Title: Partnerships for International Research and Education 
        (PIRE)
Date: 07/25/06
Replaced: NSF 05-533

Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)

Program Solicitation
NSF 06-589

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 05-533

[NSF Logo]  National Science Foundation

            Office of International Science and Engineering

            Office of Cyberinfrastructure

            Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences

            Directorate for Social Behavioral & Economic Sciences

            Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering

            Directorate for Geosciences

            Directorate for Engineering

            Directorate for Biological Sciences

            Directorate for Education & Human Resources

            Office of Polar Programs

Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required):

     October 30, 2006

          (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time)

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

     February 28, 2007

          BY INVITATION ONLY

REVISION NOTES

In furtherance of the President's Management Agenda, in Fiscal Year 2006,
NSF has identified programs that will offer proposers the option to utilize
Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals, or will require that proposers
utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. Grants.gov provides a
single Government-wide portal for finding and applying for Federal grants
online.

In response to this program solicitation, proposers may opt to submit
proposals via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)

Synopsis of Program:

     Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)
     seeks to catalyze a cultural change in U.S. institutions by
     establishing innovative models for international collaborative
     research and education. The program will enable U.S. institutions
     to establish collaborative relationships with international
     groups or institutions in order to engender new knowledge and
     discoveries at the frontier and to promote the development of a
     globally-engaged, U.S. scientific and engineering workforce.
     International partnerships are, and will be, increasingly
     indispensable in addressing many critical science and engineering
     problems. As science and engineering discoveries result more and
     more from international collaboration, U.S. researchers and
     educators must be able to operate effectively in teams comprised
     of partners from different nations and cultural backgrounds. The
     program supports forward-looking research whose successful
     outcome results from all partners &ndash; U.S. and foreign
     &ndash; providing unique contributions to the research endeavor.
     It is also intended to facilitate greater student preparation for
     and participation in international research collaboration, and to
     contribute to the development of a diverse, globally-engaged,
     U.S. science and engineering workforce.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Edward O. Murdy, Senior Program Manager, 929 N, telephone: (703)
     292-7222, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: emurdy@nsf.gov

   * Michael Pritchard, Program Specialist, 935 N, telephone: (703)
     292-7533, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: mpritcha@nsf.gov

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

   * 47.041 --- Engineering
   * 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
   * 47.050 --- Geosciences
   * 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
   * 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
   * 47.075 --- Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
   * 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
   * 47.078 --- Office of Polar Programs
   * 47.079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
   * 47.080 --- Office of Cyberinfrastructure

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 14 to 17

Anticipated Funding Amount: $7,000,000   per year for five years, pending
availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Only Ph.D.-granting organizations in the United States may
          submit preliminary proposals or full proposals;
          Ph.D.-granting organizations in the United States are
          defined as academic organizations that have produced more
          than 20 Ph.D.s or D.Sci&rsquo;s in any NSF-supported fields
          of science, mathematics or engineering during the previous
          two academic years (please refer to NSF&rsquo;s website for
          further information about NSF-supported fields of science,
          mathematics and engineering: http://www.nsf.gov/).

          Non-Ph.D.-granting, nonacademic, and international
          organizations may serve as collaborating organizations in
          PIRE projects.

PI Limit:

     PI must be affiliated with the lead institution. Only U.S.
     participants should be listed as co-PIs. International
     collaborators should be designated as senior personnel. One may
     participate as PI or co-PI in no more than three (3) proposal
     submissions. This restriction applies to both preliminary
     proposals and full proposals. A person listed as PI or co-PI in
     three proposals may serve as senior personnel in other proposals.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

        * Limit on Number of Preliminary Proposals: Three (3)
          preliminary proposals per eligible institution. Institutions
          should develop an internal mechanism for selecting
          preliminary proposals to be submitted to NSF.
        * Limit on Number of Full Proposals: Invitation to submit a
          full proposal is based on merit review of the preliminary
          proposal. There is no limit on the number of full proposals
          on which an institution may participate as non-lead
          institution.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     One may participate as PI or co-PI in no more than three (3)
     proposal submissions. This restriction applies to both
     preliminary proposals and full proposals. A person listed as PI
     or co-PI in three proposals may serve as senior personnel in
     other proposals.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

   * Preliminary Proposals: Submission of Preliminary Proposals is
     required. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further
     information.

