This page provides information and helpful links pertaining to NSF funding.
Useful NSF Links:
- Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
- Award and Administration Guide (AAG)
- Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
- FastLane
Submitting an application to the National Science Foundation (NSF) - What's Next?
1) Familiarize yourself with the variety of Funding Opportunities Announcements offered by NSF.
- Search NSF for funding opportunities
- Lists upcoming due dates
- Browse funding opportunities
- Subscribe to NSF's free e-mail service
- Search for funding opportunities by agency
- Solicitations that Limit the Number of Proposals an Organization can submit
- Other Types of Proposals
2) Types of Funding Opportunities
Program Descriptions Proposals for a Program Description must follow the instruction in the GPG Program Announcements Proposals for a Program Announcement must follow the instructions in the GPG Program Solicitations Proposals must follow the instructions in the Program Solicitation; the instructions in the GPG apply unless otherwise stated in the solicitation Dear Colleague Letters Dear Colleague Letters are notifications of opportunities or special competitions for supplements to existing NSF awards 3) Types of Proposal Submissions
No Deadlines Proposals may be submitted at any time Target Dates Dates after which proposals will still be accepted, although they may miss a particular panel or committee meeting Deadline Dates Dates after which proposals will not be accepted for review by NSF. The deadline date will be waived only in extenuating circumstances. Such a deviation only may be authorized in accordance with GPG Chapter II.A. Submission Windows Designated periods of time during which proposals will be accepted for review by NSF. It is NSF's policy that the end date of a submission window converts to, and is subject to, the same policies as a deadline date. Letters of Intent Some NSF program solicitations require or request submissions of a letter of intent (LOI) in advance of a submission of a full proposal. A LOI is not binding and must be submitted through FastLane. Preliminary Proposal Some NSF program solicitations require or request submission of a preliminary proposal in advance of a full proposal, to be submitted through FastLane. 4) Find what resources are available to you.
5) Frequently Asked Questions:
- Provides help in navigating the NSF website
You may already be aware that starting in January 2011, the National Science Foundation began requiring submission of a mandatory data management plan with all funding proposals. As of January 18, 2011, each proposal must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled Data Management Plan. This supplementary document should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results. Proposals which do not include the DMP as a supplemental document in FastLane will be returned without review.
What is a Data Management Plan and why do I need one?
A data management plan (DMP) is a clear description of the kinds of data you expect to collect through your studies, a description of how you will make that data available to others (and under what conditions), and how you will archive that data to safeguard it for future users.Following are some resources gathered from NSF and other applicant institutions which should help you to comply with the requirement:
NSF General Statement:
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jspNSF Frequently Asked Questions and links to directorate-specific requirements:
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmpfaqs.jspOther resources compiled by libraries:
http://www.arl.org/rtl/eresearch/escien/nsf/nsfresources.shtmlhttp://escience.washington.edu/blog/writing-nsf-data-management-plan
University of Virginia has a template available for download:
http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/brown/data/plan.htmlLinks to data management requirements and plans relevant to specific Directorates, Offices, Divisions, Programs, or other NSF units, are provided below:
- Engineering Directorate (ENG)
- Geological Sciences Directorate (GEO)
- Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate (MPS)
- Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE)
Data Management Plan Examples
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/dmp/other-plans.jspThe National Science Foundation has posted a series of seven frequently-asked-questions concerning its revised cost-sharing policy, which went into effect for proposals submitted or due on or after January 18, 2011. Changes affect committed support on the part of principal investigators, as Jean Feldman, NSF policy director, described at the recent annual meeting of the National Council of Research Administrations. Questions posted on NSF's website include the following: "If a PI already is charging two months of salary support per year on their active NSF award(s), should they not request support on any new proposals that are submitted? If they are not requesting salary support, would that constitute cost sharing?" and "If an institution addresses voluntary committed cost sharing in the proposal narrative, how will NSF proposal reviewers respond?"
Link: www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/csfaqs_dec10.pdfVoluntary Committed Cost Sharing
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited and Line M on the proposal budget will not be available for use by the proposer. In order for NSF, and its reviewers, to assess the scope of a proposed project, all organizational resources necessary for, and available to a project, must be described in the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal (see GPG Chapter II.C.2.i for further information). NSF Program Officers may not impose or encourage cost sharing unless such requirements are explicitly included in the program solicitation.Mandatory Cost Sharing
Mandatory cost sharing will only be required for NSF programs when explicitly authorized by the NSF Director, the National Science Board, or legislation. In those rare instances, cost sharing requirements will be clearly identified in the solicitation and must be included on Line M of the proposed budget. Such cost sharing will be an eligibility, rather than a review criterion. Proposers are advised not to exceed the mandatory cost sharing level or amount specified in the solicitation.
When mandatory cost sharing is included on Line M, and accepted by the Foundation, the commitment of funds becomes legally binding and is subject to audit. When applicable, the estimated value of any in-kind contributions also should be included on Line M. An explanation of the source, nature, amount and availability of any proposed cost sharing must be provided in the budget justification. It should be noted that contributions derived from other Federal funds or counted as cost sharing toward projects of another Federal agency may not be counted towards meeting the specific cost sharing requirements of the NSF award.
Failure to provide the level of cost sharing required by the NSF solicitation and reflected in the approved award budget may result in termination of the NSF award, disallowance of award costs and/or refund of award funds to NSF by the awardee.Link: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf11001
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