NSF 05-536: Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR)
Program Solicitation
Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR)
Program Solicitation
NSF 05-536
Replaces Document NSF 98-119
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National Science Foundation |
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Full Proposal Target Date(s):
August 26, 2005
Last Friday in August
annually thereafter
Revisions And Updates
NOTE: The New Target Date for the Instrument Development for Biological Research program is now August 26, 2005 and the Last Friday in August annually thereafter.
Summary Of Program Requirements
General Information
Program Title:
Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR)
Synopsis of Program:
The Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) Program supports the development of novel or of substantially improved instrumentation likely to have a significant impact on the study of biological systems at any level. The development of new, or substantial improvement of existing, software for the operation of instruments, analysis of data, or the analysis of images is also supported where these have the effect of improving instrument performance. Proposals aimed at concept or proof-of-concept development for entirely novel instrumentation are encouraged. Support for the conduct of eligible activities in academic environments is emphasized.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
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Helen G. Hansma, IDBR Program Director, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, 615 N, telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbiiid@nsf.gov
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Gerald B. Selzer, IDBR Program Director, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, 615N, telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbiiid@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
Eligibility Information
- Organization Limit:
Proposals are invited from U.S. academic institutions and independent non-profit research organizations. Proposals from eligible organizations may provide for participation of other types of organizations that are not themselves eligible to submit, such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and for-profit organizations. However, personnel costs for staff of such organizations may not be requested. Projects in which the main portion of the instrument development activity will be subcontracted to a FFRDC or a commercial (for profit) organization are not eligible for support by IDBR. Investigators who plan to submit proposals that include subcontracts to FFRDCs or for-profit organizations should contact an IDBR program director for guidance.
- 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: 15
- Anticipated Funding Amount: $2,500,000 (approximately) will be available for new IDBR awards in FY 2006, pending availability of funds.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation 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 by NSF.
- Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Target Date(s):
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August 26, 2005
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Last Friday in August
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annually thereafter
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
Recent advances in the biological sciences have emphasized the importance of new and improved instrumentation to progress in biological research. For over 20 years, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) has supported the development and improvement of instrumentation useful in the conduct of basic research in biology through awards made by its Instrument Development in Biological Research (IDBR) program. Such instrumentation includes, but is not limited to, analytical instruments, microscopes of various types, sensors, and related devices for detection or measurement of biological molecules, structures or phenomena at any level, from that of individual molecules to that of whole ecosystems. To be eligible for support through IDBR, projects should aim at providing instruments with new or enhanced performance. "Performance" includes: accuracy, precision, resolution, throughput, flexibility or breadth of application, cost of construction or operation, and user-friendliness. In general, projects whose aim is the combination of individual pieces of equipment are not considered to be instrument development unless there is a significant challenge in achieving the combination.
The development of new instrumentation provides an ideal opportunity for the training of students in multiple disciplines. Therefore, the IDBR program expects that most projects it supports will include provisions for the training or education of undergraduate, graduate and/or postdoctoral students. Therefore, in the selection of projects for support, the program emphasizes projects that will be conducted in academic environments.
The program does not support research or technique development activities, except to the extent these are required as part of the development of the new or improved instrument, or for the demonstration of its utility. Projects emphasizing the development of new research techniques should be addressed to an appropriate research program. The anticipated uses of the instrumentation to be developed or improved should include areas of research that fall within the scope of the Directorate for Biological Sciences (see BIO Home Page at https://www.nsf.gov/bio).
The BIO Directorate supports research and education activities whose goal is improved understanding of fundamental life processes at any level of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems. Projects aimed at instrumentation whose primary use will be in studies of the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or animals, is not supported by IDBR. Similarly, the development or testing of drugs or of procedures for their use is also not eligible for support. Such projects should be addressed to an appropriate program in another NSF Directorate or to another agency.
Projects in which the main portion of the instrument development activity will be subcontracted to a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) or a commercial (for profit) organization are also not eligible for support by IDBR, and should be addressed to an appropriate NSF program or to another agency.
