NSF 23-500: SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF)

Program Solicitation NSF 23-500

National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences      SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities

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

     January 10, 2023

     November 01, 2023

     First Wednesday in November, Annually Thereafter

Important Information And Revision Notes

Revision Notes

The total award amount has been increased from $138,000 to $160,000, which consists of an annual $65,000 stipend and a $15,000 annual fellowship allowance.

The proposal preparation instructions have been revised significantly. Please read them carefully as some requirements have changed.

Important Information

Innovating and migrating proposal preparation and submission capabilities from FastLane to Research.gov is part of the ongoing NSF information technology modernization efforts, as described in Important Notice No. 147. In support of these efforts, proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation must be prepared and submitted via Research.gov or via Grants.gov and may not be prepared or submitted via FastLane. Proposal preparation and submission through Research.gov is strongly encouraged because these Fellowships contain unique requirements.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF)

Synopsis of Program:

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offers Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to encourage independence early in the fellow's career by supporting his or her research and training goals. The research and training plan of each fellowship must address important scientific questions within the scope of the SBE directorate and the specific guidelines in this solicitation. The SPRF program offers two tracks: (I) Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) and (II) Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP). See the full text of the solicitation for a detailed description of these tracks.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• Josie W. Miranda, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7376, email: jwmirand@nsf.gov
• Alexander A. Romero II, Program Analyst, telephone: (703) 292-2184, email: alromero@nsf.gov

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

• 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship

Estimated Number of Awards: 15 to 20

Between 15 to 20 total fellowship awards will be made each year contingent upon the quality of the proposals and availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $3,000,000

The maximum anticipated funding amount is approximately $3,000,000 per year contingent upon the quality of proposals and availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.

  NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship proposers may propose to hold the fellowship at:

  • Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
  • Nonprofit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Who May Serve as PI:

Fellowship candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• The proposer must be a U.S. citizen, national or legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States as of the proposal deadline.
• The proposer must have obtained a doctoral degree in the SBE sciences within the 3 years prior to the proposal deadline or will obtain a doctoral degree within 12 months after the proposal deadline but before the anticipated start date.
• The proposer cannot already hold a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment.
• The proposer cannot submit the same research to another NSF program.

Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.

NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship candidates may propose to hold the fellowship at:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
• Nonprofit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Note: It is anticipated that the research will be conducted at an institution other than the proposer's doctoral-granting or current postdoctoral fellowship institution. However, if the proposer chooses to remain at their current institution, the project description should include a strong justification detailing how this choice benefits their research and career development. There are no restrictions on the number of postdoctoral fellows a sponsoring scientist proposes to mentor.

Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review.

By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

Only individuals may submit proposals. There is no limit on the number of Fellows that an institution may host.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1

Each candidate may submit only one Fellowship proposal per year.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not required
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
• Full Proposals:
  • Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
  • 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/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide).

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements:

  Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

• 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 Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

       January 10, 2023

       November 01, 2023

       First Wednesday in November, Annually Thereafter

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements:

Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

I. Introduction

The National Science Foundation offers postdoctoral research fellowships to provide opportunities for recent doctoral graduates to obtain additional training, to gain research experience under the sponsorship of established scientists, and to broaden their scientific horizons beyond their undergraduate and graduate training. Postdoctoral fellowships are further designed to assist new scientists to direct their research efforts across traditional disciplinary lines and to avail themselves of unique research resources, sites, and facilities, including at foreign locations. NSF seeks to promote the participation of scientists from all segments of the scientific community, including those from underrepresented groups, in its research programs and activities; the postdoctoral period is considered to be an important level of professional development in attaining this goal.

The goal of the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SPRF) program is to promote fundamental research in the SBE sciences; enhance the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering; provide an opportunity for independence and advanced training under the direction of a sponsor; and encourage doctoral-level scientists (who are not yet in full-time positions) to take advantage of the two-year fellowship to prepare for scientific careers in academia, industry or private sector and government.

