Program Announcement for PREEVENTS

Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events
(PREEVENTS)
PROGRAM SOLICITATION
NSF 16-562
National Science Foundation | NSF - National Science Foundation
Directorate for Geosciences
     Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
     Division of Earth Sciences
     Division of Ocean Sciences
     Office of Polar Programs
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     July 29, 2016
     Last Friday in July, Every Other Year Thereafter
Required for Track 2 Proposals
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     September 20, 2016
     Third Tuesday in September, Every Other Year Thereafter
Track 2 Proposals
Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     August 01, 2016 - January 04, 2017
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
     January 05, 2017 - January 04, 2018
     January 5 - January 4, Annually Thereafter
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
Due to repairs to the Foundation’s electrical systems,
there will be no access to FastLane,
Research.gov or the NSF website on
September 17-18, 2016. The deadline date for Track 2
proposals for this
solicitation has therefore been changed to September 20, 2016 at 5:00 PM
submitter’s local time.
Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the
revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 18-1), which is effective for
proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 29, 2018.

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SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Prediction of and Resilience against Extreme Events (PREEVENTS)
Synopsis of Program:
Natural disasters cause thousands of deaths annually, and
in 2013 alone caused over
$130 billion in damage worldwide. There is clear societal need to better understand and
mitigate the risks posed to
the US by natural hazards, consistent with the mandate of the
National Science Foundation (NSF) “…to promote the progress of science [and] advance
the national health, prosperity, and welfare....”
NSF and the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) have long supported basic research in
scientific and engineering disciplines necessary to understand natural hazards and
extreme events, including through the Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters
(Hazards SEES) program and multiple core programs in the GEO Directorate.
PREEVENTS is designed as a logical successor to Hazards SEES and is one element of
the NSF-wide Risk and Resilience activity, which has the overarching goal of improving
predictability and risk assessment, and increasing resilience, in order to reduce the impact
of extreme events on our life, society, and economy. PREEVENTS will provide an
additional mechanism to support research and related activities that will improve our
understanding of the fundamental processes underlying natural hazards and extreme
events in the geosciences.
PREEVENTS is focused on natural hazards and extreme events, and not on technological
or deliberately human-caused hazards. The PREEVENTS portfolio will include the
potential for disciplinary and multidisciplinary research at all scales, particularly aimed at
areas ripe for significant near- or medium-term advances.
PREEVENTS seeks projects that will (1) enhance understanding of the fundamental
processes underlying natural hazards and extreme events on various spatial and temporal
scales, as well as the variability inherent
in such hazards and events, and (2) improve our
capability to model and
forecast such hazards and events. All projects requesting
PREEVENTS support must be primarily focused on these two targets. In addition,
PREEVENTS projects will improve our understanding of the effects of natural hazards and
extreme events and will enable development, with support by other programs and
organizations, of new tools to enhance societal preparedness and resilience against such
impacts.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please note that the following information is current at the time
of publishing. See program website for
any updates to the points of contact.
Justin Lawrence,
telephone:
(703) 292-2425,
email: [email protected]
Carrie E. Black,
telephone:
(703) 292-2426,
email: [email protected]
Eric T. DeWeaver,
telephone:
(703) 292-8527,
email: [email protected]

2

Jennifer Wade,
telephone:
(703) 292-4739,
email: [email protected]
George Voulgaris,
telephone:
(703) 292-4770,
email: [email protected]
Michael E. Jackson,
telephone:
(703) 292-8033,
email: [email protected]
Nicholas Hayman,
telephone:
(703) 292-2912,
email: [email protected]
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
47.050 --- Geosciences
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: 15 to 20
NSF anticipates funding
a total of 15 to 20 proposals pursuant to this solicitation, including both Track 1
and Track 2 projects, subject to availability of funds. NSF
anticipates funding a mix of project sizes, with
durations up to five years. Note that Track 1 awards will be generally limited to less than $50,000, but
under exceptional circumstances may be up to $100,000.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $18,000,000 to $25,000,000
under this solicitation, pending availability of funds.
Eligibility Information
Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including
community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting
on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch
Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an
international branch campus of a US institution of higher education
(including
through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must
explain
the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch
campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US
campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories,
research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S.
associated with educational or research activities.
For-profit organizations: U.S. commercial organizations, especially small
businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or
education.
NSF-funded FFRDCs may submit proposals to this competition, provided that (a)
the project includes an academic partner institution, (b) the proposal adheres to all
NSF budget guidelines, and (c) the proposal budget does not include any costs
already covered by Federal funds.
Who May Serve as PI:

