NSF 06-602: East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)
Program Solicitation
Document Information
Document History
- Posted: September 6, 2006
- Replaces: NSF 05-617
- Replaced by: NSF 07-584
This document has been archived.
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)
Program Solicitation
NSF 06-602
Replaces Document(s):
NSF
05-617
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National Science Foundation |
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 | National
Institutes of Health |
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Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
December 12, 2006
Second Tuesday in December, Annually Thereafter
Revision Notes
- Do not complete the "Application Form" section of the proposal until after October 23, 2006. Do not submit your proposal prior to October 23, 2006.
- New Zealand is added as an East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) location.
- The Award amount has been amended to reflect the increase in the stipend amount to $4,000.
- Proposal preparation instructions have been clarified.
- Potential host institutions for China Summer Institute participants must be located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming or Xian. See conditions in China handbook and "How to Apply" instructions at www.nsf.gov/eapsi.
Summary Of Program Requirements
General Information
Program Title:
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)
Synopsis of Program:
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering: 1) first-hand research experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) orientation to the society, culture and language. The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research laboratory, and to initiate personal relationships that will better enable them to collaborate with foreign counterparts in the future. The institutes last approximately eight weeks from June to August. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) co-sponsor the Summer Institute in Japan.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
-
EAPSI Program Manager, Office of International Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, telephone: 703-292-8704, fax: 703-292-9175, email: eapinfo@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.041 --- Engineering
- 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- 47.050 --- Geosciences
- 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
- 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
- 47.075 --- Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
- 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
- 47.078 --- Office of Polar Programs
- 47.079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
- 47.080 --- Office of Cyberinfrastructure
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 180 annually, depending on the quality of applications and availability of funds.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $1,300,000 Each awardee will receive a $4,000 stipend and an international round-trip air ticket. (Certain travel restrictions will apply). In additon, each awardee is supported to attend a pre-departure orientation in the Washington, D.C. area.
Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Applications are submitted directly by the individual graduate student, unlike standard NSF proposals that are submitted through the principal investigator's U.S. authorized organizational representative. In the EAPSI FastLane application process (Section V.D.), the applicant acts as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
PI Limit:
As of the deadline date of the application year, applicants must be: Previous EAPSI participants may apply only to locations in which they have not yet participated.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Not applicable
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1
application per student per year.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
- 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 by NSF.
- Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: There are no indirect costs allowed.
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's
local time):
December 12, 2006
Second Tuesday in December, Annually Thereafter
Proposal Review Information Criteria
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: Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Table Of Contents
- Introduction
- Program Description
- Award Information
- Eligibility Information
- Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
- NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
- Award Administration Information
- Agency Contacts
- Other Information
I. Introduction
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering 1) first-hand research experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) orientation to the society, culture and language. The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research laboratory, and to initiate personal relationships that will better enable them to collaborate with foreign counterparts in the future. Current information is available at the NSF EAPSI website (https://www.nsf.gov/eapsi).
II. Program Description
Support of international activities is an integral part of the NSF mission to sustain and strengthen the nation’s science, mathematics, and engineering capabilities, and to promote the use of those capabilities in service to society. In particular, NSF recognizes the importance of enabling U.S. researchers and educators to advance their work through international collaborations, and of helping ensure that future generations of U.S. scientists and engineers gain professional experience beyond this nation’s borders early in their careers.
The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes are administered in the United States by the National Science Foundation. The National Institutes of Health co-sponsor the Summer Institute in Japan. In East Asia and the Pacific, the Summer Institutes are sponsored and managed by the Australian Academy of Science; the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF); the Royal Society of New Zealand; and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSCT). The first summer institute began in Japan in 1990, followed by Korea in 1995, Taiwan in 2000, Australia and China in 2004, and New Zealand in 2007. The Summer Institute in Taiwan operates in line with the U.S.-Taiwan Relations Act (PL 96-8).
Key Elements
Pre-departure orientation: 2-day session in the Washington, D.C. area in April.
Orientation: During the first week of the summer program, students participate in a variety of organized activities that provide an introduction to the society, culture, language, and research policy of the host location.
Research: Approximately seven weeks are spent on research activities at the host institution. Students work collaboratively with host researchers on projects of mutual interest.
