Title : NSF 95-13 SBER Instrumentation Competition Type : Program Guideline NSF Org: SBE Date : February 10, 1995 File : nsf9513 SBER INSTRUMENTATION COMPETITION Announcement DIVISION OF SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEADLINE: March 1 SBER INSTRUMENTATION COMPETITION The Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Research (SBER) announces an instrumentation competition for those areas of science currently supported within the Division. This competition will support the acquisition of instruments, equipment, devices and other materials (e.g., software) necessary for the effective pursuit of research within the scope of SBER-funded areas in a manner that complements the NSF Academic Research Infrastructure program (NSF 94-156). SBER anticipates making only 5 to 10 awards of up to $60,000 in FY 1995. The number of awards in subsequent years may vary with availability of funds. Eligibility: Only items that would not be appropriate for a standard research proposal, because of cost, nature, or proposed use, are eligible for consideration. This includes, but is not limited to, items that are justified by multiple users, or educational uses, as well as by research applications. The maximum amount that may be requested is $60,000. Funds will be awarded only for equipment, instruments, devices, or directly related items, such as software. Costs of operational or technical support are not allowed. Institutions are required to provide at least 20 percent of the instrumentation purchase cost from non-Federal matching funds and are encouraged to provide a larger share. Manufacturer discounts do not count toward the institutional match. Examples: Cost Institutional Share Request to NSF $ 70,000 $14,000 (minimum) $56,000 $100,000 $40,000 $60,000 (maximum) PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND FORMAT Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines provided in the NSF brochure, Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) NSF 94-2, and should include all the sections required by that document. Supplementary information required for several of the sections is provided below. Electronic submission of proposals will not be accepted for this program. 1. Cover Sheet: a. NSF Organizational unit is SBE/SBER b. Program Announcement/Solicitation No. is Instrumentation Competition, NSF 95-13 2. Project Description: This is limited to 15 single-spaced pages, including figures. The following points should be specifically addressed: a. research justification for the requested instrumentation, including specific goals and projects and the potential contribution to the increase of scientific knowledge. b. currently available instrumentation and a discussion of why the requested items are essential for the proposed research. c. a detailed description of the requested instrumentation. d. identification of the individual or individuals who will have overall responsibility for maintenance and operation and a brief statement of qualifications. e. discussion of the broader impact on infrastructure, including the training of graduate and undergraduate students. 3. Management Plan: a. description of the facility b. availability/plan for support c. identification of funds for operation and maintenance. When and Where to Submit: Proposals for this annual competition must be received at NSF by March 1. Fifteen copies of the proposal, including one signed copy, should be sent to: Proposal Processing Unit ATTN: SBER Instrumentation Competition NSF 95-13 National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room P60 Arlington, VA 22230 One additional informational copy should be sent to Dr. John Yellen (see address below). If desired, a cover letter with suggested reviewers may be attached to the informational copy for Dr. Yellen. SELECTION CRITERIA Proposals will be reviewed in accordance with established NSF procedures as described in GPG. The following criteria, not necessarily in order of importance, will be used in proposal evaluation: Research Merit - Merit of the research for which the instrumentation will be used - Contribution to graduate and undergraduate education - Number of researchers and research areas that will benefit from the instrumentation - Qualifications, competence and productivity of the researchers who will use the instrumentation - Effectiveness of Management Plan: Choice of equipment, plan for maintenance and (essential) support facilities - Effect of the research on the infrastructure of science and engineering - Level of institutional cost-sharing and related support Evaluation of the proposal will rest most heavily on those sections comprising research project descriptions and how the instrumentation requested will facilitate that research. Announcement of awards: Awards are anticipated in the summer following receipt of proposals. Awards resulting from proposals submitted to this competition will be administered in accordance with Grant General Conditions (GC-1) or Federal Demonstration Project General Terms and Conditions (FDP-II) as applicable. Copies of these documents are available at no cost from the NSF Forms and Publications Unit (703) 306-1130, or via e-mail at Pubs@nsf.gov (internet). More comprehensive information is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) (NSF 88-47). GPM is available for sale through the Superintendent of Public Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, phone (202) 783-3238. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION General inquiries should be directed to: Dr. John Yellen Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Research National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22230 Telephone no. (703) 306-1759 e-mail jyellen@nsf.gov (internet) OTHER RELATED PROGRAMS The Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI) Program provides matching grants for the purchase of undergraduate instructional apparatus. Contact ILI, Room 835, NSF, phone (703) 306-1670. (NSF 90-101). The Academic Research Infrastructure Program. Instrumentation Development and Acquisition Solicitation. (NSF 93-172) Telephone (703) 306-1040. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Privacy Act and Public Burden: Information requested on NSF application materials is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals and may be used and disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the review process and to other government agencies. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, þPrincipal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records,þ and NSF-51, þReviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records,þ 56 Federal Register 54907 (October 23, 1991). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of your receiving an award. The 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 or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Herman G. Fleming, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of CPO, NSF, Arlington, VA 22230; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3145-0058), Washington, DC 20503. The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such research and preparation of the results for publication. The Foundation, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation. The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and research-related programs described in this document. In accordance with Federal statues and regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the National Science Foundation. Facilitation awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provides funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on an NSF project. Contact the program coordinator in the Directorate for Education and Human resources. The telephone number is (703) 306-1636. The Foundation has TDD (Telephonic Device for the Deaf) capability, which enables individuals with hearing impairment to communicate with the NSF Information Center about NSF programs, employment, or general information. The telephone number is (703) 306-0090. Notice for Grants Bulletin Board SBER Instrumentation Competition In Fiscal Year 1995 this program will provide 5 to 10 awards of no more than $60,000 each for support of instrumentation for research and education in the social, behavioral and economic sciences. These awards will require a minimum 20 percent non-Federal institutional cost share. Eligibility: US institutions that offer degrees in fields supported by the Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic sciences are eligible. The maximum amount that may be requeted is $60,000. Funds may be requested only for equipment, instruments, devices, and directly related items such as software. Costs of operational or technical support are not allowed. Institutions must provide at least 20 percent of the purchase costs from non-Federal funds. Contact: Dr. John Yellen Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703) 306-1759 e-mail jyellen@nsf.gov OMB 3145-0058 CFDA 47.075 P.T. 18 K.W. 0401000, 0409000, 0414005, 0410001, 0411015, 0901026, 0412000, 0417000, 0408000, 0418003, 0402000, 1014004 NSF 95-13