II. Program Description

II.1. Areas of Research: The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) supports research in a broad range of disciplines and in interdisciplinary areas through its Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) Division, Social and Economic Sciences (SES) Division and SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA). The prospective postdoctoral fellow and sponsoring scientist (co-PI) should visit the web pages hyperlinked in this section to get detailed information on the research fields/themes/topics supported by the SBE Directorate. Any research field within the purview of the SBE sciences would be welcome.

II.2. Tracks: This SPRF program offers two tracks of fellowships. For both of these tracks, proposals are encouraged from a wide range of doctoral-level investigators including those from groups that continue to be underrepresented in their field. Some proposals may contain elements of both tracks, in such cases it is up to the proposer to choose which track to submit their proposal.

Track 1: Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR):

The SPRF-FR track aims to support research that builds fundamental knowledge of human behavior, interaction, social and economic systems, organizations and institutions. The proposal must primarily fall within the purview of the SBE sciences – this includes programs supported through the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS), Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES) and SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA). Specifically, this includes but is not limited to research to develop and advance scientific knowledge on human behavior, human cognition, language, social and organizational behavior and culture as well as research on the interactions between human societies and the physical environment. Interdisciplinary research with a primary SBE focus is also supported. The proposal must be motivated by a compelling research question (within the fields of social, behavioral and economic sciences). To acquire the requisite skills and competencies, a sponsoring scientist within the designated SBE field must be selected so that the postdoctoral fellow and their sponsor will complement each other's expertise. Proposals in the FR track will be evaluated on three general dimensions: first, the degree to which results would enhance theories or methodological approaches in the SBE sciences; second, the strength of the proposed postdoctoral fellow - sponsoring scientist team and host institution; and third, the promise of the postdoctoral fellow's investigation of driving research questions and future career development.

In addition to the scientific research, all proposals for the SPRF-FR track must include a specific section within the project description with the heading "How this fellowship will advance fundamental scientific knowledge in the SBE sciences."

Track 2: Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP)

The SPRF-BP track offers fellowships in an effort to increase the diversity of post-doctoral level researchers who participate in NSF programs in the social, behavioral and economic sciences and thereby increase the participation of scientists from underrepresented groups in selected areas of science in the United States. Data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics have demonstrated that members of certain ethnic/racial groups (i.e., American Indians or Alaska Natives, Blacks or African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders) in addition to individuals with disabilities, are underrepresented in the SBE sciences in the U.S. The problem of underrepresentation in the nation's scientific enterprise has been well-documented and reported in the literature. The goal of the SPRF-BP track is to prepare underrepresented SBE scientists and others who share NSF's diversity goals for positions of scientific leadership in academia, industry and government. The research and training plan in these proposals must fall within the purview of the SBE sciences (see Section II.1 for details) at NSF, including research on the topic of the science of broadening participation (see SBE SBP). The SPRF program also welcomes proposals on research to develop and advance scientific knowledge on human behavior, human cognition, language, social and organizational behavior and culture as well as research on the interactions between human societies and the physical environment. Interdisciplinary research with a primary SBE focus is also supported. To acquire the requisite skills and competencies, a sponsoring scientist within the designated SBE field must be selected so that the postdoctoral fellow and their sponsor will complement each other's expertise. Proposals in the BP track will be evaluated on three general dimensions: first, the degree to which results would enhance theories and/ or methodological approaches in the SBE sciences; second, the strength of the proposed postdoctoral fellow - sponsoring scientist team and host institution; and third, the promise of the postdoctoral fellow's investigation of driving research questions and future career development.

In addition to the scientific research, all proposals for the SPRF-BP track must include a specific section within the project description with the heading "How this fellowship will help broaden or inform efforts to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in the United States".

Note: Proposers are not required to be a member of an underrepresented group to submit for the BP-track but the goals of the proposed research should be consistent with the aims of the track.

A. Location of Work (Host Institution)

Research and training supported by these fellowships may be conducted at any appropriate U.S. host institution, including academic institutions (colleges and universities) and nonprofit organizations (independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies). Because the objectives of the fellowship include preparing fellows for scientific careers in academia, industry or private sector and government, careful consideration should be given to the selection of the sponsoring scientist and host institution.

