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NSF 26-518: Engineering (ENG): Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET)

Program Solicitation

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Program Solicitation NSF 26-518

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U.S. National Science Foundation

Directorate for Engineering
     Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems

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

     Proposals Accepted Anytime

Important Information and Revision Notes

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Use the version of the guide that is in effect on the proposal's due date.

Summary of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

Engineering (ENG): Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET)

Synopsis of Program:

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering (NSF ENG) supports foundational engineering research for chemical, bioengineering, energy, and transport systems through the following programs:

NSF ENG anticipates a portfolio of ENG: Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET) awards with a range of budgets and durations. Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

NSF ENG is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive.

NSF Priorities

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supports foundational research that leads to scientific breakthroughs and opens new frontiers of human knowledge. NSF investments in scientific discovery underpin technological innovation across industries, strengthening U.S. economic competitiveness, enhancing national security, and improving quality of life for all Americans.

NSF's priority under this funding opportunity is to advance foundational research, spanning both incremental advances that build systematically on prior scholarship and bold, high-risk inquiries capable of reshaping entire fields. NSF places particular emphasis on projects that challenge prevailing paradigms, ask important questions, develop new theories or methods, create research tools or datasets that enable further research, or open new lines of inquiry. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor must they address later-stage development in a named technology priority to be competitive. NSF further recognizes that the most consequential discoveries increasingly emerge at the boundary between disciplines, and it therefore strongly encourages proposals that forge novel connections across scientific domains.

Within this mandate, NSF is especially interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative research; work that creates opportunities for exceptional early-career investigators; and proposals that leverage emerging technologies, including AI, advanced computation, and automation, to make new modes, methods, or scales of science possible. The use of these tools should be scientifically justified rather than incidental. Beyond accelerating existing workflows, such tools open fundamentally new scientific questions, reveal patterns invisible to prior methods, and enable experimental and analytical capabilities.

To support this vision, NSF seeks proposals spanning a wide range of funding levels and project durations. NSF is working to expand opportunities at both ends of this spectrum, including rapid grants that allow researchers to quickly test exploratory ideas and longer, larger awards that provide sustained support for ambitious, transformative research. For preliminary or time-sensitive work, NSF encourages investigators to use mechanisms such as Planning Proposal, RAPID, EAGER, and RAISE (see Chapter II.F of the PAPPG for more information). Where longer awards would benefit the pursuit of ambitious, transformative research and reduce administrative burden on investigators, NSF encourages proposals requesting up to five years of support. Investigators may consider the options above, and others, outside of the project sizes and durations specified in this funding opportunity.

NSF welcomes submissions from all researchers, particularly those earlier in their careers and those working in the foundational research areas highlighted in the Administration's FY28 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum. NSF also expects the highest standards of scientific rigor, transparency, reproducibility, research integrity, and adherence to tenets of Gold Standard Science in proposals, as appropriate for the field of science and research modality.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

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

  • 47.041 - Engineering

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 225 to 275

Anticipated Funding Amount: $100,000,000

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

  • Letters of Intent: Not required
  • Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
  • Full Proposals:

B. Budgetary Information

  • Cost Sharing Requirements:

    Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

  • Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

    Not Applicable

  • Other Budgetary Limitations:

    Not Applicable

C. Due Dates

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

         Proposals Accepted Anytime

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved criteria apply.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

Standard NSF award conditions apply.

Reporting Requirements:

Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

I. Introduction

In alignment with the Administration's Fiscal Year 2028 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum, the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG): Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET) solicitation supports foundational engineering research that involves the transformation and/or transport of matter and energy by chemical, thermal, or mechanical means.

Through ENG: CBET, the physical, chemical, and biological sciences are integrated in foundational engineering discoveries. The investment delivers the chemical and process engineering that turns laboratory breakthroughs into scalable methods for U.S. industry to grow domestic production in semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology, and energy systems. ENG: CBET investments leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to solve challenging problems in fluid dynamics, chemical process control, advanced materials, synthetic and engineering biology, and energy management. The solicitation promotes the use of AI as an instrument for discovery when scientifically appropriate, in areas such as quantum biosensors, biomanufacturing, chemical and bioreactor design, and multiphase flow systems that support nuclear technologies.

Previous ENG: CBET investment in foundational engineering research has resulted in transformative advances. NSF-supported recombinant DNA research showed that bacteria could be made to produce certain proteins humans rely on, leading to biosynthetic insulin and helping to launch the modern biotechnology industry. NSF-supported foundational engineering research on how cells attach to and grow within three-dimensional scaffolds resulted in methods used to replace damaged skin and bone. NSF-supported foundational research in high-performance membranes, electrochemistry, process design, and modeling has led to reverse-osmosis becoming the dominant method for water desalination in the U.S. and the world. NSF-supported foundational engineering research has also led to new electrochemical methods and the discovery of new high-performance catalysts that together convert agricultural waste into high value chemicals for manufacturing a variety of products and fuels.

The ENG: CBET solicitation is managed by the Directorate for Engineering.

II. Program Description

This solicitation covers submission to the following ENG: CBET programs. Research that fits within a single program and multidisciplinary research that spans more than one of these programs are welcome.