Visits to other laboratories/sites: Participants are encouraged to make arrangements to visit other research institutes in the host location, in order to learn about work in their field and to cultivate contacts for future collaboration. Such visits should be scheduled in consultation with host researchers, or be planned to occur following the conclusion of the Summer Institute.
Program Conditions/Requirements:
As a set of structured programs jointly funded and managed by NSF and partner agencies in the East Asia and Pacific region, EAPSI has a number of requirements. Successful applicants must agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Program dates/duration: EAPSI programs last approximately eight weeks, from June to August. Exact starting and ending dates vary each year. Exact dates of each Summer Institute (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, or Taiwan) will be available in March. Participants must attend the EAPSI program in its entirety, including the opening and closing activities.
- Acceptance of host institution/researcher: Applicants identify potential host institutions and researchers in their applications. While EAPSI can support students to go to a wide variety of institutions and geographic locations, there are some limitations. Applicants are advised to review specific information for Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan under “Potential Host Institutions for East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes” on the Summer Institutes Website (https://www.nsf.gov/eapsi). NSF and the relevant foreign counterpart agency(ies) work together to finalize host arrangements for selected students. Placement at requested institutions will be attempted but cannot be guaranteed, and participants are expected to accept placement at a specific institution unless there are truly exceptional circumstances.
- Spouses and/or dependents are not permitted to accompany participants during the program.
- Participants are responsible for necessary medications, immunizations, and insurance coverage (health insurance coverage varies by location).
- Participants are responsible for obtaining passports, visas and any other required travel documents at their own expense. Before applying for the Summer Institutes, permanent U.S. residents should verify their ability to travel without difficulty outside of the United States and to Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, or Taiwan.
- Participants are acting as representatives of NSF and the United States. Failure to adhere to any of the above terms and conditions, or other behavior that reflects negatively upon either NSF or the United States may result in immediate expulsion from the program and the requirement that award funds be returned to NSF.
Location-specific information can be found in the pertinent handbooks at (https://www.nsf.gov/eapsi). Note that information in the handbooks will be updated as details are finalized for the following year’s programs.
Approximate Timetable:
December – January: NSF compliance check of proposals
January: NSF merit review of proposals
February: Notification to selected students of tentative acceptance or alternate status
April: Pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. area
April: Acceptance notices issued to confirmed students by NSF counterpart agencies in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan
April: Authorization and instructions for travel issued
May – June: Official awards and stipends or declinations issued
June – August: Summer Institutes
III. Award Information
- Each awardee will receive an NSF stipend of $4,000 that is intended as compensation, in part, for loss of summer employment. (Awardees can receive only one stipend from NSF or other Federal agencies during the period of the EAPSI.)
- Each awardee will receive an international round-trip air ticket. (Certain travel restrictions will apply.)
- Living expenses will be supported by NSF’s partner organizations in the East Asia and Pacific region.
- Each awardee is supported to attend a pre-departure orientation in the Washington, D.C. area.
IV. Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Applications are submitted directly by the individual graduate student, unlike standard NSF proposals that are submitted through the principal investigator's U.S. authorized organizational representative. In the EAPSI FastLane application process (Section V.D.), the applicant acts as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
As of the deadline date of the application year, applicants must be:
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
- Enrolled at U.S. institutions in a research-oriented master’s, M.D. or Ph.D. degree program;
- Pursuing studies in fields of science and engineering research and education supported by the National Science Foundation (Biology; Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Cyberinfrastructure; Education; Engineering; Environmental Research and Education; Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Polar Research; and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences). See https://www.nsf.gov/funding/browse_all_funding.jsp for descriptions of these fields. For Japan, fields of study may also include those supported by the National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov/science/); and
- Pursuing studies in fields of science and engineering research and education that are represented among the potential host institutions at the desired location.
Previous EAPSI participants may apply only to locations in which they have not yet participated.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Not applicable
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1
application per student per year.
V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Full Proposal Instructions: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines specified 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/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-PUBS (7827) or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
In cases where requirements given in this program solicitation differ from those given in the Grant Proposal Guide, this program solicitation takes precedence.
