Title: Theoretical Foundations 2006 (TF06)
Date: 02/27/06
Replaced: NSF 05-500




Theoretical Foundations 2006 (TF06)

Program Solicitation
NSF 06-542
Replaces Document NSF 05-500

[NSF Logo]   National Science Foundation
             Directorate for Computer and Information Science and
             Engineering
                   Division of Computing & Communication Foundations



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

     May 25, 2006

REVISIONS AND UPDATES

In furtherance of the President's Management Agenda, in Fiscal Year 2006,
NSF has identified programs that will offer proposers the option to utilize
Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals, or will require that proposers
utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. Grants.gov provides a
single Government-wide portal for finding and applying for Federal grants
online. A complete listing of these programs is available on the Policy
Office website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy.

In response to this program solicitation, proposers may opt to submit
proposals via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system. In determining
which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the
proposal, please note the following:

       A. Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals must be
          submitted via the NSF FastLane system. This includes
          collaborative proposals submitted:

        * by one organization (and which include one or more subawards); or
        * as separate submissions from multiple organizations.

          Proposers are advised that collaborative proposals
          submitted in response to this Program Solicitation via
          Grants.gov will be requested to be withdrawn and
          proposers will need to resubmit these proposals via the
          FastLane system. (Chapter II, Section D.3 of the Grant
          Proposal Guide provides additional information on
          collaborative proposals.)

       B. All Other Types of Proposals That Contain Subawards. All
          other types of proposals that contain one or more subawards
          also must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system.

The following items are major revisions to the previous program
solicitation:

        * &ldquo;Scientific Foundations for Computing&rdquo; area has been
          updated;
        * &ldquo;Scientific Foundations for Communication&rdquo; area has
          been updated; and
        * A third research area &ndash; Scientific Foundations for
          Internet&rsquo;s Next Generation (SING) -- has been added.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Theoretical Foundations 2006 (TF06)
     Program Solicitation

Synopsis of Program:

     One of the defining features of the new CISE organization is the
     introduction of clusters; cohesive units formed by combining
     several (partial) programs that share a common theme and/or have
     significant overlap. Theoretical Foundations (TF) is a cluster
     within the Computing and Communications Foundation (CCF) division
     of CISE. Projects supported in the TF cluster address fundamental
     issues of information science and technology, both within
     Computation and Communication, and also at the interface between
     these, and other disciplines. A new focus this year highlights
     research efforts for the Internet's next generation, part of the
     NSF/CISE initiative for the new Internet. The cluster encompasses
     the research areas covered by the former programs: communications
     research, numeric symbolic graphic computation, signal
     processing, and theory of computing. For the foreseeable future,
     TF will continue to encourage the submission of proposals from
     the research communities that were served formerly by these
     programs.

     The TF cluster is broadly concerned with problems of information
     processing that fall between the extremes of purely theoretical
     studies and of applications within a discipline. Projects
     sponsored by the cluster advance the foundations of computer
     science, communication theory, signal processing theory,
     scientific computing, mathematics, and application areas, and
     some will apply core theory to fundamental problems throughout
     science and engineering. Investigators are encouraged to
     formulate high impact proposals that depart from traditional
     problem definitions. Proposals should address one or more of the
     areas described in the body of this solicitation: Scientific
     Foundations of Computing; Scientific Foundations of
     Communication; a new focus, Scientific Foundations for the
     Internet's Next Generation (SING). The cluster encourages
     investigators to include in their proposals innovative curricula
     or educational materials to help advance the training of new
     experts in theoretical foundations of computing and
     communication.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Sirin Tekinay, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: stekinay@nsf.gov

   * John H. Cozzens, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: jcozzens@nsf.gov

   * William Steiger, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: wsteiger@nsf.gov

   * Kathleen M. O'Hara, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1025 N, telephone: (703) 292-8491, email:
     kohara@nsf.gov

   * Robert B. Grafton, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1114 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: rgrafton@nsf.gov

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

   * 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering

Eligibility Information

   * Organization Limit: None Specified.
   * PI Eligibility Limit: An investigator may participate as PI, co-PI or
     Senior Personnel in at most one proposal in response to this
     solicitation.
   * Limit on Number of Proposals: There is no limit on the number of
     proposals an organization may submit. An investigator may participate
     as PI, co-PI or Senior Personnel in at most one proposal in response
     to this solicitation.

