The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency, created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). Its aim is to promote and advance scientific and engineering progress in the United States (US). The Foundation is also committed to ensuring the nation's supply of scientists, engineers and science educators.

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants, contracts and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities and other research and/or education organizations in all parts of the US. NSF receives approximately 30,000 proposals annually for new or renewal support for research, graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, and math/science/engineering education projects, and makes approximately 10,000 new awards. These typically are awarded to universities, colleges, academic consortia, non-profit institutions and small businesses. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry and US participation in international scientific efforts.

NSF is generally structured by fields of science and engineering and science education but also considers activities that cross traditional fields by coordinating review across the Foundation. The NSF's staff is assisted by advisors, primarily from the scientific and engineering communities, who serve on panels or as mail reviewers of proposals. NSF Program Officers who are experts in the field or area of the proposal are responsible for award recommendations.

Grantees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to participate fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age. sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF (some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. (For more information, see Section V.G.)

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at phone (703) 306-0090, FIRS at 1-800-877-8339.

Copies of this Guide (NSF 99-2) or the NSF Proposal Forms Kit (NSF 99-3) (which is contained as part of NSF 99-2) are available electronically on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg in a variety of formats including: HTML, Microsoft Word, ASCII text, and Portable Document Format (PDF). Paper copies may be ordered from:

NSF Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 218
Jessup, MD 20794-0218

Telephone: 301-947-2722
e-mail: pubs@nsf.gov

In accordance with Important Notice No. 120 dated June 27, 1997, Subject: Year 2000 Computer Problem, NSF awardees are reminded of their responsibility to take appropriate actions to ensure that the NSF activity being supported is not adversely affected by the Year 2000 problem. Potentially affected items include computer systems, databases, and equipment. The National Science Foundation should be notified if an awardee concludes that the Year 2000 will have a significant impact on its ability to carry out an NSF-funded activity. Information concerning Year 2000 activities can be found on the NSF Web site at: "http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/y2k/start.htm".