant NSF Program administering this system. Verbatim copies of critiques, not together with the identification of the reviewer, might be offered mechanically to the Principal Investigator. (See Part VI.B. for extra data on the evaluate course of.)

B. Award Situations

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award discover, which incorporates any particular provisions relevant to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the funds, which signifies the quantities, by classes of expense, on which NSF has based mostly its assist (or in any other case communicates any particular approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced within the award discover; (4) the relevant award situations, reminiscent of Grant Common Situations (GC-1)*; or Analysis Phrases and Situations* and (5) any announcement or different NSF issuance which may be included 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 Govt Order 14005, Guaranteeing the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Employees (86 FR 7475), it’s the coverage of the manager department to make use of phrases and situations of Federal monetary help awards to maximise, according to regulation, the usage of items, merchandise, and supplies produced in, and companies supplied in, the USA.

According to 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 means of this funding alternative could also be obligated for an award except all iron, metal, manufactured merchandise, and development supplies used within the mission are produced in the USA. For extra data, go to NSF’s Construct America, Purchase America webpage.

Particular Award Situations:

Mid-Time period Critiques: Awardees might be required to take part in website go to critiques at a mutually agreed upon time throughout the award interval, usually across the mid-term of the award.

C. Reporting Necessities

For all multi-year grants (together with each normal 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 applications or awards require submission of extra frequent mission stories). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI is also required to submit a closing mission report, and a mission outcomes report for most of the people.

Failure to offer the required annual or closing mission stories, or the mission outcomes report, will delay NSF evaluate and processing of any future funding increments in addition to any pending proposals for all recognized PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs ought to look at the codecs of the required stories upfront to guarantee availability of required knowledge.

PIs are required to make use of NSF’s digital project-reporting system, obtainable by means of Analysis.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and closing mission stories. Such stories present data on accomplishments, mission individuals (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 might 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 notice 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:

Rebecca Gast,
GEO/OPP,

phone:
(703) 292-2356,

e-mail:
[email protected]

Francisco (Paco) B. Moore,
BIO/DEB,

phone:
(703) 292-5376,

e-mail:
[email protected]

Robyn Smyth,
BIO/DEB,

phone:
(703) 292-2996,

e-mail:
[email protected]

For questions associated to the usage of NSF techniques contact:

NSF Assist Desk: 1-800-381-1532

For questions referring to Grants.gov contact:

Grants.gov Contact Middle: If the Approved Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not obtained 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 data on NSF Directorates (together with contact data), 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 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 means of e-mail or the person’s Internet browser every time new publications are issued that match their recognized pursuits. “NSF Replace” additionally is offered 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 unbiased 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 means of grants and cooperative agreements to greater than 2,000 schools, universities, Ok-12 faculty techniques, companies, casual science organizations and different analysis organizations all through the US. The Basis accounts for about one-fourth of Federal assist to tutorial establishments for primary analysis.

NSF receives roughly 55,000 proposals every year for analysis, schooling and coaching tasks, of which roughly 11,000 are funded. As well as, the Basis receives a number of thousand functions for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The company operates no laboratories itself however does assist Nationwide Analysis Facilities, person services, sure oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic analysis stations. The Basis additionally helps cooperative analysis between universities and business, US participation in worldwide scientific and engineering efforts, and academic actions at each 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 tasks. See the NSF Proposal & Award Insurance policies & Procedures Information Chapter II.F.7 for directions relating to preparation of these kinds of proposals.

The Nationwide Science Basis has Telephonic Machine 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 applications, 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 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 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 Middle):

(703) 292-5111

TDD (for the hearing-impaired):

(703) 292-5090

To Order Publications or Types:

Ship an e-mail to:

[email protected]

or phone:

(703) 292-8134

(703) 292-5111

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The data requested on proposal varieties and mission stories is solicited below the authority of the Nationwide Science Basis Act of 1950, as amended. The data on proposal varieties might be utilized in reference to the choice of certified proposals; and mission stories submitted by proposers might be used for program analysis and reporting inside the Govt Department and to Congress. The data requested could also be disclosed to certified reviewers and workers assistants as a part of the proposal evaluate course of; to proposer establishments/grantees to offer or get hold of knowledge relating to the proposal evaluate course of, award choices, or the administration of awards; to authorities contractors, specialists, volunteers and researchers and educators as vital 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 evaluate course of, or so as 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 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 data is voluntary. Failure to offer full and full data, nevertheless, might scale back the potential for receiving an award.

An company might not conduct or sponsor, and an individual isn’t required to reply to, an data assortment except it shows a sound Workplace of Administration and Finances (OMB) management quantity. The OMB management quantity for this assortment is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this assortment of data is estimated to common 120 hours per response, together with the time for reviewing directions. Ship feedback relating to the burden estimate and another facet of this assortment of data, together with solutions for decreasing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. PlimptonReports Clearance OfficerPolicy Workplace, Division of Establishment and Award SupportOffice of Finances, Finance, and Award ManagementNational Science FoundationAlexandria, VA 22314