NSF 01-131
DIVISION OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
LETTER OF INTENT DUE DATE(S) (required): October 22, 2001
FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE(S): November 15, 2001
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Web Site at:
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(703) 292-5111 |
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(703) 292-5090 |
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Program Title: Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)
Synopsis of Program: CREST supports improvement of the research and research training capabilities at the most productive minority serving institutions by promoting the production of new knowledge, enhancing the national research competitiveness of individual faculty, building the intellectual and physical research and education infrastructure through partnerships with world-class research organizations, supporting innovation in the integration of research and education, and fostering participation in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) disciplines by a diverse student population. CREST projects also enhance the effectiveness of related science and engineering activities within the project's area of research focus.
The CREST program has three components:Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
Institutions eligible for a CREST RII award shall have:
Principal Investigators for CREST-RII awards must be United States (U.S.) citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the U.S. and must be employed by CREST-eligible institutions.
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Deadline/Target Dates
D. FastLane Requirements
The Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) has primary responsibility within NSF for broadening participation by all individuals in science and engineering. HRD programs reflect NSF's commitment to developing the resources of the scientific and technological community as a whole and ensuring an adequately trained research and development workforce in the next decade. To meet the challenges presented by the Nation's accelerating needs in science and technology, HRD is strengthening its efforts to increase the research productivity of faculty at minority-serving institutions as part of the broader objective of strengthening the research and education capabilities of minority-serving academic institutions.
The CREST Program objectives are:
CREST Program Components
CREST supplements and CREST Co-funding both expand the intellectual and physical resources available to CREST RII awardee sites, CREST institutions and CREST faculty and students as well as broadening the base of support for achievement of CREST program objectives beyond the CREST community.
The policies of the CREST Program concerning eligible science and engineering
disciplines are those of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and are detailed
in the Grant Proposal Guide. CREST funding emphasis is in fields where support
is not duplicated by major programs of other agencies. For example, proposals
for biomedical or behavioral research in fields normally supported by the National
Institutes of Health will not be accepted. Priority will be given to those research
areas where minorities are significantly underrepresented. If an investigator
is uncertain as to whether the proposed research is appropriate for the Foundation,
he or she is encouraged to contact the CREST Program Director.
CREST award instruments are different for the three CREST program components:
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Letters of Intent:
Each CREST RII Proposal must be preceded by a Letter of Intent. This letter
should contain sufficient technical details of each Subproject Proposal to
permit identification of appropriate technical reviewers for that Subproject.
Letters of Intent for CREST RII Proposals should be mailed to: Program Director,
CREST, Division of Human Resource Development, National Science Foundation Room
815, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22230 or email to:
jbragin@nsf.gov
Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF Web Site at: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. 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.
CREST Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII)
Awards are 60-month Cooperative Agreements of up to a total of $5.0 million
to support science and technology infrastructure improvements identified by
the institution as being critical to its future research and development competitiveness.
Cost sharing from non-Federal sources of 30% of the total amount requested of
NSF is required over the term of the award. 50% cost-sharing is required for
acquisition of equipment costing in excess of $10,000. Principal investigators
of CREST Research Infrastructure Improvement projects must be employed by the
CREST-eligible institution. All CREST-supported projects must have a unifying
research focus in one of the research areas supported by NSF, provide convincing
background and rationale for the proposed projects in terms of institutional
mission, priorities, resources and opportunities, address the CREST program
objectives described in this solicitation and meet national standards of excellence,
including persuasive evidence of the ability to produce demonstrable achievements
within the period covered by the award and the potential to obtain subsequent
non-CREST support from federal, state, and/or private sector sources. CREST experience indicates that infrastructure
improvement strategies that sharply focus available fiscal and human resources
on a limited number of research and development areas and activities that are
consistent with long-term institutional objectives are most successful. CREST
RII projects are built around up to five outstanding research thrust areas,
which address a common theme, each of which demonstrates the potential of developing
national competitiveness during the CREST award period. CREST support aims at
building a broad, collaborative research and educational effort by: establishing
links with national centers of research excellence and outstanding research
scientists and engineers in academia, industry and national laboratories; encouraging
multidisciplinary research and education; and integrating research and educational
activities in ways that expand student career options and facilitate entry of
underrepresented groups (i.e., minorities, women and persons with disabilities)
into high demand science and technology fields. CREST RII funding may, for example,
be used to support competitive levels of start-up funding for outstanding new
faculty hires with research interests related to the Center theme and acquisition
of key equipment and instruments including high performance computing and networking
capabilities. CREST RII support should not replace other available federal,
state, or institutional resources and should add significant value to the existing
institutional strategic plan. Likewise CREST RII funding should not be employed
as an alternative to support which is available through NSF's regular grant
programs and special competitions. CREST projects are designed to facilitate self-improvement.
