Trans-NSF Recovery Act Reasearch Support

To provide support for projects/initiatives funded under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These projects will provide economic stimulus to the nation while furthering the NSF mission 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. The projects/initiatives include support of research grants in the following disciplines; biological sciences; computer and information science and engineering; engineering; geosciences; math and physical sciences; social, behavioral and economic sciences; education and human resources. Basic research in multidisciplinary areas related to these disciplines is especially encouraged. In addition, the program supports basic research in the Arctic and Antarctic and coordinates and supports the acquisition, development and provision of state-of -the-art cyberinfrastructure resources. Support is also provided for state-of-the-art user facilities in the above disciplines; undergraduate student research; faculty enhancement; curriculum development; instrumentation; laboratory improvement; and for research opportunities for women, minority, and disabled scientists and engineers.

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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. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for colleges and universities and A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

Grant funds may be used for paying costs necessary to conduct research or studies, such as salaries and wages, permanent equipment, expendable materials and supplies, travel, participant support; publication costs, and other direct and indirect costs. Primary responsibility for general supervision of all grant activities rests with the grantee institution; the principal investigator is responsible for the scientific work.

ARRA funds are available for FY2009 & FY2010 only. Award length may vary.

By electronic submission via FastLane or Grants.gov of a formal proposal describing the research or study to be undertaken. Guidelines are contained in the NSF publication, Grant Proposal Guide, or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. Resulting awards are subject to the applicable federal cost principles as referenced, the relevant award conditions, and the provisions specified in the applicable funding opportunity.

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

All applications submitted to NSF 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 who are experts in the particular fields represented by the application. Applicants are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the application and/or persons they would prefer not review the application. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Program Officers may obtain comments from assembled review panels or from site visits before recommending final action on applications. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards. A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/meritreivew/.

Application deadlines are specified in the ARRA Funding Opportunity.

A renewal application is a request for additional funding for a support period subsequent to that provided by a standard or continuing grant. A renewal application competes with all other pending applications and must be submitted at least six months before additional funding is required or consistent with an established deadline, target date or submission window. In preparing a renewal application, applicants should assume that reviewers will not have access to previously submitted versions of the application. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to discuss renewal applications with the program prior to submission of a renewal application. Unless precluded by individual program requirements, renewal applications may be submitted electronically via the NSF FastLane System or Grants.gov.