Award Information

   * Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
   * Estimated Number of Awards: 80 to 120 - ranging from $70K/year to
     $500K/year
   * Anticipated Funding Amount: $42,000,000 in fiscal years 2006 through
     2008, pending the availability of funds

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Full Proposal Preparation Instructions:

        * Full proposals submitted via FastLane:

             * Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply

        * Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov:

             * NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the
               Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via
               Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov
               Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and
               on the NSF website at:
               http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)
               To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application
               Forms Package: click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov
               website, 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.

B. Budgetary Information

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

C. Due Dates

   * Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
          May 25, 2006

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

     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. Due Dates
       D. FastLane/Grants.gov 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

The Theoretical Foundations cluster is broadly concerned with problems of
information processing that fall between the extremes of purely theoretical
studies and of applications within a discipline. Projects sponsored by the
cluster advance the foundations of computer science, communication theory,
signal processing theory, scientific computing, mathematics, and
application areas, and some will apply core theory to fundamental problems
throughout science and engineering. Investigators are encouraged to
formulate high impact proposals that depart from traditional problem
definitions. Proposals should address one or more of the areas described in
the body of this solicitation: Scientific Foundations for Computing;
Scientific Foundations for Communication; and a new focus, Scientific
Foundations for Internet's Next Generation (SING). The cluster encourages
investigators to include in their proposals innovative curricula or
educational materials to help advance the training of new experts in
theoretical foundations of computing and communication.

Focus areas are formulated to embrace the traditional research topics that
have been funded within the cluster, as well as to initiate and sustain
research and education activities in promising new areas. TF encourages
multi-disciplinary collaborations, particularly among research teams who
typically have not worked together. Proposals should contribute towards
core theory, fundamental algorithms, and applications in these areas.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Theoretical Foundations (TF) will fund research projects that belong to one
or more of the three areas described below. The cluster encourages
proposals that transcend the confines of each of the areas elaborated.

Scientific Foundations for Computing

This field is concerned with the understanding of all computational
phenomena, both natural and man-made. It focuses on mathematical modeling
of computational processes, and studies the resources that are
intrinsically required for solving natural problems. Topics of interest
include:

   * Core theory: models of computations; their interrelations, and their
     and power and limitations. Computational complexity, randomness and
     de-randomization, cryptography and security, coding and fault-tolerant
     systems. Computational learning. Various forms of computing such as
     distributed, interactive, online, quantum computing. Complexity of
     proofs.
   * Fundamental algorithms: seeking efficient, general algorithmic
     techniques and paradigms that may transcend application domains.
     Algorithmic and computational approaches i) for Computer Science
     including optimization and approximation, graphs and networks, large
     data sets, vision and other geometric reasoning, databases,
     verification and other logical reasoning, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
     and machine learning, reactive systems, high-end computing), ii) for
     Mathematics including geometry, topology, algebra, number theory,
     combinatorics and other branches of mathematics, iii) for symbolic,
     numerical, and other scientific computing, and for engineering
     domains. In all cases the relevant models may include sequential,
     parallel, distributed, probabilistic, average-case, on-line and
     others.
   * Applications: seeking theory, methods, and models for the
     computational processes that occur in Science and Engineering; for
     example in Biology, the generation and function of proteins, modeling
     the immune system, the cellular system, other systems; in Physics,
     statistical mechanical systems, cosmology, particle science; in
     Economics, the study of equilibria, especially in context of
     computationally bounded players, in contexts such as auctions and
     mechanism design, social rules, ecological models; in Neurology, the
     study of the brain, neural systems, cognition; in Computer Science,
     applications including graphics and visualization. The unifying idea
     is that algorithms and computation provide a viewpoint for approaching
     problems in diverse areas.

Also encouraged are interdisciplinary projects with other parts of CISE and
with other sciences, as well as experimental studies aimed at improving the
foundational understanding.