Responsibility for project development and execution rests with the proposing
institution and the CREST project director. Support may be requested for any
activity that could have a direct positive influence on the competitiveness
of participating scientists and engineers and the quality of the institution's
research and training. Supportable activities may include, but are not limited
to, exploratory research projects; acquisition of materials, supplies, research
equipment and instrumentation; hiring nationally competitive scientists and/or
engineers; use of visiting scientists and engineers as short- or long-term consultants;
faculty attendance at professional meetings and seminars; faculty sabbaticals
and exchange programs; undergraduate and graduate student research activities;
development of outreach and other enhancement programs with neighboring institutions;
and strengthening technical support personnel. Plans may be organized around the development
of individual scientists or engineers, one or more science or engineering department(s)
(or equivalent units) or interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research areas.
It is expected, however, that the CREST target group(s) will possess the potential
to achieve national competitiveness in research over the five-year implementation
period. In identifying the members of this target group, NSF expects that the
proposing institution will strongly encourage participation by minorities, women
and persons with disabilities. Whether the proposed activity is considered competitive
will be determined by merit review of the appropriateness and relevance of the
improvement strategies to CREST program goals. In addition to seeking funds to strengthen the
CREST institution's own capabilities, funds may be requested to facilitate serving
as a resource center for increasing the number and research competitiveness
of minority scientists and engineers in the area of research focus of the CREST
Center. Faculty at other institutions who participate in CREST Center-supported
research and contribute to achievement of CREST project objectives are eligible
for funding through the CREST Center with which they are affiliated. Project activities supported by NSF may also
include cooperative efforts between the applicant institution and industry,
Federal laboratories or other research and development institutions and organizations
both within the local region and nationally. An institution's CREST request may include support
for academic, state, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. It may also include
individuals employed by such organizations both inside and outside the CREST
institution. Cooperative programs among eligible institutions as well as cooperative
programs between eligible institutions and other entities are eligible for CREST
support. CREST-supported projects must contribute to and support the achievement
of CREST objectives outlined in the synopsis for this solicitation. CREST funding
must add substantial, measurable value to the existing science and technology
research capability in areas of high institutional priority and demonstrate
strong potential to generate sustained non-CREST funding from federal, state,
or private sector sources. In addition, all activities carried out under a CREST
award are subject to the restrictions concerning eligible science and engineering
disciplines and activities detailed in the Grant Proposal Guide. Each CREST Center shall convene, at least annually,
an External Advisory Group. The advisors must include representatives from those
served by the Center (e.g., academic institutions, industry, state and local
agencies, national laboratories, etc.) and display the diversity of the U.S.
citizenry in its membership. Those with a financial, institutional, or collaborative
connection to the Center may not serve as members of the External Advisory Group.
The function of the External Advisory Group is to provide guidance and advice
to the Center as well as to ensure that the Center's activities are consistent
with its vision, goals, and objectives. The membership of the CREST External
Advisory Group must be included in the Special Information and Supplementary
Documentation section of the CREST Center Proposal along with a brief statement
of each member's qualifications and written confirmation of their commitment
to serve. A full CREST RII Proposal consists of multiple
parts: (2) Up to five, but not fewer than three
Subproject Proposals each of which contains all the elements of a standard
NSF research proposal but also contains a copy of the Center Project Summary
described in the preceding paragraph. Each Subproject Proposal must be complete
and will be independently evaluated following the standard NSF merit review
process and criteria. In addition, each Subproject Proposal contains a one-page
Subproject Relevancy Statement summarizing the subproject, describing the
relevancy and importance of the subproject to the overall improvement plan,
including synergy with the other subproject proposals, and showing how it
supports the overall goals and objectives of the Center Proposal. The Subproject
Proposals are inserted, successively, in the Special Information and Supplementary
Documentation section of the Center Proposal. Center Proposals should be prepared and submitted
in accordance with specific guidelines provided in this document and the general
guidelines provided in the current Grant Proposal Guide. Proposals that do not
contain all the elements in the order given below are considered ineligible
and will not be reviewed. The numbers in parentheses in the outline below are
page limits for the corresponding element of the proposal. Italics indicate
the element is formatted by FastLane. A full description of the contents of
each proposal element follows the outline. 1. Cover
Sheet and Certification Page (2) 2. Center Project Summary (1) 3. Center
Proposal Table of Contents (1) 4. Center Project Description (10) 5. Center Proposal References (2) 6. Biographical Sketches for all senior personnel
(maximum of two pages per sketch) 7. Budgets and
Budget Justifications (five annual comprehensive budgets and one cumulative
comprehensive budget, each with its own budget justification) (6+6). 8. Current
and Pending Support for all senior personnel
included in biographical sketches (allow 1 page per person) 9. Center
Facilities and Equipment (comprehensive, includes
all subproject facilities and equipment) (1) 10. Special Information and Supplementary Documentation
- Insert letters of commitment, External Advisory Committee information, etc.