All page limits indicated within this program solicitation include images, figures, graphics, tables, etc. Applicants must adhere to page limitations, font size (no smaller than 10 point), and margins (minimum of 2.5 cm). Proposals that do not conform to the requirements will be returned without review.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Unlike standard proposals to NSF, EAPSI proposals are submitted directly to NSF without going through your university. EAPSI proposals must be submitted electronically on the NSF FastLane website.
- Follow specific instructions from 'How to Apply', found by selecting 'Postdoctoral Fellowships and Other Programs', 'I am an Applicant', and then 'East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes' on the NSF FastLane website that can be accessed from the NSF homepage (https://www.nsf.gov/).
- In the FastLane application process for EAPSI, the applicant will be called a Principal Investigator (PI) or Proposer and must register as an individual researcher acting as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
- The applicant must list names of Letter of Reference writers within "Add/Delete Letter of Reference Writers" section in FastLane Proposal Preparation. This must be done before the applicant's references can upload their letters into the FastLane system.
The EAPSI Proposal Consists of:
Cover Sheet - You must complete the cover sheet first. Check that your name and address show as both Awardee and Performing Organization. Select this program solicitation from the list shown. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Application Form - You are required to fill out the Application Form with the following information: Personal Information; Official Name; Citizenship Status; Current Degree Information; Mailing Address; Email address; Permanent Home Address; Current Academic Institutional Address; Proposed Research Area and Potential Host Institutions Information. Program staff will communicate by postal mail and email to the addresses you indicate. Please enter this information CORRECTLY.
You may list multiple potential host institutions in priority order. Identify specific research divisions and provide names and email addresses of researchers with whom you would like to work. If you wish to be considered for more than one location (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan), select your choices in order of preference on the application form. You should include information on potential host institutions and researchers for each selected location. Do not select a location or list an institution unless you are willing to accept placement there.
While EAPSI can support students to go to a wide variety of institutions and geographic locations, there are some limitations. Applicants are strongly advised to review specific information for Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan listed under “Potential Host Institutions for East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes” on the EAPSI website (https://www.nsf.gov/eapsi). Applicants are not restricted to the potential hosts listed on the Web and are strongly encouraged to seek information about foreign researchers and institutions from their academic advisors and other faculty members, from topic-relevant literature searches, and from the Internet.
Any questions should be discussed with the EAPSI program manager before submitting your application.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain provisional acceptance from host labs prior to submitting applications. Communications to/from potential hosts may strengthen your application and are highly recommended. Submission of scanned e-mail communication is preferred. Correspondence should be placed in the "Supplementary Docs" section, and submitted via FastLane as part of your proposal.
If selected, NSF will forward applications to foreign partner science agencies for matching with potential host researchers. The matching process will take into consideration: 1) the student's stated preferences, 2) numbers of students going to different geographical locations, and 3) the types (e.g., university, national institute, private company) of institutions participating as hosts. NSF makes formal requests for institutions/researchers to serve as hosts through the sponsoring organizations in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan. Requests may be declined for a variety of reasons, and when this happens, NSF will seek alternate placement.
Project Summary – The generic project summary already provided in this section must be used for the EAPSI application. Do not change anything in this section.
Project Description (not to exceed three single spaced pages with 2.5 cm margins) - The description should include:
- Intellectual Merit (See Section VI. A. for a complete description of Intellectual Merit). A clear description of a hypothesis-driven research question to be addressed. The description should be understandable to a scientifically literate lay reader, but detailed and specific enough to be evaluated by disciplinary experts. In addition to being read by the NSF review panel, selected applications will be shared with potential host researchers to confirm their willingness to serve as host for your research topic. The proposed research should be achievable within a 6-7 week time frame.
- Specific strengths of the proposed host institutions/researchers (e.g., expertise, facilities, data, access) and the benefits these would offer in terms of the proposed research topic/project.
- Value to the student’s research career in gaining experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, or Taiwan.
- Broader impacts of the proposed research and of your participation in the Summer Institute (See Section VI.A., for complete description of broader impacts).
- Your unique qualifications to conduct the research in an international setting.
Note: Selected applicants may be asked to submit revised research plans if consultation with the potential host researcher results in substantive changes to the proposed plan.
Biographical Sketch (not to exceed two single-spaced pages) - Provide a resume including your professional and academic history, awards, international experience, list of publications if any, and other pertinent information. Do not send reprints or abstracts of publications.
