NSF 06-581: Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
Program Solicitation
Document Information
Document History
- Posted: June 29, 2006
- Replaces: NSF 05-603
- Replaced by: NSF 08-607
This document has been archived.
Program Solicitation NSF 06-581
Replaces Document(s):
NSF 05-603
 |
National Science Foundation |
Full Proposal Target Date(s):
October 06, 2006
January 21, 2008
Revision Notes
In furtherance of the President's Management Agenda, in Fiscal Year 2006, NSF has identified programs that will offer proposers the option to utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals, or will require that proposers utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. Grants.gov provides a single Government-wide portal for finding and applying for Federal grants online.
In response to this program solicitation, proposers may opt to submit proposals via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.
The FY 2006 focus will continue through FY 2008 but
- This is a two-year Program Solicitation
- TRMS has been changed from “Translation of Research from Model Systems” to “Transferring Research from Model Systems” to better describe the goals of the activity
- The suggested range of funding amounts has been removed from the budget guidelines, and instead emphasizes the importance of a well-justified budget
Summary Of Program Requirements
General Information
Program Title:
Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
Synopsis of Program:
This program is a continuation of the Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) that began in FY1998 as part of the National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI). The current five-year plan for the NPGI was published in January 2003 (https://www.nsf.gov/bio/pubs/reports/npgi2003/index.htm). The overall goals of this program are to support basic research in plant genomics and to accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative approaches to elucidating fundamental biological processes in plants. The focus is on plants of economic importance and plant processes of economic value.
In the past nine years of the PGRP, there has been a tremendous increase in the tools available for genomics in key crop plants and their models, including but not limited to, expressed sequence tags (ESTs), genome survey sequences, mutant collections, expression profiling resources, and tools for studying gene expression in situ. High quality whole genome sequences and downstream tools are available for model dicots (Arabidopsis, poplar) and a model monocot (rice), and the sequencing of several other plant genomes is under way. This wealth of genomic resources now makes it possible for researchers to begin to address some of the major unanswered questions in plant biology that have been intractable using traditional approaches as well as transfer findings from model systems into plants of economic importance. At same time, there is a continued need for novel and creative tools to allow development of new experimental approaches or new ways of analyzing genomic data. Proposals that present conceptually new and different ideas are encouraged, especially from investigators and institutions that have not participated in the PGRP before. In addition, proposals that provide strong and novel training opportunities integral to the research plan, and particularly across disciplines are especially encouraged.
Three kinds of activity will be supported in FY 2007 and FY 2008: (1) Genome-Enabled Plant Research (GEPR) awards to tackle major unanswered questions in plant biology on a genome-wide scale, (2) Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS) to apply basic biological findings made using model systems to studying the basic biology of plants of economic importance, and (3) Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR) awards to support development of novel technologies and analysis to enable discovery in plant genomics. While young investigators can apply for any of these opportunities, eligible researchers are strongly encouraged to apply to the CAREER Program ( NSF 05-579: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5262).
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
-
Diane Jofuku Okamuro, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
-
Anne-Francoise Lamblin, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
-
Jerry D. Cohen, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 15 to 25 Approximately 15-25 new awards, pending availability of funds.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $15,000,000 Approximately $15-30 million for FY 2007 new awards, pending availability of funds.
Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Proposals may only be submitted by U.S. academic institutions, U.S. non-profit research organizations including museums, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities, and consortia of only the eligible organizations listed here. When a consortium of eligible organizations submits a proposal, it must be submitted as a single proposal with one organization serving as the lead and all other organizations as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted and will be returned without review. Organizations ineligible to submit to this program solicitation may not receive subawards.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1
Please note that there continues to be a limit on the number of proposals in which an investigator can be included. An investigator may only submit one proposal per fiscal year as a principal investigator or a co-principal investigator in response to this Program Solicitation. Proposals received in excess of this limit may be returned without review.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
- Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable
-
Full Proposals:
-
Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply. 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.
