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NSF 00-4

RESEARCH ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR HOUSING

Program Announcement

DIRECTORATE FOR ENGINEERING
DIVISION OF CIVIL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

DEADLINE DATE: JANUARY 27, 2000, 5:00 PM (your local time)

  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

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SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Name: RESEARCH ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR HOUSING

Short Description/Synopsis of Program:

The Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces a research initiative in support of the President’s Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, or PATH. The objectives of PATH are to improve the quality, affordability, durability, environmental performance, and energy efficiency of today’s new and existing homes; strengthen the technology infrastructure of the United States; and help create the next generation of American housing. These goals are extraordinarily ambitious. The purpose of this announcement is to support fundamental research that contributes to the achievement of the PATH objectives. This initiative will focus on the application of a broad array of engineering sciences and technologies, and will encourage cooperative and interdisciplinary activities.

Program Points of Contact:

 Vijaya K. A. Gopu, Program Director, Room 545, Engineering, Division of Civil and Mechancal Systems, (703) 306-1361, e-mail: vgopu@nsf.gov

R. Rajakur, Program Director, Room 550, Engineering, Division of Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation, (703) 306-1330, e-mail: rrajakur@nsf.gov

Rajinder Khosla, Program Director, Room 675, Engineering,, Division of Electrical and Communication Systems, (703) 306-1339, e-mail: rkhosla@nsf.gov

Robert Wellek, Deputy Division Director, Room 525, Engineering,, Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, 703 306-1371, e-mail: rwellek@nsf.gov

Frederick A. Thompson, Program Director, Room 565, Engineering,, Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, (703) 306-1320, e-mail: athompso@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 47.041 — Engineering Grants

ELIGIBILITY

 Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions in support of individual investigators or small groups.

 Only one proposal may be submitted by a Principal Investigator. A Prinicipal Investigator for one proposal may be a co-Principal Investigator on other proposals.

AWARD INFORMATION

TYPE OF AWARD ANTICIPATED: STANDARD GRANT

Proposal Preparation & submission Instructions

Award amounts up to $150,000 for proposals submitted in response to this announcement

PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The Directorate for Engineering of the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces a research initiative in support of the President’s Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, or PATH. The objectives of PATH are to improve the quality, affordability, durability, environmental performance, and energy efficiency of today’s new and existing homes; strengthen the technology infrastructure of the United States; and help create the next generation of American housing. The next decade will require the development and deployment, using voluntary approaches, of technologies, housing components, designs and production methods that will result in housing that will accomplish the following specific PATH goals:

The purpose of this solicitation is to support fundamental research that can help to advance these goals. This initiative will focus on the application of a broad array of engineering sciences and technologies, and will encourage cooperative and interdisciplinary activities. Far reaching exploratory research that can lead to break-through technologies and engage the transcendent technologies –sensors, advanced materials and information technology – is encouraged. Researchers are encouraged to visit the ENG web-site (www.eng.nsf.gov/programs/) for any update on this initiative, and to visit the PATH web page at www.pathnet.org.

Background

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is an initiative to accelerate the creation and widespread use of advanced technologies in order to radically improve the quality, durability, and environmental performance, energy efficiency and affordability of our Nation’s housing. It follows from a three-year government and industry process to establish National Construction Goals for the residential construction industry. PATH program goals build on the consensus set of goals that were established through the National Construction Goals process which are documented in the report entitled, Building Better Homes at Lower Costs: The Industry Implementation Plan for the Residential National Construction Goals available from HUD User (www.huduser.org); telephone, 1-800-245-2691. The key technological issues, priorities, and recommended actions serving as the foundation are set out in this publication.

The PATH program was formally launched by President Clinton on May 4, 1998. In support of this initiative, Congress appropriated $10 million in the HUD budget for FY1999. The Congress required HUD to "cooperate with other federal agencies and the housing industry, and to engage in PATH activities that will provide research, development, testing, and engineering protocols for building materials and methods, as described in the Industry Implementation Plan. The Congress further directed HUD to draft an operating plan incorporating input from cooperating federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, in addition to manufacturer, builder, and remodeler input from the housing industry.

