Title: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and 
       Engineering Mentoring Presidential Awards for Excellence in 
       Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)
Date: 02/29/08
Replaced: NSF 03-503

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering
Mentoring   Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and
Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)

Program Solicitation
NSF 04-525

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 03-503

[NSF Logo]  National Science Foundation

            Directorate for Education & Human Resources
                 Division of Undergraduate Education

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     March 02, 2004

     First Tuesday in March, Annually Thereafter

     April 22, 2008

          For 2008 ONLY

REVISION NOTES

For 2008, the originally announced deadline for proposals/nominations
(March 4, 2008) has been extended to April 22, 2008.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and
     Engineering Mentoring

Synopsis of Program:

     The PAESMEM Program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring
     efforts that enhance the participation of groups (i.e., women,
     minorities, and persons with disabilities) that are
     underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and
     mathematics. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort
     to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science,
     technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Daphne Y. Rainey, Lead Program Director, PAESMEM, Division of
     Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703)292-8670, email:
     drainey@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

   * 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Standard Grant

Estimated Number of Awards:    20   -- Approximately 10 Individual and 10
Organizational awards each fiscal year

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $200,000  for new awards in each fiscal year
pending the availability of funds

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Organization must be eligible to be an NSF awardee (see the
          NSF Grant Proposal Guide). Must have demonstrated
          outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance
          to a significant number of underrepresented students at the
          K-12, undergraduate, or graduate education levels for at
          least five years.

PI Limit:

     Proposed nominee must be a U.S. Citizen; must have affiliation
     with an organization eligible to be an NSF awardee; must not be a
     Federal government employee; must have demonstrated outstanding
     and sustained mentoring and effective guidance to a significant
     number of underrepresented students at the K-12, undergraduate,
     or graduate education levels for at least five years.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     Only one nomination per organization. The single nomination may
     be for an Individual Award or for an Organizational Award, but
     not for both.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     None Specified

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

   * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

   * Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains
     information that supplements the standard NSF Proposal and Award
     Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
     proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this
     solicitation for further information

B. Budgetary Information

   * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required under this
     solicitation.

   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

     No indirect costs are allowed.

   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

          March 02, 2004

          First Tuesday in March, Annually Thereafter

          April 22, 2008

               For 2008 ONLY

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:   Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

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 Requirements

 VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
       A. NSF Merit Review 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

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The White House has established the Presidential Awards for Excellence in
Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program. The
program, administered on behalf of the White House by the National Science
Foundation, seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts or programs
designed to enhance the participation of groups underrepresented in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The awardees serve as
exemplars to their colleagues and are leaders in the national effort to
more fully develop the Nation's human resources in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics. Nominations to honor individuals and
organizations are invited for the competition of these annual awards.

It is expected that each award will be used to continue the recognized
activities. The nominees must have served in such a mentoring role for at
least five years. Beyond the grant award, each awardee will be invited to
Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony, recognition events, and meetings
with leaders in Federal sector education and research, and focused
workshops addressing effective mentoring of students from the
underrepresented groups. The awardees will be honored at a White House
ceremony.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The submission process requires that the candidate individual or
organization be nominated by a colleague, administrator, or student.
Nominations may only be considered for one of the two categories of award,
either "individual" or "organizational," but not both. Only one award will
be made to a single organization or an individual at that organization per
annual competition. Nominations for an "individual award" must clearly
delineate the achievements of the individual as separate from those of the
organization; nominations for an "organizational award" must reflect the
organizational as different from the individual achievements. The
nomination packet should include:

INDIVIDUAL NOMINEES.

   * A statement summarizing (describing and documenting) the mentoring
     activities that constitute the basis for the nomination, including a
     list of students mentored;
   * A biographical sketch of the nominee; and
   * Letters of support (a maximum of 5) from colleagues and students
     attesting to the nominee's demonstrable and sustained achievements in
     the mentoring of underrepresented students in science, mathematics and
     engineering. These letters will be available to nominees on request.

ORGANIZATIONAL NOMINEES.

