Title: Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
Date: 09/16/08
Replaced: NSF 06-581




Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
FY 2009 Competition

Program Solicitation
NSF 08-607

Replaces Document(s):
NSF 06-581



[NSF Logo]  National Science Foundation

            Directorate for Biological Sciences



Full Proposal Target Date(s):

     January 20, 2009

REVISION NOTES

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

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


Changes have been made to the focus areas within the Genome-Enabled Plant
Research (GEPR), Transferring

Research from Model Systems (TRMS) and Tools and Resources for Plant Genome
Research (TRPGR) opportunities.

A new opportunity, Heterosis Challenge Grants (HCG), is available in FY
2009.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Plant Genome Research Program  (PGRP)

Synopsis of Program:

     This program is a continuation of the Plant Genome Research
     Program (PGRP) that began in FY1998 as part of the National Plant
     Genome Initiative (NPGI). The current five-year plan for the NPGI
     was published in January 2003
     (http://www.nsf.gov/bio/pubs/reports/npgi2003/NPGI2003-2008.pdf).
     The overall goals of this program are to support basic research
     in plant genomics and to accelerate the acquisition and
     utilization of new knowledge and innovative approaches to
     elucidating fundamental biological processes in plants. The focus
     is on plants of economic importance and plant processes of
     potential economic value.

     In the past eleven years of the PGRP, there has been a tremendous
     increase in the tools available for genomics in key crop plants
     and their models, including but not limited to, expressed
     sequence tags (ESTs), genome survey sequences, mutant
     collections, expression profiling resources, and tools for
     studying gene expression in situ. High quality whole genome
     sequences and downstream tools are available for a number of key
     crops as well as widely-used model systems. This wealth of
     genomic resources now makes it possible for researchers to begin
     to address some of the major unanswered questions in plant
     biology that have been intractable using traditional approaches
     as well as transfer findings from model systems into plants of
     economic importance. At same time, there is a continued need for
     novel and creative tools to allow development of new experimental
     approaches or new ways of analyzing genomic data. Proposals that
     present conceptually new and different ideas are encouraged,
     especially from investigators and institutions that have not
     participated in the PGRP before. In addition, proposals that
     provide strong and novel training opportunities integral to the
     research plan, and particularly across disciplines are especially
     encouraged.

     Four kinds of activity will be supported in FY 2009: (1)
     Genome-Enabled Plant Research (GEPR) awards to tackle major
     unanswered questions in plant biology on a genome-wide scale; (2)
     Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS) to apply basic
     biological findings made using model systems to studying the
     basic biology of plants of economic importance; (3) Tools and
     Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR) awards to support
     development of novel technologies and analysis tools to enable
     discovery in plant genomics; and (4) Heterosis Challenge Grants
     (HCG) to support testing of hypotheses for the mechanism(s) of
     heterosis in plants.

     The PGRP encourages proposals from early career investigators and
     also considers proposals submitted to the CAREER program
     (http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214).
     Early career investigators are strongly encouraged to contact a
     PGRP Program Director for further guidance.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Diane Jofuku Okamuro, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program,
     telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

   * Anne-Francoise Lamblin, Program Director, Plant Genome Research
     Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

   * Sara Patterson, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program,
     telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

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

   * 47.074 --- Biological Sciences

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or
Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards:    15 to  25   ; Approximately 15-25 new
awards, pending availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $16,000,000  ; Approximately $16 million for
FY 2009 new awards, pending availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Proposals may only be submitted by U.S. academic
          institutions, U.S. non-profit research organizations
          including museums, research laboratories, professional
          societies and similar organizations in the U.S. that are
          directly associated with educational or research activities,
          and consortia of only the eligible organizations listed
          here. When a consortium of eligible organizations submits a
          proposal, it must be submitted as a single proposal with one
          organization serving as the lead and all other organizations
          as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals
          will not be accepted and will be returned without review.
          Organizations ineligible to submit to this program
          solicitation may not receive subawards.

PI Limit:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

     Please note that there continues to be a limit on the number of
     proposals in which an investigator can be included. An
     investigator may only submit one proposal as a principal
     investigator or a co-principal investigator in response to this
     Program Solicitation. Proposals received in excess of this limit
     may be returned without review.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

   * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

   * Full Proposals:

        * Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award
          Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
          Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available
          electronically on the NSF website at:
          http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.

        * Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov
          Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of
          NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF
          Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov
          website and on the NSF website at:
          http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/grantsgovguide607.pdf)

B. Budgetary Information

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

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

   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Target Date(s):

          January 20, 2009

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:   National Science Board approved criteria apply.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:   Standard NSF award conditions apply.

