Some programs and special proposal competitions have target dates for receipt of proposals. Applicants should contact the program office listed under the Information Contacts section of this program for dates on specific programs. The Principal Investigator may request, in writing, that the Foundation reconsider its action in declining any proposal application, renewal application, or continuing application. Proposals for renewal of a Standard Grant compete with all other pending proposals. Continuing Grants, in which NSF agrees to support a specified level of effort for a specified period of time, with a statement of intent to provide additional support for the project, provided funds are available and the results achieved warrant further support.
Funding is normally in one-year increments.
Some awards are made as cooperative agreements when substantial NSF involvement is required during the project performance period. The revised criteria are designed to be useful and relevant across NSF's many different programs, however, NSF will continue to employ special criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities. The revised merit review criteria are listed below. Following each criterion are potential considerations that the reviewer may employ in the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal.