Title: Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
Date: 03/28/08
Replaced: NSF 05-588



Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

Program Solicitation
NSF 08-553

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 05-588



[NSF Logo]  National Science Foundation

            Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences
                 Division of Social and Economic Sciences



Full Proposal Target Date(s):

     August 01, 2008

     February 01, 2009

     February 1, Annually Thereafter

     August 01, 2009

     August 1, Annually Thereafter

REVISION NOTES

 A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures
 Guide (PAPPG), NSF 09-1, was issued on October 1, 2008 and is
 effective for proposals submitted on or after January 5, 2009.
 Please be advised that the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1 apply
 to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.
 Proposers who opt to submit prior to January 5th, 2009, must also
 follow the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1.

 One of the most significant changes to the PAPPG is implementation
 of the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act. Each
 proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers
 must include, as a separate section within the 15-page project
 description, a description of the mentoring activities that will be
 provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not include a
 separate section on mentoring activities within the Project
 Description will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide
 Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II.C.2.d for further
 information).

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Science, Technology, and Society  (STS)

Synopsis of Program:

     STS considers proposals that examine historical, philosophical,
     and sociological questions that arise in connection with science,
     engineering, and technology, and their respective interactions
     with society. STS has four components:

       1. Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology
          (EVS),
       2. History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and
          Technology (HPS),
       3. Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS),
       4. Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology
          (SPS).

     The components overlap, but are distinguished by the different
     scientific and scholarly orientations they take to the subject
     matter, as well as by different focuses within the subject area.
     STS encourages the submission of hybrid proposals that strive to
     integrate research involving two or more of these core areas.

     STS provides the following modes of support:

       1. Scholars Awards,
       2. Standard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative
          Research,
       3. Postdoctoral Fellowships,
       4. Professional Development Fellowships,
       5. Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants,
       6. Small Grants for Training and Research,
       7. Conference and Workshop Awards,
       8. Other Funding Opportunities.

Cognizant Program Officer(s) and Additional Points of Contact:

   * Frederick Kronz, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-7283, email:
     fkronz@nsf.gov

   * Laurel Smith-Doerr, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-8543, email:
     lsmithdo@nsf.gov

   * Stephen Zehr, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-7318, email:
     szehr@nsf.gov

   * Lauren Lanahan, Science Assistant, telephone: (703) 292-4927, email:
     llanahan@nsf.gov

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

   * 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or
Fellowship Grant

Estimated Number of Awards:    40

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $9,000,000  in FY 2009 pending availability
of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Organization limit varies by the mode of support. See
          Section II. Program Description for detailed information
          about each mode of support.

PI Limit:

     PI eligibility limit varies by the mode of support. See Section
     II. Program Description for detailed information about each mode
     of support.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

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 Proposals:

        * Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award
          Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
          Guidelines apply. 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.

        * 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:
          http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/grantsgovguide607.pdf)


B. Budgetary Information

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

   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

     Fellowship awards do not allow for indirect costs. See specific
     information in Section II. Program Description.

   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please
     see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Target Date(s):

          August 01, 2008

          February 01, 2009

          February 1, Annually Thereafter

          August 01, 2009

          August 1, Annually Thereafter

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:   National Science Board approved criteria apply.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:   Standard NSF award conditions apply.

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/Grants.gov 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

The Science, Technology, and Society Program (STS) supports research and
associated activities that examine the relationships among science,
technology, engineering, and society. It considers proposals that examine
historical, philosophical, social, cultural, policy, and ethical questions
that arise in connection with science and technology, and their respective
interactions with society. It is committed to the importance and intrinsic
value of scholarly research conducted by individual investigators; to
qualitative, interpretive, and quantitative research; and to analytical,
critical, theoretical, empirical, ethnographic, and comparative studies.

STS considers proposals in four broad, overlapping, and mutually
complementary areas of research described below. It emphasizes analytical
and interpretive studies that examine scientific and technological theory
and practice. Studies in this field may also explore the impact of science
and technology on society and how ethical, intellectual, cultural, and
social factors influence science and technology. Questions pertaining to
knowledge production and its effects, both within the scientific community
and beyond, are also central to STS. Within STS a variety of analytical
tools, perspectives, and research methodologies are used.