-
Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)
-
B. Budgetary Information
- Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required under this solicitation.
- Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable
- Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Target Date(s):
October 06, 2006
January 21, 2008
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria apply.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.
I. Introduction
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces its intention to continue to support plant genome research that began in 1998 as part of the National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI; http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/npgireport.html). The long-term goals of this program are to support research on plant genomics and to accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative approaches to the analysis of fundamental biological processes in plants. The program focuses on plants of economic importance and plant processes of economic value.
For the past nine years, the NSF Plant Genome Research Program has followed the long-range plans for the NPGI and, working closely with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more recently the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautic and Space Agency (NASA), the NSF Program has contributed to tremendous advances in plant genomics and plant sciences. The program is currently following the second five-year plan (National Plant Genome Initiative: 2003-2008; http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/npgi2003/index.htm) published in January 2003 by the Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes, the group that oversees the NPGI. This plan builds on the significant advances made since the start of the NPGI and charts a course for advancing the frontiers of plant science through genomics research. Following the goals set out in this plan, the NSF PGRP encourages new, innovative ideas in the form of basic research and tool development projects that will move the whole field of plant biology forward. High-risk proposals or proposals that present unconventional ideas are welcomed. The list of ongoing projects available at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338&org=BIO should be consulted to ensure that a planned proposal would make a significantly new contribution to the field.
Proposals that focus on individual genes or small gene families should be sent to other BIO programs (see web pages available through https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO for listing of programs and funding opportunities). Proposals with a focus on Arabidopsis functional genomics should be sent to the 2010 Project (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5337&org=BIO). Proposals to sequence plant-associated microbes should be sent to the NSF/USDA Joint Program on Microbial Sequencing (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5688&org=MCB). You are strongly encouraged to contact a Plant Genome Program Director to determine the suitability of your proposal for the PGRP prior to submission.
Simultaneous submission of proposals to this program and another federal agency (for example, the USDA National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program) is permissible with prior written approval of the agencies involved. A proposal from the same submitter that is a duplicate of, or substantially similar to, a proposal already under consideration by NSF will be returned without review.
II. Program Description
The goals of this program are to support basic research in plant genomics and to accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative approaches to the elucidation of fundamental biological processes in plants. The Program focuses on plants of economic importance and plant processes of economic value.
In the nine years since the NPGI began, a wealth of genomic resources have been developed for plant biology. Given these resources and the advances that have been made in technology development and bioinformatics, it should now be possible to begin addressing major unanswered questions in plant biology. In addition, advances made using model systems can now be transferred into plants of agronomic importance. New tools and methodologies are also needed to advance the field of plant biology as well as to tackle questions that are intractable using current approaches. This Program Solicitation has been developed taking those objectives and the NSF’s mission and strengths into consideration.
The PGRP is committed to broadening participation. NSF believes that research tools and resources developed over the past nine years should enable any institution to take part in plant genome research. New investigators, investigators that have not participated in the PGRP in the past or from small institutions, are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal. Proposals from individuals and small groups are especially encouraged. Eligible young researchers are encouraged to apply for the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program or Research Initiation Grants and Career Advancement Awards to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences (see below).
Proposers are encouraged to consider inclusion of activities described in the Dear Colleague Letter for Developing Country Collaborations in Plant Genome Research (NSF 04-563: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf04563). Proposed collaborative activities should focus on research problems important to developing countries that include scientist-to-scientist interactions potentially leading to long-term partnerships among participating laboratories. The exchange of ideas and people should be reciprocal and should be built on equal partnerships between U.S. scientists and scientists of developing nations. Examples of activities to be supported would include, but not be limited to, joint research projects and long-term (one year) or short-term (between one and three months) reciprocal exchange visits. Collaborations should be developed that bring complementary sets of expertise to bear on problems of importance to the participants from developing countries and that meet their identified needs. The described activities should meet the budgetary and organizational guidelines described in the Dear Colleague Letter.