3

There are no restrictions or limits for investigators from universities and colleges;
non-profit, non-academic organizations; and for-profit organizations as defined
above.
Investigators from NSF-funded FFRDCs (e.g., National Center for Atmospheric
Research/NCAR) may submit proposals to this competition, provided that (a) the
project includes an academic partner institution, (b) the proposal adheres to all
NSF budget guidelines, and (c) the proposal budget does not include any costs
already covered by Federal funds.
Participation in any project by investigators from other federal agencies
and/or FFRDCs may be via a letter of participation indicating that those
organizations will provide, at no cost, the services and research as indicated in the
proposal. Alternatively, Federal agencies and non-NSF-funded FFRDCs can
participate as subawardees, provided that those organizations include in the
proposal a letter from the responsible agency confirming that agency’s financial
support of the agency’s or FFRDC’s participation
should the project be funded by
NSF.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
There are no limits on Track 1 proposals.
An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, Senior Personnel,
subawardee, or consultant (or any similar designation), or elsewhere in the proposal
budget in no more than one Track 2 proposal. Proposers are responsible for complying
with this restriction. In cases where an individual appears in two or more proposals, any
submitted proposals involving that person may be returned without review.

V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is required. Please see the full text of this
solicitation for further information.
Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
Full Proposals:
Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures
Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available
electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?
ods_key=pappg.
Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for
the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov guidelines apply
(Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and
on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?
ods_key=grantsgovguide).
B. Budgetary Information

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Cost Sharing Requirements:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:
Not Applicable
Other Budgetary Limitations:
Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further
information.
C. Due Dates
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     July 29, 2016
     Last Friday in July, Every Other Year Thereafter
Required for Track 2 Proposals
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     September 20, 2016
     Third Tuesday in September, Every Other Year Thereafter
Track 2 Proposals
Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     August 01, 2016 - January 04, 2017
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
     January 05, 2017 - January 04, 2018
     January 5 - January 4, Annually Thereafter
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria:
National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the
full text of this solicitation for further information.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions:
Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Reporting Requirements:

5

Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of Program Requirements
I. Introduction
II. Program Description
III. Award Information
IV. Eligibility Information
V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Due Dates
D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria
B. Review and Selection Process
VII. Award Administration Information
A. Notification of the Award
B. Award Conditions
C. Reporting Requirements
VIII. Agency Contacts
IX. Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION
Natural disasters cause thousands of deaths annually, and in 2013 alone caused over $130 billion in
damage worldwide. NOAA has estimated that recovery from Hurricane Sandy will cost over $65 billion,
and that the 2012 drought cost the US economy over $30 billion. The 2011 earthquake in Japan killed
over 15,000 people in one of the most earthquake-prepared nations on Earth, and comparable events
will strike the US Pacific Northwest. There is a clear societal need to better understand and mitigate the
risks posed to the US by natural hazards, consistent with NSF’s mandate "…to promote the progress of
science [and]
advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare...."
PREEVENTS is one element of the NSF-wide Risk and Resilience activity, which has the overarching
goal of improving predictability and
risk assessment, and increasing resilience, in order to reduce the
impact of extreme events on our life, society, and economy. PREEVENTS is designed as a logical
successor to the Hazards SEES program
and as an additional mechanism to support research and
related activities that will improve our understanding of the fundamental processes underlying natural
hazards and extreme events in the geosciences.