   * Full Proposals:

          Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: 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/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf/)

B. Budgetary Information

   * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required by NSF.

   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  Not Applicable

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

C. Due Dates

   * Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required):

          October 30, 2006

               (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time)

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

          February 28, 2007

               BY INVITATION 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:  Standard NSF award conditions apply

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     Summary of Program Requirements

  I. Introduction

 II. Program Description

III. Award Information

 IV. Eligibility Information

  V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
       A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
       B. Budgetary Information
       C. Due Dates
       D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

 VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
       A. 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

  X. Appendix

I. INTRODUCTION

Partnerships For International Research and Education - Concept

Scientific and engineering discovery is a worldwide phenomenon.
 Increasingly, centers of research excellence are emerging across the globe
and new ideas and research are resulting from the intellectual interactions
of people with diverse backgrounds. Consequently, U.S. scientists and
engineers and their institutions must be globally engaged and able to
operate effectively in teams comprised of partners from different nations
and cultural backgrounds. International partnerships are, and will be,
increasingly indispensable in addressing many critical science and
engineering problems.

PIRE awards will enable U.S. institutions to develop long-term,
collaborative research and education programs with international partners.
Successful proposals will describe excellent, focused science and
engineering research projects that are based on integrated research and
education efforts, and substantive intellectual contributions from
international collaborators who bring unique capabilities to the research
activity. In addition, successful proposals will explain how the
complementary strengths of the collaborating institutions will be used to
enable and sustain a long-term program.

The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in U.S. institutions
by establishing innovative models for international collaborative research
and education. It is also intended to facilitate greater student
preparation for and participation in international research collaboration,
and to contribute to the development of a diverse, globally-engaged, U.S.
science and engineering workforce.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

  A. Program Objectives:

        * Support research and education excellence.
        * Deepen collaborative research and education between U.S.
          institutions and international counterparts.
        * Provide international research experiences for U.S. students
          and faculty to prepare them to work effectively in the
          global research community.
        * Engage resources within and across institutions to build
          strong international partnerships.
        * Develop new replicable models for international
          collaborative research and education.
        * Raise the profile and increase the importance of
          international collaborative research and education within
          the U.S. research and education community.

     Building international partnerships that advance research
     integrated with innovative educational opportunities is the focus
     of this program. Proposals submitted to the PIRE program should
     be organized around a focused research topic that requires the
     close collaboration of U.S. and international research partners
     to achieve significant scientific/engineering goals while also
     emphasizing the integration of research and education. The
     principal investigator will direct the partnership and work
     closely with foreign researchers as well as a diverse suite of
     participating U.S. entities (e.g. university research faculty,
     language departments, international program offices,
     administration, and information technology centers).

     Any science and engineering area supported by the NSF is
     eligible, but PIRE awards will only support activities that:
     depend on intellectual collaborations with international
     partners; include significant and specific contributions (e.g.,
     expertise, facilities, sites, data, different
     approaches/methods/models, educational opportunities, etc.) from
     international partners; and make use of the diverse capabilities
     of all participating institutions. Proposers are encouraged to
     describe how the partnership will contribute to creating a hub of
     international collaboration that will bring demonstrable benefits
     to the U.S. research community.

     In line with NSF&rsquo;s commitment to creating a diverse,
     competitive, and globally-engaged U.S. workforce, projects are
     expected to develop a cadre of scientists and engineers that will
     play a leadership role in forging international collaborations.
     Globalization of research and career opportunities places
     importance on U.S. scientists and engineers gaining an
     international perspective early in their careers. Therefore, a
     significant part of the partnership must involve U.S.
     participants working at foreign sites, such as academic,
     industrial, or national laboratories, or other suitable settings.
     Active participation of U.S. students and junior researchers,
     including those from underrepresented groups, at the foreign
     sites will be an integral part of the international
     collaboration.

     Use of information/communication technologies, networking,
     distance learning, and other means of remote interaction as well
     as development of innovative curricular activities with strong
     international content is encouraged to strengthen the
     international dimensions of the project for those participants
     who travel abroad, as well as those who do not.