   * A statement summarizing (describing and documenting) the mentoring
     activities that constitute the basis for the nomination, including a
     list of specific mentoring activities contributory to the success of
     the students mentored, and materials documenting the sustained
     achievements in mentoring underrepresented students;
   * A brief institutional or organizational description; and
   * Letters of support (a maximum of 5) from colleagues and students
     attesting to the nominee organization's or institution's demonstrable
     and sustained achievements in the mentoring of underrepresented
     students in science, mathematics and engineering. These letters will
     be available to nominees on request.

All nominees will be notified of their nomination prior to the selection
process.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

The number of awards is subject to the availability of funds; however, the
estimated number of new awards in each fiscal year is approximately 10
Individual and 10 Organizational awards. The awards are standard grants in
the amount of $10,000 each. The grant will be accompanied by a
commemorative Presidential certificate. It is expected that each award will
be used to continue the recognized activity. Only one award will be made to
an organization (Individual or Organizational award) per competition. As in
the past, it is anticipated that the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) will contact nominees recommended for awards. The Program
Director will contact all nominees that are recommended for declination.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Organization must be eligible to be an NSF awardee (see the
          NSF Grant Proposal Guide). Must have demonstrated
          outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance
          to a significant number of underrepresented students at the
          K-12, undergraduate, or graduate education levels for at
          least five years.

PI Limit:

     Proposed nominee must be a U.S. Citizen; must have affiliation
     with an organization eligible to be an NSF awardee; must not be a
     Federal government employee; must have demonstrated outstanding
     and sustained mentoring and effective guidance to a significant
     number of underrepresented students at the K-12, undergraduate,
     or graduate education levels for at least five years.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     Only one nomination per organization. The single nomination may
     be for an Individual Award or for an Organizational Award, but
     not for both.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     None Specified

Additional Eligibility Info:

     An Individual Nominee must be a U.S. Citizen and must have
     affiliation with an organization eligible to be an NSF awardee.
     The Nominee may not be a federal government employee. The Nominee
     must have demonstrated outstanding and sustained mentoring and
     effective guidance to a significant number of students at the
     K-12, undergraduate, or graduate education levels for at least
     five years.

     An Organizational Nominee must be eligible to be an NSF awardee.
     Organizational Nominees must be organizations or institutions
     with program activities that have enabled a substantial number of
     students drawn from populations underrepresented in science,
     mathematics and engineering (i.e., women, minorities, and persons
     with disabilities) to successfully pursue and complete the
     relevant degree programs for at least five years. The specified
     efforts may be at the K-12, undergraduate, or graduate levels.

     Nominations for the individual award must clearly delineate the
     achievements of the individual as separate from those of the
     institution or organization. Nominations for the organizational
     award must reflect the organizational achievements as different
     from those of a single individual.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Instructions: Proposals submitted in response to this program
solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the
guidelines specified in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete
text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of
the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone
(703) 292-PUBS (7827) or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.  FastLane, NSF's
system for conducting business over the Internet, must be used to prepare
and submit nominations. Nominators who have not used FastLane before are
asked to make sure that their organization is a registered FastLane
organization and to contact the organization's Sponsored Projects Office
(SPO) to be registered as a FastLane user. (All Co-PIs listed in the
proposal must also be FastLane registered users.) New FastLane users should
acquaint themselves with the system as early as possible--well before the
proposal deadline.

Please note that the nomination must be submitted by the nominee's
organization.

Cover Sheet: The cover sheet should be completed with the submitter as
principal investigator, and the nominee as the co-principal investigator.
The nominator should enter the proposal into FastLane and add the nominee
to the proposal as a Co-PI in the Co-PI section of the cover sheet. This
guidance applies to Individual and Organizational nominations.

If the nominator is not at the same organization as the nominee, the
nominator should select the nominee's organization as the awardee
organization on the cover sheet and the nominee's organization should
submit the proposal to NSF via FastLane. It is the responsibility of the
nominator to communicate with the Sponsored Projects Office (or equivalent)
officials at the nominee's organization. (The nominator can find those
listed as the Sponsored Projects Office (or equivalent) officials for the
nominee's organization at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/n1/N1AddInst.html).