6

PREEVENTS is focused on natural hazards and extreme events, and not technological or deliberately
human-caused hazards and/or extreme events
(e.g., accidental or deliberate technological disasters,
terrorism, war, etc.). The PREEVENTS portfolio will include the potential for disciplinary and
multidisciplinary research at all scales, particularly aimed at areas ripe for significant near- or mediumterm advances.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
PREEVENTS seeks to address these issues by supporting projects
that will (1) enhance understanding
of the fundamental processes underlying natural hazards and extreme events on various spatial and
temporal scales, as well as the variability inherent in such hazards and
events, and (2) improve our
capability to model and forecast such hazards and events. All projects requesting PREEVENTS
support must be primarily focused on these two targets.
PREEVENTS projects should improve our understanding of the direct and/or cascading effects of
natural hazards and extreme events. PREEVENTS projects will enable development, with support by
other programs and organizations, of new tools to enhance societal preparedness and resilience against
such impacts. PREEVENTS encourages, but does not require, that proposals incorporate these two
subsidiary goals.
Program Tracks
Track 1: Conferences
PREEVENTS is intended to encourage new scientific directions in the domains of natural hazards and
extreme events. Proposals may be submitted for conferences that will foster development of
interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary communities required to address complex questions surrounding
natural hazards and extreme events. Proposals for conferences within a well-established community or
a single discipline are not appropriate for PREEVENTS.
PIs for prospective Track 1 proposals are encouraged to contact the PREEVENTS Management Team
([email protected])
prior to submitting a proposal. PIs should send a summary of the proposed
conference (up to two pages long) that describes the purpose of
the conference, the disciplines and
communities involved, and how the proposed conference would advance the goals of PREEVENTS.
Budgets for Track 1 proposals are generally limited to less than $50,000, but under exceptional
circumstances may be up to $100,000.
Track 1 proposals may be submitted at any time within the submission windows given in this solicitation,
but proposers should be aware that proposals may not be submitted between 5:00 pm and 11:59 p.m.
proposer's local time on the last day of the submission window.
PIs for all Track 1 awards will be required to submit to NSF a public
report that summarizes the
conference activities, attendance, and outcomes; describes scientific and/or technical challenges that
remain to be overcome in the areas discussed during the conference; and identifies specific next steps
to advance knowledge in the areas of natural hazards and extreme events that were considered during
the conference. These reports will be made publicly available via the NSF Web site. Further details will
be provided by the cognizant Program Officers and in the award document.
Track 2
PREEVENTS welcomes proposals addressing both primary targets described above, but which may
extend beyond what is typically supported
by GEO “core” programs due to the scope, scale, and/or
complexity of the problem to be studied or approaches to be used; because the problem requires a
multidisciplinary approach spanning multiple GEO programs or divisions; or for other similar

7

programmatic reasons. Track 2 proposals may not request support for generation or collection of
new data and/or measures (e.g., field instrument deployments or other similar experiments), but
may request support for analysis, synthesis, and/or modeling efforts that use existing data
and/or measures. Proposals
for PREEVENTS-relevant projects that include generation or collection of
new data/and or measures should be submitted to appropriate GEO programs following the guidelines
and requirements of those programs, in
order to ensure appropriate consideration of field and/or facility
support. Such proposals may be considered for PREEVENTS co-funding
after merit review by the
managing program.
Track 2 proposals may be submitted for durations of up to five years.
Project durations and budgets
must be commensurate with the scope
of the work proposed, and with guidance provided elsewhere in
this solicitation regarding anticipated program resources.

III. AWARD INFORMATION
NSF anticipates funding a total of 15 to 20 proposals pursuant
to this solicitation, including both Track 1
and Track 2 projects, subject to availability of funds. NSF anticipates funding a mix of project sizes, with
durations up to five years. Note that Track 1 awards will be generally limited to less than $50,000, but
under exceptional circumstances may be up to $100,000.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including
community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting
on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch
Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an
international branch campus of a US institution of higher education
(including
through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must
explain
the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch
campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US
campus.
Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories,
research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S.
associated with educational or research activities.
For-profit organizations: U.S. commercial organizations, especially small
businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or
education.
NSF-funded FFRDCs may submit proposals to this competition, provided that (a)
the project includes an academic partner institution, (b) the proposal adheres to all
NSF budget guidelines, and (c) the proposal budget does not include any costs
already covered by Federal funds.
Who May Serve as PI:
There are no restrictions or limits for investigators from universities and colleges;
non-profit, non-academic organizations; and for-profit organizations as defined
above.

