Title: Biophotonics Partnership Initiative IV (BP IV)
Date: 10/18/02
Replaced:



Biophotonics Partnership Initiative IV (BP IV)

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Program Solicitation

NSF 03-005

      DIVISION OF BIOENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE(S): February 1, 2003
By 5:00 p.m. proposer's local time

           NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

   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
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                      SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Title: Biophotonics Partnership Initiative IV (BP IV)

Synopsis of Program: The Division of Bioengineering and Environmental
Systems (BES) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the fourth
in a series of Biophotonics Partnership initiatives seeking high risk/high
return, multidisciplinary studies of novel concepts in biophotonics.
Incremental advances of existing technologies will not be considered. NIH
and DARPA will participate in the reviews and identify proposals of mutual
interest and may provide co-funding for programs of high quality that meet
their programmatic and relevancy requirements. The reviews and panels will
be run by NSF utilizing the NSF merit review process. All awards will be
made by NSF and will be subject to NSF terms and conditions.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Leon Esterowitz, Biomedical Engineering, Program Director,
     Engineering, BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-7942, e-mail:
     lesterow@nsf.gov.

   * Gil Devey, Research to Aid People with Disabilities, Program Director,
     Engineering, BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-7943, e-mail:
     gdevey@nsf.gov.

   * Carol Lucas, Biomedical Engineering, Program Director, Engineering,
     BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-5356, e-mail: clucas@nsf.gov.

   * Richard E. Swaja, Acting Division Director, NIH/NIBIB, Biomedical
     Imaging, 1B37, telephone: 301-451-6771, e-mail: swajar@nibib.nih.gov.

   * Brenda Korte, Program Director, NIH/NIBIB, Biomedical Imaging, Ste
     920, telephone: 303-451-4774, e-mail: kortebr@mail.nih.gov.

   * Greg Farber, Senior Health Scientist Administrator, NIH/NCRR,
     Biomedical Technology, Suite6030-MSC 7965, telephone: 301-435-0778,
     e-mail: farberg@ncrr.nih.gov.

   * Michael Marron, Division Director, NIH/NCRR, Biomedical Technology,
     Suite6030-MSC 7965, telephone: 301-435-0755, e-mail:
     marronm@ncrr.nih.gov.

   * Larry Clarke, Imaging Tech., Branch Chief, NIH/NCI/EPN/800, telephone:
     301-435-9190, e-mail: lclarke@mail.nih.gov.

   * Leonard Buckley, Program Manager, DARPA/DSO, Defense Sciences Office,
     telephone: 703-696-2288, e-mail: lbuckley@darpa.mil.

   * Houston Baker, Imaging Technology, Program Director, NIH/NCI/EPN/800,
     telephone: 301-594-9117, e-mail: bakerhou@mail.nih.gov.

   * Fil Bartoli, Photonics and Device Technologies, Program Director,
     Engineering, ECS, 675, telephone: 703-292-5388, e-mail:
     fbartoli@nsf.gov.

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47.041

   * None Specified

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

   * Organization Limit: Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic
     institutions and nonprofit research institutions in support of
     individual investigators or small groups. Synergistic collaboration
     among researchers and collaboration or partnerships with industry or
     government laboratories is encouraged when appropriate; however, NSF
     awards will be made to U.S. academic institutions and nonprofit
     research institutions. Group and collaborative proposals involving
     more than one institution must be submitted as a single administrative
     package from one of the institutions involved.
   * PI Eligibility Limit: Only one proposal may be submitted by a
     Principal Investigator. However, a Principal Investigator for one
     proposal may be a co-Principal Investigator on one other proposal. Due
     to the limited availability of funds, prospective applicants are
     strongly urged to contact one of the program officers listed at the
     end of this document for guidance.
   * Limit on Number of Proposals: None

AWARD INFORMATION

   * Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
   * Estimated Number of Awards: 8
   * Anticipated Funding Amount: $3 million, subject to the availability of
     FY 2003 funds

PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Full Proposals: Supplemental Preparation Guidelines
        o The program announcement/solicitation contains supplements to the
          standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation
          guidelines. Please see the full program announcement/solicitation
          for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

   * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.
   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable.

C. Deadline/Target Dates

   * Letters of Intent (optional): None
   * Preliminary Proposals (optional): None
   * Full Proposal Deadline Date(s): February 1, 2003
     By 5:00 p.m. proposer's local time

D. FastLane Requirements

   * FastLane Submission: Required

   * FastLane Contact(s):
        o Marcia Rawlings, Computer Specialist, Engineering, BES, 565,
          telephone: 703-292-7956, e-mail: mrawling@nsf.gov.
        o Fastlane Help Desk, telephone: 800-437-7408, e-mail:
          fastlane@nsf.gov.

PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

   * 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

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     SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  I. INTRODUCTION
 II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
 IV. AWARD INFORMATION
  V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
       A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
       B. Budgetary Information
       C. Deadline/Target Dates
       D. FastLane Requirements
 VI. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION
       A. NSF Proposal Review Process
       B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
       A. Notification of the Award
       B. Award Conditions
       C. Reporting Requirements
VIII.CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

I. INTRODUCTION

Photonics is the technology of generating and harnessing light and other
forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The unparalleled
combination of spatial resolution, sensitivity, and spectral specificity of
optical techniques has provided new biomedical research tools for
visualization, measurement, analysis, and manipulation. In 1998 the
National Research Council published a report on "Optical Science and
Engineering for the 21st Century". The members of the committee responsible
for the report were chosen for their expertise by the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of
Medicine. In their Summary and Recommendations they state "NSF should
increase its efforts in biomedical optics and pursue opportunities in this
area aggressively." Innovative basic research in biomedical photonics that
is very fundamental in science and engineering is needed to lay the
foundation for new technologies beyond those that are mature and ready for
application in medical diagnostics and therapies.
The intent of this initiative is to continue exploitation of the power of
photonics to advance biomedical engineering. Developing molecularly
specific sensing, imaging, and monitoring systems with high optical
sensitivity, and resolution would be an enormous accomplishment with
powerful applications to both biology and medicine. Low cost diagnostics
will require novel integration of photonics, molecular biology, and
material science. Complex biosensors capable of detecting and
discriminating among large classes of biomolecules could be important not
only to biology and medicine but also to environmental sensing and homeland
defense.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This initiative focuses on the development of complex new integrated
bio-optical technologies utilizing advances in optical technology
(quantum-dots, novel waveguiding structures, plasmon surface resonance,
lens microarrays, nanochannel interconnects, multi-function focal plane
detector/emitter arrays, MEMS/NEMS...) together with surface science,
nanotechnology, microelectronics... into integrated optics solutions for
sensitive, multiplex, high throughput, low volume (nanoliter-picoliter)
characterization of macromolecular properties of cells. A prime goal is to
push the envelope of optical sensing to the limits of detection,
resolution, and identification for biomedical applications. Some examples
of biophotonic topical areas of interest are given but not limited to those
below. Areas that will not be considered for this initiative include a)
incremental advances of existing technologies; b) photon migration; c)
two-photon and multi-photon imaging and spectroscopy; d) terahertz
technology; e) fiber delivery systems and imaging catheters; and f) optical
coherence tomography (OCT), unless coupled with novel enabling
technologies.

BIOPHOTONIC TOPICAL AREAS

   * Innovative methods for optical labeling of macromolecules, new
     compositions of matter/methods of fabrication of multi-color probes
     such as might be used for in-vitro marking and detection of specific
     pathological cells.

   * New optical approaches that permit specific molecular action on cells
     which conjointly bind two or more different probes with specificity
     for different macromolecular markers.

   * Development of new biocompatible detection technologies that could
     serve as massively parallel interfaces for communicating with networks
     of cells such as brain tissue slices.

   * Innovative miniaturized optical tools or devices for the interrogation
     and manipulation or creation of specific reactions in complex cell or
     organ culture.

   * Functional molecular imaging and cellular chemical imaging.

   * Fundamental studies of novel photonic properties of nanoparticles or
     optical reporters and their interaction with cells and their internal
     organelles.

   * Novel transduction methods for imaging multiple macromolecules in
     cells.

   * Development of new classes of optical and sensory materials for
     bio-inspired optical components that will allow the development of
     multi-functional information gathering systems with capabilities that
     greatly exceed the current state of the art.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are
eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation.

IV. AWARD INFORMATION

Total award amounts (including indirect costs) for a single investigator
should not exceed $375,000 for 3 years (i.e. about $125,000 per year).
Total award amount (including indirect costs) for small multi-disciplinary
groups (two or more principal investigators) should not exceed $600,000 for
three years (i.e. about $200,000 per year). Applicants for small group
awards should contact the Program Director prior to proposal submission for
clarification of appropriateness of the contemplated group proposal. The
total anticipated funding amount for FY2003 is $3 million, subject to the
availability of funds.