Reporting Requirements:   Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     Summary of Program Requirements

  I. Introduction

 II. Program Description

III. Award Information

 IV. Eligibility Information

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

 VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
       A. NSF Merit Review Criteria
       B. Review and Selection Process

VII. Award Administration Information
       A. Notification of the Award
       B. Award Conditions
       C. Reporting Requirements

VIII.Agency Contacts

 IX. Other Information

I. INTRODUCTION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces its intention to continue
to support plant genome research that began in 1998 as part of the National
Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI;
http://www.nsf.gov/bio/pubs/reports/npgi2003/NPGI2003-2008.pdf).
The long-term goals of this program are to support research on plant
genomics and to accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge
and innovative approaches to the analysis of fundamental biological
processes in plants. The program focuses on plants of economic importance
and plant processes of potential economic value.

For the past eleven years, the NSF Plant Genome Research Program has
followed the long-range plans for the NPGI and, working closely with the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for International Development
(USAID) and more recently the US Forest Service, the NSF Program has
contributed to tremendous advances in plant genomics and plant sciences.
The program is currently following the second five-year plan (National
Plant Genome Initiative: 2003-2008;
http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/npgi2003/index.htm) published in January 2003
by the Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes, the group that oversees
the NPGI. A new plan is anticipated to be released in January 2009. These
plans build on the significant advances made since the start of the NPGI
and chart a course for advancing the frontiers of plant science through
genomics research. Following the goals set out in these plans, the NSF PGRP
encourages new, innovative ideas in the form of basic research and tool
development projects that will move the whole field of plant biology
forward. High-risk proposals or proposals that present unconventional ideas
are welcomed. The list of ongoing projects available at
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338&org=BIO
should be consulted to ensure that a planned proposal would make a
significantly new contribution to the field.

Proposals that focus on individual genes or small gene families should be
sent to other BIO programs (see web pages available through
http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO
for listing of programs and funding opportunities). You are strongly
encouraged to contact a Plant Genome Program Director to determine the
suitability of your proposal for the PGRP prior to submission. Simultaneous
submission of proposals to this program and another federal agency is
permissible with prior written approval of the agencies involved. A
proposal from the same submitter that is a duplicate of, or substantially
similar to, a proposal already under consideration by NSF will be returned
without review.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The goals of this program are to support basic research in plant genomics
and to accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and
innovative approaches to the elucidation of fundamental biological
processes in plants. The Program focuses on plants of economic importance
and plant processes of potential economic value. In the eleven years since
the NPGI began, a wealth of genomic resources have been developed for plant
biology. Given these resources and the advances that have been made in
technology development and bioinformatics, it should now be possible to
begin addressing major unanswered questions in plant biology. In addition,
advances made using model systems can now be transferred into plants of
agronomic importance. New tools and methodologies are also needed to
advance the field of plant biology as well as to tackle questions that are
intractable using current approaches. This Program Solicitation has been
developed taking those objectives and the NSF's mission and strengths
into consideration.

The PGRP is committed to broadening participation. NSF believes that
research tools and resources developed over the past eleven years should
enable any institution to take part in plant genome research. New
investigators, investigators that have not participated in the PGRP in the
past or from small institutions, are strongly encouraged to submit a
proposal. Investigators from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving
Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) as well as
individuals and small groups are especially encouraged to apply. The PGRP
encourages proposals from early-career investigators and also considers
proposals submitted to the CAREER program
(http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214). New investigators
are strongly encouraged to contact a PGRP Program Director for further
guidance.

Proposers are encouraged to consider inclusion of activities described in
the Dear Colleague Letter for Developing Country Collaborations in Plant
Genome Research (NSF 04-563:
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf04563). Proposed
collaborative activities should focus on research problems important to
developing countries that include scientist-to-scientist interactions
potentially leading to long-term partnerships among participating
laboratories. The exchange of ideas and people should be reciprocal and
should be built on equal partnerships between U.S. scientists and
scientists of developing nations. Examples of activities to be supported
would include, but not be limited to, joint research projects and long-term
(one year) or short-term (between one and three months) reciprocal exchange
visits. Collaborations should be developed that bring complementary sets of
expertise to bear on problems of importance to the participants from
developing countries and that meet their identified needs. The described
activities should meet the budgetary and organizational guidelines
described in the Dear Colleague Letter.

Four areas of opportunity will be offered as components of the Plant Genome
Research Program in Fiscal Year 2009: (1) Genome-Enabled Plant Research
(GEPR) awards to tackle major unanswered questions in plant biology on a
genome-wide scale; (2) Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS) to
transfer findings made using model systems to plants of economic
importance; (3) Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR)
awards to support development of novel tools to enable discovery in plant
biology and (4) Heterosis Challenge Grants (HGC) to support testing of
hypotheses for the mechanism of heterosis in plants.

The Program foci recognize the utility of genomics tools in addressing
major unanswered questions in plant biology, the power of using model
systems as an entree to understanding key plant pathways and processes, as
well the continued need for new methodologies to tackle problems that
remain intractable using existing approaches. Proposers are strongly
encouraged to review the guidelines for each opportunity carefully and to
contact a PGRP Program Director if there are any questions about the
programmatic fit.

Genome-Enabled Plant Research (GEPR):

The NSF PGRP is evolving by increasing use of the new tools and resources
that have become available through the NPGI. While there still remain some
large community resources to be built, those available now are sufficient
to begin to address major unanswered questions in plant biology, some of
which have not been tractable using traditional approaches alone. To be
eligible, projects should be developed on a whole genome, whole organelle
or whole network scale. In FY 2009, proposals are especially encouraged in
the following areas:

   * Plant responses to environmental stress, especially as they relate to
     climate change
   * Understanding plant-environmental and plant-plant interactions
   * Understanding plant:pathogen/organism interactions from a plant
     perspective
   * Mechanisms of epigenetic regulation

Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups and
multi-institution "virtual centers". The scale of the project
in terms of personnel and budget should be developed in the context of the
proposed activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the
proposed activities and a carefully developed budget, research plan and
timetable will strengthen a proposal. Proposers are encouraged to think
outside the box and to put forward imaginative and creative ideas,
selecting experimental systems best suited to the research focus and taking
advantage of the available genomics tools and resources. Proposals should
clearly justify the relevance of the research activities to the goals of
the NSF PGRP.

Transferring Research from Model Systems (TRMS):

Model systems, whether non-plant (for example, yeast) or plant (for
example, Arabidopsis and rice) are a powerful way to access complex
biological pathways that may not be readily accessible in many plants of
economic importance. Substantial investments have been made in model
systems, including whole genome sequences, expressed sequence collections,
mutant collections, whole genome expression data and proteome resources.
These resources have already enabled considerable progress in understanding
the genomic basis of a range of complex biological processes, including
traits of economic importance. For example, regulatory networks controlling
complex traits such as plant size and cold tolerance have been identified
in Arabidopsis. The time has come to transfer the knowledge gained in a
model system to uncover basic mechanisms underlying important traits in
plants of economic importance.

Proposers are encouraged to choose important problems and traits of
economic importance that combine the strengths of the chosen model system
or systems with the importance of the work in the chosen target crop
plant(s) and should have a significant focus on a crop target(s).
Proposals should clearly justify the relevance of the research activities
to the goals of the NSF PGRP as well their potential downstream impacts. To
be eligible, projects should be developed on a whole genome, whole
organelle or whole network scale.

Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups and
multi-institution "virtual centers". The scale of the project
in terms of personnel and budget should be consistent with the proposed
activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the proposed
activities and a carefully developed budget, research plan and timetable
will strengthen a proposal.

Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research (TRPGR):

While tremendous advances have been made in the development of tools and
technologies for plant genome research, there is still a demand for
additional resources to tackle unmet needs. Proposers are encouraged to
develop novel approaches focused on a specific problem or need. Risky
proposals are welcome. Priority will be given to new or novel tools that
are likely to contribute broadly to the advancement of the field of plant
genomics. In FY 2009, proposals are especially encouraged in the following
areas:

   * Comparative sequence resources, with a clear description of the unmet
     need that the specific resource to be developed would fulfill, the
     science that would be enabled by the resource, and how it meets the
     goals of the PGRP. Proposers are expected to take advantage of
     next-generation sequencing technologies where appropriate.  The
     sequencing approach chosen as well as the type of resource to be
     developed should be clearly justified.
   * Improved tools for sequence assembly and analysis, especially to
     enable effective use of sequence data produced by next-generation
     machines.
   * Improved annotation tools for plant genomes.
   * Novel methodologies for high throughput plant phenotyping, especially
     under field conditions.
   * Improved visualization tools.

Proposals are solicited from single investigators, small groups, and
multi-institution "virtual centers". The scale of the project
in terms of personnel and budget should be consistent with the proposed
activities. The management plan should be appropriate for the proposed
activities and a carefully developed budget, research plan, and timetable
will strengthen a proposal.

Projects that focus on development of community resources, either through
production of research resources or novel tools or establishment of a
service, must be justified in terms of potential demand, efficiency and
cost-effectiveness. The plans for release of project outcomes, including
the timing and form of released resources, tools or materials, must be
described explicitly along with the terms of access. If appropriate, plans
for continued maintenance or operation of such a service after the award
should be described without assuming long-term NSF support.