Studies of ethics and values in science and technology examine normative
issues in the conduct of science and the development and implementation of
technology. Proposals focus on how ethical issues and values interconnect
with science and technology, and how norms and values institutionalized in
science and technology engage with society. Proposals in this area of STS
may examine how ethics in scientific and technological research are
defined, and by whom.

Studies in history and philosophy of science and technology use the
traditions and tools of history and philosophy to examine intellectual,
theoretical, socio-cultural, and material dimensions of science and
technology. Proposals in this area of STS engage in analytical, critical,
reflective, and interpretive modes of study of the scientific and
technological enterprises both past and present. History is broadly
conceived to include social, cultural, institutional, and personal
contexts. Philosophy may focus on a variety of modes such as providing
epistemological, methodological, conceptual, or metaphysical perspectives
on a particular theory or conceptual or technological innovation, or on
science or technology more broadly.

Social studies of science and technology draw upon the social and
behavioral sciences including anthropology, sociology, economics, political
science, and science and technology studies. Proposals in this area examine
the interconnections of science, technology, and society. Supported
research will bring the tools and theories of the social sciences to bear
on such issues as how science and technology function in different
societies, and how culture and society and science, technology, and
engineering shape each other. A variety of methodologies are supported
including ethnography, surveys, network analysis, interviews, modeling and
theorizing, content analysis, and archival exploration.

Studies in policy on science and technology include research on social and
strategic choices, especially policy choices, that influence knowledge
production and innovation and their effects, and on the influences of
scientific and technical knowledge and innovation on policy. Proposals in
this area typically draw upon methodologies of the social sciences
including qualitative, interpretive, and quantitative approaches.

The four areas that constitute the core of STS are regarded by the program
as mutually complementary. STS encourages the submission of hybrid
proposals that strive to integrate research involving two or more of these
core areas. Each proposal is evaluated by an interdisciplinary panel
consisting of experts from each of the core areas. Doing so facilitates the
assessment of different disciplinary dimensions of hybrid proposals.

STS is also responsible for representing the Directorate for the Social,
Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) in priority areas and other
cross-directorate initiatives, like the nanotechnology priority area and
the Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (EESE) program in which SBE
involvement is likely to focus on the historical development, ethical, and
social influence or philosophical foundations of the science or technology
of the priority area or initiative. STS promotes the study of the sciences
supported by the various NSF Directorates with respect to their historical,
ethical, social, philosophical, and policy dimensions. Cross-directorate
collaborations are also strongly encouraged.

Special restrictions apply to STS studies of medicine, public health, and
society. Ordinarily STS does not consider proposals focused on historical,
philosophical, ethical, or social aspects of medical, clinical bio-medical,
or public health research or practice. Generally researchers should contact
the National Institutes of Health and/or the National Endowment for the
Humanities for support of research in these fields.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

AN OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Ethics and Values in Engineering, Science, and Technology (EVS). Research
on ethics, values, and the conduct and social influence of science,
engineering, and technology often takes its lead from current social issues
where inventions or innovations raise normative or ethical questions. It
often uses historical and philosophical modes of analysis and the theories
and methods of science and technology studies, applied ethics, or other
areas of the social sciences and humanities. Information and analysis from
the natural and physical sciences and engineering may also play a role in
this research.

Proposal topics appropriate to EVS include, but are not limited to:

Scientific or professional ethics, including research ethics; equity issues
in the development, use and effects of science or technology; controversy
and the resolution of controversy involving science or technology;
normative issues in decisions involving science or technology; ethical and
value issues for organizational policy and practice involving science,
engineering, or technology; ethics, values, and the relationship of
scientific and technical expertise to democratic decision making; ethics
and values as they shape or are shaped by biotechnology, environmental
science, Nanotechnology, the World Wide Web or similarly transforming
sciences and technologies.

The following kinds of questions are illustrative of those that might be
addressed in EVS supported projects:

How do choices about acceptable scientific evidence or technological
development evince social values; what are their ethical implications; what
roles do values play in the selection of research priorities or evaluations
of products and programs that incorporate scientific findings or
engineering designs; what scientific or social values influence the
directions and outcomes of research; how do social institutions stimulate
responsible research conduct; how does disciplinary, professional, or
collective responsibility affect the work of scientists and engineers.

EVS does not support research on the ethics and values aspects of clinical
medicine or research, or medical ethics, or research on ethics and resource
allocations in medicine.