The National Science Foundation will support fundamental research that can help to advance PATH’s program goals. The PATH program recognizes that technological advances require continuing financial support for fundamental research. PATH’s strategy to address these goals is by (1) developing the fundamental research base for the development of new technologies; (2) increasing the utilization of advanced technologies in today’s new and existing homes, (3) strengthening the technology in the United States, and (4) stimulating the development of new technologies that will create the next generation of American housing.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

 There now exists the opportunity and need for investments in fundamental research to help achieve PATH goals. This initiative is designed to support fundamental engineering research in technological innovation that will help achieve PATH objectives and promote their adoption by the homebuilding industry. Proposals that address the five thematic areas of technological need (quality, durability, environmental performance, energy efficiency, and affordability) are invited. Areas impacted by potential fundamental research supported by this initiative include, but are not limited to, the following:

The proposed research projects should contribute to advancing two or more of PATH’s goals. Although the primary emphasis will be on achieving a high degree of fundamental understanding, any investigation of potential impact on new applications will also be given high priority. It is anticipated that cooperation among researchers from different disciplines will open new avenues of research and develop new applications. Each research proposal should identify potential areas of application and potential impacts.

This program offers a unique opportunity to investigators to request funding for innovative and inter-disciplinary research directed towards developing advanced technologies for housing.

All proposals should address the ways in which education and training are integrated within the research program. Efforts to incorporate interdisciplinary educational experience and encourage student teamwork are also encouraged.

ELIGIBILITY

 Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions in support of individual investigators or small groups. Synergistic collaboration among researchers and collaboration or partnerships with industry or government laboratories is encouraged when appropriate; however, NSF funding will be limited to U.S. academic institutions. Only one proposal may be submitted by a Principal Investigator. However, a Principal Investigator for one proposal may be a co-Principal Investigator on other proposals.

AWARD INFORMATION

 NSF anticipates funding approximately 12 proposals, with awards up to $150,000 for two years. The final number of awards will be subject to the availability of funds and the quality of the proposals.

PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions.

Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), NSF 00-2. The complete text of the GPG (including electronic forms) is available electronically on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone 301.947.2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

Electronic submission through the NSF FastLane system is required. Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement number (NSF 00-4) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the NSF Form 1207, "Cover Sheet for Proposal to the National Science Foundation." Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.

B. Proposal Due Dates.

 All proposals MUST be submitted electronically via FastLane by 5:00 PM, your local time, January 27, 2000. Signed proposal cover sheet and one hard copy of the proposal must be submitted in accordance with the instructions identified below.

Submission of Signed Cover Sheet and One Hard Copy of Proposal. The signed proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) and one hard copy of the proposal should be forwarded to the following address and received by NSF by February 3, 2000.

Dr. Vijaya K. A. Gopu
Program Director
Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230

A proposal may not be processed until the complete proposal (including signed Cover Sheet) has been received by NSF.

C. FastLane Requirements.

 Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm.

Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. For proposals submitted electronically, the signed paper copy of the proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded to NSF within five working days following proposal submission in accordance with FastLane proposal preparation and submission instructions referenced above.

PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Merit Review Criteria.

 Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority serving institutions, adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.

Proposals will be reviewed against the following general merit review criteria established by the National Science Board. Following each criterion are potential considerations that the reviewer may employ in the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. Each reviewer will be asked to address only those that are relevant to the proposal and for which he/she is qualified to make judgments.

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

 How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

 How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

PIs should address the following elements in their proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will these factors careful consideration in making funding decisions.

Integration of Research and Education

One of the principal strategies in support of NSF’s goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learner perspectives.

Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities

Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities -- are essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.

B. Review Criteria Specific to this Announcement

 The proposed research projects must contribute to advancing two or more of PATH’s goals, which are: (1) Reduce the monthly cost of new housing; (2) Improve the durability and reduction in maintenance costs; (3) Cut the environmental impact and energy use of new and existing homes; and (4) Reduce the risk of life, injury, and property destruction from natural hazards, and reduce residential construction work illness and injuries.

C. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

 All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement will be reviewed by panels.

Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. A program officer assigned to manage the proposal’s review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation. In most cases, proposers will be contacted by the program officer after his or her recommendation to award or decline funding has been approved by his or her supervisor, the division director. This informal notification is not a guarantee of an eventual award. NSF will be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months for 95 percent of proposals in this category. The time interval begins on the proposal deadline or target date or from the date of receipt, if deadlines or target dates are not used by the program. The interval ends when the division director accepts the program officer’s recommendation.

In all cases, after final programmatic approval has been obtained, award recommendations are then forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with an NSF program officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants Officer does so at its own risk.

 AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award.

 Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA). Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program Division administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator.

B. Grant Award Conditions.

An NSF grant consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the grant and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable grant conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF GC-1)* or Federal Demonstration Partnership Phase III (FDP) Terms and Conditions* and (5) any NSF brochure, program guide, announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF grants to organizations that have electronic mail capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.

* These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF’s Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone 301.947.2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, (NSF 95-26) available electronically on the NSF Web site. The GPM also is available in paper copy by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Web site at: http://www.gpo.gov. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is 202.512.1800.

C. Reporting Requirements.

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.

Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Approximately 30 days before expiration, NSF will send a notice to remind the PI of the requirement to file the final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

NSF has implemented a new electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane, which permits electronic submission and updating of project reports, including information on: project participants (individual and organizational); activities and findings; publications; and, other specific products and contributions. Reports will continue to be required annually and after the expiration of the grant, but PIs will not need to re-enter information previously provided, either with the proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.

Effective October 1, 1999, PIs are required to use the new reporting system for submission of annual and final project reports.

D. New Awardee Information.

If the submitting organization has never received an NSF award, it is recommended that the organization’s appropriate administrative officials become familiar with the policies and procedures in the NSF Grant Policy Manual which are applicable to most NSF awards. The "Prospective New Awardee Guide" (NSF 99-78) includes information on: Administration and Management Information; Accounting System Requirements and Auditing Information; and Payments to Organizations with Awards. This information will assist an organization in preparing documents that NSF requires to conduct administrative and financial reviews of an organization. The guide also serves as a means of highlighting the accountability requirements associated with Federal awards. This document is available electronically on NSF’s Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf9978.


CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 General inquiries should be made to the Research on Advanced Technologies for Housing Program. Contact persons are :

Vijaya K. A. Gopu, Program Director, Room 545, Engineering, Division of Civil and Mechancal Systems, (703) 306-1361, e-mail: vgopu@nsf.gov

R. Rajakur, Program Director, Room 550, Engineering, Division of Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation, (703) 306-1330, e-mail: rrajakur@nsf.gov

Rajinder Khosla, Program Director, Room 675, Engineering,, Division of Electrical and Communication Systems, (703) 306-1339, e-mail: rkhosla@nsf.gov

Robert Wellek, Deputy Division Director, Room 525, Engineering,, Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, 703 306-1371, e-mail: rwellek@nsf.gov

Frederick A. Thompson, Program Director, Room 565, Engineering,, Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, (703) 306-1320, e-mail: fthompso@nsf.gov

For questions related to use of FastLane, contact Cheryl Albus, (703) 306-1302, calbus@nsf.gov.

OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

 The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter. Many NSF programs offer announcements concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices listed in Appendix A of the GPG. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF Bulletin, available monthly (except July and August), and in individual program announcements. The Bulletin is available electronically via the NSF Web Site at http://www.nsf.gov. The direct URL for recent issues of the Bulletin is http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/publicat/bulletin/bulletin.htm Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service to find out what funding opportunities are available.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. 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 from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete 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 (unless otherwise specified in the eligibility requirements for a particular program).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the program announcement or contact the program coordinator at (703) 306-1636.

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 regarding NSF programs, employment, or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 306-0090 or through FIRS on 1-800-877-8339.

We want all of our communications to be clear and understandable. If you have suggestions on how we can improve this document or other NSF publications, please email us at plainlanguage@nsf.gov.

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

 The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Reports Clearance Officer; Information Dissemination Branch, DAS; National Science Foundation; Arlington, VA 22230.

YEAR 2000 REMINDER

 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.

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 47.041 – Engineering Grants
OMB No.: 3145-0058

NSF 00-4