If a fellowship is offered, the proposer will be requested to provide documentation from the host institution that the fellow will be affiliated with that institution by the award start date and that the fellow will be provided with adequate mentoring, space, basic services, needed resources and supplies. Once a proposal is submitted, any changes in location or sponsorship of the postdoctoral fellow must be approved in advance by the cognizant program officer. Any changes in scope, location or sponsorship after an award is made must be entered into the Research.gov "Notifications and Requests" module using the "Change in Scope" or "PI Transfer" options and then approved by NSF.

Note: The "Location of Work" does not constrain the postdoctoral fellow to spend the entire fellowship tenure at that location. If required for the project, the postdoctoral fellow can spend extended periods of time outside of the official location of work; for example, travel to other locations or to foreign countries, as needed for data collection, field research or collaborative activities, will be allowed. International research activities and collaborations are welcome.

B. Sponsoring Scientist Co-PI (Mentor)/Co-Sponsors

The postdoctoral fellow must affiliate with a host institution at all times during the entire tenure of the fellowship and select a sponsoring scientist from that host institution who will provide mentoring and guidance for both the research and training proposed by the fellowship candidate. Affiliation is not required at the time of submission but is required prior to award. The postdoctoral fellow is responsible for making prior arrangements with the host institution and sponsoring scientist. Regardless of the number of sponsors or mentors, the postdoctoral fellow's proposal requires a single host institution letter. When more than one sponsor is proposed, one must be named lead sponsor and information from all sponsors must be integrated into a single host institution letter. An important basis for judging the suitability of the host institution is the degree to which the host institution letter describes and offers an appropriate research environment and a plan for mentorship.

Note: The lead sponsoring scientist must be listed as a co-PI on the proposal.

III. Award Information

Support may be requested for up to 24 months at a level of $80,000 per year and may be prorated accordingly. A no-cost extension may be requested to extend the fellowship award in order to complete the goals of the fellowship, but no supplemental funds will be provided for this purpose. Within the fellowship period, up to two months of the fellowship duration may be used for paid leave, including parental or family leave. The paid leave cannot be used to increase the level of NSF support beyond the duration of the fellowship.

The fellowship candidates selected to receive an award will be contacted by NSF and asked to provide additional information, such as completing acceptance forms and starting certificates, before starting their fellowship tenure. Successful fellowship candidates who have not completed their Ph.D. at the time of the proposal must provide certification of the completion of all Ph.D. degree requirements before receiving funds from their fellowship award. Fellowship tenure begins on the first of the month or the fifteenth of the month and may commence at the fellow's request between June and September of the award year. Fellowships may not be renewed.

Budget: The SPRF budget should include the following:

The annual fellowship award amount of $80,000 consists of two types of payments, a stipend and a research and training allowance:

1. An annual stipend of $65,000, paid directly to the postdoctoral fellow in quarterly installments of $16,250.
2. An annual research and training allowance of $15,000, paid directly to the postdoctoral fellow and intended to cover the costs of the fellowship, including:
   • Expenses directly related to the conduct of the proposed research and education activities, including but not limited to materials and supplies, equipment, computing resources, access to databases, travel, publication charges and subscription fees.
   • Expenses in support of the fellow, such as office space, general purpose supplies and use of equipment, facilities and other institutional resources.
   • Expenses in support of fringe benefits, including but not limited to employee contributions to individual or family health insurance provided through a group or individual plan, dental and/or vision insurance, retirement savings, dependent care and moving expenses.

Fellowships may be supplemented by sponsoring scientists and institutions with non-federal funds but only if the additional funds do not carry additional responsibilities beyond the research and training supported by the fellowship.

IV. Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.

  NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship proposers may propose to hold the fellowship at:

  • Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
  • Nonprofit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Who May Serve as PI:

Fellowship candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• The proposer must be a U.S. citizen, national or legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States as of the proposal deadline.
• The proposer must have obtained a doctoral degree in the SBE sciences within the 3 years prior to the proposal deadline or will obtain a doctoral degree within 12 months after the proposal deadline but before the anticipated start date.
• The proposer cannot already hold a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment.
• The proposer cannot submit the same research to another NSF program.

Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.

NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship candidates may propose to hold the fellowship at:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
• Nonprofit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Note: It is anticipated that the research will be conducted at an institution other than the proposer's doctoral-granting or current postdoctoral fellowship institution. However, if the proposer chooses to remain at their current institution, the project description should include a strong justification detailing how this choice benefits their research and career development. There are no restrictions on the number of postdoctoral fellows a sponsoring scientist proposes to mentor.

Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review.

By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

Only individuals may submit proposals. There is no limit on the number of Fellows that an institution may host.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1

Each candidate may submit only one Fellowship proposal per year.

V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

• Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov. The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number.
• 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/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). 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) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

See PAPPG Chapter II.C.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions.

Proposals submitted to the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship program must be submitted electronically through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. Only one proposal is permitted per individual per year. A full proposal consists of many parts and requires input from the fellowship candidate, the proposed sponsoring scientist, and the proposed host institution(s). Proposers are advised to begin the proposal well in advance of the submission deadline and to submit as early as possible. Partially completed proposals may be saved for future completion and submission. The submission of incomplete or late proposals is not permitted.

Proposal preparation and submission through Research.gov is strongly encouraged because these fellowships contain unique requirements. If the proposer elects to submit through Grants.gov, confirmation that ALL required documents have been successfully uploaded into NSF systems by the deadline date is recommended. Otherwise, the proposal will be considered incomplete or late and will be returned without review.

Before starting proposal preparation, the proposer must be registered as an individual. To register as a new individual in Research.gov, access the Research.gov New Account Management System. To register as a new individual in Grants.gov, access Grants.gov Applicant Registration. Please note that if submitting via Grants.gov, you must also obtain an NSF ID in Research.gov.

Fellowship proposals must be submitted by the fellowship candidate, not by the fellowship candidate's current or proposed organizational Sponsored Projects Office (SPO). The fellowship candidate serves as his/her own SPO and Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for the purposes of any research administration functions in Research.gov or Grants.gov.

Proposals must include all of the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF as specified in Chapter II.C.2 of the PAPPG. In cases where requirements given in this document supplement or deviate from the instructions provided in the PAPPG or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide, this solicitation takes precedence. All page limitations include pictures, figures, tables, graphics, etc. Proposers are urged to take special care to strictly adhere to page limitations. Proposals that do not conform to the requirements will not be accepted or will be returned without review.

Proposal Set-Up: Select "Prepare New Full Proposal" in Research.gov. The postdoctoral fellow/PI must select the "I am a Postdoctoral Scholar (Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposals)" option to initiate a postdoctoral fellowship proposal.

Search for and select this solicitation title in Step 1 of the Full Proposal wizard. The information in Steps 2 and 3 is pre-populated by the system. In Step 4, add a descriptive title of the research following the prepended text "Postdoctoral Fellowship: SPRF".

Personnel Documents: The postdoctoral fellow is automatically designated as the PI in Research.gov.

The sponsoring scientist must be identified on the proposal and designated as the co-PI. If using Research.gov, this is done by going to the Personnel Documents section, clicking on the "Add co-Principal Investigator" tab and entering the individual's NSF ID or Email. The sponsoring scientist's Biographical Sketch, Current & Pending Support, and Collaborators and Other Affiliations (COA) Information are required and must be included in the proposal.

The following instructions supplement or deviate from the guidance in the NSF PAPPG or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide:

Cover Sheet: A requested start date must be entered. The proposed duration for a postdoctoral fellowship proposal is pre-populated, read-only (i.e., not editable), and aligns with the program solicitation selected when initiating the proposal in Research.gov.

In the Primary Place of Performance section enter host institution information. Complete any other sections as appropriate/applicable.

Grants.gov Users: The program solicitation number will be pre-populated by Grants.gov on the NSF Grant Proposer Cover Sheet. The title must start with "Postdoctoral Fellowship: Program Acronym: SPRF" followed by the descriptive title of the research.

