NSF 24-590: Engineering Research Initiation (ERI)
Program Solicitation
Document Information
Document History
- Posted: July 11, 2024
- Replaces: NSFÂ 22-595
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Program Solicitation NSF 24-590
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U.S. National Science Foundation |
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):
October 09, 2024
September 16, 2025
October 09, 2026
September 16, 2027
Important Information and Revision Notes
- Eligibility requirements for the Principal Investigator (PI) have been modified to include an award cap of $200,000 or more within the past five (5) calendar years from the proposal submission deadline date. The Department Chair's letter must explicitly verify each of the PI eligibility criteria in their letter.
- Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI) has been included as a participating program.
- The Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria has been consolidated into one criterion.
- All potential partnerships and special opportunities for this solicitation can be found at: https://www.nsf.gov/eng/partnerships.
- 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.
- Proposals must also be prepared in accordance with additional solicitation specific review criteria.
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 Research Initiation (ERI)
Synopsis of Program:
The NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) seeks to build engineering research capacity across the nation by investing in new academic investigators who have yet to receive sufficient research funding from Federal Agencies. The Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program will support new investigators as they initiate their research programs and advance in their careers as researchers, educators, and innovators. This funding opportunity aims to broaden the base of investigators involved in engineering research and therefore is limited to investigators that are not affiliated with "very high research activity" R1 institutions (according to the Carnegie Classification https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/).
NSF Priorities
NSF welcomes submissions from all researchers, particularly those earlier in their careers and those working in research areas aligned with agency and administration priorities. NSF also expects the highest standards of scientific rigor, 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.
- Rosa Lukaszew, telephone: (703) 292-8103, email: eri@nsf.gov
- Shahab Shojaei-Zadeh, telephone: (703) 292-8045, email: eri@nsf.gov
- Janis P. Terpenny, telephone: (703) 292-2487, email: eri@nsf.gov
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: 55
The number of awards will depend on the availability of funds and the quality of the proposals. The awards will be two-years in duration.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $11,000,000
An ERI award, including indirect costs, must not exceed $200,000 for a duration of 24 months. The award funds may be used for research expenses, trainee support (e.g., students and/or postdocs), Principal Investigator (PI) salary and may include modest equipment cost necessary for the successful initiation and conduct of the proposed research. ERI awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Letters of Intent: Not required
- Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
- Full Proposals:
- For proposals submitted via Research.gov, PAPPG guidelines apply.
- For proposals submitted via Grants.gov, NSF Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines apply.
B. Budgetary Information
- Cost Sharing Requirements:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
- 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
- Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):
October 09, 2024
September 16, 2025
October 09, 2026
September 16, 2027
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria:
National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria 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.
I. Introduction
NSF investments in engineering research and education are critical building blocks for the nation's future economic growth and prosperity. Engineering breakthroughs have addressed national challenges, enriched our understanding of natural systems, fostered new technologies, fortified the nation's infrastructure, and introduced the exciting possibilities of engineering to the next generation.
The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) supports the development of the engineering workforce versed in the forefronts of engineering research and promotes the success of new academic investigators in their careers as researchers, educators, and innovators. The goal of the ERI program is to broaden the base of scientists and engineers in academia who dedicate their careers to advancing engineering research and education in societally important fields relevant to ENG.
II. Program Description
The ERI program is part of the capacity-building strategy of the Directorate for Engineering to direct its investments in engineering research across the nation. This solicitation provides support for investigators who have yet to receive sufficient research funding from Federal Agencies to initiate their engineering research programs and to be in a more competitive position for future proposal submissions.
ERI provides resources to enable impactful scientific work that will improve the research and scientific training environment at the institution through the conduct of fundamental research. Research activities may include efforts that catalyze new research partnerships, disseminate results, and/or lay a foundation to support preparation for future grant competitions.
NSF strongly encourages submissions to ERI from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs),two-year colleges, and institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions. Proposers may submit proposals only in engineering research areas supported by participating ENG programs. The list of ERI-eligible ENG programs is provided in Section V.A, Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions.
Proposers may submit proposals only in engineering research areas supported by programs within the participating Divisions of the Directorate for Engineering. The list of ERI-eligible ENG programs is provided in Section V.A, Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions.
III. Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 55
Anticipated Funding Amount: $11,000,000
An ERI award, including indirect costs, must not exceed $200,000 for a duration of 24 months. The award funds may be used for research expenses, trainee support (e.g., students and/or postdocs), Principal Investigator (PI) salary and may include modest equipment cost necessary for the successful initiation and conduct of the proposed research. ERI awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
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:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- In line with the program goals, ERI welcomes the submission of proposals to this funding opportunity from Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) not currently classified as a Doctoral University with "Very High Research Activity" (R1 institutions) according to the 2021 Carnegie Classification: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/. These include two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Eligibility is based on Classification on the date of proposal submission deadline. NSF encourages submissions from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and two-year colleges, and institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions.