Heterosis Challenge Grants (HCG):

While heterosis (hybrid vigor) is the foundation of many crop breeding
efforts, the underlying mechanism or mechanisms remain poorly understood.
The HCG opportunity is offered in FY 2009 to stimulate development of new,
testable hypotheses for the mechanism(s) of heterosis.  The proposal should
clearly describe the hypothesis and activities that will be undertaken to
test the hypothesis.  Any plant system may be chosen as long as it is well
justified for the proposed research and the outcomes of the research will
be directly applicable to economically-important plants.  Amounts of up to
$500,000 total for a period of up to three years may be requested for an
HCG project.  The scale of the project in terms of personnel and budget
should be consistent with the proposed activities and a carefully developed
budget, research plan, and timetable will strengthen the proposal.

Additional Considerations as Appropriate

   * Integration of Research and Education and Broadening Participation
     Activities supported by the PGRP should provide an ideal environment
     for training young scientists in modern research technologies,
     introducing them to new paradigms in plant biology, and promoting
     increased participation by members of under-represented groups.
     Informatics skills are critical to making the maximum use of genome
     resources. Accordingly, proposers are expected to integrate this
     training into their projects at all levels, wherever appropriate. NSF
     expects proposers to take advantage of the unique opportunities the
     proposed project provides in terms of education and incorporate these
     into the plan at a scale that is commensurate with the scale of the
     proposed activity. Focused activities that fit well with the specific
     opportunities offered by the project would be viewed as a strength.
     Proposers are encouraged to take advantage of existing programs and
     networks where appropriate, building in additional opportunities
     unique to the project's research goals. New activities that link
     ongoing PGRP-supported training and outreach efforts to enable them to
     go to the next level are encouraged.
   * Data Sharing A massive amount of data continue to be generated through
     PGRP activities. Proposers are encouraged to consider their project
     outcomes in the context of the whole field of plant biology and ensure
     maximal accessibility and visibility. Outcomes are expected to meet
     current community standards for genomic data and be deposited into the
     existing long-lived community databases where appropriate. Projects
     that produce resources of utility to other researchers, whether part
     of a large-scale community resource project or not, are expected to
     release outcomes as soon as appropriate quality standards have been
     met.
   * Societal Impacts When appropriate, issues related to the societal
     impact of plant genome research should be addressed as an integral
     part of a proposal. These issues could be integrated into research
     (e.g., studies on horizontal gene transmission at a genomic scale, the
     genome-wide basis of pesticide resistance, development of selectable
     markers for transformation studies), or into an education and/or
     outreach activity designed to communicate the significance of the
     outcomes of plant genome research to society.
   * International Collaboration Plant genome research is actively pursued
     all over the world. NSF encourages international research
     collaborations, particularly with investigators from developing
     countries, and especially where there is a common research focus or
     system. When applicable, proposed research activities should be
     coordinated with similar efforts in other countries to maximize
     efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. However,
     foreign participants should secure support for their component of the
     collaboration from their own national programs. The PI is encouraged
     to contact a PGRP Program Director for guidance regarding allowable
     costs when considering international collaborations.
   * Industrial Collaboration Private industry has already made a
     significant investment in plant genomic research. Innovative
     collaborations with industry are encouraged when they advance the
     goals of the PGRP. However, NSF funds may not be used to support the
     industrial collaborators. Participation of a company as a provider of
     a service should be managed according to the submitting institution's
     procurement policy. When private industry is involved, the proposer is
     responsible for ensuring that any intellectual property issues are
     handled according to NSF Policy (see section A-1 under Special
     Information and Supplementary Documentation below).

Other Funding Opportunities in Plant Genome Research at NSF

Additional funding opportunities may be found at
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=BIO&ord=rcnt.
Investigators are encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Directors
directly regarding the fit of the proposed research into a particular
program.

Conferences, Workshops and Symposia

The PGRP supports conferences, symposia and workshops in plant genomics
that bring experts together to discuss current research, to expose other
researchers or students to new research methods, and to discuss future
directions of major research activities in plant genomics and
bioinformatics. Conferences will be supported only if equivalent results
cannot be obtained at regular meetings of professional societies or the
established conference series. More information about submission of these
proposals can be found at
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf08_1/gpg_2.jsp#IID7.
Proposers are encouraged to contact a Program Director prior to about the
suitability of the proposed activity for PGRP support prior to submission.