in this section. The Subproject Proposals are inserted successively,
as separate files, in the Special Information and Supplementary Documentation
section following the Center Proposal supplementary documents. Cover Sheet and Institutional Certifications for
Center Proposal: This form is automatically generated by FastLane.
Center Proposal titles should begin with the word CREST. The CREST Program Solicitation
number, NSF 01-131, must be entered in the appropriate box on the cover sheet.
Select CENTERS OF RSCH EXCELL IN S&T as the appropriate NSF program and
Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) as the NSF division to be entered
on the proposal cover sheet. A Center Proposal may have one PI and up to
four Co-PIs. Additional senior personnel can be included in the Center Budget
(NSF Form 1030HRD) and in the Project and Subproject Descriptions. All Senior
Personnel must provide biographical sketches and list current and pending support. Project Summary for the Center Proposal: Provide
a brief (one page or less) description of the Center (i.e. overall) project,
clearly stating project objectives and strategies, rationale, vision, distinguishing
features, multidisciplinary or disciplinary focus, proposed research and educational
activities, integrative components (e.g. synergy between subprojects), and diversity
plan. Include the title of the Center, the name of the Center Project Director
(PI), and lead institution at the top of the page. The Center Project Summary
is completed in FastLane and copied into each Subproject Description. Table of Contents for
CREST Center Proposal: This form is automatically generated by
FastLane. Project Description for Center Proposal: The
Center project narrative (not to exceed 10 single-spaced typed pages in standard
font size of 10 to12 points) presents much of the information that determines
whether an award will be made. All pages must be numbered at the bottom with
2.5 cm. margins at the top, bottom, and on each side. The project description
must develop a research focus that is sufficiently comprehensive to justify
a Center form of organization and flexible enough to permit modifications as
appropriate over the course of the project should an award be made. It should
describe the Center's goals and proposed research activities in sufficient detail
to allow assessment of the ways in which they work together to address: the
Center's theme; the necessity for the Center mode of operation; and the CREST
program objective of achieving national research competitiveness in the proposed
areas of research focus during the period of the award. The Center Project Description
should indicate the impact the Center's research will have on the nation's scientific
and technological base. In preparing Center and Subproject Proposals,
careful attention should be given to the evaluation criteria listed in the section
of this solicitation describing the NSF proposal review process. In discussing
the science and engineering activities, sufficient content should be provided
in the Center Proposal to allow an assessment of the relevance and appropriateness
of each proposed subproject to the overall Center project goals and the synergy
created by the choice of subproject research areas. However, detailed technical
descriptions should be reserved for the Subproject Proposals. References. The purpose
of the references in the Center Proposal is to demonstrate that project planning
has included review of relevant documents describing the current institutional
situation as well as pertinent available literature and that such information
has been used effectively in developing the proposed research infrastructure
improvement plan for the Center. Citations must include the full title and names
of all authors for each reference. Biographical Sketches: Biographical
sketches of all senior personnel involved in the operation of the Center must
be provided in the Center Proposal using the FastLane system and following the
guidelines in the current Grant Proposal Guide. All information that is deemed
pertinent is allowable provided that the two-page limit is not exceeded. Do
not send copies of publications. Current and Pending Support: This
section is generated by FastLane. Provide a complete listing of current and
pending support for the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator(s),
and non Co-PI Senior Personnel only. If their biographical sketch was included,
then you must include a statement about their current and pending support following
the guidelines in the current Grant Proposal Guide. Budgets/Budget
Justifications: Use of form 1030HRD is required. The comprehensive
CREST Center (i.e. overall) budget is developed through FastLane and includes
five annual and one cumulative budget with the corresponding budget justifications
for each. Facilities and Equipment: This
section is developed using FastLane and is comprehensive for the Center including
facilities and equipment to be made available to each subproject. In addition,
each CREST Subproject Proposal includes information on important facilities
and equipment to which it will have access. Special Information and Supplementary
Documentation: Letters of commitment are required from the applicant
institution and its partners, signed by an official authorized to commit support
(including cash and/or in-kind cost sharing) to the CREST project during its
life span. Letters committing industrial and/or other partners to involvement
and financial or other support are required. In addition this section contains
the membership list of the External Advisory Group (EAG), a brief statement
of each proposed EAG member's qualifications and letters committing the proposed
EAG members to serve. Commitment letters are not included in the page count.
