Pre-Submission Proposal Preparation Proposal Processing & Review

Pre-Submission Fastlane/Grants.gov Fastlane/Grants.gov Directorates/Divisions Directorates/Divisions Categories Categories Dear Colleague Letter Dear Colleague Letter Program Description Program Description Program Announcement Program Announcement Program Solicitation Program Solicitation Types of Submissions Types of Submissions Letter of Intent Letter of Intent Preliminary Proposal Preliminary Proposal Full Proposal Full Proposal Eligibility Eligibility Universities/Colleges; Non-Profit/Non-Academic; For-Profit; State & Local Gov’t; Unaffiliated Individuals; Foreign Organizations Universities/Colleges; Non-Profit/Non-Academic; For-Profit; State & Local Gov’t; Unaffiliated Individuals; Foreign Organizations

Proposal Preparation

Sections of the Proposal Cover Sheet Cover Sheet Project Summary Project Summary Table of Contents Table of Contents Project Description Project Description References Cited References Cited Biographical Sketches Biographical Sketches Budget and Budget Justification Budget and Budget Justification Current and Pending Support Current and Pending Support Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources Special Information and Supplementary Documentation Special Information and Supplementary Documentation

a. Cover Sheet 1.Awardee & Project/Performance Site Primary Location 2.Program Description/Announcement/Solicitation # 3.NSF Unit of Consideration 4.Remainder Title of Project Title of Project Budget & Duration Information Budget & Duration Information PI/co-Pi Information PI/co-Pi Information Previous NSF Award Previous NSF Award Other Federal Agencies Other Federal Agencies Awardee Organization Awardee Organization Project/Performance Site Information Project/Performance Site Information Other Information Other Information

b. Project Summary

c. Table of Contents

d. Project Description Content Content Page Limitations Page Limitations Results from Prior NSF Support Results from Prior NSF Support Unfunded Collaborations Unfunded Collaborations Group Proposals Group Proposals Renewal Proposals Renewal Proposals

e. References Cited f. Biographical Sketches Senior Personnel Senior Personnel Professional Preparation (Education) Professional Preparation (Education) Appointments Appointments Products Products Synergistic Activities Synergistic Activities Collaborators & Other Affiliations Collaborators & Other Affiliations Other Personnel Other Personnel Postdoctoral Associates Postdoctoral Associates Other Professionals Other Professionals Students Students

g. Budget and Budget Justification Salaries and Wages Salaries and Wages Fringe Benefits Fringe Benefits Equipment Equipment Travel Travel Participant Support Participant Support Other Direct Costs Other Direct Costs Materials and Supplies Materials and Supplies Publication/Documentation/Dissemination Publication/Documentation/Dissemination Consultant Services Consultant Services Computer Services Computer Services Subawards Subawards Other Other Cost Sharing Cost Sharing

h. Current and Pending Support

i. Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources

j. Special Information & Supplementary Documentation

ReviewPrinciples: All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge. 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. NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. 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. 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.

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

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to: a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and b. 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?