Project Summary: This section must be no more than one page in length, summarizing the proposed project. The Project Summary consists of the following sections:

• the Overview section of the Project Summary must include a) the Postdoctoral Fellow's name; b) Discipline and Date of Doctoral degree (obtained or expected); c) Sponsoring Scientist's name and title; d) The proposed host institution; and e) Basic disciplinary fields(s) involved in the project.
• a statement on the intellectual merit of the proposed activity
• a statement of the broader impacts of the proposed activity

Project Description: Please note this section must include a separate section header labeled Broader Impacts and the heading must be on its own line with no other text on that line. The Project Description must be no more than fifteen (15) single-spaced pages in length and must include.

• A coherent plan for research and education, articulated to a level of detail suitable to an NSF grant proposal.
• A specific section describing either the Fundamental Research or Broadening Participation nature of the project, as appropriate for Track I or II.
• A detailed justification for the choice of the host institution that identifies collaborating scientist(s) and educational mentor(s), relates the proposed work to current research and educational efforts at the host institution, the available facilities and resources, and the suitability of the host institution.
• A timetable with benchmarks for major anticipated outcomes and training activities, a description of the postdoctoral fellow's long-term career goals, and the role of this postdoctoral fellowship in achieving them.

Budget: In Research.gov, the budget section includes the pre-populated stipend and fellowship allowance based on the requirements of this solicitation. The budget section does not display on the proposal main page after the proposal has been created but can be viewed by clicking Print Proposal. When the Postdoctoral Fellow/PI submits the proposal, the budget will display as read-only and will be accessible from the proposal main page. The budget section is editable during a proposal file update/budget revision.

Grants.gov users: The stipend and fellowship allowance should be entered in Participant Support Costs (enter the $65,000 stipend on line E.2 and the $15,000 fellowship allowance on line E.5). Enter (1) as the total number of participants. No other budget lines should be used for fellowship proposals. An annual budget must be submitted for each of the two years of the fellowship support and the budgets must be identical.

Budget Justification: The budget justification should detail and justify all costs associated with the $15,000 fellowship allowance.

Data Management Plan (DMP): the DMP, not to exceed two (2) pages, must describe plans for data management and sharing of the products of research, or asserts the absence of the need for such plans. See the PAPPG and the SBE Data Management Plan for SBE Proposals and Awards.

A Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan is not applicable to a SPRF proposal and should not be included.

Other Documents:

The following documents indicated as "MAY BE REQUIRED" in Research.gov are required components of a SPRF proposal: Letters of Collaboration, Ph.D. Abstract, and Host Institution Letter. Please do not include other documents indicated as "MAY BE REQUIRED."

• Letters of Collaboration: Letters of collaboration are required from major institutional partners such as schools or partner organizations that are critical for conducting the proposed research activities. Letters of collaboration should be limited to stating the intent to collaborate and should not contain endorsements or evaluation of the proposed project. Please follow the recommended format for letters of collaboration as stated in the PAPPG.
• Ph.D. Abstract: Not to exceed one (1) page, must describe the postdoctoral fellow's dissertation research.
• Host Institution Letter: The postdoctoral fellow must include a host institution letter signed by the sponsoring scientist from the prospective host institution.

The letter should affirm that:

• The postdoctoral fellow's proposal has been read and approved by the proposed sponsoring scientist.
• Adequate facilities and support will be provided for the ca to accommodate the proposed research and/or education activities.
• The candidate's plan for teaching and/or education is aligned with the institution's educational plans and goals, including a description of how any proposed course or seminar will complement existing curricula.
• The prospective fellow will be fully integrated into the educational and research activities of the host institution.

The letter should also discuss:

• The role the proposed scientific and/or educational mentor(s) will play in the professional development of the prospective postdoctoral fellow.
• The opportunities for training and research at the host institution that will be of particular benefit to the prospective postdoctoral fellow.
• If applicable, limited amounts of teaching activity (no more than one course at a time) may be incorporated into the proposal. Please detail how the teaching experience is connected to the proposal and how it will contribute to the postdoctoral fellow's future career development.

Only the following documents indicated as "OPTIONAL" in Research.gov should be included for SPRF proposals: List of Suggested Reviewers and List of Reviewers Not to Include. Please do not include any other documents indicated as "OPTIONAL."