History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering, and Technology (HPS). HPS
supports research on the nature and development of science, technology and
engineering, both in the past and the present. Proposals appropriate to HPS
commonly deal with the history of science and technology as well as the
philosophy of science and technology.

Proposal topics appropriate to HPS include but are not limited to:

The nature of theory and evidence in science, technology and engineering;
the relationship between science and instrumentation; the production,
transmittal and reception of scientific knowledge; relationships between
lay and expert communities; the role of causation in science; studies of
the lives of prominent individual scientists or science research teams;
science, technology and popular culture; the interactions of social,
cultural, and political forces with science and technology.

The following kinds of questions are illustrative of those that might be
addressed in HPS supported projects:

What does it mean to be a scientist in a particular place and time; what
constitutes a valid scientific theory; what is the relationship between
scientific theory and practice; how and why do scientists collaborate; what
is the impact of the state on science, technology and engineering; how do
scientific disciplines develop and what impact do they have on science;
what is the relationship between science, technology, and business; what is
the role of science in popular culture.

Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS). SSS supports
research and related activities that contribute to systematic understanding
of the character and development of science and technology, including their
cultural, intellectual, material, and social dimensions. SSS research
includes such topics as the foundations of scientific and technological
knowledge; the relations between science and other social institutions; and
the processes of scientific and technological innovation and change. It
considers proposals that examine how science and technology function in
different cultures, and within different communities of a single culture.
Proposals are welcome from the disciplines that comprise the science and
technology studies community, as well as those disciplines from the social
and behavioral sciences (sociology, anthropology, political science, etc.)
pursuing social studies of science and technology.

Proposal topics appropriate to SSS include but are not limited to:

The role of science and technology in different societies or among diverse
social groups; the nature of scientific networks and collaboration;
boundaries and boundary work in science and technology; the role of
laboratories in the shaping and production of science; studies of cyborgs,
robots, and bodies; relationships between technology, workers, cultures,
and economies.

The following kinds of questions are illustrative of those that might be
addressed in SSS supported projects:

How has the Internet transformed cultures; what factors shape public
understandings of science; how do stakeholders influence the research
agenda in science, technology, and engineering; how are new communication
technologies affecting community identities, public participation, and
social networks?

Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology (SPS). Research
under this component examines social and strategic choices, including the
legal, economic, and political contexts, that influence knowledge
production, innovation and their effects. It addresses questions of
interest to scholars and decision makers concerned with the direction,
management, and outcomes of investments in science, engineering, and
technology. It funds qualitative and institutional research on support for
science and technology, as well as the processes and outcomes of science
and technology policy. It also considers proposals using quantitative and
empirical approaches to data collection and analysis. Information and
analysis from the natural and physical sciences and engineering may also
play a role in this research.

Proposal topics appropriate to SPS include but are not limited to:

The human resources and labor force demands of science and technology;
science research policy as an agent of change; the political aspects of
support for science; modes of securing informed public input into science
or technology policy; conditions under which science guides or fails to
guide policy.

The following kinds of questions are illustrative of those that might be
addressed in SPS supported projects:

How do changing sources and modes of support affect scientific research and
science and engineering education; what influences public support for
scientific and engineering research; what measures can be used to gauge
social or quality-of-life returns to public or private investment in
research; how do science policy decisions shape the interaction of legal,
political, or economic institutions; what channels exist for public input
into science policy; what new forms of property, human rights, and national
and international organizations evolve with scientific and technological
changes; how can scientific developments and technological change be
channeled so as to promote social and individual well-being?

MODES OF SUPPORT:

STS provides a range of funding opportunities designed to support the full
spectrum of research, educational, and scholarly activities undertaken by
scholars working on science, technology and society. The Program urges
potential investigators to discuss their proposals with one of the
affiliated Program Officers in advance of submission. This program
solicitation covers the eight modes of support detailed below

  1. SCHOLARS AWARDS

     STS Scholars Awards are the usual awards for individual
     investigators who are undertaking research projects and need
     full- time release for an academic year or an academic year and a
     summer. Additional support may be requested through two more
     years (up to three years in total), although full-time support
     normally is provided for only one year.