  B. Principal Investigator

     The Principal Investigator (PI) shall be the director of the PIRE
     project, and is expected to be an essential participant in its
     research and related educational activities. The PI will have
     overall responsibility for administration of the award,
     management of the project, and for interactions with the NSF.
     Other U.S. participants who will provide sustained intellectual
     contributions to the project should be identified as co-PIs. NSF
     only allows one PI and at most four co-PIs to be designated. Only
     U.S. participants should be listed as co-PIs. Foreign
     collaborators should be designated as non co-PI senior personnel.

  C. Two-Stage PIRE Competition

     This PIRE competition is structured as a two-stage
     process&mdash;a preliminary proposal submission stage followed by
     a full proposal submission stage. To be considered eligible for
     the full submission stage, proposers must submit a preliminary
     proposal that outlines the planned PIRE project. The preliminary
     proposals will be reviewed and, based upon the preliminary
     proposal evaluation, successful proposers will be invited to
     submit full proposals.

  D. Additional Considerations

     PIs are responsible for obtaining any required visas for foreign
     travel, and through the U.S. research institution, for providing
     documentation in support of U.S. visas for foreign counterpart
     investigators. PIs are also responsible for obtaining research
     permits and import/export documents, where necessary. PIs should
     review NSF&rsquo;s web page &ldquo;Information for U.S.
     Travelers&rdquo;; among other things, this page includes
     information regarding the collection of genetic resources outside
     of the United States.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration
are subject to the availability of funds. Awards will be standard or
continuing grants.Under this solicitation, proposals may be submitted for
support for up to five years, with annual budgets not to exceed $500,000.
It is anticipated that NSF will make 14 - 17 awards for this competition.
Future funding of this program will be dependent on availability of funds.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

   * Only Ph.D.-granting organizations in the United States may submit
     preliminary proposals or full proposals; Ph.D.-granting organizations
     in the United States are defined as academic organizations that have
     produced more than 20 Ph.D.s or D.Sci&rsquo;s in any NSF-supported
     fields of science, mathematics or engineering during the previous two
     academic years (please refer to NSF&rsquo;s website for further
     information about NSF-supported fields of science, mathematics and
     engineering: http://www.nsf.gov/).

     Non-Ph.D.-granting, nonacademic, and international organizations
     may serve as collaborating organizations in PIRE projects.

PI Limit:

     PI must be affiliated with the lead institution. Only U.S.
     participants should be listed as co-PIs. International
     collaborators should be designated as senior personnel. One may
     participate as PI or co-PI in no more than three (3) proposal
     submissions. This restriction applies to both preliminary
     proposals and full proposals. A person listed as PI or co-PI in
     three proposals may serve as senior personnel in other proposals.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

        * Limit on Number of Preliminary Proposals: Three (3)
          preliminary proposals per eligible institution. Institutions
          should develop an internal mechanism for selecting
          preliminary proposals to be submitted to NSF.
        * Limit on Number of Full Proposals: Invitation to submit a
          full proposal is based on merit review of the preliminary
          proposal. There is no limit on the number of full proposals
          on which an institution may participate as non-lead
          institution.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI:

     One may participate as PI or co-PI in no more than three (3)
     proposal submissions. This restriction applies to both
     preliminary proposals and full proposals. A person listed as PI
     or co-PI in three proposals may serve as senior personnel in
     other proposals.

Additional Eligibility Info:

     Projects may involve more than one U.S. institution as well as
     more than one international institution, but a single U.S.
     institution must serve as the lead institution and accept overall
     management responsibility as the lead institution. Only
     Ph.D.-granting organizations in the United States may submit
     proposals. Non-Ph.D. granting, nonacademic, and international
     organizations may serve as collaborating organizations. Eligible
     U.S. institutions may submit a maximum of three preliminary
     proposals as the lead institution. Invitation to submit a full
     proposal is based on merit review of the preliminary
     proposal. There is no limit on the number of proposals on which
     an institution may participate as non-lead institution.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Preliminary Proposals(required):  Preliminary proposals must be submitted
via FastLane. Proposals should be prepared in accordance with the general
guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), with exception
of deviations given in the specific PIRE instructions below. 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.

PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL CONTENT

Preliminary proposals must contain the items listed below and adhere to the
specified page limitations, using reader-friendly fonts as specified in the
GPG. No additional information may be provided by links to webpages. At the
preliminary proposal stage, no letters of commitment or endorsement from
the submitting institution or collaborating institutions are necessary.
Proposers should carefully review the requirements that will be expected at
the full proposal stage to better understand how to prepare their
preliminary proposals.

