[Flex] NSF NEWSLETTER

[Claire Reid]

Hi,

Recently NSF sent out a newsletter - I think most of our scientific 
staff are on the email lists... I sent this to you for information - 
please share within your department as appropriate.

*9. Proposal Compliance and Target Dates*

We are seeing an increasing number of proposals that do not conform to 
the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) and long-standing Program policies. In 
the past we have been fairly liberal in allowing non-conforming 
proposals to be revised before we send them out for review.  However, 
Program time spent checking compliance and corresponding with principal 
investigators (PI) to make corrections has become such a burden that it 
compromises other aspects of the review process.  Therefore, we strongly 
recommend that the sponsored research office and principal investigators 
make every effort to ensure that proposals are compliant with the Grant 
Proposal Guide before submission and before the target date.  Starting 
in 2008, proposals identified by the Program as non-compliant will have 
a very narrow window after the target date in which the PI can correct 
the proposal.  If the non-compliant proposal is not corrected or a 
non-compliance issue is identified after this time period then the 
proposal will be returned without review for non-compliance.  If you 
have questions regarding compliance feel free to contact the Program to 
which you are submitting your proposal prior to submission.  The 
following is a brief reminder of policies that seem to be the most often 
misunderstood:

 
*Target Dates* -- 15 August and February.  Proposals are to be submitted 
on or shortly prior to this date.  The target date designation allows 
for leniency when a PI has exigent circumstances that preclude them from 
a timely submission.  In such rare cases, the principal investigator 
should contact the program prior to the target date.  Proposals 
submitted after this date without prior authorization from the Program 
will still be accepted, although they will be held for the following 
panel cycle. In these circumstances, it may be best to withdraw the 
proposal rather than leave it static in the period between target dates.

*Organizations Eligible for NSF Support -- * Proposals submitted to OCE 
requesting support for foreign organizations, state governments and 
other federal agencies are usually non-compliant.  It is not in keeping 
with long standing NSF Policy to provide support for foreign 
organizations, other federal agencies and state governments. In the case 
of foreign organizations, exceptions may be granted where there is an 
exceptionally strong case that the supported activities cannot be 
obtained by a U.S. organization; however, these exceptions should be 
cleared with the Program in advance of submitting a proposal so that 
unneeded efforts and returned proposals are not a result.   As for 
federal employees,  we cannot provide salary or travel expenses for 
other Federal employees and, as Program policy, we do not generally 
provide research expenses for other Federal research efforts.  We follow 
similar guidelines for State agencies and personnel, but we do have 
flexibility to support funding for educational purposes.  We do not view 
courtesy appointments of Federal or State employees at eligible 
organizations as a legitimate way to circumvent the intention of policy. 
Organizations eligible to receive NSF support are listed in the Grant 
Proposal Guide (GPG Section I.E.).

*Results from Prior NSF Support* -  PIs and co-PIs who have received NSF 
support within the last 5 years are required to provide information on 
the award(s).  Proposals lacking full development of this section may be 
returned as non-compliant. In addition, an increasing number of 
investigators have submitted proposals that include in the/ /

*References Cited* section of the proposal a separate section of 
references for publications related to Results from Prior NSF Support.  
Using the references section to provide information that should be 
included in the 15-page Project Description goes against the GPG.  A 
list of specific information that should be addressed in the prior 
support section of the Project Description is found in Section II.C. of 
the GPG

 
The issues, highlighted above, are covered by the GPG and, in some 
cases, we have developed Program guidelines to provide further 
guidance.  Program Officers are here to discuss your potential 
submission well in advance of proposal preparation.

*Biographical Sketch(es)-* Please ensure that biographical sketch 
information is current. This information is used by the programs to 
check for conflicts and provides reviewers with relevant publications 
for review.


-- 
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Claire L. Reid
Director, Grant & Contract Services
Fenno House,  ms #39
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA  02543

Phone:  508-289-2462
Fax:  508-457-2189
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