Overall Document — The entire document has been supplemented with additional coverage on the NSF FastLane system and other electronic sources of information such as the NSF Web site.
About the National Science Foundation — A notice has been added reminding NSF awardees of their responsibilities regarding the Year 2000 computer problem.
Foreword — has been revised to provide:
Information regarding the availability of the new electronic NSF Bulletin; and
An updated listing of applicable NSF CFDA numbers.
Chapter I — Paragraph A, Overview, has been modified to include a notice of the availability of the NSF Custom News Service (CNS). The CNS is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of the issuance of new program announcements through the Internet e-mail system or the user's Web browser.
Chapter I — Paragraph B, The Proposal, has been supplemented with instructions on treatment of patentable ideas, trade secrets, and privileged or confidential information. This coverage was previously included under II.D.7, Budget.
Chapter I — Paragraph D, Who May Submit Proposals, has been clarified to recognize that some programannouncements place restrictions on the individuals and organizations that are eligible to submit proposals to NSF.
Chapter I — Paragraph F, How to Submit Proposals, has been revised to stipulate that:
Some NSF programs and program announcements may require electronic submission of all or part of a proposal, including unsolicited proposals. Proposers are advised to check the FastLane Web site prior to proposal submission to check whether submission via FastLane is required.
For proposals submitted via FastLane, the signed proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded to the address identified on page 3 of the GPG and received by NSF within five working days following proposal submission.
Chapter II, Instructions for Proposal Preparation, has been supplemented with a Web address for Frequently Asked Questions regarding proposal preparation and submission.
Chapter II — Paragraph B, Special Instructions for Single-Copy Documents, has been revised to eliminate the statement regarding the inability to use FastLane for the List of Suggested Reviewers or Reviewers Not to Include. This item may now be submitted electronically via FastLane.
Chapter II — Paragraph B.1, Information About Principal Investigators/Project Directors and co-Principal Investigators/co-Project Directors, has been changed to indicate that the name(s) of the PI(s) is required to be submitted on the new NSF Form 1225. The coverage also specifies that a copy of the form must be submitted for each identified PI/PD and co-PI/co-PD on the proposal.
Chapter II — Paragraph B.4, Deviation Authorization, has been deleted. All coverage on deviations is now contained in Section II.A.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.1, Cover Sheet for Proposal to the National Science Foundation, has been revised to:
add a new block for the proposer to identify any related preproposal number assigned by NSF, in submission of the full proposal; and
specify which elements of the NSF Form 1207 are for "NSF Use Only" and should not be completed by the proposing organization.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.4, Project Description, has been revised to:
supplement the description with increased coverage on the second merit review criterion; and
delete coverage on submission of Results from Prior NSF Support via the new FastLane Project Reporting system. This capability will be delayed until some undetermined future date.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.5, References Cited, has been supplemented with a reminder that the "References Cited" section of the proposal should not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the 15-page project description.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.7.a.(iii), Confidential Budgetary Information, has been revised to address "Confidential Budgetary Information" in lieu of confidential information impacting the entire proposal. A Web address also has been added to obtain instructions for submission of this information via FastLane.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.7.d, Travel, has been reorganized to move the material describing travel requirements from paragraph ii to paragraph i since the coverage applies to both domestic and foreign travel.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.7.f.(v), Subawards, has been updated to specify how to submit signed subaward budgets for proposals that are submitted via FastLane.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.10, Special Information & Supplementary Documentation, has been supplemented with instructions for submission of Special Information and Supplementary Documentation for proposals that are submitted via FastLane.
Chapter II — Paragraph D.12.b, Group and Collaborative Proposals, has been supplemented with instructions for submission of collaborative proposals via FastLane.
Chapter III — a new Paragraph B, Administrative Corrections to FastLane Proposals, has been added to address a new FastLane capability for minor administrative corrections to proposals. This new capability will be available in spring 1999. Detailed instructions for use of this feature will be made available at that time. All the remaining paragraphs in Chapter III have been renumbered accordingly.
Chapter III — Paragraph C, Revisions to Proposals Made During the Review Process, has been clarified to more clearly describe the role of the NSF Program Officer in negotiation of award budgets.
Chapter V — Paragraph F, Human Resources Development, has been revised to include an updated listing of NSF programs whose purpose is to increase participation by women, minorities, persons with disabilities and by faculty from minority institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions.
Chapter VI — Paragraphs C.1-2, No-Cost Extensions, have been modified to stipulate that some NSF Directorates now require electronic submission of notifications of grantee authorized extensions and requests for NSF approved extensions via FastLane. Prior to submission, grantees should check the cognizant Directorate or FastLane Web page to see if submission via FastLane is required.
Chapter VII, Grant Administration Highlights, has been supplemented with a Web address for Frequently Asked Questions regarding grant administration.
Chapter VII — Paragraph C, Transfer of PI, has been updated with language to remind grantees that the NSF FastLane system is not yet available for grant transfer requests.
Chapter VII — Paragraph G, Grant Reports, has been revised to combine the coverage on Annual and Final Project Reports and to require use of the new electronic report formats effective October 1, 1998. While electronic submission is strongly encouraged, paper copies of the report formats may be obtained from the NSF Clearinghouse.
Chapter VII — Paragraph L, Year 2000 Computer Problem, has been added to remind NSF awardees of their responsibilities regarding the Year 2000 computer problem.
Appendix A — Programs Providing Support for Scientific & Engineering Research & Education, has been updated to include the latest listing of NSF programs, numbers of copies of proposals required, and telephone numbers.
Appendix B — Checklist for Proposal Preparation, has been updated to conform to the requirements contained in this Guide.
Appendix D — NSF Form 1328, Annual NSF Grant Progress Report, has been deleted. The new format is available electronically via FastLane or in paper form from the NSF Clearinghouse.
Appendix E — NSF Form 98A, Final Project Report, has been deleted. The new format is available electronically via FastLane or in paper form from the NSF Clearinghouse.
Proposal Forms Kit has been revised as follows:
NSF Form 1225, Information About Principal Investigators/Project Directors and co-Principal Investigators/co-Project Directors, has been modified to be consistent with revised OMB guidelines on race and ethnicity standards as well as to request specific information on the disability status of each PI/PD. This form is required to be submitted by each identified PI/PD and co-PI/co-PD on the project.
NSF Form 1207, Cover Sheet for Proposal to the National Science Foundation, has been revised to:
Add a new block to identify any related preproposal number assigned by NSF in submission of the full proposal.
Create separate blocks for "High Degree" and "Year of Degree."
Move the block for the PI/co-PI Social Security Number to Page 2.
NSF Form 1359, Table of Contents, has been revised to delete the space provided to identify the applicable NSF Award Number for purposes of submitting results from prior support via the NSF electronic reporting system. This capability will be delayed until some undetermined future date.
NSF Form 1030, Summary Proposal Budget instructions have been modified to eliminate consultant travel from inclusion in the travel category. Consultant travel should be included in the amount identified in line G.3, Consultant Services.