Cover Sheet: Select the PIRE program solicitation number shown at the
beginning of this solicitation from the pull down menu, and then select
PIRE preliminary proposal for the program unit from the ensuing screen. An
informative title for the proposed PIRE project that begins with
&ldquo;PIRE: &rdquo;, must be provided. Check the box indicated for
preliminary proposal. Only U.S. participants should be listed as co-PIs.
Additional lead personnel should be designated as non co-PI Senior
Personnel. The international activities box should be checked and the
countries involved listed. For proposals that involve human subjects, IRB
review and approval is not required at the time of preliminary proposal
submission.

  A. Project Summary (1-page limit): Provide a summary description of the
     PIRE project, including its research focus and key research and
     education features, in a manner that will be informative to a general
     technical audience. The project summary must consist of 4 parts: (1)
     At the top of this page include the title of the PIRE project, the
     name of the PI, and the lead institution. Also list any other
     participating institutions/organizations; (2) provide a succinct
     summary of the intellectual merit of the proposal; (3) describe the
     broader impacts for the proposed PIRE program; and (4) at the end of
     the project summary provide up to 3 key words that best describe the
     major themes of the international collaborative research proposed in
     their order of importance.

  B. International Programs Cover Page Addendum. This Addendum will be
     listed as a form for completion after the NSF Cover Sheet has been
     saved with the OISE Program Solicitation selected. Appendix I shows
     Addendum details.

  C. Table of Contents: The Table of Contents is generated by FastLane and
     cannot be edited.

  D. Project Description: The project description contains the following
     items: 1 and 2 (below), which are limited to a combined total length
     of 6 pages, inclusive of tables, figures, or other graphical data.

       1. List of Participants. (1-page limit): Include departmental and
          institution/organization affiliation of all faculty members and
          other senior personnel expected to have an important role in the
          project. This list should also include the names and
          institutional affiliations of key international collaborators.

       2. Integrated Research and Education Plan with Innovative Model of
          International Collaboration. (5-page limit). The research and
          education discussions should be balanced in length.

          Briefly describe:

             * a focused, integrated research project and
               education program requiring collaboration with a
               single (or multiple) international research
               institution(s);
             * the rationale for the research and education
               project, specific hypotheses to be tested,
               methodologies, and relevant preliminary data (in
               sufficient detail to allow disciplinary peer
               review of the merit of the proposed project);
             * a model for international research and education
               collaboration, and how it is innovative,
               effective, and coherent;
             * the intellectual collaboration between the United
               States and international partners, and benefits to
               be accrued;
             * the nature of the international research
               experiences to be provided to U.S. students and
               early-career researchers, plans for the provision
               of effective mentoring in both U.S. and
               international institutions, and the career
               development to be provided;
             * how the PIRE project will both benefit from and
               add value to the participating U.S.
               institutions&rsquo; international programs and
               goals;
             * mechanisms for building a robust and sustainable
               collaboration, including strategies for
               continuation of the partnership beyond OISE
               support; and
             * the potential impacts or expected significance of
               the work.

  E. References Cited (1-page limit). Cite references relevant to both the
     research and educational plans.

  F. Biographical Sketches: A maximum of 10 biographical sketches may be
     included; an appropriate mix of U.S. and international investigators
     is recommended. Additional individuals may be included in the List of
     Participants, Section #(D).1. Prepare the standard 2-page biographical
     sketches in accordance with the GPG. In choosing what to include,
     emphasize information that will be helpful for understanding the
     strengths, qualifications, and specific contribution the individual
     brings to the PIRE project.

  G. Current and Pending Support: Current and pending support for the PI
     and co-PI's must be included.

  H. No budget is required; however, please enter $2 in the Requested
     Amount box on the FastLane cover sheet (this entry allows correct
     FastLane processing). The PI should examine the budget instructions
     for the Full Proposal so that the activities proposed are congruent
     with the budget framework.

Full Proposal 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/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.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.

