THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY NSF 10-585

Centers for Chemical Innovation   (CCI)
Chemistry as the Driver for Transformative Research and Innovation

Program Solicitation
NSF 09-597

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 07-575, NSF 09-503

National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences      Division of Chemistry

Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): 

October 21, 2009

for Phase I proposals

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

October 21, 2009

for Phase II

April 05, 2010

for Phase I proposals, by invitation only

REVISION NOTES

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title: 

Synopsis of Program:

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

• Katharine Covert, Program Director, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Division of Chemistry, telephone: (703) 292-4950, fax: (703) 292-9037, email: kcovert@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

• 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Other Grant    Phase I awards will be standard or continuing grants. Phase II awards will be cooperative agreements

Estimated Number of Awards:    4 to  8   In FY 2010, 3-6 Phase I awards and 1-2 Phase II awards.

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $7,000,000  to $14,000,000  in FY 2010, pending availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit: 

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.
• Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.

PI Limit: 

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:  

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

• Preliminary Proposals: Submission of Preliminary Proposals is required. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

• Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains information that supplements the standard NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required under this solicitation.

• Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  Not Applicable

• Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

• Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): 

  October 21, 2009

  for Phase I proposals

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

  October 21, 2009

  for Phase II

  April 05, 2010

  for Phase I proposals, by invitation only

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:   National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:   Standard NSF award conditions apply.

Reporting Requirements:   Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary of Program Requirements

1. Introduction
   
   
2. Program Description
   
   
3. Award Information
   
   
4. Eligibility Information
   
   
5. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
   1. Proposal Preparation Instructions
   2. Budgetary Information
   3. Due Dates
   4. FastLane Requirements
      
      
6. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
   1. NSF Merit Review Criteria
   2. Review and Selection Process
      
      
7. Award Administration Information
   1. Notification of the Award
   2. Award Conditions
   3. Reporting Requirements
      
      
8. Agency Contacts
   
   
9. Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

III. AWARD INFORMATION

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit: 

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.
• Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.

PI Limit: 

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:  

Additional Eligibility Info:

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Preliminary Proposals (required): Preliminary proposals are required and must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system.  

Preliminary proposals (Phase I, required) must be submitted via FastLane by 5:00 p.m.  proposer's local time on the due date indicated elsewhere in this solicitation.  Preliminary proposals must conform to the format restrictions noted in the NSF GPG and contain only the permitted sections listed below. Note that no supplementary documents are allowed in a CCI Preliminary Proposal.

Cover Page. Please indicate the solicitation number and also check the "preliminary proposal" box. Only the PI's name should appear on the cover page. The budget request should read $1.

Project Summary. In one page describe the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the project. Note that proposals that do not address the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the activity will be returned without review.

Project Description. Limited to 5 pages. CCI preliminary proposals are likely to be read by non-specialists at some stage of the review process. It is therefore particularly important that they be written to emphasize their impact on chemistry in a broad context. The project description should address the following points

• The research challenge to be addressed and the vision for the CCI (both Phase I and Phase II), (approximately 1 page)
• Phase I Research Plan, including the group of initiating investigators, an outline of the initial research goals and how these will link to the Phase  II research goals, and other plans to develop the research required for Phase II (approximately 3 pages)
• Brief summaries of plans for innovation, education and professional training, broadening participation, public science outreach, and center management (approximately 1 page).

Reference Section. Up to 10 key references.

Biographical Sketches. Include a two-page biographical sketch for PI and other senior personnel, using the standard GPG guidelines.

Current and Pending Support. List all current and pending research support for PI and other senior personnel.

Single Copy Documents. Single Copy Documents are used by NSF staff, but are not available to the reviewers.

• Suggested Reviewers and Reviewers Not to Include (optional)
• If applicable, a statement excluding other federal agencies from seeing your preliminary proposal and reviews.

Preliminary Proposals will be merit reviewed by ad hoc and/or panel review. The PIs of proposals judged to be meritorious will be invited to submit Phase I full proposals (below).

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.

• Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program 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 website at:
  http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF 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.

• Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:
  (http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

Phase I Proposals

Full Proposals submitted, by invitation only, in response to this program must originate from Principal Investigators whose projects are successful in the Preliminary Proposal competition described above and must be based on those projects. All proposals not meeting this requirement will be returned without review. Proposers are strongly encouraged to consult the proposal submission checklist included in the Grant Proposal Guide as they prepare their proposal. Proposals not compliant with the proposal preparation guidelines, as supplemented by the following instructions, may be returned without review. The items outlined below pertain to the corresponding sections in the Grant Proposal Guide.

Project Summary. One-page limit, including the names and affiliations of all senior personnel. The project summary must address both the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed CCI project.

Project Description. CCI proposals are likely to be read by non-specialists at some stage of the review process. It is therefore particularly important that they be written to emphasize their impact on chemistry in a broad context. The Project Description may be up to 22 pages and must contain the following elements:

• Research Plan. Narrative, up to 12 pages, consisting of the following:
  • A justification for why the CCI mode of research is appropriate (compared with individual or collaborative awards);
  • A brief description of the contribution to be made by each CCI Phase I senior investigator;
  • A description of the research proposed in Phase I; and
  • A description of workshops, conferences or other activities appropriate for developing the research project, team and partners in preparation for Phase II.
• Integrative CCI Components. Up to 1 page for each component, including discussion of how these activities will be integrated with the research and other activities of the CCI. The following integrative components must be included:  
  • Plan for innovation, including identification of research that has the potential for innovation, resources available to assist with innovation efforts, and the overall strategy the CCI will use to promote innovation.
  • Plan for education and professional training, including co-mentorship or other collaborative training of undergraduate and graduate students. Role of postdoctoral researchers (note that postdoctoral mentoring must also be addressed as a supplementary document). Any other education activities.
  • Plan for broadening participation of underrepresented groups, including the CCI goals, plans for achieving those goals, and a discussion of how progress will be measured.
  • Plan for public outreach, describing the CCI approach to communicating chemistry research to public audiences and possible ways to evaluate the impact of these outreach efforts.
  • Plan for center management, including how the CCI efforts will be monitored, evaluated and altered as needed; coordination of the CCI effort and partnerships, including any use of cyberinfrastructure; how decisions will be made regarding the project (including plans for advisory groups); and a discussion of how agility will be addressed in terms of the incorporation of new ideas, tools, and partners.
• Results of Prior Support. Up to 5 pages. List all NSF awards held in the last five years by any investigator (PI and any other senior personnel).  Each PI and senior personnel will also provide a brief summary on the award most closely related to the proposal. 

References Cited. References should include full titles of articles and book chapters cited. This section should include bibliographic citations only and must not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the Project Description. Indicate with an asterisk (*) references co-authored by two or more proposal investigators.

Biographical sketches. For PI and all senior personnel, provide brief biographical sketches using the format described in the Grant Proposal Guide. Note that recent collaborators and other affiliates should also be collected into a combined list and submitted as a Single Copy Document (see below).

Budget. The annual budget for each of the three years should total $500,000. A cumulative budget will be automatically generated by Fast Lane. A detailed budget justification (up to three pages) should document proposed expenses. Multi-institutional proposals should use the award-sub award proposal mechanism (see GPG guidelines).

Current and Pending Support. A full description of the total level of current and pending support from all sources for the PI and senior personnel. Any potential overlap between federally funded projects and the proposed research must be clarified.

Facilities. A description of the facilities (including laboratories, computational facilities and cyber infrastructure) that will be made available to the project. Separate facilities descriptions should be included for multi-institutional projects or those involving non-academic partners.

Supplementary Documents. Supplementary materials are available to reviewers and may include:

• Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (required if requesting funds for postdoctoral researchers). See GPG for further guidance.
• Letters of collaboration, including those from industrial, government and/or international partners. Letters of recommendation or general support are not permitted.
• Quotes for the purchase of instrumentation or other budget documentation. 