II. Program Description
The IDBR program provides support for development of the following:
- Concept and proof of concept of novel instruments for biological research;
- New instruments that provide new capabilities for detection, measurement, and/or observation of biological phenomena, or that significantly extend currently achievable sensitivity, accuracy or resolution;
- Novel or substantially improved instruments for study of biological systems at any level of organization from molecules to ecosystems;
- Improved or novel software for the operation of instruments, or software that effectively improves instrument sensitivity, accuracy, resolution or speed; and
- New or improved devices for remote sensing of environmental and other information relevant to biological research, including novel software needed to network, operate, and collect data from such sensing devices.
The program also supports workshops in emerging areas of instrumentation and instrument development relevant to areas of biological research supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences.
The requested funds and award duration should be commensurate with the proposed activities. There are no specific limits on the amount of funds that may be requested; however, the requested period of support should not exceed 48 months. Typical awards are in the range of $150,000 to $250,000 total annual cost for a period of 24 to 36 months, not including the cost of any requested equipment. Renewal proposals, i.e., those requesting continued support of an ongoing project supported through a previous IDBR award, are accepted. While it is not required that instruments developed under these awards have multiple users, the IDBR program expects that the advances that result from its awards will lead to improved instrumentation that is of use to a broad set of potential users, and is likely to lead to significant advances in biological research.
III. Eligibility Information
Proposals are invited from U.S. academic institutions and independent non-profit research organizations. Proposals from eligible organizations may provide for participation of other types of organizations that are not themselves eligible to submit, such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and for-profit organizations. Personnel costs for staff of such organizations may not be requested. Projects in which the main portion of the instrument development activity will be subcontracted to a FFRDC or a commercial (for profit) organization are inappropriate for support by IDBR. Investigators who plan to submit proposals that include subcontracts to FFRDCs or for-profit organizations should contact the IDBR program for guidance.
Except for beginning investigators (see GPG, Chapter I, Section A. for definition), the IDBR program and other BIO programs will not review proposals that are substantially the same as a proposal submitted to and under review by another Federal agency, or submitted to another program at the NSF. In some circumstances, involving very large projects, proposals may be jointly submitted to other Federal agencies, with prior written approval by all agencies involved. Generally, such proposals are submitted in response to a special program solicitation. Proposers contemplating submission of such proposals should contact the IDBR program for guidance.
IV. Award Information
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/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
Proposals must be submitted by FastLane (see "FastLane Submission" section below) and must follow guidelines described in the GPG. The following additions or modifications apply to proposals submitted to this Program:
- Cover Sheet:
Provide a cover sheet as described in the GPG. Indicate the number of this program solicitationt in the appropriate box. In the box labeled "For consideration by NSF organizational unit," select "INSTRUMENTAT & INSTRUMENT DEVP" from the drop-down list. The project title should begin with "IDBR:" and be descriptive of the development activity to be pursued. If vertebrate animals or human subjects will be used, check the appropriate box, and provide the date of IRB or IACUC approval. If approval has not been obtained at the time of submission, indicate "pending" or "planned" instead of a date. If needed, such approval may be obtained after proposal review, but must be obtained before an award can be made.
- Project Summary (not more than 1 page in length):
Provide a summary, as specified in the GPG, of the planned instrumentation development activity, the type(s) of biological research for which the instrument will be used (either by the Principal Investigator or by future intended users), and the expected significance of the instrument for that research. The summary should be understandable to a scientifically literate reader. As required of all NSF proposals, the project summary must clearly address in separate statements: (1) the intellectual merit of the proposal activity; and (2) the broader impacts resulting from the proposed activity. Additional information about intellectual merit and broader impacts is available below.
- Project Description:
Provide a description, as specified in the GPG, of the instrument development activity to be pursued. This section may not exceed 15 pages in length. The section must cover the following four points:
Results from Prior NSF Support (not more than 5 pages in length): Describe the results of any relevant NSF award received by the PI or co-PIs in the last five years. Only describe projects related to the proposed project, if any, as specified in the GPG. This description should discuss the broader impacts of the previous support.
Development Plan: Describe the development program to be undertaken, including the design of the proposed instrument, in detail sufficient to allow assessment of the feasibility of the instrument and the potential success of the project.