8

Investigators from NSF-funded FFRDCs (e.g., National Center for Atmospheric
Research/NCAR) may submit proposals to this competition, provided that (a) the
project includes an academic partner institution, (b) the proposal adheres to all
NSF budget guidelines, and (c) the proposal budget does not include any costs
already covered by Federal funds.
Participation in any project by investigators from other federal agencies
and/or FFRDCs may be via a letter of participation indicating that those
organizations will provide, at no cost, the services and research as indicated in the
proposal. Alternatively, Federal agencies and non-NSF-funded FFRDCs can
participate as subawardees, provided that those organizations include in the
proposal a letter from the responsible agency confirming that agency’s financial
support of the agency’s or FFRDC’s participation
should the project be funded by
NSF.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
There are no limits on Track 1 proposals.
An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, Senior Personnel,
subawardee, or consultant (or any similar designation), or elsewhere in the proposal
budget in no more than one Track 2 proposal. Proposers are responsible for complying
with this restriction. In cases where an individual appears in two or more proposals, any
submitted proposals involving that person may be returned without review.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Letters of Intent (required):
Letters of Intent are only required for Track 2 proposals.
Track 2 proposals may only be submitted by organizations that
have submitted the required
Track 2 Letter of Intent (LOI) by the LOI due date.
NSF will use LOIs to ensure that the appropriate expertise is available for participation in the review and
selection process, to foresee potential conflicts of interest, and to anticipate special award
conditions
that may be necessary to accommodate the proposed project structure. The LOI is a statement of a
proposer's preliminary plans; the
senior personnel, partner organizations, and proposed plans may
change between submission of the Letter of Intent and submission of the Full Proposal.
A complete PREEVENTS Track 2 Letter of Intent must include the following information, submitted via
FastLane no later than the LOI due date:
Project Title
In the "Synopsis" Data Field (maximum 2,500 characters of plain text): provide a summary that
briefly describes the planned project and identifies the natural hazard and/or extreme event
process that would be addressed; explains the scientific motivation for the planned effort; and
describes specifically how the planned work would address both of the primary PREEVENTS
targets. The synopsis should
be sufficiently detailed to permit an appropriate selection of

9

potential reviewers.
In the "Other Comments" text data field (maximum 2,500 characters of
plain text): provide full
names and institutional affiliations of the PI, co-PI, and anticipated Senior Personnel and a list of
participating organizations
In the "Point of Contact for NSF Inquiries" field (maximum 255 characters of plain text): Name
and contact information for the individual to whom inquiries from NSF should be sent
In the "Estimated Total Funding Request" field: Estimated total budget request for the entire
project.
Upon successful submission of the LOI by the Sponsored Projects Office, please save a PDF
copy of the submitted LOI, for use in
the corresponding Track 2 full proposal submission.
Letter of Intent Preparation Instructions:
When submitting a Letter of Intent through FastLane in response to this Program Solicitation please
note the conditions outlined below:
Other Participating Organizations are allowed
Subrecipients may participate in more than one Letter of Intent
Submission by an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is required when submitting
Letters of Intent.
Point of Contact for NSF Inquiries
is required when submitting Letters of Intent
Estimated Total Funding Request
is required when submitting Letters of Intent
Submission of multiple Letters of Intent is not allowed
Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this
Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.
Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program
solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines
contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete
text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at:
https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg. Paper copies of the PAPPG
may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by email from [email protected].
Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number
in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science
Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal
processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program
solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF
Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications
via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the
Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?
ods_key=grantsgovguide).
To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms
Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download
a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity

10

number, (the program
solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download
Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from
the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703)
292-7827 or by e-mail from
[email protected].
In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal,
please note the following:
Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple
organizations must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system. PAPPG Chapter II.D.3 provides
additional information on collaborative proposals.
See PAPPG Chapter II.C.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted
to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may
deviate from the PAPPG instructions.
Except as modified below, proposals should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines in the
PAPPG or Grants.gov Application Guide.
Instructions for Track 1 Full Proposals:
Proposers should select the "submission window" option on the FastLane cover page. Please
note that Track 1 proposals may be submitted at any time during the submission window, with
the caveat that
no proposals will be accepted between 5:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. proposer's local
time on the last day of the submission window. However, the proposal can be submitted the next
day.
The project title on the proposal Cover Sheet must begin with "PREEVENTS Track 1:"
Results of Prior NSF Support: Track 1 proposals must include in the Project Description a
section describing the results
of prior NSF support for all PIs and co-PIs; if a PI or co-PI has had
no NSF support in the past five years, insert "No NSF support in the past five years".
Supplementary Documents:
Student Mentoring Plan (SMP; up to 1 page in length)
Proposals that request funding to support undergraduate and/or graduate students at any
of the participating institutions must include a
description of the mentoring activities that
will be provided for such individuals, especially those intended to provide preparation for
non-academic careers. Only one SMP, of no more than one page in length, is allowed per
proposal, even if multiple students from different institutions would be involved. Proposals
requesting support for undergraduate and/or graduate students, and lacking this
Supplementary Document, will be returned without review.
Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (PMP; up to two pages)
All proposals that request funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a
Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan that meets all requirements in the PAPPG.
Data Management Plan (DMP; up to two pages)
All proposals must include a data management plan that meets all requirements in the
PAPPG and also provides a planned timeline for release of all data, metadata, samples
and other research products.
Projects involving non-NSF-funded FFRDCs
Should a proposal involving a non-NSF-funded FFRDC be successful, the
full FFRDC
financial commitment is to be met by the FFRDC agency. It is
thus necessary that