FULL PROPOSAL CONTENT

Only those proposers invited to submit full proposals may do so. Full
proposals must contain the items listed below and adhere to the specified
page limitations, using reader-friendly fonts as specified in the GPG or
the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. No additional information may be
provided by links to web pages.

Cover Sheet:

   * FastLane Users: Select the PIRE program solicitation number shown at
     the beginning of this solicitation from the pull-down menu, and then
     select PIRE Full Proposal for the program unit from the ensuing
     screen. An informative title for the proposed PIRE project that begins
     with &ldquo;PIRE:&rdquo;, must be provided. Enter the related
     preliminary proposal number in the appropriate box. The international
     cooperative activities box should be checked and the countries
     involved listed. You may list a starting date as early as July 1,
     2007.
   * Grants.gov Users: The PIRE program solicitation number will be
     pre-populated by Grants.gov on the NSF Grant Application Cover Page.
     On the SF 424 (R&R) (Cover Page), enter the related preliminary
     proposal number in Field 4 and an informative title that begins with
     &ldquo;PIRE:&rdquo; in Field 11. You may list a starting date as early
     as July 1, 2007 in Field 13. On the R&R Other Project Information
     form, check &ldquo;yes&rdquo; in Field 5.a. and list the countries
     involved in Field 5.b.

A. Project Summary. (1-page limit): Provide a summary description of the
PIRE project, including its research focus and key research and education
features, in a manner that will be informative to a general technical
audience. The project summary must consist of 4 parts: (1) At the top of
this page include the title of the PIRE project, the name of the PI, and
the lead institution. Also list any other participating
institutions/organizations; (2) provide a succinct summary of the
intellectual merit of the proposal; (3) describe the broader impacts for
the proposed PIRE program; and (4) at the end of the project summary
provide up to 3 key words that best describe the major themes of the
international collaborative research proposed in their order of importance.

B. International Programs Cover Page Addendum. Appendix I shows Addendum
details. If submitting via FastLane, this Addendum will be listed as a form
for completion after the NSF Cover Sheet has been saved with the OISE
Program Solicitation selected. If submitting via Grants.gov, complete the
information and attach as a PDF file (see Field 11, Other Attachments, on
the R&R Other Project Information Form).

C. Table of Contents: The Table of Contents is system generated and cannot
be edited.

D. Project Description: The project description contains the following
items: 1 through 5, which are limited to a combined total length of 20
pages, inclusive of tables, figures, or other graphical data.

1. List of Participants (2-page limit): Include departmental and
institution/organization affiliation of all faculty members and other
senior personnel expected to have an important role in the project. This
list should also include the names and institutional affiliations of key
international collaborators.

2. Integrated Research and Education Plan with Innovative Model of
International Collaboration. (10-page limit). The research and education
discussions should be balanced in length. Describe in sufficient detail:

   * a focused, integrated research project and education program requiring
     collaboration with a single (or multiple) international research
     institution(s);
   * the rationale for the research and education project, specific
     hypotheses to be tested, methodologies, and relevant preliminary data
     (in sufficient detail to allow disciplinary peer review of the merit
     of the proposed project);
   * a model for international research and education collaboration, and
     how it is innovative, effective, and coherent;
   * the intellectual collaboration between the United States and
     international partners, and benefits to be accrued;
   * the nature of the international research experiences to be provided to
     U.S. students and early-career researchers, plans for the provision of
     effective mentoring in both U.S. and international institutions, and
     the career development to be provided;
   * how the PIRE project will both benefit from and add value to the
     participating U.S. institutions&rsquo; international programs and
     goals;
   * mechanisms for building a robust and sustainable collaboration,
     including strategies for continuation of the partnership beyond OISE
     support; and
   * the potential impacts or expected significance of the work.