     Budget Guidelines for Scholars Awards

        * Awards may provide support for full-time academic year (nine
          months) research, including salary, fringe benefits, and
          other direct costs, up to a ceiling that is ordinarily
          $90,000 for total direct costs.
        * Proposals may also request support for full-time summer
          research, including salary, fringe benefits, and other
          direct costs, up to approximately $20,000 for total direct
          costs. Summer salary request may not exceed 2/9ths (two
          months) of academic year salary.
        * Annual limit for project support in a 12-month period is
          normally $110,000, exclusive of indirect costs.
        * Research assistance may also be requested but must be
          justified in the proposal's work plan. Normal limits for
          such support are $8,000 per year for an undergraduate
          research assistant, $18,000 per year for a graduate student
          and $50,000 per year (including fringe benefits) for a
          designated postdoctoral researcher.
        * Indirect costs assessed by institutions will be added to
          these levels of support.
        * Projects duration -- up to three years.
        * The maximum award (indirect costs excluded) is normally
          $180,000. Proposals of longer duration or requesting larger
          amounts of support will be considered if extraordinarily
          well justified and merited.

     Eligibility Requirements for Scholars Award

     Scholars Awards are normally made to US academic institutions,
     although an individual who is not affiliated with an appropriate
     US academic institution may submit a proposal as an independent
     scholar. In that case, the scholar must be a US citizen or
     national, or have permanent resident status.

  2. STANDARD RESEARCH GRANTS AND GRANTS FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH

     Standard and Collaborative awards include proposals for research,
     infrastructure or education projects. These proposals ordinarily
     do not require full-time investigator support like that for
     Scholars Awards. These grants can also support projects that
     require several investigators, advisors, or collaboration among
     Principal Investigators, including investigators at different
     institutions. They may also involve postdoctoral researchers, or
     graduate or undergraduate student assistants.

     Infrastructure projects may involve a variety of activities to
     stimulate and provide resources for new or high priority research
     areas, and may include outreach efforts. Examples are the
     development and dissemination of appropriate databases, text
     retrieval systems, preparation of reference works, editions of
     scientific and personal papers, digital libraries, or resources
     for educational, or public use. Electronic dissemination of
     results from infrastructure projects is expected. STS program
     support of infrastructure projects should be directed to
     scholarly work, such as archival research and annotation, or
     special education and outreach activities, rather than
     administrative or logistical activities.

     Budget Guidelines for Standard and Collaborative Grants

     Generally the maximum award, excluding indirect costs, is
     $400,000 for an award of two to three years' duration. Proposals
     of longer duration, or proposals requesting larger amounts of
     support, will be considered if extraordinarily well justified and
     merited. Indirect costs assessed by institutions will be added to
     these levels of support.

     Eligibility Requirements for Standard and Collaborative Grants

     These awards are made to US academic institutions.

  3. POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

     STS Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals should be prepared
     following the same format as a regular NSF proposal (see the NSF
     Grant Proposal Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide for
     details), including the specific additional items listed below.
     NSF requires all proposals that support a post-doctoral
     researcher include a mentoring plan in the broader impacts
     component of the project description. Any proposals with
     post-docs that do not include a mentoring plan will be returned
     without review.

     The chief purpose of these Fellowships is to enhance the
     methodological skills and research competence of researchers in
     STS fields. Consequently, proposals must describe both a training
     and a research component, and the site for the Fellowship must be
     different from the institution where the Fellow received the PhD
     degree. The proposal should justify the choices of the venue for
     the Fellowship and the host faculty member, in terms of the
     Fellow's research and training goals. In addition host
     faculty must provide statements describing their plans for
     working with Fellows, while host institutions should provide
     letters agreeing to provide appropriate space and facilities. A
     letter of support also must be included from the Fellow's
     dissertation supervisor. No Fellowship may begin until the
     appropriate PhD granting institution has certified that the
     Fellow has completed all requirements for the degree. Letters
     should be submitted in the Supplementary Documentation section of
     the FastLane proposal. For Grants.gov users, supplementary
     documents should be attached in Field 11 of the R&R Other Project
     Information Form.

     The Fellow generally prepares the proposal and normally should be
     listed as the Co-Principal Investigator. The host faculty member
     at the host institution normally should be listed as the
     Principal Investigator (PI). The host institution usually submits
     the proposal and administers the award. In certain circumstances
     (such as when the Fellowship takes place at an institution
     outside the US), Postdoctoral Fellows may submit proposals as
     independent PIs.