Scientific Foundations for Communication

This area seeks advances in theory and techniques, as well as supporting
software and hardware, for the acquisition and processing of digital and
analog information, and for the efficient representation, transmission and
reception of digital and analog information over a variety of channels
(e.g. wireline, mobile multi-antenna wireless, optical, and biological
channels.) Topics of interest include:

   * Core theory: contributions in communication theory, information
     theory. Impact of mobility, and traffic. Capacity and performance of
     communication networks, especially of ad hoc networks. Detection and
     estimation. Network coding, multiuser coding, source and channel
     coding. Modern modulation and coding techniques exploiting the time,
     frequency and spatial dimensions of channels. Statistical signal and
     array processing. Image and multi-dimensional digital signal
     processing. Collaborative signal processing. Cryptography.
   * Fundamental algorithms: including signal compression for reduced data
     rates, scalable/ progressive/ multiresolution approaches in signal
     decomposition; compression, and other signal processing techniques to
     support content analysis. Multicast, broadcast, geocast techniques.
     Communication algorithms working across network layers.
   * Applications: including multimedia signal processing. Wireless
     communications. Efficient transceiver design. Personal communications
     systems. Local area networks and ad hoc networks. Optical
     communications, and hybrid systems. Information hiding and
     steganography. Multi-sensory input to the wireless and mobile
     communication systems. Distributed sensor systems and networks.
     Cooperative communication applications.

Fundamental research efforts should aim at re-defining the reference
framework for communications, in addition to cross layer research.

Scientific Foundations for Internet&rsquo;s Next Generation (SING)

This area merges elements of the theoretical foundations of computing,
communications, and signal processing into a foundation for a clean-slate
redesign of the Internet (http://www.nsf.gov/cise/geni/). Though the goal
of redesign is to increase security, mobility, location cognition, power
efficiency, and other desirable network properties, foundational studies
should transcend these. Investigations could provide insight into the
interaction between massive scales and individual self-interest, into
subnetwork autonomy, into failure models, into distributed control, and
into other topics. Formal models, definitions of computational cost,
complexity classes, mathematical specifications for communications, and
methods for validation of system behavior are all needed.

Wireless technology is expected to play a bigger and more fundamental role
in the new Internet than it has to date. Looking forward into the next few
years, with optical and wireless communications dominating the Internet,
signal processing &ldquo;at the interface&rdquo; to the glass wire will
become crucial in addressing the potential bottleneck. Speech and vision
will become widely available thanks to new sensors.

SING is expected to challenge the well-established theories and break
barriers between research communities, by changing the input-output orders
in traditional reference framework of computing and communications systems.

In summary, with SING we envision broader research on:

   * Core theory: expanding existing theory and formulating a new
     framework. Considering the temporal and spatial distribution of
     information and power. Ties to physical, biological, and social
     sciences; e.g., investigating relationships to theoretical foundations
     of social computing, economic theory, game theory, computational
     biology, quantum information theory. Theory for Computing and learning
     with mobile information sources. Establishing the role of location
     from spatial behavior of propagation to &ldquo;place.&rdquo;
   * Fundamental algorithms: such as cooperative communications.
     Scalability, complexity, and interactivity problems. Security.
     Adaptive compression. Signal processing techniques to support content
     analysis. Power aware processing. Tradeoffs between communication and
     computation and storage. Models for mobility enhanced information
     dissemination. Search and information retrieval, complex queries, full
     text search. Peer-to-peer communications. Auctions. Manipulating
     massive data sets. Algorithmic distributed mechanism design and
     distributed control. Quality of service driven mobility.
   * Applications: wireless communications; mobile and sensor networks, ad
     hoc networks; smart displays. Signal processing, computing, and
     communications techniques enabling pervasive computing and
     communication environments.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

An investigator may participate as PI, co-PI or Senior Personnel in at most
one proposal each calendar year in response to this solicitation. There is
no limit on the number of proposals an organization may submit.

IV. AWARD INFORMATION

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

   * Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
   * Estimated Number of Awards: 80 to 120 - ranging from $70K/year to
     $500K/year
   * Anticipated Funding Amount: $42,000,000 in fiscal years 2006 through
     2008, pending the availability of funds

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Instructions:

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

Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program
Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system.