11

proposals involving non-NSF-funded FFRDCs be cleared in advance with the relevant
agency, and the proposal must include a Supplementary Document from the relevant
agency indicating that agency will provide full financial support of the FFRDC’s
participation.
Projects involving other Federal agencies
Should a proposal involving other Federal agencies be successful, the
full financial
commitment of each other agency is to be met by that agency. It is thus necessary that
submissions involving other Federal agencies be cleared in advance with each relevant
agency, and the submission must include a Supplementary Document from each agency
indicating that agency will provide the services and research as indicated at the proposal,
with no cost to NSF.
Instructions for Track 2 Full Proposals:
The project title on the proposal Cover Sheet must begin with "PREEVENTS Track 2:"
Project Descriptions for Track 2 proposals may be no more than 20 pages long.
Results of Prior NSF Support: All proposals must include in the Project Description a section
describing the results
of prior NSF support for all PIs and co-PIs; if a PI or co-PI has had no NSF
support in the past five years, insert "No NSF support in the past five years".
Supplementary Documents:
Management and Integration Plan (MIP; up to 3 pages in length, PDF format)
All Track 2 proposals must include a Management and Integration Plan of up to three
pages in length, which will be subject to reviewer, panel, and program evaluation. Track 2
proposals lacking an MIP will be returned without review. The MIP should:
list all Senior Personnel (including subawardees) in the project (provide the last
name, first name, and institution/organization), identify each person's relevant
disciplinary expertise, and describe each person's specific role(s) in the proposed
project;
describe how the group effort will be coordinated;
describe how the results of different project elements will be integrated into a
coherent whole;
describe any collaborations and partnerships and their integration with the project;
describe how results, models, and ideas will be disseminated and shared with the
research community and stakeholders; and
include a clear time line of expected outcomes.
Student Mentoring Plan (SMP; up to 1 page in length)
Proposals that request funding to support undergraduate and/or graduate students at any
of the participating institutions must include a
description of the mentoring activities that
will be provided for such individuals, especially those intended to provide preparation for
non-academic careers. Only one SMP, of no more than one page in length, is allowed per
proposal, even if multiple students from different institutions would be involved. Proposals
requesting support for undergraduate and/or graduate students, and lacking this
Supplementary Document, will be returned without review.
Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (PMP; up to two pages)
All proposals that request funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a
Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan that meets all requirements in the PAPPG.
Data Management Plan (DMP; up to two pages)

12

All proposals must include a data management plan that meets all requirements in the
PAPPG and also provides a planned timeline
for release of all data, metadata, samples
and other research products.
Computational Facilities
Projects requiring high-performance computing or other large-scale computational
resources must include a Supplementary Document, of no more than one page in length,
detailing the specific computational resources needed and the facility/facilities from which
such resources would be requested.
Projects involving non-NSF-funded FFRDCs
Should a proposal involving a non-NSF-funded FFRDC be successful, the
full FFRDC
financial commitment is to be met by the FFRDC agency. It is
thus necessary that
proposals involving non-NSF-funded FFRDCs be cleared in advance with the relevant
agency, and the proposal must include a Supplementary Document from the relevant
agency indicating that agency will provide full financial support of the FFRDC's
participation.
Projects involving other Federal agencies
Should a proposal involving other Federal agencies be successful, the
full financial
commitment of each other agency is to be met by that agency. It is thus necessary that
submissions involving other Federal agencies be cleared in advance with each relevant
agency, and the submission must include a Supplementary Document from each agency
indicating that agency will provide the services and research as indicated at the proposal,
with no cost to NSF.
Additional Single Copy Documents
Project Personnel (text-searchable PDF)
Each proposal must submit a single unified participant list for the entire project. For each
person known at the time of proposal submission, provide the last name, first name, and
institution/organization; undergraduate students, graduate students, and
postdoctoral
researchers not yet specifically identified do not need to
be included in this list. Proposals
lacking the list of project personnel will be returned without review.
Collaborators and Other Affiliations Information: Proposers should follow the guidance
specified
in Chapter II.C.1.e of the NSF PAPPG. Grants.gov Users: The COA information must be
provided through use of the COA template and uploaded as a PDF attachment.
Track 2 Letter of Intent (PDF format)
Track 2 proposals must include, as a single copy document in PDF format, the
corresponding Letter of Intent that was submitted via FastLane in accordance with
instructions elsewhere in this solicitation. Proposals lacking this document will be
returned without review.
Statement of revisions to previously submitted proposals (PDF format, up to 1
page)
Proposals submitted to this competition that have previously been declined in any NSF
competition must be substantially revised to meet PREEVENTS criteria, and must contain
a Single Copy Document, of no more than one page in length, explicitly describing what