Three areas of opportunity will be offered as components of the Plant Genome Research Program in fiscal years 2007 and 2008: (1) Genome-Enabled Plant Research (GEPR) awards to tackle major unanswered questions in plant biology on a genome-wide scale, (2) Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS) to transfer findings made using model systems to plants of economic importance, and (3) Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR) awards to support development of novel tools to enable discovery in plant biology. This Program focus recognizes the utility of genomics tools in addressing major unanswered questions in plant biology, the power of using model systems as an entree to understanding key plant pathways and processes, as well the continued need for new methodologies to tackle problems that remain intractable using existing approaches. Proposers are strongly encouraged to review the guidelines for each opportunity carefully and to contact a PGRP Program Director if there are any questions about the programmatic fit.
Genome-Enabled Plant Research (GEPR):
The NSF PGRP is evolving by increasing use of the new tools and resources that have become available through the NPGI. While there still remain some large community resources to be built, those available now are sufficient to begin to address major unanswered questions in plant biology, some of which have not been tractable using traditional approaches alone. To be eligible, projects should be developed on a whole genome, whole organelle or whole network scale. Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups and multi-institution “virtual centers”. The scale of the project in terms of personnel and budget should be developed in the context of the proposed activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the proposed activities and a carefully developed plan and timetable will strengthen a proposal.
Proposers are encouraged to think outside the box and to put forward imaginative and creative ideas, selecting experimental systems best suited to the research focus and taking advantage of the available genomics tools and resources. Proposals should clearly justify the relevance of the research activities to the goals of the NSF PGRP.
Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS):
Model systems, whether non-plant (for example, yeast) or plant (for example, Arabidopsis and rice) are a powerful way to access complex biological pathways that may not be readily accessible in many plants of economic importance. Substantial investments have been made in model systems, including whole genome sequences, expressed sequence collections, mutant collections, whole genome microarrays and proteome resources. These resources have already enabled considerable progress in understanding the genomic basis of a range of complex biological processes, including traits of economic importance. For example, regulatory networks controlling complex traits such as plant size and cold tolerance have been identified in Arabidopsis. The time has come to transfer the knowledge gained in a model system to uncover basic mechanisms underlying important traits in plants of economic importance.
Proposers are encouraged to choose important problems and traits of economic importance that combine the strengths of the chosen model system or systems with the importance of the work in the chosen target plant. Proposals should clearly justify the relevance of the research activities to the goals of the NSF PGRP as well their potential downstream impacts.
To be eligible, projects should be developed on a whole genome, whole organelle or whole network scale. Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups and multi-institution “virtual centers”. The scale of the project in terms of personnel and budget should be consistent with the proposed activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the proposed activities and a carefully developed plan and timetable will strengthen a proposal.
Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR):
While tremendous advances have been made in the development of tools and technologies for plant genome research, there is still a demand for additional resources to tackle unmet needs. Proposers are encouraged to develop novel approaches focused on a specific problem or need. Risky proposals are welcome. Priority will be given to new or novel tools that are likely to contribute broadly to the advancement of the field of plant genomics. Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups, and multi-institution “virtual centers”. The scale of the project in terms of personnel and budget should be consistent with the proposed activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the proposed activities and a carefully developed plan and timetable will strengthen a proposal.
Projects that focus on development of community resources, either through production of research resources or novel tools or establishment of a service, must be justified in terms of potential demand, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. If appropriate, plans for continued maintenance or operation of such a service after the award should be described without assuming long-term NSF support.
