Grant Proposal Guide 03-041
Grant Proposal Guide
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Proposal Preparation Instructions
III. NSF Proposal Processing and Review
IV. WIthdrawals, Returns and Declinations
V. The Award and Continued Support
VI. Grant Administration Highlights
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F

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Summary of Significant Changes


Chapter I - Section E.1, Special instructions for proposals that contain high-resolution graphics or other graphics where exact color representations are required for proper interpretation by the reviewer, has been updated to inform proposers that the cognizant NSF Program Officer is ultimately responsible for reviewing the color materials submitted and making a determination of whether or not to send the paper copies out for merit review.

Chapter II - Section B, Format of the Proposal, has been supplemented to recommend that proposers conduct an administrative review of proposals prior to submission for compliance with NSF proposal preparation guidelines. A Proposal Preparation Checklist has been developed to aid in this process and is available as Appendix A. Consequently, the alphabetical references in the text to the appendices have been updated.

Chapter II - Section C.1.e, Proposal Certifications, has been modified to reflect that conflicts that cannot be satisfactorily managed, reduced or eliminated must be disclosed to NSF using the FastLane Notifications and Requests module. In addition, the full text of the Lobbying Certification has been included as a new appendix to the GPG.

Chapter II - Section C.2.b, Project Summary, has been supplemented with a reminder to proposers that if the Project Summary does not separately address both merit review criteria within the one page Project Summary, the proposal will be returned without review.

Chapter II - Section C.2.d.(v), Group Proposals, has been modified to reiterate NSF's position on submission of proposals by groups of investigators. Unless stipulated in a specific program solicitation, however, PIs who wish to exceed the established page limitation for the Project Description must request and receive a deviation in advance of proposal submission.

Chapter II - Section C.2.g.(xii), Cost Sharing, has been revised in accordance with NSF Important Notice 128, Revision of the NSF Cost Sharing Policy. The structure of this section of the GPG has been changed to more clearly categorize cost sharing on two levels: (1) unsolicited proposals submitted in response to the GPG or program announcements; and (2) proposals submitted in response to program solicitations. This section reinforces the concept that, for unsolicited proposals, proposers should not include cost sharing amounts on Line M of the proposal budget. In cases where a program solicitation specifically requires cost sharing, proposers should not exceed the cost sharing level or amount identified in the solicitation.

Chapter II - Section D.5, Proposals involving Vertebrate Animals, contains a change in the terminology to be used if IACUC approval has not been obtained prior to submission of the proposal. In such situations, proposers should now indicate "Pending" on the Cover Sheet.

Chapter III - Section A, Review Criteria, has been revised to remove the discussion of Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. The provisions of the Important Notice have been incorporated into the appropriate sections of the GPG, such as the Project Summary and Project Description.

Chapter V - Section B.1, Incremental Funding, has been updated to reflect that, effective June 2003, the cognizant Program Officer will approve Continuing Grant Increments. The sponsored projects office and PI will be notified by the cognizant NSF Program Officer of NSF's approval via an electronic notification.

Chapter V - Section C.2, NSF-Approved Extension, has been modified to reflect that, effective June 2003, the first no-cost extension request will be subject to the approval of the cognizant Program Officer. The cognizant NSF Program Officer will electronically notify the sponsored projects office and PI of the disposition of this request. The second no-cost extension will continue to be subject to the approval of an NSF Grants Officer, and, if approved, will be in the form of an amendment to the grant specifying a new expiration date.

Chapter VI - Section C, Transfer of PI, has been supplemented with guidance on rare instances where no funds remain in the award account, but outyear increments remain, or the award may be transferred to a foreign organization or a Federal agency. In such cases, the Authorized Organizational Representative of the original award must contact the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

Appendices - Two new appendices have been included in the GPG: a Proposal Preparation Checklist (Appendix A), and the full text of the Lobbying Certification (Appendix E.) The appendices section has been rearranged and re-lettered to accommodate the addition of these two new documents.