Single Copy Documents. Single Copy Documents are used by NSF staff, but are not available to the reviewers. Single Copy Documents may include:

• Suggested Reviewers and Reviewers Not to Include (optional).
• A combined, alphabetized list of all scientists, with current affiliations, who have collaborated with the PI and other senior personnel in the last 48 months or are otherwise affiliated with these individuals.
• If applicable, a statement excluding other federal agencies from seeing your proposal and reviews.

Phase II Proposals

CCI Phase II proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation must originate from teams whose projects have been supported by a CCI Phase I award (FY2007-FY2009) and be based on those projects. Proposals not meeting this requirement will be returned without review.

Proposal authors are strongly encouraged to consult the proposal submission checklist included in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) as they prepare their proposal.  Proposals not compliant with the proposal preparation guidelines, as supplemented by the following instructions, will be returned without review.

The items outlined below pertain to the corresponding sections in the GPG.

Project Summary. One page limit, including the names and affiliations of all senior personnel.  The project summary must address both the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed Phase II Center.

Project Description. A total of up to 30 pages, as described below:

• Prior Support. 5 pages, report on the results from the CCI Phase I program. No results from other prior support should be included.
• Proposed CCI Research, 15 pages, consisting of the following items:
  • An explanation of the scientific context, intellectual merit, relevance to chemistry and timeliness of the proposed Center;
  • A justification of the need for a Phase II CCI;
  • A description of the contribution to be made by each senior investigator; and
  • A description of the proposed research
• Integrative CCI Components, including discussion of how these activities will be integrated with the research and other activities of the CCI:
  • Plan for innovation, not to exceed 2 pages, that includes:
    • Identification of promising research from the CCI's research portfolio that can and will be translated into innovations;
    • Identification of university and external resources, expertise, stakeholders, as well as other potential allies to aid in the translation of the research to innovations;
    • Discussion of how intellectual property will be developed and managed;
    • Summary of the innovation plan including goals, intended outcomes, resources required to validate need for the intended innovation and translation options; and 
    • Plans for monitoring and evaluating efficacy of the plan for innovation.
  • Plan for education and professional training, not to exceed 2 pages, describing:
    • The education and professional training plan for undergraduate and graduate students, including co-mentorship or other collaborative training; and
    • Plans for monitoring and evaluating efficacy of the plan for education and professional training.
    • Role of Postdoctoral Researchers (note that Postdoctoral Mentoring must also be addressed as a supplementary document).
  • Plan for broadening participation by underrepresented groups, not to exceed 2 pages, describing:
    • The broadening participation goals to be addressed;
    • Plans for achieving those goals, including explanation of resources to be used and how these efforts are anticipated to improve on your current diversity; and
    • Plans for monitoring and evaluating efficacy of the plan for broadening participation by members of underrepresented groups.
  • Plan for public outreach, not to exceed 2 pages, describing;
    • Plans to disseminate the results of your center's work and achievements with a broader public audience;
    • Plans to increase the visibility and public appreciation of chemistry; and
    • Plans for monitoring and evaluating efficacy of the plan for public outreach.
  • Plan for center management, not to exceed 2 pages, describing:
    • How the research and integrative components of the CCI will be monitored, evaluated and altered as needed;
    • How the center effort and partnerships will be coordinated, including any use of cyberinfrastructure;
    • How decisions will be made regarding the conduct of the project, including plans for and responsibilities of advisory groups; and
    • A discussion of how agility will be addressed in terms of the incorporation of new ideas, tools, and partners.

References Cited. References should include full titles of articles and book chapters cited. This section should include bibliographic citations only and must not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the Project Description. Indicate with an asterisk (*) references from work on the CCI Phase I project.

Biographical Sketches. For PI and all senior personnel, provide brief biological sketches using the format described in the GPG. Note that recent collaborators and other affiliates should also be collected into a combined list and submitted as a Single Copy Document (see below).

