Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for NSF 18-572, Secure and Trustworthy Computing (SaTC) Program

Is the removal of deadlines a pilot or a permanent change?

The change is intended as a long-term pilot. Presuming that the results are positive, this may become a permanent change.

What does "no deadline" mean?

Beginning October 1, 2018, the SaTC program will accept proposals at any time throughout the year. There will no longer be any restriction on when a proposal can be submitted for consideration to the SaTC program.

Does this apply to all categories of proposals submitted to SaTC in FY 2019?

Yes, this applies across all SaTC designations [CORE, Transition to Practice (TTP), and Education (EDU)] and size categories (Small, Medium) in FY 2019.

What about the Frontier and Large categories?

SaTC will not be offering either the Frontier or Large size categories in FY 2019, but we anticipate resuming the Frontier category in FY 2020.

Does the change to no deadlines also apply to other solicitations issued by the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)?

No. Other solicitations (such as the Faculty Early-Career Development (CAREER), CISE Research Initiation Initiative (CRII), and other CISE core or crosscutting programs) will continue to accept proposals by the deadlines stated in the respective solicitations. Principal investigators (PIs) should consult the specific language in each solicitation.

Why is this change being made?

By accepting proposals at any time, PIs will have more time to prepare proposals, build strong collaborations, and think creatively without the pressure of a deadline. Spreading proposal submissions more evenly over the year may also reduce the burden on PIs, reviewers, and proposing organizations.

Will proposals still be reviewed by panels and ad hoc reviews?

As is present practice, all proposals will undergo panel and/or ad hoc review as determined by the program.

How will this work?

Program Directors will schedule panels as needed.

Will the community be told the dates of panels?

No, as per NSF's standard policy.

Can I serve on a panel if I have submitted a proposal, or plan to submit a proposal to SaTC?

Possibly. You may be contacted to serve if you are eligible per conflict-of-interest rules.

Will it take longer to receive a decision on my proposal?

No changes are anticipated in the average time to decision and release of reviews.

Will my chances of being funded be higher if I submit towards the beginning, middle, or end of the fiscal year?

Program officers will ensure that funding is allocated based on proposal quality, regardless of when during the year the proposal is submitted.

Can I resubmit a declined proposal right away or do I have to wait a certain length of time to resubmit it?

Proposals declined during FY 2019 may not be submitted again in the same fiscal year. In other words, you may not resubmit a proposal declined in FY 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019) to the same designation again before October 1, 2019.

PIs are reminded that a declined proposal may be resubmitted only after it has undergone substantial revision. If the Program Director determines that a resubmitted proposal has not clearly taken into account the major comments or concerns resulting from the prior NSF review, the proposal will be returned without review (see the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter IV.E).

Is there a limit on how many proposals I can submit as either PI, co-PI, or senior personnel?

Yes. Individuals may participate as PI, co-PI or senior personnel in no more than three SaTC proposals in a given fiscal year (October 1 through September 30th), including in at most one proposal designated as CORE; at most one proposal designated as TTP; and at most one proposal designated as EDU. These limits are unrelated to any limits imposed in other NSF program solicitations.

Do I need to alert the SaTC program if I intend to submit or when I submit a proposal?

No, you need not alert the SaTC program when you wish to submit a proposal, but it is always recommended that PIs contact a Program Director if they have questions about whether their research is within the scope of the program.