III. AWARD INFORMATION

Depending on the nature of the proposed activity, projects will be
supported either as grants or cooperative agreements. The award size will
be determined based on the nature of activities and at a level that would
be enabling, as well as the availability of funds. Proposers are strongly
encouraged to develop a carefully crafted budget in line with the scope and
scale of the project. The role and budget for each investigator (PI, co-PI,
collaborator) should also be commensurate with the activities proposed. An
investigator may only submit one proposal as a PI or co-PI in response to
this program solicitation. Proposals received in excess of this limit may
be returned without review. The estimated number of awards will be 15-25,
pending availability of funds. The anticipated award date is June 2009.
Approximately $16 million for FY 2009 new awards, pending availability of
funds.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit:

     Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

        * Proposals may only be submitted by U.S. academic
          institutions, U.S. non-profit research organizations
          including museums, research laboratories, professional
          societies and similar organizations in the U.S. that are
          directly associated with educational or research activities,
          and consortia of only the eligible organizations listed
          here. When a consortium of eligible organizations submits a
          proposal, it must be submitted as a single proposal with one
          organization serving as the lead and all other organizations
          as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals
          will not be accepted and will be returned without review.
          Organizations ineligible to submit to this program
          solicitation may not receive subawards.

PI Limit:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

     None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

     Please note that there continues to be a limit on the number of
     proposals in which an investigator can be included. An
     investigator may only submit one proposal as a principal
     investigator or a co-principal investigator in response to this
     Program Solicitation. Proposals received in excess of this limit
     may be returned without review.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

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/pubs/policydocs/grantsgovguide607.pdf). To
     obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package,
     click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply
     Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application
     Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the
     program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the
     Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application
     Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
     telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

Proposal Cover Sheet:  The Project Title must start with "GEPR:...",
"TRMS:...", "TRPGR:..." or "HCG:....", depending on the
program the proposal is targeting. When completing the Cover Sheet, click
on the GO button at "Program Announcement/Solicitation/ Program Description
No." Highlight Plant Genome Research Project and click on the Select
button. Your proposal will automatically be assigned to DBI--Plant Genome
Research Project. Be sure to complete the remainder of the cover sheet
information. Please note that a maximum of 4 Co-PIs can be listed on the
cover page. Additional Co-PIs and other Senior Personnel should be included
in the complete list provided in the Project Summary.

BIO Proposal Classification Form (PCF): Complete the BIO PCF, an on-line
coding system that allows the Principal Investigator to characterize
his/her project when submitting proposals to the Directorate for Biological
Sciences. FastLane Users: Once a PI begins preparation of his/her proposal
in the NSF FastLane system, selects any program within the Directorate for
Biological Sciences as the first or only organizational unit to review the
proposal, and saves the cover sheet, the PCF will be generated and
available through the Form Preparation screen. Additional information about
the BIO PCF is available in FastLane at
http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/BioInstr.htm. Grants.gov Users: Refer to
Section VI.6. of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide for specific
instructions on how to submit the BIO Proposal Classification Form.

Project Summary (maximum 1 page): The project summary should consist of
three separate parts in the following order:

  1. a list of senior personnel (PI, Co-PIs, key-collaborators) along with
     their home institutions;

  2. the intellectual merit of the proposed activity, including a summary
     of the scientific objectives and approaches; and

  3. expected broader impacts of the proposed research.

Both the intellectual merit and the anticipated broader impacts must be
addressed or the proposal will be returned without review. See Section VI.
of this solicitation for additional information. The potentially
transformative aspects of the proposed research should be addressed, as
appropriate (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/in130/in130.jsp).
Please consult http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf
for additional information about broader impacts.

Project Description (maximum 15 pages, including figures and tables, for
GEPR, TRMS, TRPGR and HCG proposals): In addition to the standard
description in the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide, the guidelines below
should be followed, noting that the page allowances listed are part of the
overall 15-page maximum:

   * Results from prior NSF support (maximum 5 pages): Only the most
     relevant prior awards (PGRP or non-PGRP) should be listed in this
     section for the PIs and Co-PIs listed in the "Project Summary." In
     addition to results from relevant NSF awards, results from any other
     closely related awards from the Federal government should be described
     if applicable.
   * Relevance and justification: Briefly, but explicitly, explain the
     relevance of the proposed research to the stated goals of the PGRP.
   * Research plan: Describe the goals of the project, scientific and
     technical approaches, including informatics where appropriate, with
     expected outcomes. Descriptions must be sufficiently detailed to allow
     adequate review.
   * Plan to integrate research and education: It is expected that all
     proposals will include activities that integrate research and
     education. NSF expects that each proposal will include a thoughtful
     training and/or educational component that takes advantage of unique
     and specific opportunities the proposed project would provide. The
     scale of the training and educational activities should be
     commensurate with the scale and scope of the proposed research and
     integrated well into the overall project plan. The following items
     should be included if larger scale training activities are proposed:
     (1) a well designed plan to increase participation of members of
     under-represented groups that is specific to the proposed project, (2)
     an education plan, which can be (but is not limited to) a training
     plan for students at all levels, or an outreach activity for secondary
     school teachers and students, or a workshop to train other researchers
     in new concepts or techniques being developed by the project, and (3)
     a description of how these plans are integrated with the proposed
     research plan. A clear and realistic discussion of how the plan will
     be implemented should be included in the proposal. Simply describing
     general policies and ongoing efforts at the investigators'
     institutions will not be sufficient.