Additional Considerations as Appropriate
- Integration of Research and Education and Broadening Participation Activities supported by the PGRP should provide an ideal environment for training young scientists in modern research technologies, introducing them to new paradigms in plant biology, and promoting increased participation by members of under-represented groups. Informatics skills are critical to making the maximum use of genome resources. Accordingly, proposers are expected to integrate this training into their projects at all levels, wherever appropriate. NSF expects proposers to take advantage of the unique opportunities the proposed project provides in terms of education and incorporate these into the plan at a scale that is commensurate with the scale of the proposed activity. Focused activities that fit well with the specific opportunities offered by the project would be viewed as a strength. Proposers are encouraged to take advantage of existing programs and networks where appropriate, building opportunities unique to the project research goals.
- Data Sharing A massive amount of data continue to be generated through PGRP activities. Proposers are encouraged to consider their project outcomes in the context of the whole field of plant biology and ensure maximal accessibility and visibility. Outcomes are expected to meet current community standards for genomic data and be deposited into the existing long-lived community databases where appropriate.
- Societal Impact When appropriate, issues related to the societal impact of plant genome research should be addressed as an integral part of a proposal. These issues could be integrated into research (e.g., studies on horizontal gene transmission at a genomic scale, the genome-wide basis of pesticide resistance, development of selectable markers for transformation studies), or into an education and/or outreach activity designed to communicate the significance of the outcomes of plant genome research to society.
- International Collaboration Plant genome research is actively pursued all over the world. NSF encourages international research collaborations, particularly with investigators from developing countries, and especially where there is a common research focus or system. When applicable, proposed research activities should be coordinated with similar efforts in other countries to maximize efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. However, foreign participants should secure support for their component of the collaboration from their own national programs. The PI is encouraged to contact a PGRP Program Director for guidance regarding allowable costs when considering international collaborations.
- Industrial Collaboration Private industry has already made a significant investment in plant genomic research. Innovative collaborations with industry are encouraged when they advance the goals of the PGRP. However, NSF funds may not be used to support the industrial collaborators. Participation of a company as a provider of a service should be managed according to the submitting institution's procurement policy. When private industry is involved, the proposer is responsible for ensuring that any intellectual property issues are handled according to NSF Policy (see section A-1 under Special Information and Supplementary Documentation below).
Other Funding Opportunities in Plant Genome Research at NSF
The PGRP is participating in the following NSF-wide Programs in FY 2007 and FY 2008:
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program
Qualified researchers are encouraged to apply to the CAREER Program. Please note that these proposals should be submitted directly to CAREER following the guidelines set out in NSF 05-579:(https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05579). The next deadline for CAREER is July 17, 2006. CAREER proposals will be reviewed according to the CAREER program’s guidelines. The minimum award amount for BIO CAREER is $100,000 per year for up to five years. It is expected that the PGRP CAREER project requests will range up to $225,000 per year. NSF expects that PGRP CAREER projects will take full advantage of data, materials, information, expertise, and facilities available through prior PGRP funded projects. Whenever appropriate, the proposer should network with existing PGRP-supported activities. Funds may be requested to visit existing PGRP laboratories, to participate in training opportunities offered by the existing PGRP projects, or to use genome research facilities not available at the proposer's institution. In addition to young investigators trained in plant biology, investigators trained in genomics of non-plant systems, informatics, and other disciplines that are critical to advancing the field of plant genome research are strongly encouraged to apply.
Research Initiation Grants and Career Advancement Awards to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) at NSF offers two funding opportunities under this solicitation: (1) Research Initiation Grants [RIG] and (2) Career Advancement Awards [CAA], with the goal of broadening the participation of scientists from groups underrepresented in the biological sciences in the US (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05581). These activities seek to promote the development and retention of scientists from underrepresented groups and to increase the numbers of such individuals that serve as role models for the scientific workforce of the future. A specific goal is to increase the number of research proposals submitted to NSF by individuals from groups currently underrepresented in the biological sciences as well as from scientists at minority serving institutions so that they can become actively and competitively engaged in research as independent investigators and, by doing so, create new research opportunities for students from underrepresented groups. Inquiries about proposals that would meet the goals of this program in the context of the PGRP goals are welcome. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Director of this program for further guidance.
Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER)
Proposals for small-scale, exploratory, high-risk research in the fields of science, engineering and education may be submitted to PGRP. Such research is characterized as preliminary work on untested and novel ideas, ventures into emerging and potentially transformative research ideas, application of new expertise or new approaches to "established" research topics, having a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to data, facilities or specialized equipment and likely to catalyze rapid and innovative advances. The PGRP is especially interested in proposals that test new and unconventional ideas. Proposals should meet the overall goals of the Plant Genome Research Program as described in this program solicitation and the current Five Year Plan for the NPGI.
Investigators should contact a PGRP Program Director prior to submitting an SGER proposal. This will facilitate determining whether the proposed work meets the guidelines described above and the appropriateness for SGER funding. The guidelines for SGER proposals are available at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/nsf04_23/2.jsp#IID1.
Conferences, Workshops and Symposia
The PGRP supports conferences, symposia and workshops in plant genomics that bring experts together to discuss current research, to expose other researchers or students to new research methods, and to discuss future directions of major research activities in plant genomics and bioinformatics. Conferences will be supported only if equivalent results cannot be obtained at regular meetings of professional societies or the established conference series. More information about submission of these proposals can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/nsf04_23/2.jsp#IID7. Proposers are encouraged to contact a Program Director prior to about the suitability of the proposed activity for PGRP support prior to submission.
III. Award Information
Depending on the nature of the proposed activity, projects will be supported either as grants or cooperative agreements. The award size will be determined based on the nature of activities and at a level that would be enabling, as well as the availability of funds. Proposers are strongly encouraged to develop a carefully crafted budget in line with the scope and scale of the project. The role and budget for each investigator (PI, co-PI, collaborator) should also be commensurate with the activities proposed. Proposals in excess of one per investigator in the role of PI or co-PI may be returned without review. The estimated number of awards will be 15-25, pending availability of funds. The anticipated award date is June 2007. Approximately $15-30 million for FY 2007 new awards, pending availability of funds.
IV. Eligibility Information
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Proposals may only be submitted by U.S. academic institutions, U.S. non-profit research organizations including museums, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities, and consortia of only the eligible organizations listed here. When a consortium of eligible organizations submits a proposal, it must be submitted as a single proposal with one organization serving as the lead and all other organizations as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted and will be returned without review. Organizations ineligible to submit to this program solicitation may not receive subawards.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
None Specified
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1
Please note that there continues to be a limit on the number of proposals in which an investigator can be included. An investigator may only submit one proposal per fiscal year as a principal investigator or a co-principal investigator in response to this Program Solicitation. Proposals received in excess of this limit may be returned without review.
V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Full Proposal Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.
- Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program 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. Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number 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.
- Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:(https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
Proposal Cover Sheet: In the NSF FastLane system, follow the instructions on proposal preparation. The Project Title must start with "GEPR:...", "TRMS:...", or "TRPGR:...", depending on the program the proposal is targeting. When completing the Cover Sheet, click on the GO button at "Program Announcement/Solicitation/ Program Description No." Highlight Plant Genome Research Project and click on the Select button. Your proposal will automatically be assigned to DBI--Plant Genome Research Project. Be sure to complete the remainder of the cover sheet information. Please note that a maximum of 4 Co-PIs can be listed on the cover page. Additional Co-PIs and other Senior Personnel should be included in the complete list provided in the Project Summary.
BIO Proposal Classification Form (PCF): Complete the BIO PCF, available on the NSF FastLane system. The PCF is an on-line coding system that allows the Principal Investigator to characterize his/her project when submitting proposals to the Directorate for Biological Sciences. Once a PI begins preparation of his/her proposal in the NSF FastLane system, selects any program within the Directorate for Biological Sciences as the first or only organizational unit to review the proposal, and saves the cover sheet, the PCF will be generated and available through the Form Preparation screen. Additional information about the BIO PCF is available in FastLane at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/BioInstr.htm.