   * Proposals submitted via the FastLane system:

     Proposals submitted in response to this Program Solicitation via
     FastLane 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.

   * Proposals submitted via Grants.gov:

     Proposals submitted in response to this Program Solicitation via
     Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with
     the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation
     and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete
     text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the
     Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:
     (http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf). To
     obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms
     Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then
     click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package
     and Application Instructions link and enter the funding
     opportunity number, i.e., the Program Solicitation Number, and
     press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov
     Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications
     Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from
     pubs@nsf.gov.

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and
submission of the proposal, please note the following:

  A. Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals must be submitted
     via the NSF FastLane system. This includes collaborative proposals
     submitted:

        * by one organization (and which includes one or more
          subawards); or
        * as separate submissions from multiple organizations.

     Proposers are advised that collaborative proposals submitted in
     response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov will be
     requested to be withdrawn and proposers will need to resubmit
     these proposals via the NSF FastLane system. (Chapter II, Section
     D.3 of the Grant Proposal Guide provides additional information
     on collaborative proposals.)

  B. All Other Types of Proposals That Contain Subawards. All other types
     of proposals that contain one or more subawards also must be submitted
     via the NSF Fastlane system. (Chapter II, Section C.2.g.(vi)(e) of the
     Grant Proposal Guide provides additional information on subawards.)

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

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

C. Due Dates

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

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

     May 25, 2006

D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements

   * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane:

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

     Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
     Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the
     proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal
     certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal
     Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide
     the required electronic certifications within five working days
     following the electronic submission of the proposal. Proposers
     are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed
     Proposal Cover Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this
     process are available on the FastLane Website at:
     http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/

   * For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov:

     Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization
     must register to create an institutional profile. Once
     registered, the applicant&rsquo;s organization can then apply for
     any federal grant on the Grants.gov website. The
     Grants.gov&rsquo;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. 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 judgments.

     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 Ad Hoc and/or panel review.

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

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 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 proposers 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 are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement
Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC). 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.

Consistent with the requirements of OMB Circular A-16, Coordination of
Geographic Information and Related Spatial Data Activities, and the Federal
Geographic Data Committee, all NSF awards that result in relevant
geospatial data must be submitted to Geospatial One-Stop in accordance with
the guidelines provided at: www.geodata.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the
NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the
NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpm.
The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone
number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may
be ordered through the GPO Website at http://www.gpo.gov/.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/. Paper copies of these documents may be
obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827
or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.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 the PI and all
Co-PIs. 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 this program should be made to:

   * Sirin Tekinay, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: stekinay@nsf.gov

   * John H. Cozzens, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: jcozzens@nsf.gov

   * William Steiger, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: wsteiger@nsf.gov

   * Kathleen M. O'Hara, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1025 N, telephone: (703) 292-8491, email:
     kohara@nsf.gov

   * Robert B. Grafton, Program Director, Directorate for Computer &
     Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing and
     Communication Foundations, 1114 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: rgrafton@nsf.gov

The primary contacts for the three components are:

   * Scientific Foundations for Communication: John Cozzens; Sirin Tekinay
   * Scientific Foundations for Computing: Robert Grafton; Kathleen
     O&rsquo;Hara; William Steiger
   * Scientific Foundations for Internet&rsquo;s Next Generation (SING):
     Kathleen O&rsquo;Hara; William Steiger ; Sirin Tekinay

For questions related to the use of Grants.gov, please contact:

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

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

   * Tracey M. Wilkinson, Senior Program Assistant, Directorate for
     Computer & Information Science & Engineering, Division of Computing
     and Communication Foundations, 1115 N, telephone: (703) 292-8910, fax:
     (703) 292-9059, email: twilkins@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 Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual
program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's
MyNSF News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/) to be notified of new
funding opportunities that become available.

Related Programs:

   * CISE Computing Research Infrastructure (NSF 04-588)

   * Networking Technology and Systems (NSF 06-516)

   * Computer Systems Research (NSF 05-629)

   * Cyber Trust (NSF 06-517)

Other Related Program Description

   * Integrative, Hybrid & Complex Systems (PD 05-7564)

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 II,
Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of
proposals.


 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; 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.

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