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NSF 03-565: Cooperative Activities in Materials Research between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission

Program Solicitation

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  • Posted: April 10, 2003
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Cooperative Activities in Materials Research between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission

Program Solicitation
NSF 03-565
Replaces Document NSF 01-105

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National Science Foundation
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Directorate for Engineering
      Division of Chemical and Transport Systems
Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
      Office of International Science and Engineering



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



    July 18, 2003

Summary Of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

Cooperative Activities in Materials Research between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission

Synopsis of Program:

This program supports collaborative materials research between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in the member countries of the European Union through an implementing arrangement between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission for cooperative activities in the field of materials sciences.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

  • Carmen I. Huber, Program Director, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Division of Materials Research, 1065 N, telephone: (703) 292-4939, email: chuber@nsf.gov

  • Robert M Wellek Deputy Division Director, Directorate for Engineering, Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, 525N, fax: (703) 292-9054, email: rwellek@nsf.gov

  • Jeanne E. Hudson, Program Coordinator, Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences, Office of International Science and Engineering, 935 N, telephone: (703) 292-8702, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: jhudson@nsf.gov

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

  • 47.041 --- Engineering
  • 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  • 47.075 --- Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Eligibility Information

  • Organization Limit: Proposals may be submitted only by eligible US organizations as defined in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide.
  • PI Eligibility Limit: None Specified.
  • Limit on Number of Proposals: None Specified.

Award Information

  • Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
  • Estimated Number of Awards: 5 to 10 - depending on quality of proposals and availability of funds
  • Anticipated Funding Amount: $2,000,000 approximately in FY 2004, pending availability of funds. Anticipated award size $50,000 to $500,000 per year for up to 5 years

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
  • Preliminary Proposals: Preliminary proposals are not required. However, NSF strongly encourages investigators to submit a brief (1-page) outline of the planned research in advance of the proposal deadline to determine if the scientific or technical focus is appropriate for NSF support under this solicitation. PLEASE NOTE: Submission of this brief research outline is required for proposals whose scientific or technical focus falls within the purview of the NSF Division of Chemical and Transport Systems. (See Section II. Program Description and Section V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions.)

  • Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains information that supplements the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
B. Budgetary Information
  • Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.
  • Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
  • Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable.
C. Due Dates
  • Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
      July 18, 2003

Proposal Review Information

  • Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations 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

The basic properties of materials frequently define the capabilities, potential, reliability and limitations of technology.  Improved materials and processes will play an increasing role in efforts to improve energy efficiency, promote environmental protection, develop information and communications systems, and provide modern and reliable transportation and civil infrastructure. Advances in materials research enable progress to be made across a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines and technological areas with dramatic impacts on society.

Continued progress in materials research is increasingly dependent upon collaborative efforts among several different disciplines, as well as closer coordination among funding agencies and effective partnerships involving universities, industry, and national laboratories.  In addition, because of the growing interdependence of the world's economies, partnerships are important not only at the national level but from an international point of view as well.

Over the last few years, the National Science Foundation has co-sponsored a series of international workshops designed to help stimulate enhanced collaboration among materials researchers and create networks linking individuals and centers in participating countries.  The first workshop, held in May 1995, involved scientists and engineers from the US, Canada, and Mexico. Similar workshops followed to identify opportunities for collaboration among researchers from the US and the European Union (Belgium, 1996), collaborations among researchers from countries of the Americas (Brazil, 1998), US-Asian Pacific collaborations (Hawaii, 1998), and US-Africa collaborations (South Africa, 2000).

These workshops have identified possible areas for mutually beneficial collaborations, and recommended that extensive use be made of electronic communication, information exchanges, and databases to promote and facilitate research collaborations andeducation activities at the international level.  Reports of the workshops can be found on the web page of the International Union of Materials Research Societies at http://www.iumrs.org.

In this context, and as part of the implementation of the US-European Union Science and Technology Agreement, the National Science Foundation has entered into an implementing arrangement with the European Commission in support of materials research.  As part of this arrangement, in recent years NSF issued calls for proposals from US investigators for collaborative research with their European Union counterparts. A list of awards resulting from these competitions can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/mps/divisions/dmr/research/c_nsfecawards.htm.

II. Program Description

This program is a continuation of the cooperative activities in materials research between the NSF and the European Commission (EC) initiated in 2000. Collectively, the European Commission R&D programs are known as the Framework Programme, a five-year appropriation to support a specified research agenda.  The current 6th Framework Programme (FP6) runs through 2006.  A priority Thematic Area of the EU is "Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, and new production processes and devices" (NMP). The EC has issued a call for proposals in this Thematic Area. More information about FP6 and its programs, including possible third- country participation, can be found at http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/.

US researchers may join multilateral European consortia as participants on European Commission (EC) proposals, but normally cannot receive EC support. NSF will consider support for US participation in materials research on topics within the NMP Thematic Area.  Within the NMP Thematic Area, the EC 6th Framework Programme will support five types of projects. Specific Targeted Research Projects (STRP) that explore the frontier of knowledge and create long-term innovation are well suited for collaboration with US investigators, but involvement of US investigators in other types of projects is not excluded. For more information about the NMP Thematic Area and project types see http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/nmp.htm.