Project Summary (maximum 1 page): The project summary should consist of three separate parts in the following order:
-
a list of senior personnel (PI, Co-PIs, key-collaborators) along with their home institutions;
-
a summary of the scientific objectives and approaches; and
- expected broader impacts of the proposed research.
Both the scientific aspects and the anticipated broader impacts must be addressed or the proposal will be returned without review. See Section VI. of this solicitation for additional information. Please read the Important Notice from the Director/ NSF which can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/iin127/imptnot.pdf.
Project Description (maximum 15 pages, including figures and tables, for GEPR, TRMS and TRPGR proposals): In addition to the standard description in the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide, the guidelines below should be followed, noting that the page allowances listed are part of the overall 15-page maximum:
- Results from prior NSF support (maximum 5 pages): Only the most relevant prior awards (PGRP or non-PGRP) should be listed in this section for the PIs and Co-PIs listed in the "Project Summary." In addition to results from relevant NSF awards, results from any other closely related awards from the Federal government should be described if applicable.
- Relevance and justification: Briefly, but explicitly, explain the relevance of the proposed research to the stated goals of the PGRP.
- Research plan: Describe the goals of the project, scientific and technical approaches, including informatics where appropriate, with expected outcomes. Descriptions must be sufficiently detailed to allow adequate review.
- Plan to integrate research and education: It is expected that all proposals will include activities that integrate research and education. NSF expects that each proposal will include a thoughtful training and/or educational component that takes advantage of unique and specific opportunities the proposed project would provide. The scale of the training and educational activities should be commensurate with the scale and scope of the proposed research and integrated well into the overall project plan. The following items should be included if larger scale training activities are proposed: (1) a well designed plan to increase participation of members of under-represented groups that is specific to the proposed project, (2) an education plan, which can be (but is not limited to) a training plan for students at all levels, or an outreach activity for secondary school teachers and students, or a workshop to train other researchers in new concepts or techniques being developed by the project, and (3) a description of how these plans are integrated with the proposed research plan. A clear and realistic discussion of how the plan will be implemented should be included in the proposal. Simply describing general policies and ongoing efforts at the investigators' institutions will not be sufficient.
References Cited: Indicate with an asterisk any cited publications that resulted from prior research funded by NSF for the PI, or Co-PI when following the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines for all references cited.
Biographical Sketches (2 pages each): Biographical sketches following the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines must be listed for the PI, Co-PIs and each of the Senior Personnel listed on the Project Summary page.
Proposal Budget: Provide a summary budget and a yearly budget for the duration of the proposed project. When subawards are involved, summary and yearly budgets are required for each subaward. A Budget Justification should be provided (maximum 3 pages per budget and subaward budget). A careful and realistic budget that is consistent with the proposed activities will add to the overall strength of a proposal. Funds for facility construction or renovation may not be requested. Funds to cover the cost of attendance of the PI at each year's annual awardee meeting in Arlington, VA should be requested.
Current and Pending Support: Current and Pending Support following the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines must be listed for the PI, Co-PIs and each of the Senior Personnel listed on the Project Summary page.
Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources: Provide a description of available facilities and priorities for its use. For GEPR, TRMS and TRPGR projects requiring additional equipment, justify the need for these resources in the context of the innovative work proposed.
Special Information and Supplementary Documentation:
Include the following materials in addition to Project Description. These materials should be labeled clearly and included in the Supplementary Documents section of FastLane.
(A-1) Sharing of Results and Management of Intellectual Property (maximum 3 pages): Describe the management of intellectual property rights related to the proposed project, including plans for sharing data, information, and materials resulting from the award. This plan must be specific about the nature of the results to be shared, the timing and means of release, and any constraints on release. The proposed plan must take into consideration the following conditions where applicable:
- Sequences resulting from high-throughput large-scale sequencing projects (low pass whole genome sequencing, BAC end sequencing, ESTs, full-length cDNA sequencing, etc.) must be released according to the currently accepted community standard (e.g. Bermuda/Ft. Lauderdale agreement) to public databases (GenBank if applicable), as soon as they are assembled and the quality checked against a stated, pre-determined quality standard.