Budget. Include five annual budgets, one for each year of the duration of the award; a cumulative budget will be automatically generated by FastLane. Multi-institutional proposals should use the award-sub award proposal mechanism, not the linked collaborative mechanism. Subaward budgets should be included with this proposal. A detailed budget justification (up to 3 pages) should document proposed expenses.

Current and Pending Support. A full description of the total level of current and pending support from all sources for the PI and senior personnel. Intellectual overlap between any federally funded or proposed projects and the proposed research must be clarified.

Facilities. A description of the facilities (including laboratories, computational facilities, and cyberinfrastructure) that will be made available to the project. Separate facilities descriptions should be included for multi-institutional projects or those involving non-academic partners.

Supplementary Documents. Supplementary materials are available to reviewers and may include:

• Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (required if requesting funds for postdoctoral researchers). See GPG for further guidance.
• Letters of collaboration, including those from industrial, government and/or international partners. Letters of recommendation or general support are not permitted.
• Quotes for the purchase of instrumentation or other budget documentation. 

Single Copy Documents. Single Copy Documents are used by NSF staff, but are not available to the reviewers. Single Copy Cocuments may include:

• Suggested Reviewers and Reviewers Not to Include (optional)
• A combined, alphabetized list of all scientists, with current affiliations, who have collaborated with the PI and other senior personnel in the last 48 months or are otherwise affiliated with these individuals.
• If applicable, a statement excluding other federal agencies from seeing your proposal and reviews.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF 09-597) in the program solicitation block on the NSF 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. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:   Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.

Other Budgetary Limitations:  

Multi-institutional proposals should use the award-subaward mechanism discussed in the GPG. A single proposal and budget should be submitted, with subawards administered by the lead institution.

Budget Preparation Instructions:  

Phase I CCI awards are $500,000 per year for three years. Phase I proposals should include funds in the budget for CCI personnel to participate in a CCI meeting to be held in Arlington, Virginia during the first year of the award.

Phase II CCI awards are $4,000,000 per year for five years. Phase II proposals should include funds in the budget for CCI personnel to participate in site visits or reverse site visits in the second and fourth years of the project.

C. Due Dates

• Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): 

  October 21, 2009

  for Phase I proposals

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

  October 21, 2009

  for Phase II

  April 05, 2010

  for Phase I proposals, by invitation only

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this program solicitation through use of the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.

Submission of Electronically 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 electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES   

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal.

A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgements.

NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:

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 -- is 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.

Additional Review Criteria:

In addition to the National Science Board merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to apply the following criteria when reviewing CCI proposals:

For Phase I preliminary proposals and full proposals:

• Does the proposal have the potential to lead to transformative research in chemistry?
• Is the need for a center effort well-justified in the proposal?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for innovation?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for education and professional training?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for broadening participation?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for public outreach?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for center management? Will the management plan be effective in promoting effective and agile research teams with a high tolerance for risk?

Site visits and reverse site visits during Phase I may be part of the CCI Phase II review process.

For Phase II proposals:

• Does the project build upon novel and significant results achieved in Phase I?
• Are the scientific goals ambitious and appropriate for a CCI Phase II?
• Does the proposal present a convincing argument that a Phase II Center will lead to transformative research in chemistry?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for innovation?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for education and professional training?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for broadening participation?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for public outreach?
• Does the proposal present a convincing plan for center management? Will the management plan be effective in promoting effective and agile research teams with a high tolerance for risk?

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review, or Site Visit Review.

After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later.  The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted 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 Officer.  In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

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 their own risk.

VII. 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. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program 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.B. for additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

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 (GC-1); * or Research Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports.  Such reports provide information on activities and findings, project participants (individual and organizational) 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.  Submission of the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

• Katharine Covert, Program Director, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Division of Chemistry, telephone: (703) 292-4950, fax: (703) 292-9037, email: kcovert@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

• FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, National Science Foundation Update is a free e-mail subscription service designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail when new publications are issued that match their identified interests. Users can subscribe to this service by clicking the "Get NSF Updates by Email" link on the NSF web site.

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

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). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.

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. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

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 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

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; and 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 proposer 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 or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; 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," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (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 the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230