Introduction:
- About the National Science Foundation
- Foreword
- Acronym List
- Definitions & NSF-Recipient Relationships
- NSF Organizations
Part I: Proposal Preparation and Submission Guidelines
Part I (the first five chapters) sets forth NSF's proposal preparation and submission guidelines. The coverage provides guidance for the preparation and submission of proposals to NSF. Some NSF programs have program solicitations that modify the general provisions of the PAPPG, and, in such cases, the guidelines provided in the solicitation must be followed.
Chapter I: Pre-Submission Information
- NSF Proposal Preparation and Submission
- NSF Programs and Funding Opportunities
- Categories of Funding Opportunities
- Types of Submissions
- Who May Submit Proposals
- When to Submit Proposals
- How to Submit Proposals
- Proposal Processing
Chapter II: Proposal Preparation Instructions
- Conformance with Instructions for Proposal Preparation
- NSF Disclosure Requirements
- Format of the Proposal
- Proposal Contents
- Single-Copy Documents
- Authorization to Deviate from NSF Proposal Preparation Requirements
- List of Suggested Reviewers or List of Reviewers Not to Include
- Proprietary or Privileged Information
- Proposal Certifications Provided by the Organization
- Proposal Certifications for Senior/Key Personnel
- Submission of Proposals by Former NSF Staff
- Sections of the Proposal
- Cover Sheet
- Project Summary
- Table of Contents
- Project Description
- References Cited
- Budget and Budget Justification
- (i) Salaries and Wages
- (ii) Fringe Benefits
- (iii) Equipment
- (iv) Travel
- (a) General
- (b) Domestic Travel
- (c) Foreign Travel
- (v) Participant Support
- (vi) Other Direct Costs
- (vii) Total Direct Costs
- (viii) Indirect Costs
- (ix) Total Direct and Indirect Costs
- (x) Fees
- (xi) Amount of This Request
- (xii) Cost Sharing
- (xiii) Allowable and Unallowable Costs
- Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
- Senior/Key Personnel Documents
- Special Information and Supplementary Documentation
- (i) Mentoring Plan
- (ii) Data Management and Sharing Plan
- (iii) Documentation of Collaborative Arrangements of Significance to the Proposal through Letters of Collaboration
- (iv) Federal Environmental Statutes
- (v) Logistical Requirements and Field Plan
- (vi) Research in a Location Designated, or Eligible to be Designated, a Registered Historic Place
- (vii) Research Involving Field Experiments with Genetically Engineered Organisms
- (viii) Documentation Regarding Research Involving the Use of Human Subjects, Hazardous Materials, Live Vertebrate Animals, or Endangered Species
- (ix) Special Components in New Proposals or in Requests for Supplemental Funding
- Single-Copy Documents
- Special Processing Instructions
- Proprietary or Privileged Information
- Beginning Investigators (applies to proposals submitted to the Biological Sciences Directorate only)
- Collaborative Proposals
- Proposals Involving Live Vertebrate Animals
- Proposals Involving Human Subjects
- Potential Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)
- Projects Requiring Advanced Computing Resources, Data, and Analysis Capabilities
- International Activities
- Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research
- Seeking and Obtaining Tribal Nation Approval for Proposals that May Impact Tribal Resources or Interests
- Other Types of Proposals
- Planning
- Rapid Response Research (RAPID)
- EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
- Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
- Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
- Ideas Lab
- Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
- Conference
- Equipment
- Travel
- Center
- Research Infrastructure
- Career Life Balance (CLB) Supplemental Funding Requests
- Research Opportunity Supplemental Funding Requests for Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (ROA-PUI)
Exhibit II-1: Proposal Preparation Checklist
Exhibit II-2: Potentially Disqualifying Conflicts of Interest
Exhibit II-3: Definitions of Categories of Personnel
Chapter III: NSF Proposal Processing and Review
- Merit Review Principles and Criteria
- Selection of Reviewers
- Proposal File Updates
- Revisions to Proposals Made During the Review Process
- Funding Recommendation
- NSF's Decision to Award or Decline Proposals
- Review Information Provided to PI
- Release of Recipient Proposal Information
Exhibit III-1: NSF Proposal & Award Process & Timeline
Chapter IV: Non-Award Decisions and Transactions
- Proposal Withdrawal
- Proposal Not Accepted or Returned Without Review
- Declinations
- Reconsideration
- Resubmission
Chapter V: Renewal Proposals
Part II: Award, Administration and Monitoring of NSF Assistance Awards
Chapter VI: NSF Awards
- Acceptance of Assistance Agreements
- Award Instrument
- NSF Award Conditions
- NSF Award Periods
- Additional Funding Support
Chapter VII: Award Administration
- Monitoring Project Performance
- Changes in Project Direction or Management
- Changes in Objectives, Scope, or Methods/Procedures
- Changes in PI, co-PI or Person-Months Devoted to the Project at the Initiation of the Recipient Organization
- Changes in PI, co-PI, or Person-Months Devoted to the Project at the Initiation of NSF
- Subawarding or Transferring Part of an NSF Award (Subaward)
- Postaward Additions of Postdoctoral Scholars or Graduate Students
- Postaward Additions of Off-Site or Off-Campus Research
- Individual Development Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
- Cost Sharing
- Reporting Requirements
- Record Retention and Audit
Chapter VIII: Financial Requirements and Payments
- Standards for Financial Management
- Definitions
- Payment Requirements
- Cash Refunds and Credits to NSF
- Award Financial Reporting Requirements and Final Disbursements
- Post-Award Financial Monitoring Notifications
Chapter IX: Recipient Standards
- Conflict of Interest Policies
- Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR)
- Research Security
- Financial Management Systems Standards
- Property Management Standards
- Procurement Standards
Chapter X: Allowability of Costs
- Basic Considerations
- Direct Costs
- Other Direct Costs
- Indirect Costs
- Fee Payments under NSF Awards
- Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment
Chapter XI:Other Post Award Requirements and Considerations
- Non-Discrimination Statutes and Regulations
- General
NSF Policy on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault - Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
- Age Discrimination Act of 1975
- Equal Employment Opportunity under E.O. 11246
- Limited English Proficiency under E.O. 13166
- Environmental Justice under E.O. 14096
- General
- Protection of Living Organisms
- Construction, Rearrangements and Reconversions
- Intellectual Property
- Publication/Distribution of Award Materials
- International Considerations
- Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
- Handling of Information
- Tax Status
- Historic Properties
- Environmental Considerations
- National Security
- Scientific Integrity
- Miscellaneous
Chapter XII: Award Administration Disputes and Misconduct
- Suspension and Termination Procedures
- Informal Resolution of Award Administration Disputes
- Research Misconduct