• List of Suggested Reviewers or Reviewers Not to Include: Proposers may include a list of suggested reviewers (including email address and organizational affiliation) who they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal. Proposers also may designate persons they would prefer not to review the proposal. These suggestions are optional. Please see the PAPPG for more information.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

The award amount is set for Postdoctoral Fellowships based on the duration of the award.

Budget Preparation Instructions:

Fellowship proposers must submit a Budget Justification detailing the plan for how the $15,000 annual research and training allowance will be utilized.

C. Due Dates

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

       January 10, 2023

       November 01, 2023

       First Wednesday in November, Annually Thereafter

D. Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements

For Proposals Submitted Via Research.gov:

Before starting proposal preparation, the proposer must be registered as an individual. To register as a new individual in Research.gov, access the Research.gov New Account Management System. To prepare and submit a proposal via Research.gov, see detailed technical instructions available at: https://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission.html. For Research.gov user support, call the Research.gov Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail rgov@nsf.gov. The Research.gov Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the Research.gov 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.

Submitting the Proposal: Fellowship proposals must be submitted by the Fellowship candidate, not by the Fellowship candidate's current or proposed organizational Sponsored Projects Office (SPO). The Fellowship candidate serves as his/her own SPO and Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for the purposes of any research administration functions in Research.gov. As such, the Fellowship candidate, serving as the SPO/AOR must electronically sign and submit the proposal using the Sign and Submit button in Research.gov. The Fellowship candidate is signing on his/her own behalf and by signing the proposal NSF is in no way inferring that the proposer has assumed organizational status. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the Research.gov website: https://www.research.gov/research-web/.

For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

Before starting proposal preparation, the proposer must register as a new individual in Research.gov and Grants.gov. To register as a new individual in Research.gov go to: https://www.research.gov/accountmgmt/assets/welcomeunaffiliated.html and to register in Grants.gov go to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html. Once registered, the proposer can then apply for grant opportunities which indicate "Individual" eligibility on the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources webpage: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html. 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: Fellowship proposals must be submitted by the Fellowship applicant, not by the applicant's current or proposed organizational Sponsored Projects Office (SPO). Once all documents have been completed, the applicant must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The applicant must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application will be transferred to Research.gov for further processing.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or both, who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with 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. In addition, Program Officers may obtain comments from site visits before recommending final action on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards. A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award process (and associated timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.

A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/.

Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential to the fulfillment of NSF's mission, as articulated in Leading the World in Discovery and Innovation, STEM Talent Development and the Delivery of Benefits from Research - NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 - 2026. These strategies are integrated in the program planning and implementation process, of which proposal review is one part. NSF's mission is particularly well-implemented through the integration of research and education and broadening participation in NSF programs, projects, and activities.

One of the strategic objectives in support of NSF's mission is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions must recruit, train, and prepare a diverse STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to the national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research under the guidance of the Nation's most creative scientists and engineers. NSF also supports development of a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing in building the knowledge that informs improvements in STEM teaching and learning.

NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities and expanding participation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which 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.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and diverse portfolio of projects that creates new knowledge and enables breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and engineering research and education. To identify which projects to support, NSF relies on a merit review process that incorporates consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and its potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive, transparent merit review process for the selection of projects.

1. Merit Review Principles

These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when preparing proposals and managing projects, by reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program staff when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for funding and while overseeing awards. Given that NSF is the primary federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in basic research and education, the following three principles apply:

• All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge.
• NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.
• Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated, level than the individual project.

With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader Impacts outcomes for particular projects is done at an aggregated level, PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the activities described in the funded project. Thus, individual projects should include clearly stated goals, specific descriptions of the activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document the outputs of those activities.

These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit review criteria, as well as a context within which the users of the criteria can better understand their intent.

2. Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d(i). contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d(i), prior to the review of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to
   1. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
   2. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the United States; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

Proposers are reminded that reviewers will also be asked to review the Data Management Plan and the Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan, as appropriate.

Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals will be reviewed by a panel of disciplinary and interdisciplinary experts as appropriate, spanning all areas of SBE sciences. Ad-hoc reviews may also be sought if deemed necessary. In addition to the regular NSF review criteria, reviewers/panelists will also consider the following criteria for fellowship proposals:

• Does the host institution letter of support strike the right balance between supervisory guidance and the fellowship proposer's independent growth? Is the sponsoring scientist/mentorship team and host institution a good match to the fellowship proposer's proposed project?
• How well-developed is the data management plan and does it meet the standards for the respective discipline(s)?
• For Track I (FR) and Track II (BP): How significant is the potential contribution of this research on the SBE sciences, in general, and the specific discipline area(s) identified by this proposal?
• For Track II (BP): How do the proposed activities help broaden (directly, indirectly, or both; via the research, or training and outreach activities, or both) or inform efforts to broaden the participation and advancement of underrepresented groups in the SBE sciences or, in general, STEM fields, in the U.S.?

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to evaluate proposals using two National Science Board approved merit review criteria and, if applicable, additional program specific criteria. A summary rating and accompanying narrative will generally be completed and submitted by each reviewer and/or panel. 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 strives to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. Large or particularly complex proposals or proposals from new awardees may require additional review and processing time. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer's recommendation.

After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements or the Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support for review of business, financial, and policy implications. After an administrative review has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers perform 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.

Once an award or declination decision has been made, Principal Investigators are provided feedback about their proposals. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying information, 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.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the individual by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Individuals 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 proposer. (See Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award notice, 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 notice; (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 notice. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the individual 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) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

Special Award Conditions:

The Fellowship award is made to the individual, not the institution and payments are made directly to the Fellow. Under no circumstances will funds be transferred to the host institution. Awards cannot be extended without prior NSF approval. Pre-award costs are not permitted.

By accepting a fellowship award made pursuant to this solicitation, the fellow agrees to abide by the affiliated institution's policies or codes of conduct. The fellow further agrees to notify NSF's Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR) if, pursuant to a complaint made under federal or state law or the institution's policies or codes of conduct relating to sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault, the fellow is subjected to any "administrative leave/administrative action," (defined below) or is the subject of any "finding/determination" (defined below). Failure to so notify NSF may result in termination of the fellowship.

"Administrative leave/administrative action" is defined as any temporary/interim suspension or permanent removal of the fellow, or any administrative action imposed on the fellow by the institution under the institution's policies or codes of conduct, federal or state statutes, regulations, or executive orders, relating to activities, including but not limited to the following: teaching, advising, mentoring, research, management/administrative duties, or presence on campus.

"Finding/determination" is defined as the final disposition of a matter involving sexual harassment or other form of harassment under the institution's policies and processes, to include the exhaustion of permissible appeals exercised by the fellow, or a conviction of a sexual offense in a criminal court of law.

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 no later than 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require submission of more frequent project reports). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report, and a project outcomes report for the general public.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or the project outcomes report, will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for all identified PIs and co-PIs on a given award. 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 Research.gov, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. Such reports provide information on accomplishments, project participants (individual and organizational), publications, and other specific products and impacts of the project. Submission of the report via Research.gov constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report also must be prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website exactly as it is submitted by the PI.

More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.

VIII. Agency Contacts

Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

• Josie W. Miranda, Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7376, email: jwmirand@nsf.gov
• Alexander A. Romero II, Program Analyst, telephone: (703) 292-2184, email: alromero@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of Research.gov, contact:

• Research.gov Help Desk: 1-800-673-6188
• Research.gov Help Desk e-mail: rgov@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, "NSF Update" 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 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. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's website.

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at https://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 55,000 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 Arctic 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 (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.E.6 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 Location: 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314 For General Information (NSF Information Center): (703) 292-5111 TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090 To Order Publications or Forms:   Send an e-mail to: nsfpubs@nsf.gov or telephone: (703) 292-8134 To Locate NSF Employees: (703) 292-5111

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See System of Record Notices, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records." Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Policy Office, Division of Institution and Award Support
Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management
National Science Foundation
Alexandria, VA 22314