To enhance the competitiveness of the Nation?s research through activities that build capacity for science and engineering and broaden participation in research and education.

The program is intended to incubate new ideas and communities, support innovation in research and NSF?s own processes,

credit: Flickr

and to promote integration across research and education domains.  Support is provided to develop human and infrastructure capacity critical to the U.S.

science and engineering enterprise; to catalyze new cross-cutting programs; to expand NSF?s capability to gather and use evidence about the progress and impacts of its programs; for prestigious honorary award programs and professional internships for aspiring scientists and engineers; and for policy and programmatic analysis for the NSF Director, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Primary responsibility for general supervision of all grant activities rests with the grantee institution; the project director or principal investigator is responsible for the execution of the research activities.

Grants are made on a competitive basis.

For all programs, funds may not be used for purposes other than those specified in the proposal.

EPSCoR Funds may be used to pay the costs of conducting research, product development, resources, tools and services, as salaries and wages, equipment and supplies, travel, publication costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs.

Primary responsibility for general supervision of all grant activities rests with the grantee institution.

Funds may not be used for purposes other than those specified in the proposal.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

For non-EPSCoR grants, except where a program solicitation establishes more restrictive eligibility criteria, individuals and organizations in the following categories may submit proposals: Universities and colleges; Non-profit, non-academic organizations; For-profit organizations; State and local governments; and unaffiliated individuals.

See the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I.E., for a full description of eligibility requirements: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.

EPSCoR eligibility is based on two primary considerations: (1) a jurisdiction?s demonstrated commitment to develop its research bases and to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research conducted at its universities and colleges, and (2) a jurisdiction?s most recent three-year history of research funds awarded by NSF relative to the Foundation?s total research budget for that same period.

Regarding the second consideration, a jurisdiction is eligible to participate in EPSCoR programs if its level of research support is equal to or less than 0.75 percent of the total NSF research budget for that same period.

Adjustments are made in the rare instances where a single large NSF-funded national or international facility skews the data.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Except where a program solicitation establishes more restrictive eligibility criteria, individuals and organizations in the following categories may submit proposals: Universities and colleges; Non-profit, non-academic organizations; for-profit organizations; State and local governments; and unaffiliated individuals. See the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I.E. for a full description of eligibility requirements: www.nsf.gov/publications/pub summ.jsp?ods key=gpg.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposals must be signed electronically by an official authorized to commit the institution or organization in business and financial affairs and who can commit the organization to certain proposal certifications. . Applicants for non-EPSCoR fellowship support must show evidence of ability such as academic records, letters of recommendation, graduate record examination scores, and grade point average. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Pre-application coordination may be required.

Environmental impact information may be required for this program.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, 'Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.' An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Award Procedures

NSF staff members review and evaluate all proposals based on a set of criteria established by the National Science Board and, if applicable, solicitation-specific review criteria. In most cases reviews are undertaken with the advice of scientist, engineers, educators and other appropriate persons who are specialist in the fields covered by the proposals. NSF makes awards on a competitive basis. Notification of an award is transmitted electronically to the submitting organization by a NSF Grants and Agreements Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

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.

Appeals

The principal investigator may request, in writing, within 90 days of a declination or return, that NSF reconsider its action in declining or returning any proposal application.

Renewals

A renewal proposal competes with all other proposals and must be developed fully as though the proposer is applying for the first time. Renewal proposals must be submitted at least six months before additional funding is required or consistent with an established deadline, target date or submission window. Principal investigators are encouraged to discuss renewal proposals with the NSF Program Officer prior to submission.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. Mandatory cost sharing will only be required for NSF programs when explicitly authorized by the NSF Director, the National Science Board, or legislation. In those rare instances cost sharing requirements will be clearly identified in the program solicitation. Inclusion of voluntary, committed cost sharing is prohibited. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Award durations of up to 5 years. Method of awarding assistance: Standard or continuing grant, fellowship, or cooperative agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required.

No cash reports are required.

Unless otherwise specified in the award, Annual Project Reports should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period.

Within 90 days following the expiration of the award, a Final Project Report and a Project Outcomes Report for the General Public must be submitted.

No expenditure reports are required.

No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In accordance with the provisions of,' 2 CFR 200. Subpart F ? Audit Requirements, a non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity?s fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. A non-Federal entity that expends less than $750,000 during the non-Federal entity?s fiscal a year in Federal is exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records pertinent to a grant must be retained by the grantee for a period of 3 years from submission of the Final Project Report. Special record keeping requirements may apply to fellowships.

Financial Information

Account Identification

49-0100-0-1-251.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 16 $426,570,000; FY 17 est $432,250,000; and FY 18 est $315,740,000 - '1) FY 2016 Obligation projections are the FY 2016 NSF Current Plan 2) FY 2016 Obligations are the FY 2016 NSF Appropriations Actual 3) FY 2017 Obligations estimates are the FY 2017 NSF Current Plan 4) FY 2018 Obligations estimates are the FY 2018 NSF Congressional Request'.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range (Low): $21,300 Range (High): $4,000,000 Average: $963,463.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Patricia Page 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite W17100, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 Email: ppage@nsf.gov Phone: 703-292-8040

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.