Broader Impacts: Scope of Potential Use: Provide examples of the types of basic biological research in which the proposed instrument is expected to be of use. Explain specifically why no existing instrumentation will adequately fill the expected role of the proposed instrument. Estimate, where possible, the number and range of users and research areas that would benefit from development of this instrument. Describe plans to disseminate results of the project.
Other Broader Impacts: Education and Human Resources: Describe the expected contribution of the project to the education and development of human resources in science and engineering at the undergraduate, graduate, and/or postdoctoral levels. This discussion may include, but is not limited to, student training, course preparation, and seminars. Other expected impacts, such as those on K-12 or public education may also be mentioned. The impact on production or enabling of professional scientists and engineers from under-represented groups should be described. Describe any other anticipated benefits to society.
- References Cited:
Provide references as specified in the GPG.
- Biographical Sketches:
Provide biographical sketches for each of the senior personnel, professional staff, and any named postdoctoral students in the format specified in the GPG. Each biographical sketch is limited to two pages in length.
- Budgets:
Provide a budget as specified in the GPG. Among other items, funds for personnel, shop costs, and indirect costs may be requested. The period of support requested should not exceed 48 months. The budget justification, which must not exceed three pages, should itemize and explain all project costs.
- Current and Pending Support:
Provide information on all current and pending support as specified in the GPG for all senior personnel and for any other personnel for whom a biosketch is included.
- Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources:
Provide a facilities statement as described in the GPG.
- Supplementary Documents:
When applicable, include documentation of collaborative arrangements discussed in the proposal. No letters of endorsement may be included.
- List of Suggested Reviewers (optional): Proposers may include a list of suggested reviewers whom they believe are well qualified to review the proposal. Proposers may also include a list of individuals who they would prefer not review the proposal. The form for this purpose is provided under Single Copy Documents.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
The target date for submitting proposals to the IDBR program is the last Friday in August annually. Proposals received by the target date are considered by an Advisory Panel that meets approximately 3-4 months following the target date.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation number (05-536) 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 by NSF in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
C. Due Dates
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Full Proposal Target Date(s):
-
August 26, 2005
-
Last Friday in August
-
annually thereafter
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: https://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.
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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?
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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:
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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.
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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.
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Additional Review Criteria:
- feasibility of the proposed instrument design, including the likelihood of achieving expected performance;
- appropriateness of the project to the goals of the IDBR program, including the likely impact of the proposed instrument or software on biological research;
- adequacy and justification for proposed budget and timeline;
- the adequacy of the investigators' current research grants to support biological research that will utilize the instrument, and/or the developer's plans and capacity to transfer the technology to commercial development or to wider public research use;
- the adequacy of the mechanical and electronics shops or of subcontractors offering equivalent services, as appropriate; and
- potential of the project for the integration of research and education, and for the broadening of participation of members of underrepresented groups or underserved communities.
In addition, reviewers are also asked to consider the following:
As part of the consideration of the merit of the research, the reviewers examine the importance of any new knowledge to be gained during the development project, of the biological research for which the instrument is eventually intended. As a part of the consideration of the effect on infrastructure, the reviewers consider the likely importance of the instrument to the biological research community.
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 proposers whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the closing date of an announcement/solicitation, or the date of proposal receipt, whichever is later. 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 are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC). 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/awards/managing/. Paper copies of these documents 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 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. 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:
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Helen G. Hansma, IDBR Program Director, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, 615 N, telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbiiid@nsf.gov
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Gerald B. Selzer, IDBR Program Director, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, 615N, telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbiiid@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
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Raphael V. Brown, Science Assistant, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, telephone: 703-292-8756, fax: 703-292-9063, email: biofl@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 MyNSF News Service (https://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.
RELATED NSF PROGRAMS FOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
- Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Instrumentation Development (CRIF-ID)
- Instrumentation for Materials Research (IMR)
- Instrumentation for Materials Research - Major Instrumentation Projects (IMR-MIP)
- Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation Program, Division of Astronomical Sciences
- Scientific Computing Research Environment for the Mathematical Sciences (SCREMS)
- Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities
- Oceanographic Technology and Interdisciplinary Coordination Program
- Major Research Instrumentation
- Computing Research Infrastructure (CRI)
- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I (SBIR/STTR)
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.
аPrivacy 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.