13

changes have been made to the proposal.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
Track 1 proposals are generally limited to less than $50,000 but under exceptional
circumstances may be supported up to $100,000.
Track 2 proposals may not request support for generation or collection of new data and/or
measures (see Track 2 description). Track 2 proposals may be submitted for durations of up to
five years. Project durations and budgets must be commensurate with the scope of the work
proposed, and with guidance provided elsewhere in this solicitation regarding anticipated
program resources.
Grantee Conference:

Budgets for all PREEVENTS proposals (Track 1 and Track 2) must include costs of travel for at
least one member of the project team to travel to the Washington, D.C. area to participate in an
annual PREEVENTS grantee conference.
Expenses associated with international projects

This program will support the costs of U.S.-based scientists and their students. International
partners are encouraged to seek support from their respective funding organizations. Funding
guidelines for involving international partners allow the following expenses to be included in the
NSF budget: 1) Travel expenses for U.S. scientists and students participating in exchange visits
integral to the project; 2) Limited project-related expenses for international partners to engage in
research activities while in the United States as project participants;
3) Project-related expenses
for U.S. participants to engage in research
activities while abroad.
Projects involving FFRDCs

If a project involves investigators from any FFRDC, expenses associated with participation of
those scientists should be consolidated
into a single subaward for the given FFRDC.
Projects involving US government agency investigators

If a project involves investigators employed by any US government agency, expenses associated
with participation of those scientists should be consolidated into a single subaward for the given
agency.
C. Due Dates
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     July 29, 2016
     Last Friday in July, Every Other Year Thereafter
Required for Track 2 Proposals
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     September 20, 2016
     Third Tuesday in September, Every Other Year Thereafter
Track 2 Proposals

14

Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
     August 01, 2016 - January 04, 2017
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
     January 05, 2017 - January 04, 2018
     January 5 - January 4, Annually Thereafter
Track 1 (conferences): see proposal preparation instructions for further details
D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:
To prepare and submit a proposal via FastLane, see detailed technical instructions
available at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call
the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [email protected].
The FastLane
Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system.
Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF
program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.
For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:
Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register to create an
institutional profile. Once registered, the applicant's organization can then apply for any
federal grant on the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using
Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources webpage:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html.
In addition, the NSF Grants.gov
Application Guide (see link in Section V.A) provides instructions regarding the technical
preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the
Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email: [email protected].
The
Grants.gov Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the use of
Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the
NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.
Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents
have been completed, the Authorized
Organizational Representative (AOR)
must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify
the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The
AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application
will be transferred to the NSF FastLane system for
further processing.
Proposers that submitted via FastLane are strongly encouraged to use FastLane to verify the status of
their submission to NSF. For proposers that submitted via Grants.gov, until an application has been
received and validated by NSF, the Authorized Organizational Representative may check the status of
an application on Grants.gov. After proposers have received an e-mail notification from NSF,
Research.gov should be used to
check the status of an application.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES
Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program for acknowledgement and, if
they meet NSF requirements, for review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or