Please see the individual program webpages linked below for more information on what is within scope for these ENG: CBET programs:

  • The Chemical Process Systems (CPS) program supports foundational research on reaction engineering and molecular thermodynamics; reactor design; catalysis and electrochemical and photochemical systems; chemical separations; and data-enabled design of process systems.
  • The Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS) program supports foundational engineering research on the control of microbial populations and cells, and of therapeutic cells and tissues. It includes foundational research that enables biosensing platforms, the design of biological systems, and rehabilitation engineering.
  • The Energy, Water, and Resource Engineering (EWRE) program supports foundational engineering research to manage energy, water, minerals, and material resources.
  • The Transport Phenomena (TP) program supports foundational research on the dynamics of single- and multiphase systems; on physicochemical phenomena at fluid interfaces; on thermodynamics and thermal transport; and on combustion of gas, liquid, and solid fuels.

NSF ENG anticipates a portfolio of ENG: CBET awards with a range of budgets and durations. Project budgets and durations must be commensurate with the scope of the proposed work. Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Proposals must provisionally define a comprehensive set of objectives and targets as appropriate for the proposed project and discuss how these will be achieved. Proposals should advance one or more of the following measures of success:

  • Publications from research or other scholarly outputs.
  • Data sets established or expanded.
  • Patents developed.
  • New technologies or techniques established.
  • Undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral fellows supported.
  • Undergraduate and graduate students trained in a specific critical area.

Proposers are strongly encouraged to email a one-page project summary to the Cognizant Program Director(s) before submitting a full proposal for guidance on whether the proposed research topic falls within the scope of the program. It is strongly encouraged and expected that investigators discuss their ideas and potential fit with a Program Director well in advance of proposal submission. Communication with Program Directors does not constitute review or influence funding decisions. Contact information for each program is available on each program webpage.

To speed discovery and innovation, NSF partners with federal agencies, industry, international groups, and others. For partnership opportunities that are relevant to the ENG: CBET program, please see NSF ENG Partnerships. Partnerships do not imply that new requirements will be introduced outside of the solicitation.

This solicitation advances NSF's mission as given in the NSF organic statute (42 U.S.C. 1861, et seq.).

III. Award Information

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

IV. Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter I.E. Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible to submit proposals in response to this solicitation.

Who May Serve as PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals Per PI or Co-PI:

There are no restrictions or limits.

V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

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

You must prepare your proposal according to Chapter II.D.2 of the PAPPG, unless this solicitation specifies different instructions. Always use the version of the PAPPG in effect on your proposal's due date.

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

C. Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements

You can submit proposals in response to this solicitation through Research.gov or Grants.gov, unless otherwise noted.

Information on how to prepare and submit proposals is available on the Submitting Your Proposal page on NSF.gov.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures

Information on NSF's proposal processing and review procedures is available on the Overview of the NSF Proposal and Award Process page on NSF.gov.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board-approved merit review criteria:

  • Intellectual Merit, which encompasses the potential to advance knowledge.
  • Broader Impacts, which encompass the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Information on NSF's merit review principles and process can be found on the How We Make Funding Decisions page on NSF.gov.

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 Internal NSF Review.

Proposals will be reviewed by Ad Hoc, Panel, or Internal NSF Review.

After a proposal passes an initial compliance check, it will be reviewed by an NSF Program Officer. In most cases, three or more external experts will also review it (either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists or both).

Visit the Overview of the NSF Proposal and Award Process page for more information on the proposal review and selection process.

In alignment with Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking), all else being equal after merit review, NSF may give preference to institutions with lower indirect cost rates.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of an award is made to the submitting organization by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer.

B. Award Conditions

Information on NSF award conditions can be found on the Award Terms and Conditions page on NSF.gov and Chapter VII of the PAPPG.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

Information on administrative and national policy requirements can be found on the National Policy Requirements for Recipients of NSF Awards page on NSF.gov.

Consistent with the requirements specified in 2 CFR § 200.332, recipients of NSF awards must adhere to the requirements for pass-through entities in establishing and managing subawards issued ensuring alignment with Administration and NSF policies and priorities.

In alignment with Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking), proposers should be aware that NSF awards offered under this funding opportunity may include termination for convenience provisions.

C. Reporting Requirements

Unless your award notice says otherwise, NSF requires the principal investigator of every grant to submit annual project reports and a project outcomes report for the general public. For complete reporting requirements, see Chapter VII of the PAPPG.

VIII. Agency Contacts

For questions related to the use of NSF systems contact:

  • Research.gov: NSF IT Service Desk at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532. The Service Desk is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays).

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

  • Grants.gov: The Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. (Contact if the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submitting an application.)

IX. Other Information

For information on NSF directorates, programs and funding opportunities, go to NSF.gov.

About the National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by the "National Science Foundation Act of 1950." More information about NSF can be found on NSF.gov.

  • Location:

Randolph Building, 401 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

  • General Information

(703) 292-5111

  • TDD (for the hearing-impaired):

(703) 292-5090

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. More information can be found on the Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements page on NSF.gov.

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