References Cited: Indicate with an asterisk any cited publications that
resulted from prior research funded by NSF for the PI, or Co-PI when
following the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines for all
references cited.

Biographical Sketches (2 pages each): Biographical sketches following the
GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines must be listed for the PI,
Co-PIs and each of the Senior Personnel listed on the Project Summary page.

Proposal Budget: Provide a summary budget and a yearly budget for the
duration of the proposed project. When subawards are involved, summary and
yearly budgets are required for each subaward. A Budget Justification
should be provided (maximum 3 pages per budget and subaward budget). A
careful and realistic budget that is consistent with the proposed
activities will add to the overall strength of a proposal. Funds for
facility construction or renovation may not be requested. Funds to cover
the cost of attendance of the PI at each year's annual awardee meeting in
Arlington, VA should be requested.

Current and Pending Support: Current and Pending Support following the
GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines must be listed for the PI,
Co-PIs and each of the Senior Personnel listed on the Project Summary page.

Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources: Provide a description of
available facilities and priorities for its use. For GEPR, TRMS, TRPGR or
HCG projects requiring additional equipment, justify the need for these
resources in the context of the innovative work proposed.

Special Information and Supplementary Documentation:

Include the following materials in addition to Project Description. These
materials should be labeled clearly and included in the Supplementary
Documents section of FastLane or Grants.gov. Provide only the allowable and
applicable items as noted in the GPG/Grants.gov Application Guide and this
section. Include the materials in the FastLane submission by transferring
them as .PDF files through the "Supplementary Docs" module of the FastLane
system. For Grants.gov users, supplementary documents should be attached in
Field 11 of the R&R Other Project Information Form.

(A-1) Sharing of Results and Management of Intellectual Property (maximum 3
pages): Describe the management of intellectual property rights related to
the proposed project, including plans for sharing data, information, and
materials resulting from the award. This plan must be specific about the
nature of the results to be shared, the timing and means of release, and
any constraints on release. The proposed plan must take into consideration
the following conditions where applicable:

   * Sequences resulting from high-throughput large-scale sequencing
     projects (low pass whole genome sequencing, BAC end sequencing, ESTs,
     full-length cDNA sequencing, etc.) must be released according to the
     currently accepted community standard (e.g. Bermuda/Ft. Lauderdale
     agreement) to public databases (GenBank if applicable), as soon as
     they are assembled and the quality checked against a stated,
     pre-determined quality standard.
   * Proposals that would develop genome-scale expression data through
     approaches such as microarrays or next-generation sequencing should
     meet community standards for these data (for example, Minimum
     Information About a Microarray Experiment or MIAME standards). The
     community databases (e.g. Gene Expression Omnibus) into which the data
     would be deposited, in addition to any project database(s) should be
     indicated.
   * If the proposed project would produce community resources (biological
     materials, software, etc.), NSF encourages that they be made available
     as soon as their quality is checked to satisfy the specifications
     approved prior to funding. The timing of release should be stated
     clearly in the proposal. The resources produced must be available to
     all segments of the scientific community, including industry. A
     reasonable charge is permissible, but the fee structure must be
     outlined clearly in the proposal. If accessibility differs between
     industry and the academic community, the differences must be clearly
     spelled out. If a Material Transfer Agreement is required for release
     of project outcomes, the terms must be described in detail.
   * When the project involves the use of proprietary data or materials
     from other sources, the data or materials resulting from NSF funded
     research must be readily available without any restrictions to the
     users of such data or materials (no reach-through rights). The terms
     of any usage agreements should be stated clearly in the proposal.
   * Budgeting and planning for short-term and long-term distribution of
     the project outcomes must be described in the proposal. If a fee is to
     be charged for distribution of project outcomes, the details should be
     described clearly in the proposal. Letters of commitment should be
     provided from databases or stock centers that would distribute project
     outcomes, including an indication of what activities would be
     undertaken and funds needed for these activities (if any).
   * In case of a multi-institutional proposal, the lead institution is
     responsible for coordinating and managing the intellectual property
     resulting from the PGRP award. Institutions participating in
     multi-institutional projects should formulate a coherent plan for the
     project prior to submission of the proposal.

