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Office for Sponsored Research. We promote, facilitate and enhance research. National Science Foundation Proposal Overview OSR Brownbag Presentation Norris University Center April 1, 2009 Katie Clarke-Myers Asst. Grant and Contract Officer Office for Sponsored Research Krista Galvin
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Office for Sponsored Research We promote, facilitate and enhance research
National Science Foundation Proposal Overview OSR Brownbag Presentation Norris University Center April 1, 2009 Katie Clarke-Myers Asst. Grant and Contract Officer Office for Sponsored Research Krista Galvin Research Administrator 1 McCormick Administration Materials Science and Engineering
Agenda • Provide an overview of the NSF application process • Highlight resources for NSF proposal development • Identify key components of an NSF proposal • Provide an introduction to NSF FastLane
NSF Proposals – An Overview • NSF is an independent Federal agency that promotes the progress of science by supporting research and education in all fields of science and education [but generally not life sciences] • NSF issues awards to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, and other research organizations • NSF awards account for 12% of Federal support to Northwestern
NSF Categories of Funding Opportunities • Dear Colleague Letter General information to the community, used to clarify or amend an existing policy or document, or inform the NSF proposer community about upcoming opportunities or special competitions for supplements to existing awards • Program Description Broad, general descriptions of programs and activities in NSF Directorates/Offices and Divisions; often posted on Directorate or Division websites to encourage submission of proposals in specific areas of interest to NSF
NSF Categories of Funding Opportunities • Program Announcement Formal NSF publications that announce NSF programs • Program Solicitation Formal NSF publications that encourage the submission of proposals in specific program areas of interest to NSF; More focused than program announcements, and normally apply for a limited period of time; Competition is more precisely defined than with program announcements, and proposals received compete directly with each other for NSF funding May require a letter of intent or a preliminary proposal
NSF Categories of Funding Opportunities • Program Announcements and Program Descriptions • NSF’s primary mechanisms to communicate opportunities for research and education support, as well as to generate proposals • Use the generic eligibility and proposal preparation instructions in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) • Program Solicitations may deviate from the GPG!!!
NSF Proposal Submission Guidelines • General information about NSF programs: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/browse_all_funding.jsp • Information about most program deadlines and target dates for proposals: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=NSF&ord=date
Types of Submissions • Letter of Intent (LOI) • Preliminary Proposal • Full Proposal
Letter of Intent • Requested/required by some Program Solicitations • Helps NSF program staff gauge size and range of competition • NOT externally evaluated or used for funding decisions • Typically contains: (1) PI and Co-PI names, (2) title, (3) list of possible participating organizations, and (4) a synopsis of proposed work • Only submit a LOI if instructed to do so by the Program Solicitation
Preliminary Proposal • May be required by some Program Solicitations • Program Solicitations will specify content and submission requirements • Prepared for electronic submission by the PI; PI forwards the proposal to OSR for submission to NSF • Two types of decision may be received in response to a preliminary proposal a. Invite / Not Invite Decisions: These are final decisions that affect the PI’s eligibility to submit a full proposal b. Encourage / Discourage Decisions: This type of decision is used when the NSF decision is advisory only Only submit a Preliminary Proposal if instructed to do so by the Program Solicitation
Full Proposal Full Proposals should present: • Objectives and significance of proposed work • Suitability of the methods to be used • Qualifications of the investigator(s) and grantee organization(s) • Effect of the activity on infrastructure of science, engineering, or education • Amount of funding required
Conflict of Interest Objectivity in Research Requirement • Unique to NSF [and PHS/NIH, ACS, and AHA] • Complete OSR-100 or eProposal certification • Must be done prior to proposal submission • Required of those responsible for design, conduct, or reporting of research
NSF Proposal Submission Guidelines The Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp 1. Part I: NSF proposal preparation and submission guidelines a. Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) b. Grants.gov Application Guide [usually not applicable] 2. Part II: NSF award administration guidelines
NSF Proposal Submission Guidelines • Most submitted via FastLane (www.fastlane.nsf.gov) • FastLane proposals should follow the Grant Proposal Guide instructions • In rare circumstances use of Grants.gov required; consult the Grants.gov Application Guide • ALWAYS review instructions included in a specific solicitation. They take precedence over the GPG or the Grants.gov Application Guide.