3. Management, Assessment, and Institutional Commitment. (4-page limit).
Describe in sufficient detail the:

   * division of responsibilities among U.S. and international partners,
     management framework, and overall schedule for research and education
     activities;
   * strategies for recruiting U.S. citizens and permanent residents to
     participate as postdoctoral and student researchers in the
     international collaborations;
   * strategies for engaging significant participation of underrepresented
     U.S. groups and institutions, and researchers and students at all
     levels;
   * use of advanced information and communications technologies to advance
     the project&rsquo;s research and education objectives, including
     engagement of faculty, students, and others who do not travel to the
     foreign site(s);
   * procedures and strategies for measuring, qualitatively and
     quantitatively, the success of the project in achieving its goals,
     particularly in terms of the impact of the project&rsquo;s
     international dimensions on individual students and researchers, on
     the research aspects of the project, and on strengthening U.S.
     institutions as vital hubs for international collaboration and
     training. In addition, it is highly desirable to have a structured
     means of tracking participating students beyond graduation, with the
     aim of gauging the degree to which the PIRE experience has been a
     lasting influence in the students' career paths; and
   * commitments participating institutions will make to facilitating and
     furthering project plans and goals, and to creating a supportive
     environment for international collaborative research and education
     activities on a long-term, sustainable basis.

4. International Coordination and Logistics. (4-page limit). Recognizing
that international research experiences should be of sufficient duration to
acculturate the U.S. researchers/students and provide a meaningful
research/education experience, describe in sufficient detail:

   * procedures and arrangements for recruiting, selecting, preparing, and
     sending participants to international sites for research and education
     collaboration;
   * practical aspects of sending students, faculty, and postdoctoral
     associates from U.S. institutions abroad, including logistical
     (lodging, transportation, health care, safety, etc.) arrangements,
     language and cultural issues, and administrative requirements;
   * resources, e.g. language and cultural training programs, information
     technologies, and experience of the U.S. institution(s) in
     international activities that could contribute to the success of the
     proposed PIRE project;
   * nature, size, and scope of the international institution(s) and how
     the international partners complement the U.S. effort; and
   * specific and unique contributions (e.g., expertise, facilities, sites,
     data, different approaches/methods/models, educational opportunities,
     etc.) of the international partners.

5. Results from Prior NSF Support (if applicable, 5-page limit). The PI or
any co-PI on the project who has received NSF funding in the past five
years must provide information on the prior award(s). The PI and each co-PI
who has received more than one prior award (excluding amendments) must
report on the award most closely related to the proposal. The information
required is described in the GPG or Grants.gov Application Guide. Reviewers
will be asked to comment on the quality of the prior work described in this
section of the proposal. Please note that the proposal may devote up to
five pages to describe the results, within the maximum 20 pages of Project
Description. Results may be summarized in fewer than five pages, which
would leave the balance of the 20 pages for the Project Description.

E. References Cited (3-page limit). Cite references relevant to both the
research and educational plans.

F. Biographical Sketches: A maximum of 20 biographical sketches may be
included; an appropriate mix of U.S. and international investigators is
recommended. Additional individuals may be included in the List of
Participants, Section (D).1. Prepare the standard 2-page biographical
sketches in accordance with the GPG. In choosing what to include, emphasize
information that will be helpful for understanding the strengths,
qualifications, and specific impact the individual brings to the PIRE
project.

G. Current and Pending Support: Current and pending support for the PI and
co-PI's must be included.

H. Budget and Allowable Costs: Provide a budget for each year of support
requested. The amount requested cannot exceed $500,000 for any year. The
system will automatically fill out the cumulative multiyear budget for the
proposal.

Allowable Costs:

