ENG Proposal Guidance

This page highlights additional guidance you'll need to follow as you prepare a proposal for the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering (ENG).

Refer to NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for complete proposal requirements. 


Research proposals

ENG accepts unsolicited proposals to all core research programs at any time throughout the year. 

Proposals submitted to other program announcements and solicitations, including the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), must meet their respective deadlines. Refer to the deadline dates specified in the appropriate announcement or solicitation.

Resubmission guidelines 

A declined proposal may be resubmitted after both of the following conditions are met: 

  • Substantial revisions have been made, as determined by the cognizant program director.
  • 12 months have passed since the previous submission date.

Note: For additional information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (NSF 18-083)

RAPID and EAGER proposals

Proposals for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) or EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) can be submitted at any time. Principal investigators must submit a concept outline using the ProSPCT tool or contact the cognizant program director before submission.

Note: RAPID and EAGER proposals are not for projects appropriate for submission as standard NSF research proposals.

Refer to PAPPG II.F for details and full proposal requirements.

GOALI proposals

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals can be submitted in several ways:

  • In conjunction with a regular proposal to an NSF program.
  • As an unsolicited proposal.
  • As a supplemental funding request to an active NSF award.

PIs must contact the cognizant program director before submission.

Learn about GOALI proposals.

Refer to PAPPG II.F for full proposal requirements.

Conference proposals

Proposals should be submitted at least a year in advance of the scheduled meeting. Funding is at the discretion of each division, depending upon merit review of the proposed activities and the availability of funds.

Before submission, PIs are strongly encouraged to contact a program director to discuss the following elements:

  • The objective(s) of the conference, including specific questions or topics to be addressed.
  • The relationship of the conference activities to the stated objectives.
  • The relationship of the conference to the needs/interests of the supporting program(s) and relevant division as a whole.
  • An explanation of how the conference results will expand the boundaries of science or engineering.
  • The title, agenda, location and date(s) for the proposed conference.
  • The proposed chairperson, members of organizing committees and their organizational affiliations.
  • A strategy for advertising or announcing the conference to the public and/or how participants will be invited.
  • A plan for dissemination of the conference results and a timeline for dissemination.
  • A plan for assessing outcomes.

For more information, please contact the program director(s) for the program(s) of interest. 

Refer to PAPPG II.F.8 for full proposal requirements.

Supplemental funding for undergraduates and teachers

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplements

The Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) and Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) divisions support REU supplemental funding but do not accept proposals for REU sites.

Proposals should be submitted at least three months before the desired start of the proposed activity.

Deadlines:

  • CMMI accepts requests for supplemental REU funding between Oct. 1 and May 1 each fiscal year. 
  • ECCS accepts requests for supplemental REU funding between Oct. 1 and April 1 each fiscal year.

Each division provides up to $10,000 of support for one REU student per active award per calendar year. Additional funding may be available for a second student.

Supplementary funding requests must include CVs for all participants. If the REU student is not pre-selected, the recruitment process and selection criteria must be outlined.

Note: Requests for REU supplements must be made on an annual basis, and expiring awards may not receive a no-cost extension only to enable the PI to submit an REU supplement request.

Refer to the REU program page for more information.

 

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) supplements

The ECCS Division also supports RET supplementary funding, limited to a maximum of $15,000 per teacher for one year. ECCS does not accept proposals for RET sites.

Requests for supplemental RET funding should be submitted at least three months before the desired start of the proposed activity. ECCS accepts RET supplemental requests between Oct. 1 and April 1 each fiscal year.

RET supplement requests must include CVs for all participants.

Refer to the RET program page for more information