Who May Serve as PI:
The PI of an ERI proposal must hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF and must hold an appointment at an ERI-eligible institution. Postdoctoral fellow researchers are not eligible to serve as PI on an ERI proposal.
At the time of the proposal submission deadline, the PI may not have been a PI or Co-PI on any current or prior awarded NSF research grant (including subaward) or have had research support from any other Federal Agency (within the United States or abroad) totaling $200,000 or more within the past five (5) calendar years from the proposal submission deadline date, with the following exceptions:
- Grants not directly for research purposes such as workshops, conferences, travel, instrumentation and equipment (e.g., Major Research Instrumentation; MRI), Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Sites, etc.;
- Awards that exclusively support pre-tenure-track activities (postdoctoral fellowships and Graduate Research Fellowships/GRFP);
- I-Corps, Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards; and
- Awards that originated as NSF or other Federal funds but were distributed locally without naming the submitting ERI PI in the Federal funding proposal (such as: NASA Space Grant Project or other non-NSF federally-funded opportunities, NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program.).
The Department Chair's/Dean's letter must explicitly verify each of the PI eligibility criteria. See Section V.A. for additional information.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
An individual may serve as PI or Senior/Key Personnel on only one ERI proposal per deadline in response to this solicitation. Only one PI per proposal is allowed. Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) are not allowed.
Separately submitted collaborative proposals (see PAPPG II.E.3 for definition) are not allowed.
Proposals that do not meet the PI eligibility requirements will be returned without review.
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.
- Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov. The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number.
- 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: (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). 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) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.
See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions.
ERI proposals are only accepted by CBET, CMMI, and ECCS core programs listed at https://www.nsf.gov/eng/programs.
Proposal Contents
Project Title: The Project Title must begin with "ERI" followed by a colon, and then an informative title.
Co-PIs: Co-PIs are not permitted.
Project Description (10-page limit):
The Project Description should provide a well-argued and specific proposal for the activities that, over the course of a two-year period, will provide the foundation for a competitive, long-term, productive research program at the forefront of engineering research. PIs should pay careful attention to the Solicitation-specific Review Criteria listed in this solicitation and be sure to address these criteria in the Project Description. Reviewers will be asked to consider the potential of the research initiation activities to serve as the basis for sustained research contributions, consistent with the research goals of the PI.
It is recommended that the Project Description have the following section headers: Research Goals, Research Project, and ERI Criteria.
To satisfy PAPPG requirements, please note that if submitting via Research.gov, the section header for Broader Impacts must be on its own line with no other text on that line.
Research Goals: Provide a brief description of the PI's overall research goals.
Research Project: Provide a clear outline of the general plan of work including the research questions or hypotheses, the broad design of activities to be undertaken, and, where appropriate, a clear description of experimental methods and procedures. The proposal should include the motivation for the research and a discussion of the novelty of the work in the context of existing literature. The project description should also discuss mechanisms and plans for assessing success of the proposed activities. The proposed single-PI activities may include activities to catalyze partnerships. The potential partner(s) must be named as Senior/Key Personnel. Partnership activities may enable access to instrumentation or resources, activities that establish a working relationship such as formulating new and sound plans for larger-scale projects in emerging research areas, travel for the PI or trainees to strengthen the partnership, or other activities. Note that Subawards to R1 institutions are not permitted.
Proposals that include a request for equipment must follow the guidance in the PAPPG.
Broader Impacts: Provide a discussion of the broader impacts of the proposed activities.
The Broader Impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.
ERI Criteria: Provide a brief description of how the proposed work addresses the solicitation-specific review criteria, as described in the "Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria" section below.
Supplementary Documents:
Supplementary documents are limited to the specific types of documents listed in the PAPPG, with the following exception:
Department Chair/Dean's Letter (required).
Proposals must include a letter from an appropriate Department Chair or Dean describing how the proposed research plan is aligned with the department, school, or institution's goals. This letter should also describe how the PI's proposed ERI activities are aligned with the goals of the department or organization and how the department or organization is committed to the professional development of the PI. The letter must also certify that the PI meets the ERI eligibility criteria. If the PI has any non-institutional current or past support, the letter should succinctly indicate into which exempted category the support falls (see Eligibility Criteria.) Letters that do not meet these requirements will cause a proposal to be returned without review.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
ERI proposals may include equipment costs necessary to conduct the proposed work. Proposers are encouraged to consider NSF's MRI solicitation for acquisition of a single well-integrated instrument with a cost of >$100,000.
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.
Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria
To what extent will the proposed research initiation activities serve as the basis for sustained research contributions, consistent with the research goals of the PI?
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel 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.
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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.