   * Salary support for the PI and co-PIs (or subaward senior personnel).
     Within an overall limit of five months of salary support per year, up
     to two months per year for the PI and up to one month per year for
     each co-PI (or subaward senior personnel);
   * Travel support for the PI and co-PIs (or subaward senior personnel).
     Up to one month (cumulative) per year of research-related travel
     support (i.e., airfare, lodging, meals, incidental expenses) for the
     PI and each co-PI (or subaward senior personnel);
   * PI travel to Washington, D.C. area. The cost of travel for the PI for
     one trip per year to the Washington, D.C. area to report on award
     progress and/or participate in a grantees&rsquo; meeting should be
     included;
   * Stipend/salary support for postdoctoral associates, graduate students
     and undergraduate students who will perform dedicated work on the PIRE
     project. Whereas only a relatively small number of postdoctoral
     associates and students will receive stipend support, it is expected
     that larger numbers of individuals will participate in specific
     project activities (e.g., research activities at an international
     partner institution). The NSF contribution to graduate student
     stipends is currently $30,000 per year for a 12-month appointment, and
     $42,000 per year for a 12-month appointment for postdoctoral
     associates. Undergraduate or graduate students who do not receive
     stipend support, but perform dedicated work on the PIRE project may
     receive salary support at a level consistent with the
     organization&rsquo;s regular practices. (Note that U.S. citizens and
     permanent residents should receive preference for support by the PIRE
     grant.)
   * Travel (including transportation, subsistence, health insurance and
     miscellaneous expenses) support for postdoctoral associates, graduate
     students, and undergraduate students. For living expenses abroad,
     applicants are encouraged to work with international counterparts to
     develop realistic budget requests. For example, access to university
     guest housing or similar facilities should be explored. It is expected
     that cost-effective arrangements will be made for individuals residing
     at the international site for extended periods and for projects
     involving on-going exchanges of short-term visitors. In no case should
     the amount for lodging and meals and incidental expenses (MI&E) exceed
     the authorized U.S. Government per diem rates, calculated at the daily
     rate for the first 30 days of a single project visit, and 50 percent
     of that rate for all time after that;
   * Cost of education allowance. NSF provides a cost-of-education
     allowance for tuition, health insurance, and normal fees of $10,500
     per year per student (for 12 months.) If this allowance is not fully
     required, then it may be used to support other PIRE student-related
     activities;
   * Funds for language training may be requested if not available at any
     of the participating institutions, or if specialized training is
     required;
   * Limited funds may be requested for administration of the project,
     including support for administrative staff, faculty visits to
     international sites for research coordination and student mentoring,
     education and communication linkages between institutions, and
     preparation/orientation of students for living abroad;
   * Expenses related to project evaluation, including, for example,
     consultant&rsquo;s fees for internal or external evaluators, costs of
     preparing pre- and post-travel questionnaires for project
     participants, and cost associated with tracking participating students
     beyond graduation;
   * Purchase of limited shared-research equipment, special-purpose
     research materials, software and databases may be requested. Projects
     that require extensive equipment or fieldwork costs will need to
     secure such funding from other sources;
   * NSF awards are normally limited to support of the U.S. portion of the
     collaboration. Whereas reciprocal visits by international researchers
     and students to the U.S. institutions are encouraged, NSF will not
     usually pay for such visits. In the case of scientists and engineers
     from a developing country or from a country whose currency is not
     convertible, limited funds may be requested to support their
     participation in the project. Proposers are encouraged to discuss
     specifics with the cognizant OISE program manager(s) before submitting
     a proposal.

For multi-institution projects, the lead institution shall submit the
proposal, with other participating institutions included under subawards.
Budgets shall be provided for the overall project as well as individually
for the lead institution and for each participating
institution/organization that receives a subaward.

Budget Justification (5-page limit): Provide a justification for the
requested funds in each budget category. Provide detailed information on
costs of research stays abroad, including expected number and duration of
visits, airfare, subsistence expenses, and other costs. Include a breakdown
showing the amount of budget that will support what number of senior
researchers, junior researchers (within six years of the Ph.D.), graduate
students, and undergraduate students. Provide details of anticipated
resource commitments of other organizations expected to participate in the
PIRE project, such as government, industry, non-U.S. institutions, or
private foundations. Appropriate letters of commitment from participating
organizations must be included in Supplementary Documentation (below). Cost
sharing is not required under this solicitation, and any information
provided will not be auditable as cost sharing.

I. Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources (1-page limit): Provide a
description of facilities and major instruments that are available to the
project and require no additional support from NSF.

J. Supplementary Documentation: Up to ten supporting letters, including one
that must be from the senior administration of the submitting institution,
may be provided as part of the proposal. Letters of support from
international counterparts should provide substantive details regarding the
international collaborators&rsquo; commitment to the proposed project and
the related support available through their funding mechanisms; at least
one of these letters should come from a high ranking official at each major
participating institution.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:   Cost sharing is not required by NSF in proposals submitted
under this Program Solicitation.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

The NSF award is granted to the U.S. lead institution. NSF funding can
support the participation of principal investigators, co-principal
investigators, contributing researchers, postdoctoral associates, students
and support staff affiliated with the U.S. institution(s), when
specifically justified in terms of the international collaboration. In
almost all cases, international partners should obtain their own funding
for participation. However, if an international collaborator is from a
developing country or a country whose currency is not convertible, some
support may be provided for that international collaborator. Proposers are
encouraged to discuss specifics with the cognizant OISE program manager(s)
before submitting a proposal. In rare cases where the project would include
a subaward to a international institution, the PI must document:

   * the subaward enables the project to be carried out more effectively
     than if the funds were administered directly by the U.S. grantee
     institution; and
   * the possibility of indigenous support for the project has been
     thoroughly explored and found inadequate.