15

educator serving as an NSF Program
Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF
either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or both, who are experts in the
particular fields represented by the
proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review
process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to
review the proposal and/or persons they
would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may
serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of
such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest
with the proposal. In addition, Program Officers may obtain comments from site visits before
recommending final action on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards.
A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award process (and associated timeline) is
included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1.
A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website
at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/.
Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential to the fulfillment of NSF's mission,
as articulated in Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation - NSF Strategic Plan for
Fiscal Years (FY) 2018 – 2022.
These strategies are integrated in the program planning and
implementation process, of which proposal review is one part. NSF's mission is particularly wellimplemented through the integration of research and education and broadening participation in NSF
programs, projects, and activities.
One of the strategic objectives in support of NSF's mission is to foster integration of research and
education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research
institutions. These institutions must recruit, train, and prepare a diverse STEM workforce to advance the
frontiers of science and participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to the
national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research under the guidance of the Nation's
most creative scientists and engineers. NSF also supports development of a strong science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing in building the knowledge that informs
improvements in STEM teaching and
learning.
NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities and expanding
participation of groups,
institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is essential to
the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and
deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports.
A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria
The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and diverse portfolio of projects that
creates new knowledge and enables breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and
engineering research and education. To identify which projects to support, NSF relies on a merit review
process that incorporates consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and its
potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission "to promote the progress of science; to
advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other
purposes." NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive, transparent merit review process for
the selection of projects.
1. Merit Review Principles
These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when preparing proposals and
managing projects, by reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program staff
when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for funding
and while overseeing awards.
Given that NSF is the primary federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in basic
research and education, the following three principles apply:

16

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.
These "Broader Impacts" may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that
are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but
are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established
and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.
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. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that
activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these
activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated, level than the individual project.
With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader Impacts outcomes for particular
projects is done at an aggregated level,
PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the activities
described in the funded project. Thus, individual projects should include clearly stated goals, specific
descriptions of the activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document the outputs of
those activities.
These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit review criteria, as well as a context
within which the users of the criteria can better understand their intent.
2. Merit Review Criteria
All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review
criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the
specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the
review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient.
Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d(i). contains additional
information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal).
Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d(i), prior to
the review of a proposal.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do,
why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits
could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the
proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will
be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:
Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance
knowledge; and
Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society
and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.
The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:
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

17

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?
Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly
related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary
to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to
achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full
participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator
development at any level; increased
public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and
technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive
STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national
security; increased economic competitiveness of the United States; and enhanced infrastructure for
research and education.
Proposers are reminded that reviewers will also be asked to review the Data Management Plan and the
Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan,
as appropriate.
Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria
In addition to the National Science Board merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to apply the
following program-specific criteria when reviewing PREEVENTS Track 2 proposals:
How well would the proposed activities enhance understanding of the fundamental processes
underlying natural hazards and/or extreme events?
How well would the proposed activities improve capacity to model and forecast natural hazards
and/or extreme events?
Will the proposed research be broadly applicable and transferable?
Quality and Appropriateness of the Management and Integration Plan (MIP)
a. How strong is the MIP?
b. How qualified is the project PI to carry out the MIP?
c. Is the research team focused on a cohesive and well-delineated goal or set of goals?
d. What is the quality of the proposed plan for the dissemination of results, models, tools,
and ideas (1) to the research community and (2) to stakeholders?
e. Is the proposed timeline adequate and appropriate?
B. Review and Selection Process
Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or
Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to evaluate proposals using two National Science Board approved merit review
criteria and, if applicable, additional program specific criteria. A summary rating and accompanying
narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. The Program Officer assigned to manage
the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
The program may implement a two-stage panel review process, depending
on the number and breadth
of proposals received. During a first review stage, groups of thematically similar proposals would
undergo panel review. The program’s management team would consider the panels’ advice and, if
warranted, select proposals to move on to a second stage of review. Proposals not selected for further
consideration may be declined at this point. PIs for proposals selected for further consideration may be
invited to provide a written response (maximum of 2
pages) to the stage-one reviews. A second review
panel may take into consideration the stage-one reviews and panel summary and the PIs’ written

18

response when reviewing a given proposal.
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 strives to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals
have been declined or recommended for
funding within six months. Large or particularly complex
proposals or proposals from new awardees may require additional review and processing
time. The time
interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when
the Division Director acts upon the Program Officer's recommendation.
After programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be
forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy
implications. After an administrative review has occurred, Grants and Agreements Officers perform the
processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and
Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the
expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary
discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or
personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants
and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.
Once an award or declination decision has been made, Principal Investigators are provided feedback
about their proposals. In all cases,
reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of
reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers or any reviewer-identifying information, are sent to the
Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an
explanation of the decision to award or decline
funding.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
A. Notification of the Award
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of
Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as
possible by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not
including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See
Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.)
B. Award Conditions
An
NSF award consists of: (1) the award notice, which includes any special
provisions applicable to the
award and any numbered amendments thereto;
(2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by
categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific
approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award notice;
(4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1)*; or Research Terms and
Conditions* and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in
the award notice. Cooperative agreements
also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative
Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable
Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and
Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained
from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from