     Budget Guidelines for Postdoctoral Fellowships

        * Postdoctoral Fellowships normally provide an annual stipend
          of up to $50,000 (including fringe benefits) per year for
          support of full-time academic year study and research.
        * Postdoctoral Fellowships allow research and travel expenses
          of up to $5,000 per year. The proposal should justify
          expenditure of the research and travel expenses.
        * Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a fixed-amount
          institutional allowance of $5,000 per year in lieu of
          indirect costs. [Please note: NSF will not pay the
          institutional allowance to non-US institutions.]
        * There are no dependents' allowances, and moving
          expenses, if requested, must be deducted from the research
          and travel allowance.
        * The maximum award normally will be $60,000 per year. Awards
          may be for up to two years.

     Eligibility Requirements for Postdoctoral Fellowships

     Postdoctoral Fellowships are available for STS researchers within
     5 years of receipt of the PhD degree. Fellows must be US citizens
     or nationals, or have permanent resident status.

  4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIPS

     STS Professional Development Fellowship proposals should follow
     the same format as a regular NSF proposal (see the NSF Grant
     Proposal Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide for details),
     including the specific additional items listed below.

     Professional Development Fellowships are available for
     researchers trained in all areas of Science, Technology, and
     Society who wish to improve and expand their skills in the areas
     of science or engineering, and conversely for physical and
     natural scientists and engineers who desire training in STS
     disciplines. For example, historians, philosophers, ethicists,
     and others in fields of the social, behavioral and economic
     sciences may use this award to work with a scientist or engineer
     to learn the technical aspects of research in their area.
     Alternatively, scientists or engineers may use this award to work
     with a historian, philosopher or social scientist to learn the
     research methods, analytical tools and approaches current in STS
     fields.

     These Fellowship proposals must contain both a training and a
     research component, and should justify the choice of the venue
     and the host faculty member, in relation to the Fellow's training
     and research goals. Proposals must also include letters from the
     host faculty describing plans for working with the Fellow, and
     from the host institution agreeing to provide appropriate space
     and facilities. These should be submitted in the Supplementary
     Documentation section of the FastLane proposal. For Grants.gov
     users, supplementary documents should be attached in Field 11 of
     the R&R Other Project Information Form.

     Budget Guidelines for Professional Development Fellowships

        * The annual stipend for these awards depends upon the
          Fellow's current salary and work history, and can range from
          $50,000 to $90,000, inclusive of fringe benefits, for a
          full-time academic year of study and research (or half-time
          over two years) in a field outside the Fellow's current area
          of expertise.
        * These awards provide $5,000 for travel and research
          expenses. The budget should justify these expenditures;
          moving expenses (if requested) must be deducted from the
          travel allowance.
        * These Fellowships provide a fixed-amount institutional
          allowance of $5,000 per year in lieu of indirect costs.

     Eligibility Requirements for Professional Development Fellowships

     All Fellows must be US citizens or nationals, or have permanent
     resident status.

  5. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

     These awards provide funds for dissertation research expenses not
     normally available through the student's university. The
     dissertation advisor is the principal investigator on these
     proposals; the doctoral student should be listed as co-principal
     investigator.

     Dissertation proposals should be prepared in accordance with the
     guidelines for regular research proposals. (See the NSF Grant
     Proposal Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide and the
     instructions and additional items listed below.) The Project
     Description section should describe the scientific significance
     of the work, including its relationship to other current
     research, and the design of the project in sufficient detail to
     permit evaluation. It should present and interpret progress to
     date if the research is already underway. The Results from Prior
     NSF Support section is not required with these proposals.

     Awards are not intended to cover the full costs of a student's
     doctoral dissertation research. Funds may be used only for valid
     research expenses which include, but are not limited to,
     conducting field research in settings away from campus that would
     not otherwise be possible, data collection and sample survey
     costs, payments to subjects or informants, specialized research
     equipment, analysis and services not otherwise available,
     supplies, travel to archives, special collections or seminars,
     and facilities or field research locations, and partial living
     expenses for conducting necessary research away from the
     student's university. Funds are to be used exclusively for the
     actual conduct of dissertation research. These funds may not be
     used as a student stipend, for tuition, textbooks, journals, or
     for the typing, reproduction, or publication costs of the
     student's dissertation. Funds may be requested for research
     assistants only in very special circumstances, which should be
     carefully justified.

