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Dear Colleague Letter

Supplemental funding opportunity for use-inspired and translational research activities in support of current Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF: Core Research) research awards

Invites supplemental funding requests from current FW-HTF awardees with substantial demonstrated progress to extend the results of existing research projects in directions that will increase the likelihood of eventual adoption and positive social impact.
Invites supplemental funding requests from current FW-HTF awardees with substantial demonstrated progress to extend the results of existing research projects in directions that will increase the likelihood of eventual adoption and positive social impact.

Dear Colleagues:

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), current FW-HTF-R (research award category) awardees may propose supplemental research activities that are grounded in fundamental discoveries or research developments made as part of an active FW-HTF research project. The goal of these supplements is to extend the results of existing research projects in directions that will increase the likelihood of eventual adoption and positive social impact. Please note that current Transition to Scale awards (FW-HTF-T) and Project Development or Planning awards (FW-HTF-P) are not eligible.

These supplements are only appropriate for existing FW-HTF projects that have demonstrated significant progress in their research outcomes to date, and for which the proposed supplemental activities have compelling potential to extend these outcomes towards practice, yielding increased economic competitiveness; enhanced worker well-being, lifelong and pervasive learning, and quality of life; or more profound understanding of the emerging social and economic context and drivers of innovations that will shape the future of jobs and work.

Possible themes for such supplements include, but are not limited to, use-inspired and translational research, such as piloting and prototyping, or other needed translational or scaling research approaches in the following contexts:

  • Supplemental activities that establish effectiveness of technologies and processes in real-life work settings, or that engage additional groups of stakeholders not included in the original research plan;
  • Supplemental activities that develop guidelines or principles for the use of technologies with diverse groups of workers;
  • Supplemental activities that increase access and inclusion for a diverse group of workers and stakeholders; and
  • Supplemental activities that further expand investigation of the cognitive, economic, educational, organizational, psychological, or sociological elements of existing projects that are rooted in discoveries made using the original award.

These supplemental funding requests are subject to NSF's merit review process, pursuant to the NSF merit review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts described in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Supplemental funding requests submitted in response to this opportunity should follow the guidance specified in PAPPG Chapter VI.E.5, with the following additional specifications: Budgets for these supplemental funding requests are limited to 20% of the original award or $400,000, whichever is less. The request should explain why the level of resources requested (e.g., personnel, travel, equipment) is needed to achieve the desired project impacts and how the budget is appropriate to the scope of work. Supplements should have the same end date as the original award. The supplemental funding request should not exceed 6 pages in length, and must address the following items:

  • Summary of the key research activities and accomplishments from the current FW-HTF award that the supplement will build upon;
  • A description of the proposed additional activities and predicted outcomes, along with an evaluation plan outlining tangible metrics to assess the outcomes of the proposed activities, how these outcomes will inform the potential for transition including transferability and/or scalability beyond the original project, and the possible risk(s) and associated mitigation approach(es); and
  • A clear description of who will be responsible for the new activities -- possibly including new personnel, partners, and stakeholders.

The target date for submission of supplemental funding requests for consideration in fiscal year (FY) 2023 is March 1, 2023, but earlier submissions are encouraged.

PIs interested in submitting supplemental funding requests (or with other questions pertaining to this DCL) should discuss their ideas with the FW-HTF managing program officer for their award prior to submission.

Sincerely,

Susan Margulies
Assistant Director
Directorate for Engineering

Kellina M. Craig-Henderson
Assistant Director
Directorate for Social and Behavioral Sciences

James L. Moore III
Assistant Director
Directorate for STEM Education

Erwin Gianchandani
Assistant Director
Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

Margaret Martonosi
Assistant Director
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering

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