Should the nomination be successful, the nominee (co-PI) will be identified
as the principal investigator for the grant award, and the submitter will
be removed from the nomination.

When filling out the cover sheet in FastLane, it is important to indicate
the program solicitation number. If necessary, you may also choose "HRD:
Division of Human Resources Development" from the list of divisions, and
"PRES AWDS FOR EXCELL IN SCI" from the list of programs in the "NSF Unit
Consideration" section.

Also, on the cover sheet in the "Title of Proposed Project" field, the
submitter must indicate the submittal category, "INDIVIDUAL" or
"ORGANIZATIONAL," as the first word in the proposal title.

Project Summary: Summary of the work describing the activity cited in
support of the nomination, and to be supported by the grant award, if
funded. The Project Summary must clearly address in separate statements
(within the one-page summary): the intellectual merit of the activity and
the broader impacts resulting from the activity.

Project Description: A clear statement of the work cited in support of the
nomination, including the objectives of the mentoring program and its
long-term significance; the specific mentoring methods and procedures (the
actions performed); documentation (quantitative and qualitative); and the
plan to sustain the mentoring activity into the future (a maximum of 15
pages).

References Cited: Reference information is required for citations
identified in the nomination.

Biographical Sketches: A biographical profile of the individual nominee
(not submitter) or of the organizational nominee (not submitter) should be
provided.

Budget and Budget Justification: This program provides a grant award of
$10,000 to successful nominees. Submitters should indicate the nominee as
senior personnel in Line item A, and the requested grant amount in Line
item G, Other Direct Costs. In addition to the required budget, a budget
description of up to three pages may be used to provide the necessary
detail and justification about budget line items.

Current and Pending Support: This section calls for required information on
all current and pending support for the nominee for ongoing projects and
proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing grants.

Special Information and Supplementary Documentation: Letters supporting the
nomination (a maximum of 5) should be placed in proposal section J. Except
as specified, programmatic documentation must be included as part of the
project description, if it is relevant to determining the quality of the
proposed nomination.

PAESMEM Information Form

The Nominee must submit a signed copy of the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
(NSF) PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND
ENGINEERING MENTORING (PAESMEM) PROGRAM INFORMATION FORM (NSF FORM 1376
(4/96)) for White House Clearance. This form and specific instructions for
submission can be found on http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/forms/nsf1376.htm The
review and administration of this form and information will be handled
confidentially by the cognizant PAESMEM Program Director. These forms
(originals only) must be received at NSF by COB, seven (7) days following
the deadline. Send to:

Presidential Awards for Mentoring

Proposal # 0X-XXXXX (provide your proposal number)

National Science Foundation

Human Resource Development

4201 Wilson Boulevard (Room 815)

Arlington, VA 22230.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF
04-525) 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.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:   Cost sharing is not required under this solicitation.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

No indirect costs are allowed.

Budget Preparation Instructions:  This program provides a grant award of
$10,000 to successful awardees. Submitters (PI) should indicate the nominee
(co-PI) as senior personnel in Line item A, and the requested grant amount
in Line item G, Other Direct Costs. In addition to the required budget, a
budget description (up to three pages) may be used to provide the necessary
detail and justification about budget line items.

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

          March 02, 2004

          First Tuesday in March, Annually Thereafter

          April 22, 2008

               For 2008 ONLY

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this program
solicitation through use of the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions
regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via
FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For
FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or
e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. 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.

Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal
Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II,
Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications).
The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five
working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further
instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website
at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where
they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements.
All proposals 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 proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with
the 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.

A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science
Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the
broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF
will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific
objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria
include considerations that help define them. These considerations are
suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers
must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address
only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being
considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgements.

     What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
     How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
     understanding within its own field or across different fields?
     How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to
     conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment
     on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the
     proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or
     potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and
     organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to
     resources?