These letters must be inserted into the Special Information and Supplementary
Documentation section of the proposal and submitted electronically. Hard copies
must not be mailed to NSF. Subproject Proposals The primary information source for developing
Subproject Proposals is the current Grant Proposal Guide. Each CREST RII project
must maintain at least three but no more than five research subprojects.
Each subproject must submit a complete Subproject Proposal as outlined below
and described in detail at the HRD website. The numbers in parenthesis are the
page limits for each Subproject Proposal Element. Subproject I Repeat sections a-g as above for subprojects
II, III, etc. Consult the NSF FastLane homepage and the institutional
sponsored projects officer for directions on providing access by appropriate
Center senior personnel to the Center Proposal being developed in FastLane. A(2). CREST CENTER SUPPLEMENTAL AWARDS Supplemental funding of the sort described above
has proven to be an important factor in improving the quality of the research
in thrust areas where it has occurred and in achieving two key goals of the
CREST program: (1) to enable faculty at CREST institutions to cooperate with
other science and engineering centers of excellence to increase the effectiveness
of CREST related science and engineering activities and (2) to build bridges
for minority student career development through alliances with business, government
laboratories and other universities. CREST
supplements expand the intellectual and physical resources available to CREST
RII awardee sites, CREST institutions and CREST faculty and students as well
as broaden the base of support for achievement of CREST program objectives beyond
the CREST community. Through the Co-funding initiative, joint support may
be provided for certain CREST-certified and meritorious proposals submitted
to the Foundation's other (i.e. non-CREST) ongoing research and educational
programs and special competitions. The Co-funding Initiative is a major NSF
cross directorate activity, applicable to programs in all Directorates and the
Office of Polar Programs. The review and administration of a CREST-certified Co-funding proposal will
be handled by the NSF program to which it is submitted. CREST Co-funding eligibility
is kept in confidence by the managing program to which a proposal has been submitted
and is not a factor in the review of certified proposals. Further information on the CREST program and the Supplemental and Co-funding
Initiatives can be found at the CREST program website: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/HRD/Crest.asp.A(1). CREST
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT (RII) AWARDS
(1) The Center Proposal which includes
discussion of the applicant's entire plan for improving the status of science
and engineering research and training and for increasing participation in
science and engineering by a diverse student population. This overview should
present a clear explanation of the proposed improvement plan from a scientific,
administrative, and fiscal point of view. The Center Proposal must contain
a Center Project Summary which provides an overview of the Center Project
and describes the synergy anticipated by the choice of subprojects. The Center
Proposal is created and submitted using the NSF FastLane system.
Ia. CREST Subproject Proposal Title
Page and Table of Contents (1).
Ib. CREST Center Project Summary
(this is a copy of element 2 of the full Center proposal as described above)
(1).
Ic. Subproject relevancy statement
(1).
Id. Subproject Description (8 pages;
up to 4 additional pages may be used to discuss relevant prior results).
Ie. Subproject References (2).
If. Each Subproject Proposal has
five annual and one cumulative budget and a budget justification for each
year (6 + 6).
Ig. CREST Subproject Facilities and
Equipment (1).
Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF 01-131) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207). Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Cost-sharing of 30% of the total requested amount of NSF funds (50% for equipment
costing over $10,000) is required for all CREST RII applications. Cost-sharing
must be shown on form 1030HRD line M of the relevant budgets and a letter authorizing
the cost-sharing commitment included in the Special Information and Supplementary
Documentation section of the relevant proposal. The applicant is responsible
for coordination of the entire application to ensure consistency between budgets. The proposed cost sharing must be shown on Line M on the proposal budget. Documentation of the availability of cost sharing must be included in the proposal. Only items which would be allowable under the applicable cost principles, if charged to the project, may be included as the awardee's contribution to cost sharing. Contributions may be made from any non-Federal source, including non-Federal grants or contracts, and may be cash or in-kind (see OMB Circular A-110, Section 23). It should be noted that contributions counted as cost-sharing toward projects of another Federal agency may not be counted towards meeting the specific cost-sharing requirements of the NSF award. All cost-sharing amounts are subject to audit. Failure to provide the level of cost-sharing reflected in the approved award budget may result in termination of the NSF award, disallowance of award costs and/or refund of award funds to NSF.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: None.
Other Budgetary Limitations: Use of NSF budget Form 1030HRD (9/94) is required. Budgets for each year of requested support, a cumulative budget and budget jutifications are required for each research sub-project and subcontract as well as for the Center as a whole.
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Letters of Intent (required): October 22, 2001Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this Program Solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov.
Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.
A. NSF Proposal Review Process
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, or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.
Proposals will be reviewed against the following general 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 judgements.
Principal Investigators should address the following elements in their proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both of the above-described NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will give these elements careful consideration in making funding decisions.
The review of CREST RII proposals (consisting of both Center and Subproject components) will be carried out in three stages:
The Center proposal will be reviewed for:
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and signed by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Mail Review followed by Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months for 70 percent of proposals. The time interval begins on the date of receipt. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be 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 and Agreements 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 a 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 and Agreements Officer does so at its own risk.
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. 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. (See section VI.A. for additional information on the review process.)
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award 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 award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF-GC-1)* or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards 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/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. 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, available electronically on the NSF Web site at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Web site at http://www.gpo.gov.
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.
Special award conditions anticipated: Cooperative Agreements have an extensive section of Special Conditions relating
to the period of performance, statement of work and awardee responsibilities,
NSF responsibilities, joint NSF-awardee responsibilities, funding and funding
schedule, reporting requirements, lead personnel, and other conditions. Awardees
should review and be familiar with those conditions. Special reporting requirements anticipated: CREST RII awardees will be required to submit annual reports on progress and
plans for the following year which will be used as a basis for performance review
and determining the level of continued funding. To support this review and the
management of a Center, awardees will be required to develop a set of management
and performance indicators for submission annually to NSF via an NSF evaluation
technical assistance contractor. Part of this reporting will take the form of
a database which will be owned by the institution and eventually made available
to an evaluation contractor. This database will capture specific information
to demonstrate progress towards achieving the goals of the project. These indicators
are both quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, the characteristics
of center personnel and students; sources of financial support and in-kind support;
expenditures by operational component; characteristics of industrial and/or
other sector participation; research activities; education activities; knowledge
transfer activities; patents, licenses; publications; degrees granted to students
involved in RII awardee activities; descriptions of significant advances and
other outcomes of the CREST effort. Such reporting requirements will be included
in the cooperative agreement which is binding between the academic institution
and the NSF. Additional information and guidance for reporting CREST RII awardee
progress are available at: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/ehr/hrd/CRESTAnnRepGuide.doc
Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, 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 an electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane. This system 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. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.
The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.
Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF web site at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program is among those that target underrepresented minorities in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology and that promote innovation in education for all students. Other related programs include the following: Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP); Tribal Colleges and Universities Program; and Integrated Graduate Education Research and Training (IGERT).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees 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/solicitation for further information.
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 (703) 292-5090, FIRS at 1-800-877-8339.
The National Science Foundation is committed to making all of the information we publish easy to understand. If you have a suggestion about how to improve the clarity of this document or other NSF-published materials, please contact us at plainlanguage@nsf.gov.
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 proposal 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.
Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. 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: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Information Dissemination Branch, Division of Administrative Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation (3145-0058), 725 17th Street, N.W. Room 10235, Washington, D.C. 20503.
OMB control number: 3145-0058.