- Proposals that would develop genome-scale expression data through approaches such as microarrays should meet community standards for these data (for example, Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment or MIAME standards). The community databases (e.g. Gene Expression Omnibus) into which the data would be deposited, in addition to any project database(s) should be indicated.
- If the proposed project would produce community resources (biological materials, software, etc.), NSF encourages that they be made available as soon as their quality is checked to satisfy the specifications approved prior to funding. The timing of release should be stated clearly in the proposal. The resources produced must be available to all segments of the scientific community, including industry. A reasonable charge is permissible, but the fee structure must be outlined clearly in the proposal. If accessibility differs between industry and the academic community, the differences must be clearly spelled out. If a Material Transfer Agreement is required for release of project outcomes, the terms must be described in detail.
- When the project involves the use of proprietary data or materials from other sources, the data or materials resulting from NSF funded research must be readily available without any restrictions to the users of such data or materials (no reach-through rights). The terms of any usage agreements should be stated clearly in the proposal.
- Budgeting and planning for short-term and long-term distribution of the project outcomes must be described in the proposal. If a fee is to be charged for distribution of project outcomes, the details should be described clearly in the proposal. Letters of support should be provided from databases or stock centers that would distribute project outcomes, including an indication of what activities would be undertaken and funds needed for these activities (if any).
- In case of a multi-institutional proposal, the lead institution is responsible for coordinating and managing the intellectual property resulting from the PGRP award. Institutions participating in multi-institutional projects should formulate a coherent plan for the project prior to submission of the proposal.
(A-2) Management Plan (maximum 5 pages): GEPR, TRMS and TRPGR projects involving multiple investigators and multiple institutions, or that include a community service component, must provide a description of the management plan for coordinating the activities of the group, or management of the service aspect.
- This description should include plans for internal means of communication, coordination of data and information management, evaluation and assessment of progress, allocation of funds and personnel, interaction with the customers in a service project, and other specific issues relevant to the proposed activities.
- For multi-investigator proposals, a table summarizing the role of each investigator is required. The exact time commitment of each key project member should be indicated in the management plan, regardless of any request for his/her salary from NSF. For community resource projects, a timetable with yearly goals should be provided that includes benchmarks for the major anticipated outcomes and expected dates for their release.
- If the proposal includes a service component such as a multi-user facility or production and distribution of community research resources, a description of how activities within the facility will be managed, how quality will be controlled, how community input will be solicited, what methods will be used to make the community aware of the service to be rendered, and how the community will access resources to be produced, should be provided. The plan should also document institutional commitment to the facility, user fees if anticipated, and plans for long-term support after the end of the project. For a complex project, appointment of a project manager and/or administrator is strongly encouraged.
- The NSF encourages appointment of an outreach/education coordinator where appropriate. A postdoctoral fellow or a senior graduate student interested in education and outreach activities may be appointed to this role.
(A-3) Coordination with Outside Groups (maximum 2 pages): If the proposed activity is part of a national or international collaborative project, describe the relationship of the proposed activity to the overall collaborative project and how the components will be coordinated. General letters of support are not allowed.
Provide only the allowable and applicable items as noted in the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide and this section. Include the materials in the FastLane submission by transferring them as .PDF files through the "Supplementary Docs" module of the FastLane system.
(A-4) Responses to Prior Reviewer Comments (OPTIONAL; maximum 1 page): If the proposal is a resubmission, describe any changes made in response to prior reviewer comments. Use of this Appendix is optional: you are not required to indicate whether or not a proposal is a resubmission or address prior reviewer comments.
Color Images (if applicable): Be advised that NSF cannot accommodate the printing of color images as part of proposal submission through the FastLane system, and submitted proposals that require the use of color or of very high resolution photographic images will necessitate additional steps. Further instructions will be provided after the proposal has been received.