NSF FastLane Proposal Preparation - Guidelines The GPG is updated periodically – make sure you’re using the most up to date version! (New version effective 4/6/2009 – NSF09-29) Conformance with Instructions for Proposal Preparation: “It is important that all proposals conform to the instructions provided in the GPG. Conformance is required and will be strictly enforced unless an authorization to deviate from standard proposal preparation requirements has been approved. NSF may return without review proposals that are not consistent with these instructions” (GPG p. II-1)
NSF FastLane Proposal Submission Guidelines Deviations only authorized: • Through specification of different requirements in an NSF Program Solicitation • By the written approval of the cognizant NSF Assistant Director/Office Head or designee
NSF Proposal Resources • Northwestern NSF Checklist • NSF Instruction Synopsis
NSF Proposal Preparation Checklist Located in GPG Version 09-29: Exhibit II-1 Pages II-28 & II-29
Key Components of an NSF Proposal • Broader Impacts http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf • Intellectual Merit • Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan • Each proposalthat requests funding for postdoctoral researchers must include, as a supplementary document (effective 4/6/2009), a description of mentoring activities to be provided for such individuals. • In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral researchers supported by the project, irrespective of whether they reside at the submitting organization, any subawardee organization, or at any organization participating in a simultaneously submitted collaborative project. • http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/postdoc_mentoring_nsf.html
Deadlines • Target dates: dates after which proposals will still be accepted, although they may miss a particular panel or committee meeting. • Deadline dates: dates after which proposals will not be accepted for review by NSF. The deadline date will be waived only in extenuating circumstances. Such a deviation only may be authorized in accordance with GPG Chapter II.A. • Submission windows: designated periods of time during which proposals will be accepted for review by NSF. It is NSF’s policy that the end date of a submission window converts to, and is subject to, the same policies as a deadline date • Unless otherwise stated in a program announcement or solicitation, proposals must be received by the specified date. If the deadline date falls on a weekend, it will be extended to the following Monday; if the date falls on a holiday, it will be extended to the following business day. Unless otherwise specified in a program solicitation that has an identified deadline date, proposals must be received by 5 p.m. submitter's local time on the established deadline date.
NSF Proposal Submission via FastLane – an Overview
NSF FastLane NSF collaborative proposals can be used in place of the subaward mechanism. The lead institution will link the non-lead institution’s proposal. This will delete the non-lead’s summary, project description and reference sections. Linked proposals are submitted and awarded separately.
NSF FastLane – Revised Budget • Revised budgets will be requested when a Program Officer is ready to make award but needs to adjust the award budget. • Must submit budget impact statement if cut is over 10%. • PI must create update in FastLane and create PIN for OAU to access.
The FastLane Proposal File Update Module allows the organization to request the replacement of files or revision of other Proposal Attributes, associated with a previously submitted proposal. A request for a Proposal File Update must be submitted and signed by OSR. Proposal file update is created by the PI. PI must give an updated PIN in order for the OAU to access the update. See GPG for rules applying to when updates will be accepted by NSF. NSF FastLane – Proposal “Update”
FastLane Help • Extensive instructions are available through the FastLane website https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/ (select the “Fastlane Help” Link in the top right corner) • NSF FastLane demo site: https://www.fldemo.nsf.gov/
NSF FastLane For NSF FastLane Login or technical assistance at Northwestern please contact: OSR Information/ERA Specialist Michael Green msgreen@northwestern.edu (847) 491-2749
OSR Resources for NSF Proposals • OSR FastLane Info http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/fastlane.html
Questions? Katie Clarke-Myers Asst. Grant and Contract Officer Office for Sponsored Research 847/467-5283 k-clarke@northwestern.edu Krista Galvin Research Administrator 1 McCormick Administration Materials Science and Engineering 847/491-3213 k-walk@northwestern.edu