(A-2) Management Plan (maximum 5 pages): GEPR, TRMS, TRPGR and HCG projects
involving multiple investigators and multiple institutions, or that include
a community service component, must provide a description of the management
plan for coordinating the activities of the group, or management of the
service aspect.

   * This description should include plans for internal means of
     communication, coordination of data and information management,
     evaluation and assessment of progress, allocation of funds and
     personnel, interaction with the customers in a service project, and
     other specific issues relevant to the proposed activities.
   * For multi-investigator proposals, a table summarizing the role of each
     investigator is required. The exact time commitment of each key
     project member should be indicated in the management plan, regardless
     of any request for his/her salary from NSF. For community resource
     projects, a timetable with yearly goals should be provided that
     includes benchmarks for the major anticipated outcomes and expected
     dates for their release.
   * If the proposal includes a service component such as a multi-user
     facility or production and distribution of community research
     resources, a description of how activities within the facility will be
     managed, how quality will be controlled, how community input will be
     solicited, what methods will be used to make the community aware of
     the service to be rendered, and how the community will access
     resources to be produced, should be provided. The plan should also
     document institutional commitment to the facility, user fees if
     anticipated, and plans for long-term support after the end of the
     project. For a complex project, appointment of a project manager
     and/or administrator is strongly encouraged.
   * The NSF encourages appointment of an outreach/education coordinator
     where appropriate. A postdoctoral fellow or a senior graduate student
     interested in education and outreach activities may be appointed to
     this role.

(A-3) Coordination with Outside Groups (maximum 2 pages): If the proposed
activity is part of a national or international collaborative project,
describe the relationship of the proposed activity to the overall
collaborative project and how the components will be coordinated. General
letters of support are not allowed.

(A-4) Responses to Prior Reviewer Comments (OPTIONAL; maximum 1 page): If
the proposal is a resubmission, describe any changes made in response to
prior reviewer comments. Use of this Appendix is optional: you are not
required to indicate whether or not a proposal is a resubmission or address
prior reviewer comments.

Color Images (if applicable): Be advised that NSF cannot accommodate the
printing of color images as part of proposal submission and submitted
proposals that require the use of color or of very high resolution
photographic images will necessitate additional steps. Further instructions
will be provided after the proposal has been received.

Any material not specifically requested or in excess of the page allowances
will be discarded prior to review. It is the submitting institution's
responsibility to ensure that the proposal is compliant with the
guidelines. Non-compliant proposals may be returned without review.

Single Copy Documents:

Conflict of Interest Document A single integrated document (in table or
spreadsheet form only) should be uploaded into the Single Copy Documents
(not Supplementary Documents) section of FastLane at the time of proposal
submission. If submitting via Grants.gov, complete the information and
attach as a PDF file (see Field 6, Additional Single Copy Documents, on the
NSF Grant Application Cover Page). Hard copies or e-mail copies will not be
accepted. The document should consist of a list in the form of a single
alphabetized table, with the full names (Last name, first name, middle
initial) of all people having a conflict of interest with any senior
personnel and any named personnel member whose salary is requested in the
project budget. Conflicts to be identified are (1) Ph.D. thesis advisors or
advisees, (2) collaborators or co-authors for the past 48 months, including
postdoctoral advisors and advisees and (3) any other individuals or
institutions with which the investigator has financial ties (please specify
type). Members of current Advisory Committees who receive reimbursement for
travel or honoraria should be included in this last category.

In addition to the Conflict of Interest Document, other correspondence to
the program not intended to be sent to reviewers such as a list of
potential reviewers can be sent as Single Copy Documents. Please note that
key project personnel may be required, prior to an award decision, to
submit copies of any intellectual property agreements or material transfer
agreements they have signed, or are planning to sign, that would impact the
unrestricted and timely distribution of the outcomes of the NSF funded
research. Submission of a Single Copy Document will allow these documents
to be reviewed by the NSF officials only, and they will remain
confidential.

Checklist for Proposal Preparation

   * Title begins "GEPR:...", "TRMS....",
     "TRPGR:..." or "HCG:...."
   * Project Summary contains all requested information, including broader
     impacts of the proposed work and any potetentially transformative
     concepts
   * Project Description is 15 pages or less in length, including figures
     and tables
   * References Cited includes publications resulting from prior research
     funded by NSF (marked*)
   * Biographical Sketches (2 pages each) included for PI, Co-PIs and
     Senior Personnel listed in the Project Summary
   * Current and Pending Support Statements included for PI, Co-PIs and
     Senior Personnel listed in the Project Summary
   * Appendices (A-1), (A-2), (A-3) and (A-4) [if applicable] uploaded in
     Supplementary Documents
   * Supplementary documents include letters of support from databases or
     stock centers that would distribute project outcomes, if applicable
   * No general letters of support are included in Appendix (A-3)
   * Conflict of Interest list uploaded as a single integrated table or
     spreadsheet into Single Copy Documents

This checklist is not intended to be an all-inclusive repetition of the
required proposal contents and associated proposal preparation guidelines.
It is, however, meant to highlight certain critical items so they will not
be overlooked when the proposal is prepared.