By law, U.S. flag carriers must be used if service provided by such a
carrier is available (see sections 761.2 and 761.3 of the Grant Policy
Manual at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpm)

C. Due Dates

   * Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required):

          October 30, 2006

               (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local
               time)

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

          February 28, 2007

               BY INVITATION ONLY

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:

     Detailed technical instructions for proposal 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 solicitation.

     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. Proposers
     are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed
     Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this
     process are available on the FastLane Website at:
     http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/

   * 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 and,
if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements, for review. 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 with the
proposer.

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 and original
     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?

NSF staff 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:

     In addition to the general NSF review criteria described above, the
     following criteria will be used by reviewers and NSF staff in
     evaluating proposals submitted in response to this solicitation:

       1. Coherence and innovation of the international collaboration
          model, including its effectiveness and replicability as an
          intellectual collaboration for all participating scientists,
          engineers, and educators;
       2. Effectiveness of career development opportunities for U.S.
          students and researchers;
       3. (Full proposals only) Appropriateness of the management plan and
          organizational structure;
       4. (Full proposals only) Commitment of the institutions to achieving
          the project&rsquo;s goals and to sustaining the partnership; and
       5. (Full proposals only) Appropriateness of the budget.

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
reviewed by Adhoc Review 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 date of receipt.  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 Division 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.A. 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 (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP)
Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that
may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement
awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement
Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred
way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail
capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of
Grants and Agreements.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. 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 is contained in the
NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the
NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for
sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office
(GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription
information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO
Website at http://www.gpo.gov.

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.

As part of the reporting requirement, each PIRE will also be required to
collect information on management and performance indicators and supply
this information to an NSF evaluation technical assistance contractor. Part
of this reporting will take the form of a database that will be owned by
the institution and eventually made available to the evaluation contractor.
This database will capture specific information to demonstrate progress
towards achieving the goals of the program. Such reporting requirements
will be included in the PIRE awards letters.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

   * Edward O. Murdy, Senior Program Manager, 929 N, telephone: (703)
     292-7222, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: emurdy@nsf.gov

   * Michael Pritchard, Program Specialist, 935 N, telephone: (703)
     292-7533, fax: (703) 292-9067, email: mpritcha@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.

For specific Project Development inquiries: The OISE geographic
region/country program manager regarding project development. Contacts are
available from the OISE Staff by Country page.

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.

     Other programs managed by the Office of International Science and
     Engineering include:

        * Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (Dissertation
          Enhancement and International Research Experiences for
          Students)
        * International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP)
        * Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes Program (PASI)
        * East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate
          Students (EAPSI)
        * International Research and Education:  Planning Visits and
          Workshops

     Other useful links for PIs submitting proposals to this
     solicitation:

     PIRE awardees:
     http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=105766

     &ldquo;Looking Beyond the Borders: A Project Director&rsquo;s
     Handbook of Best Practices for International Research Experiences
     for Undergraduates&rdquo;:
     http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06204/index.html

     NSF&rsquo;s Guide to Evaluation:
     http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/START.HTM

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

X. APPENDIX

                                 Appendix I

    Office of International Science and Engineering Cover Page Addendum

 (When using FastLane, this Addendum is listed as form for completion after
   the NSF Cover Sheet has been saved with the OISE Program Solicitation
                                 selected.)

Country #1: ____________

Country #2: ____________

Country #3: ____________

Proposal Category:
[ ] Planning Visit or Workshop
[ ] Developing Global Scientists and Engineers
[ ] Partnerships for International Research & Education
[ ] Multilateral Organizations

International Counterpart Investigator/Organizer/Host (Repeat as needed for
up to three International Counterpart Investigators/Organizers/Hosts)
Name: ____________________________
Department: ____________________________
Institution: ____________________________
Address: ____________________________
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graduate students and undergraduate students) associated with the
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this NSF proposal. Do not count international participants that will be
supported by non-NSF funds. _________

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