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration
are subject to the availability of funds.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal:

Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/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 Web Site at:
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be
obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722
or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

The applicants are asked to submit two PowerPoint slides that succinctly
summarize their proposal in the Supplemental Document section. The
applicant can copy and paste the slides into a word document and then
upload the word file into the Supplemental Document section. These slides
will be used in the panel review process and have been shown to improve the
evaluation process. The PowerPoint slides should also be e-mailed to Leon
Esterowitz at lesterow@nsf.gov and Sherri Swann at sswann@nsf.gov.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (Not
Specified) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal
Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining
the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this
information may delay processing.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program
Solicitation.

C. Deadline/Target Dates

Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):

Full Proposals by 5:00 PM proposer's local time: February 1, 2003

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this Program
Solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for
proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at:
http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call
the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The
FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use
of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this Program
Solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed
in Section VIII of this announcement/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.

VI. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

A. NSF Proposal Review Process

Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with
expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education
project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the
oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at
the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate
reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with
the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from
non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent
disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.

The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating
proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals
are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some
instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to
highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127,
Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the
Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance
of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals
submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to
ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making
funding decisions.

In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January
2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation
guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project
Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators
(PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within
the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader
impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the
Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.

Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do
not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project
Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and
processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of
broader impacts to NSF-funded projects.

The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed
below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information).
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 he/she 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.

B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons
outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the
proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation
will be reviewed by 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.

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 identities of
reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the
Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of
the decision to award or decline funding.

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 closing date of an announcement/solicitation or the
date of proposal receipt (whichever is later). The interval ends when the
Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

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 Web site at
http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained
from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 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 Web site 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 Web
site at http://www.gpo.gov.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants),
the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program
Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.

Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to
submit a final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports
delays NSF review and processing of 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. This system permits electronic submission and
updating of project reports, including information on project participants
(individual and organizational), activities and findings, 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.

VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

General inquiries regarding  Biophotonics Partnership Initiative IV  should
be made to:

   * Leon Esterowitz, Biomedical Engineering, Program Director,
     Engineering, BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-7942, e-mail:
     lesterow@nsf.gov.

   * Gil Devey, Research to Aid People with Disabilities, Program Director,
     Engineering, BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-7943, e-mail:
     gdevey@nsf.gov.

   * Carol Lucas, Biomedical Engineering, Program Director, Engineering,
     BES, 565, telephone: 703-292-5356, e-mail: clucas@nsf.gov.

   * Richard E. Swaja, Acting Division Director, NIH/NIBIB, Biomedical
     Imaging, 1B37, telephone: 301-451-6771, e-mail: swajar@nibib.nih.gov.

   * Brenda Korte, Program Director, NIH/NIBIB, Biomedical Imaging, Ste
     920, telephone: 303-451-4774, e-mail: kortebr@mail.nih.gov.

   * Greg Farber, Senior Health Scientist Administrator, NIH/NCRR,
     Biomedical Technology, Suite6030-MSC 7965, telephone: 301-435-0778,
     e-mail: farberg@ncrr.nih.gov.

   * Michael Marron, Division Director, NIH/NCRR, Biomedical Technology,
     Suite6030-MSC 7965, telephone: 301-435-0755, e-mail:
     marronm@ncrr.nih.gov.

   * Larry Clarke, Imaging Tech., Branch Chief, NIH/NCI/EPN/800, telephone:
     301-435-9190, e-mail: lclarke@mail.nih.gov.

   * Leonard Buckley, Program Manager, DARPA/DSO, Defense Sciences Office,
     telephone: 703-696-2288, e-mail: lbuckley@darpa.mil.

   * Houston Baker, Imaging Technology, Program Director, NIH/NCI/EPN/800,
     telephone: 301-594-9117, e-mail: bakerhou@mail.nih.gov.

   * Fil Bartoli, Photonics and Device Technologies, Program Director,
     Engineering, ECS, 675, telephone: 703-292-5388, e-mail:
     fbartoli@nsf.gov.

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

   * Marcia Rawlings, Computer Specialist, Engineering, BES, 565,
     telephone: 703-292-7956, e-mail: mrawling@nsf.gov.

   * Fastlane Help Desk, telephone: 800-437-7408, e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.

IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and
education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to
Programs is available electronically at
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs,
research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are
provided in each chapter.

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific
proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these
requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in
NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to
Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on
the NSF web site at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual
program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's
Custom News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified
of new funding opportunities that become available.

                   ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most
fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for
conducting their project activities and preparing the results for
publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such
findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and
educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons
with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with
Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of
race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance
from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit
eligibility.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with
disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research
assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter 11,
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, FIRS at 1-800-877-8339.

                  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; 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 applicant 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 needing information as part of the review process
or in order to coordinate programs; 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," 63 Federal
Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). 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 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 this burden estimate and any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden,
to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative
Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.

OMB control number: 3145-0058.