     The proposal must include a letter from the faculty advisor. This
     document is not intended as a traditional recommendation, but
     should evaluate the student's promise as a researcher, the
     student's capabilities for undertaking this project, and the
     value and status of the proposed research. It should also discuss
     the student's current progress in the graduate program, affirming
     when the student passed the qualifying exams, completed all
     course work required for the degree, and had the dissertation
     topic approved. If the doctoral student will use the award for
     travel expenses to work with a specialist, the proposal should
     provide a justification for this choice and a letter from the
     specialist agreeing to work with the student. These requirements
     must be met before an award will be made. Letters should be
     submitted in the Supplementary Documentation section of the
     FastLane proposal. For Grants.gov users, supplementary documents
     should be attached in Field 11 of the R&R Other Project
     Information Form.

     Budget Guidelines for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement
     Grants

        * The usual limit on a dissertation award is $10,000 for
          research in North America.
        * The usual limit for international research is $15,000.
        * No indirect costs are allowed.

     Eligibility Requirements for Doctoral Dissertation Research
     Improvement Grants

        * Doctoral students who are enrolled in US graduate programs
          are eligible to apply. The dissertation advisor is the
          principal investigator.
        * Doctoral students must have passed the qualifying exams,
          completed all course work required for the degree, and had
          the dissertation topic approved prior to receiving the
          award.

  6. SMALL GRANTS FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH

     Small Grants for Training and Research should follow the same
     format as a regular NSF proposal. (See the NSF Grant Proposal
     Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions and
     additional items listed below.)

     Small Grants for Training and Research (SGTR) are intended to
     provide sustained research opportunities for graduate students
     and post-doctoral fellows on important issues in STS. Senior
     investigators at an institution may propose a sustained course of
     study, research and training for these students (for from one to
     three years) on a subject that is significant and innovative.
     These training programs should have a specific research theme
     (e.g., ethics and computers in education; logic, rhetoric, and
     policy; science, technology, and business ). The proposal should
     indicate how the training will be organized around the theme and
     how the subject or theme of the proposal coincides with the
     strengths of the host faculty and the institution. In addition to
     providing a research theme and plan, applicants must also
     indicate how they will recruit members of underrepresented groups
     into the programs and educate these students and post-docs about
     research ethics in the SGTR training activities. The grants can
     provide a maximum of $130,000 support for one postdoctoral fellow
     and up to three graduate students to participate each year. For
     projects of more than one year, PIs may retain or change the
     postdoctoral fellow and graduate students. These awards are made
     to the university. The budget for student and post-doc support
     belongs in the personnel section of the budget form. Indirect
     costs can be applied to these budget items. The host faculty at
     the sponsoring institution should submit and administer the
     award. The host institution must provide letters agreeing to
     provide appropriate space and facilities, and applications should
     also include letters from institutional administrators indicating
     their support of the initiative. Letters should be submitted in
     the Supplementary Documentation section of the FastLane proposal.
     For Grants.gov users, supplementary documents should be attached
     in Field 11 of the R&R Other Project Information Form.

     Budget Guidelines for SGTR Proposals

        * These awards provide a maximum of $130,000 per year,
          exclusive of indirect costs, to support a post-doc and up to
          three graduate students.
        * Each award may last up to three years. The post-doc and the
          graduate students supported by the award may change during
          the duration of the award.
        * All expenses for the SGTR should be listed in the personnel
          section of the proposal budget.
        * STS may only fund 2 or 3 SGTRs each year.

     Eligibility Requirements for SGTR Proposals

        * These SGTR awards are available for STS postdoctoral
          researchers within 5 years of receipt of the PhD and for
          graduate students who are regularly admitted students in STS
          graduate programs.
        * All Postdoctoral Fellows must be US citizens or nationals,
          or have permanent resident status.
        * NOTE: SGTR proposals may only be submitted by the August
          target date for consideration in the fall of each year.

  7. CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP SUPPORT

     These proposals should be prepared in accordance with the NSF
     Grant Proposal Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide and the
     additional information below.

     STS can help to support national and international conferences,
     symposia, and research workshops that enable scientists,
     engineers, researchers in STS areas of support, policy makers,
     and representatives of interested groups to develop, evaluate,
     and share new research findings. STS also supports projects on
     the interactions of engineering, science, technology and society
     that emphasize capacity building. Such activities can include
     national summer workshops for graduate students or faculty, or
     projects by professional societies to develop concentrations in
     the ethical, philosophical, historical and social context of
     science and engineering for undergraduate or graduate level
     science and engineering students. STS encourages conferences and
     symposia that promote interactions between researchers in STS and
     scientists and engineers, or between STS scholars and members of
     scholarly communities not normally in contact with each other.
     The ultimate goal of the gathering should be development of a new
     field of scholarship, pedagogy, or research.