NSF will accept proposals from US organizations in the context of the US-European Union Science and Technology Agreement (see www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/eu/971205_eu_science_agree.html) in two categories addressing interactions among US and European materials researchers, as indicated below:

  1. Proposals to support innovative collaborative research with scientists from the countries of the European Union and affiliated countries.  NSF will support the US side of such collaborations. 

  2. Proposals for the development of enhanced communication among European and US materials research centers and organizations.  NSF is particularly interested in developing electronic networking among centers to facilitate cooperation and interaction among materials researchers in the US and the European Union. Networking should be able to link centers and institutions, enhance information exchanges, provide opportunities for integrating research and education, promote greater collaborative opportunities, and disseminate research results and education materials.  The budget may include equipment, operating costs and coordination costs for the network.

Projects to be supported by NSF through this competition must have a clear relevance to basic materials phenomena, synthesis, characterization, properties, and chemical and transport materials processing.  Projects not having this materials focus will be returned without review. NSF strongly encourages investigators to submit a brief (1-page) outline of the planned research to one of the NSF staff contacts listed in this announcement in advance of the proposal deadline, to determine if the proposed scientific or technical focus is appropriate for NSF support under this solicitation.
The Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS) in the Directorate for Engineering, and the Office of International Science and Engineering (INT) participate in this activity at NSF. Because not all programs within the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS) participate in this activity, principal investigators considering the submission of proposals to CTS MUST contact the appropriate CTS program director by email prior to submitting a proposal. An email response from the CTS program director indicating the suitability of the proposal for consideration by the specific program MUST be included in the "Supplementary Docs" Fastlane Form, and the proposal should list in the cover page the program in CTS to which the proposal is directed. Failure to follow this procedure will result in CTS-related proposals being returned without review. Proposals that fall within the purview of Divisions other than CTS in the Directorate for Engineering should not be submitted under this solicitation.

III. Eligibility Information

Eligible US organizations, as defined in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, can submit proposals under this solicitation.

IV. Award Information

NSF expects to make standard or continuing grants. The estimated number of awards is 5 to 10, depending on quality of proposals and availabilty of funds. Anticipated funding amount is $50,000 to $500,000 per year for up to five years. Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds. Successful proposals will be designated as cooperative activities under the implementing arrangement between the European Commission and the National Science Foundation.

V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Instructions:

Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF Website at: https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

The title of the proposal should begin with "NSF-EC Cooperative Activity in Materials Research: ".

The proposal to NSF must be accompanied by two, or three, additional items which are to be entered into the "Supplementary Docs" Fastlane Form:

  1. Information clearly identifying the counterpart EC proposal or funded project, including the project title, EC identification code, participant organization and/or person in charge, and a technical abstract (limit: 1 page).

  2. A specific summary of the proposed interaction between the U.S. and European partners, including the anticipated benefits of the interaction (limit: 2 pages).

  3. Proposals directed to programs in the Division of Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS) must include an email from the appropriate program director in CTS which establishes the suitability of the proposal for consideration by the specific CTS program under this solicitation (see Sec. II. Program Description).

Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation number (03-565) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.

C. Due Dates

Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):

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

    July 18, 2003

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this announcement/solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program announcement/solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this announcement/solicitation.

Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Proposers are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov

VI. Proposal Review Information

A. NSF Proposal Review Process

Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.

The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making funding decisions.

In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January 2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators (PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.

Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of broader impacts to NSF-funded projects.

The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information). The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which he/she is qualified to make judgments.

    What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
    How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
    What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
    How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

NSF staff will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:

    Integration of Research and Education
    One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives.
    Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
    Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.

    Additional Review Criteria

    Reviewers will also take into consideration the value added by the proposed international collaboration in materials research, and the extent to which the collaboration integrates research and education and promotes diversity.

B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Ad Hoc and/or panel review.

Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the date of receipt. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program Division administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See section VI.A. for additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at https://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Website at http://www.gpo.gov.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.

Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for the PI and all Co-PIs. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. This system permits electronic submission and updating of project reports, including information on project participants (individual and organizational), activities and findings, publications, and other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.

VIII. Contacts For Additional Information

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

  • Carmen I. Huber, Program Director, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Division of Materials Research, 1065 N, telephone: (703) 292-4939, email: chuber@nsf.gov

  • Robert M Wellek Deputy Division Director, Directorate for Engineering, Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, 525N, fax: (703) 292-9054, email: rwellek@nsf.gov

  • Jeanne E. Hudson, Program Coordinator, Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences, Office of International Science and Engineering, 935 N, telephone: (703) 292-8702, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: jhudson@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

  • Maxine E. Jefferson-Brown, Computer Specialist, Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Division of Materials Research, 1065 N, telephone: (703) 292-4918, fax: (703) 292-9035, email: mjeffers@nsf.gov

IX. Other Programs Of Interest

The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's Custom News Service (https://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.

About The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

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. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.

OMB control number: 3145-0058.



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