Two Letters of Reference - from two faculty members or other senior individuals qualified to comment on your abilities and potential as a scientific researcher. One reference must be from your current research advisor. If you do not have a research advisor yet, ask your academic advisor or Department Chair. Do not secure references from proposed foreign host researchers or institutions. Your reference letter writers must submit their letters using FastLane (See “Add/Delete Letter of Reference Writers” section in your FastLane application). You must list their names before your references can submit their letters. You are responsible for assuring that your references use FastLane to submit their letters by the application deadline. If both letters are not received in FastLane by the deadline, the proposal may be returned without review.
Supplementary Documents - The following documents must be submitted electronically (by scanning, if necessary) via FastLane, as part of the application:
- Undergraduate and Graduate Transcripts: Unofficial copies are acceptable.
- An official statement from the registrar's office, Dean, or Department Chair attesting to your current enrollment in the graduate program. Email statements with their original headings including senders' email addresses and dates are acceptable.
- Other relevant documents such as email correspondence to/from potential host researchers (strongly recommended).
All proposal materials must be submitted via FastLane, including letters of reference. Materials sent via other means to NSF will not be reviewed and may result in the application being returned without review.
Please note that EAPSI applications tentatively selected by NSF are shared with foreign partner science agencies, and subsequently, with potential host institutions/researchers. Therefore, do not include any information in your application to which you would not want your host lab or the counterpart agency to have access.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (06-602) in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. 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 by NSF in proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: There are no indirect costs allowed.
Budget Preparation Instructions: The proposal budget form is filled in automatically to reflect the amount of the stipend. You do not add or change anything.
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
December 12, 2006
Second Tuesday in December, Annually Thereafter
D. FastLane Requirements
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this program solicitation through use of the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of 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 solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.
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. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.
VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures
Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program and, if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements, for review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer.
A. NSF Merit Review Criteria
All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. 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 the reviewer is qualified to make judgements.
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:
The review criteria above are for standard NSF proposals. For the EAPSI program, the reviewers are asked to consider the following additional criteria:
Qualifications of applicant, including potential for continued growth and the probable effect of participation in the Summer Institute on the applicant’s career;
Resources and capabilities of the proposed host institution(s) and researcher(s), and/or the current stature of research in the student’s field of interest in the chosen location (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, or Taiwan); and
Merit, complementarity, and expected mutual benefits of the proposed international collaboration.
Previous EAPSI participants may apply only to locations in which they have not yet participated. Preference will be given to applicants who have never been supported by EAPSI.
Because EAPSI is funded and managed in partnership with organizations in the East Asia and Pacific region, final selection of participants is dependent on mutual agreement between NSF and the partner foreign organizations. Thus it is possible that an applicant who has been tentatively selected based on merit review may ultimately be declined.
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by 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.
After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. 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.
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 Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
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 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.B. 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 (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 agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/general_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpm.
C. Reporting Requirements
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report.
Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for that PI. 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. Such reports provide information on activities and findings, project participants (individual and organizational) 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. Submission of the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete.
The co-sponsoring organizations in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan have independent reporting requirements and deadlines. EAPSI participants are expected to comply with their instructions.
VIII. Agency Contacts
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
- EAPSI Program Manager, Office of International Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, telephone: 703-292-8704, fax: 703-292-9175, email: eapinfo@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
- FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.
IX. Other Information
The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, MyNSF (formerly the Custom News Service)is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. MyNSF also is available on NSF's Website at https://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.
Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.
NSF’s Office of International Science and Engineering supports several types of activities:
Planning visits and workshops that are likely to be catalytic and lead to innovative international collaborations;
International research experiences for U.S. students and early-career scientists and engineers; and
Building international partnerships within an institutional framework.
The program solicitations for these activities can be found at the OISE homepage: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise.
Of particular relevance for U.S. students seeking opportunities for international research experience is the program “Developing Global Scientists and Engineers” at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12831.
Recent Ph.D. recipients and individuals who will soon obtain their Ph.D. should consider the “International Research Fellowship Program” at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5179.
About The National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.
NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.
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; and 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 proposer 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 or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; 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," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