B. Budgetary Information

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

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Target Date(s):

          January 20, 2009

PIs planning to submit a proposal after the target date should contact a
Program Director for guidance prior to submission. Proposals received after
the target date without prior permission may be returned without review.

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:

     Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of
     preparation and submission via FastLane are available at:
     https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user
     support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail
     fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical
     questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific
     questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to
     the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this
     funding opportunity.

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

   * For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

     Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must
     register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the
     applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the
     Grants.gov website. The Grants.gov's Grant Community User Guide is a
     comprehensive reference document that provides technical information
     about Grants.gov. Proposers can download the User Guide as a Microsoft
     Word document or as a PDF document. The Grants.gov User Guide is
     available at: http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. In addition, the
     NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical
     guidance regarding preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For
     Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at
     1-800-518-4726 or by email: support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact
     Center answers general technical questions related to the use of
     Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation
     should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in
     Section VIII of this solicitation.

     Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the
     Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the
     application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity
     and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then
     sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed
     application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane system for further
     processing.

VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where
they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements.
All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator
serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other
persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by
the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with
the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names
of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the
proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These
suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at
the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is
optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of
interest with the proposal.

A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
     Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
     citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and
     persons with disabilities -- is essential to the health and
     vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this
     principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs,
     projects, and activities it considers and supports.

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be
reviewed by Ad hoc and Panel review.

Site visits may be conducted if necessary.

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

After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of
appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant
Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended
for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their
proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months.
The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date,
whichever is later.  The interval ends when the Division Director accepts
the Program Officer's recommendation.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted
by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential
documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the
Program Officer.  In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of
the decision to award or decline funding.

In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals
recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and
Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and
the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are
cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments,
obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of
funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical
or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal
Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments
in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants
and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a
Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations
whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the
cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of
reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided
automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for
additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special
provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2)
the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which
NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals
or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in
the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant
General Conditions (GC-1); * or Research Terms and Conditions * and (5) any
announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in
the award letter. Cooperative agreements also are administered in
accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative
Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and
Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and
Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via
e-mail.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper
copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone
(703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

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

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants),
the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the
cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current
budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project
reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is
required to submit a final project report.

Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports will delay
NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any
pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the
required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system,
available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and
final project reports.  Such reports provide information on activities and
findings, project participants (individual and organizational)
publications; and, other specific products and contributions.  PIs will not
be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a
proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.  Submission of
the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the
contents of the report are accurate and complete.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

   * Diane Jofuku Okamuro, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program,
     telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

   * Anne-Francoise Lamblin, Program Director, Plant Genome Research
     Program, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

   * Sara Patterson, Program Director, Plant Genome Research Program,
     telephone: (703) 292-8470, fax: (703) 292-9063, email: dbipgr@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

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

   * Lauren Kitchen, Science Assistant, telephone: (703) 292-8470, email:
     dbipgr@nsf.gov

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

   * Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational
     Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from
     Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please
     contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: support@grants.gov.

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on
NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding
opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly
encouraged. In addition, MyNSF (formerly the Custom News Service) is an
information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other
interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and
publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and
procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are
informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new
publications are issued that match their identified interests. MyNSF also
is available on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.

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

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency
created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC
1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress
of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare
by supporting research and education in all fields of science and
engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering.
It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000
colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science
organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The
Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic
institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research,
education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded.
In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for
graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories
itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain
oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also
supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US
participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and
educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide
funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with
disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide
Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these
types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD)
and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable
individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation
about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed
at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703)
292-5111.

 The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
 progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
 cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
 mathematics, and engineering.

 To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
 copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the
 NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov

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

        * To Order Publications or Forms:

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

                 or telephone:            (703) 292-7827

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

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports
submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting
within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may
be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the
proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or
obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the
administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers
and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to
other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding
applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in
order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency,
court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the
government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be
added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve
as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records,
NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69
Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File
and Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004).
Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and
complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an
award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this
collection is 3145-0058. 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
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