     Proposals for conference or workshop support should describe the
     need for the gathering, the proposed date and location, topics
     and persons who will be involved, prior related meetings,
     publicity, and expected outcomes. Every effort must be made to
     include among proposed participants younger scholars and members
     of underrepresented groups. Conferences and workshops may, where
     justified, be carried out as special sessions in regular meetings
     of professional societies. Meetings usually should be open.

     Budget Guidelines for Conferences and Workshops

        * STS normally limits support for conferences and workshops to
          $25,000.
        * Expenses (travel, stipends, honoraria, etc.) for attendees
          should be entered on the Participant Support line of the
          budget. These expenses are not eligible for indirect costs.

  8. OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

     The STS program may provide supplemental funding to existing
     awards in order to create research experiences for undergraduates
     (REU). EVS provides ethics supplements to REU Sites awards. See
     the REU Announcement in the listings of NSF funding
     opportunities. The STS Program participates in most
     Foundation-wide initiatives, such as CAREER, ADVANCE, MRI, and
     such specially-focused research efforts as Ethics Education in
     Science and Engineering (EESE), Human and Social Dynamics (HSD)
     and Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSE). Information about
     these opportunities can be found at the NSF Home Page, by linking
     to the funding opportunities alphabetical listing or to the
     cross-cutting programs section of the page. You can also use the
     search feature to find relevant documents.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

   * Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
   * Estimated Number of Awards: 40
   * Anticipated Funding Amount: $9,000,000 in FY 2009 pending availability
     of funds

See Section II. Program Description for detailed information about funding
limits and requirements for each mode of support.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Organization limit varies by the mode of support. See
          Section II. Program Description for detailed information
          about each mode of support.

PI Limit:

     PI eligibility limit varies by the mode of support. See Section
     II. Program Description for detailed information about each mode
     of support.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     None Specified

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

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 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) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. 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:
     (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/grantsgovguide607.pdf). 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 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 pubs@nsf.gov.

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. Chapter II, Section D.3 of the Grant Proposal Guide
provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

Proposers must identify the mode of support (Scholar's Award, Dissertation
Award, etc.) they are applying for in the title line of the FastLane
application form.

This program solicitation has instructions that deviate from the GPG or NSF
Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines. See Program Description for
detailed information about each mode of support.

Proposers are reminded that although proposals are evaluated by ad-hoc
reviewers that are specialists in their research area, they are also
reviewed by members of the STS Advisory Panel. The panel is comprised of
scholars from the various fields in science, technology, and society;
however, it may not include a specialist in that research area.
Consequently, it is imperative that proposals be comprehensible to a broad
range of readers, and proposers are urged to consider carefully the use of
jargon and highly specialized terminology without explanation.

Proposers are encouraged to pay close attention to the GPG guidelines
concerning permissible fonts, which serve to ensure the legibility of
proposals. Proposals that do not follow GPG font guidelines may be returned
without review.

B. Budgetary Information

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

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

Fellowship awards do not allow for indirect costs. See specific information
in Section II. Program Description.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

See Section II. Program Description for detailed information.

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Target Date(s):

          August 01, 2008

          February 01, 2009

          February 1, Annually Thereafter

          August 01, 2009

          August 1, Annually Thereafter

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:

     Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of
     preparation and submission via FastLane are 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
     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.

   * 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. The Grants.gov's Grant Community User Guide is a
     comprehensive reference document that provides technical information
     about Grants.gov. Proposers can download the User Guide as a Microsoft
     Word document or as a PDF document. The Grants.gov User Guide is
     available at: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. In addition, the
     NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical
     guidance regarding 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: support@grants.gov. 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.

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.

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.

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:

   * Frederick Kronz, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-7283, email:
     fkronz@nsf.gov

   * Laurel Smith-Doerr, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-8543, email:
     lsmithdo@nsf.gov

   * Stephen Zehr, Program Officer, telephone: (703) 292-7318, email:
     szehr@nsf.gov

   * Lauren Lanahan, Science Assistant, telephone: (703) 292-4927, email:
     llanahan@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

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

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: support@grants.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 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 12 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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