Any material not specifically requested or in excess of the page allowances will be discarded prior to review. It is the submitting institution's responsibility to ensure that the proposal is compliant with the guidelines. Non-compliant proposals may be returned without review.
Single Copy Documents:
Conflict of Interest Document A single integrated document (in table or spreadsheet form only) should be uploaded into the Single Copy Documents (not Supplementary Documents) section of FastLane at the time of proposal submission. Hard copies or e-mail copies will not be accepted. The document should consist of a list in the form of a single alphabetized table, with the full names (Last name, first name, middle initial) of all people having a conflict of interest with any senior personnel and any named personnel member whose salary is requested in the project budget. Conflicts to be identified are (1) Ph.D. thesis advisors or advisees, (2) collaborators or co-authors for the past 48 months, including postdoctoral advisors and advisees and (3) any other individuals or institutions with which the investigator has financial ties (please specify type). Members of current Advisory Committees who receive reimbursement for travel or honoraria should be included in this last category.
In addition to the Conflict of Interest Document, other correspondence to the program not intended to be sent to reviewers such as a list of potential reviewers can be sent through the Single Copy Document section of FastLane. Please note that key project personnel may be required, prior to an award decision, to submit copies of any intellectual property agreements or material transfer agreements they have signed, or are planning to sign, that would impact the unrestricted and timely distribution of the outcomes of the NSF funded research. Submission of a Single Copy Document will allow these documents to be reviewed by the NSF officials only, and they will remain confidential.
Checklist for Proposal Preparation
- Title begins “GEPR:...”, "TRMS...." or “TRPGR:…”
- Project Summary contains all requested information, including broader impacts of the proposed work
- Project Description is 15 pages or less in length, including figures and tables
- References Cited includes publications resulting from prior research funded by NSF (marked*)
- Biographical Sketches (2 pages each) included for PI, Co-PIs and Senior Personnel listed in the Project Summary
- Current and Pending Support Statements included for PI, Co-PIs and Senior Personnel listed in the Project Summary
- Appendices (A-1), (A-2), (A-3) and (A-4) [if applicable] uploaded in Supplementary Documents
- Appendix (A-3) includes letters of support from databases or stock centers that would distribute project outcomes, if applicable
- No general letters of support are included in Appendix (A-3)
- Conflict of Interest list uploaded as a single integrated table or spreadsheet into Single Copy Documents
This checklist is not intended to be an all-inclusive repetition of the required proposal contents and associated proposal preparation guidelines. It is, however, meant to highlight certain critical items so they will not be overlooked when the proposal is prepared.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.
C. Due Dates
- Full Proposal Target Date(s):
October 06, 2006
January 21, 2008
PIs planning to submit a proposal after the target date should contact a Program Director for guidance prior to submission. Proposals received after the target date without prior permission may be returned without review.
D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:
Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of 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 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.
-
For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:
Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov website. The Grants.gov's Grant Community User Guide is a comprehensive reference document that provides technical information about Grants.gov. Proposers can download the User Guide as a Microsoft Word document or as a PDF document. The Grants.gov User Guide is available at: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. In addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical guidance regarding preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email: support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the use of Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.
Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane system for further processing.
VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures
Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements. 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 of interest with the proposal.
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, original, or potentially transformative 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?
Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.
NSF staff also 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.
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad Hoc and Panel Review.
Site visits may be conducted if necessary.
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 deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. 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 Research 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/award_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 Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.
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.
VIII. Agency Contacts
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
-
Diane Jofuku Okamuro, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
-
Anne-Francoise Lamblin, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
-
Jerry D. Cohen, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
- FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.
-
Lauren Kitchen, Science Assistant, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: biofl@nsf.gov
For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:
- Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: support@grants.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.
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.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov
|
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 3145-0058. 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 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