19

[email protected].
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the
administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide
(PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at
https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
Special Award Conditions:
For each award, one or more project representatives will be required
to attend an annual grantee
conference where they will (1) report on project progress to other awardees, the funding
agencies, and other interested parties and (2) work to integrate their efforts with those of
other
PREEVENTS awardees.
PIs for all Track 1 awards will be required to submit to NSF a public report that summarizes the
conference activities, attendance, and
outcomes; describes scientific and/or technical challenges
that remain to be overcome in the areas discussed during the conference; and identifies specific
next steps to advance knowledge in the areas of natural hazards and extreme events that were
considered during the conference. These reports will be made publicly available via the NSF
Web site. Further details will be provided by the cognizant Program Officers and in the award
document.
C. Reporting Requirements
For
all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must
submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer no later than 90 days prior to the end
of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require submission of more frequent project
reports). No later than 120 days following expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final
project
report, and a project outcomes report for the general public.
Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or the project outcomes report, will delay
NSF review and processing of any
future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for all
identified PIs and co-PIs on a given award. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in
advance to assure availability of required data.
PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through Research.gov, for
preparation and submission of annual
and final project reports. Such reports provide information on
accomplishments, project participants (individual and organizational), publications, and other specific
products and impacts of the project. Submission of the report via Research.gov constitutes certification
by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report also
must be prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared
specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the
NSF website exactly as it is submitted
by the PI.
More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements and other important information on
the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures
Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VII, available electronically on the NSF Website at
https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
PIs will be required to include in their annual reports descriptions
of progress toward
accomplishment of their project milestones, data management activities including release of
products, and student and postdoctoral mentoring activities. Data reporting should conform to
current NSF data policy guidelines; PIs should consult the Grant Proposal Guide for further
details.
PIs for all Track 1 awards will be required to submit to NSF a public report that summarizes the
conference activities, attendance, and
outcomes; describes scientific and/or technical challenges

20

that remain to be overcome in the areas discussed during the conference; and identifies specific
next steps to advance knowledge in the areas of natural hazards and extreme events that were
considered during the conference. These reports will be made publicly available via the NSF
Web site. Further details will be provided by the cognizant Program Officers and in the award
document.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS
Please
note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program
website for any updates to the points of contact.
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
Justin Lawrence,
telephone:
(703) 292-2425,
email: [email protected]
Carrie E. Black,
telephone:
(703) 292-2426,
email: [email protected]
Eric T. DeWeaver,
telephone:
(703) 292-8527,
email: [email protected]
Jennifer Wade,
telephone:
(703) 292-4739,
email: [email protected]
George Voulgaris,
telephone:
(703) 292-4770,
email: [email protected]
Michael E. Jackson,
telephone:
(703) 292-8033,
email: [email protected]
Nicholas Hayman,
telephone:
(703) 292-2912,
email: [email protected]
For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: [email protected].
For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:
Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not
received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application,
please contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [email protected].

IX. OTHER INFORMATION
The
NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates
(including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential
proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, "NSF Update" is an information-delivery system designed
to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and
publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF
Grants Conferences.
Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new
publications are issued that match their identified interests. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's
website.
Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for
Federal government-wide grant
opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this mechanism. Further information on
Grants.gov may be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.

21

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the
National
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the
NSF is "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."
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants
and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems,
businesses,
informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The
Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.
NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects,
of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand
applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but
does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and
Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities
and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational
activities at every academic level.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
provide funding for special
assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the
NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.E.6 for instructions regarding
preparation of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with
the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at
(703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by
competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the
sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and
to access abstracts of awards, visit the
NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov
Location:
For General Information
(NSF Information Center):

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA
22314
(703) 292-5111

TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090
To Order Publications or
Forms:
Send an e-mail to:
or telephone:
To Locate NSF Employees:

[email protected]
(703) 292-7827
(703) 292-5111

22

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used
in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be
used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The
information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the
proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the
proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors,
experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other
government agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a
joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal
agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party.
Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential
candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12,
2004), and NSF-51,
"Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May
12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information,
however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information
collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB
control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden
for this collection of information
is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send
comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Office of the General Counsel
National Science Foundation
Alexandria, VA 22314

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