     What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
     How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
     while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does
     the proposed activity broaden the participation of
     underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability,
     geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the
     infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities,
     instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be
     disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological
     understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity
     to society?

Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are
available electronically on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.

NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in making
funding decisions:

     Integration of Research and Education
     One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to
     foster integration of research and education through the
     programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and
     research institutions. These institutions provide abundant
     opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume
     responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and
     where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with
     the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the
     diversity of learning perspectives.

     Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
     Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
     citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and
     persons with disabilities -- 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.

     Additional Review Criteria:

     The following criteria will be taken into consideration:

     ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUALS

     The number and diversity of students mentored to high school
     graduation, the associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree
     levels;

     The success of students mentored in pursuit of degree objectives and
     attendant quality of academic performance;

     Demonstrated achievement in assisting students to understand how the
     educational system works and promoting their advancement in the
     educational continuum in science, technology, engineering, or
     mathematics;

     Affording students effective academic/research experience, sustained
     academic support systems, and strategies leading to successful
     matriculation and degree completion in science, mathematics and
     engineering fields;

     Substantive achievements in changing the educational system to enable
     improved performance and advancement for underrepresented groups; and

     Demonstrated innovation that is replicable.

     ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR ORGANIZATIONS

     Demonstrated institutional sustainability in structural changes or
     special programs that have increased student retention and/or
     graduation rates;

     Demonstrated quality of institutional life that fosters the
     establishment of linkages (i.e., off-campus community connections)
     that facilitate learning, contacts, and career development;

     Demonstrated institutional or organizational success in the
     advancement or promotion of the educational and career development of
     students in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields;
     and

     Demonstrated distinctiveness in carrying out the institution's social
     responsibility to create a more positive learning environment by
     helping to provide an atmosphere that reflects valuing diversity among
     students, faculty, and administrators.

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 formulate a recommendation to either support or
decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the
proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate
a recommendation.

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.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted
by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential
documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, 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.

In all cases, 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 and
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.

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 letter, 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 letter; (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 letter. 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
http://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 pubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important
information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF
Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on
the NSF Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag.

Special Award Conditions:  As in the past, it is anticipated that OSTP will
contact nominees recommended for awards. This informal notification is not
a guarantee of an eventual award. NSF will be able to tell submitters
whether their nominations have been declined or recommended for funding
within six months for 95 percent of the nominations. The time interval
begins on the nomination submittal deadline date or from the date of
receipt, if the deadline date is not used by the program. The interval ends
when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

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 at least 90 days before the end of the current
budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project
reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is
required to submit a final project report.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay
NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any
pending proposals for that PI. 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 FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and
final project reports.  Such reports provide information on activities and
findings, project participants (individual and organizational)
publications; and, other specific products and contributions.  PIs will not
be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a
proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.  Submission of
the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the
contents of the report are accurate and complete.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

   * Daphne Y. Rainey, Lead Program Director, PAESMEM, Division of
     Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703)292-8670, email:
     drainey@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

   * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail:
     fastlane@nsf.gov.

   * Antoinette T. Allen, Information Technology Specialist, Division of
     Undergraduate Education, 835 N, telephone: (703)292-4646, email:
     duefl@nsf.gov

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, MyNSF (formerly the Custom News Service) 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 Regional 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. MyNSF also
is available on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for
Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may
be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may
be obtained at http://www.grants.gov.

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 40,000 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 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 provide
funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with
disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide
Chapter II, Section D.2 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 http://www.nsf.gov

        * Location:                       4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington,
                                          VA 22230
        * For General Information         (703) 292-5111
          (NSF Information Center):
        * TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090

        * To Order Publications or Forms:

              Send an e-mail to:          pubs@nsf.gov

                 or telephone:            (703) 292-7827

        * To Locate NSF Employees:        (703) 292-5111

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,
NSF-50, "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
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230

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[National Science Foundation]The National Science Foundation, 4201         Last Updated:
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