GRANT PROPOSAL GUIDE
Table of Contents
Chapter I: Pre-Submission Information............................................................................... I-1
A. NSF Proposal Preparation and Submission ...................................................................................... I-1 B. NSF Programs and Funding Opportunities ........................................................................................ I-1 C. Categories of Funding Opportunities ................................................................................................. I-2
1. Dear Colleague Letters ......................................................................................................... I-2 2. Program Descriptions............................................................................................................ I-2 3. Program Announcements ..................................................................................................... I-2 4. Program Solicitations ............................................................................................................ I-2
D. Types of Submissions ........................................................................................................................ I-3 1. Letters of Intent ..................................................................................................................... I-3 2. Preliminary Proposals ........................................................................................................... I-3
a. Invite/Not Invite Decisions........................................................................................ I-3 b. Encourage/Discourage Decisions ............................................................................ I-3
3. Full Proposals........................................................................................................................ I-4 Proprietary or Privileged Information.................................................................................................. I-4
E. Who May Submit Proposals............................................................................................................... I-5 Categories of Proposers ......................................................................... I-5 1. Universities and Colleges...................................................................................................... I-5 2. Non-profit, non-academic organizations ............................................................................... I-5 3. For-profit organizations ......................................................................................................... I-5 4. State and Local Governments............................................................................................... I-5 5. Unaffiliated Individuals .......................................................................................................... I-5 6. Foreign organizations............................................................................................................ I-5 7. Other Federal agencies......................................................................................................... I-6
F. When to Submit Proposals................................................................................................................. I-6 1. Target Dates.......................................................................................................................... I-6 2. Deadline Dates...................................................................................................................... I-6 Special Exceptions to NSFs Deadline Date Policy ........................................................................... I-6 Natural or Anthropogenic Disasters ................................................................................................... I-6 Closure of NSF .................................................................................................................... I-7 3. Submission Windows ............................................................................................................ I-7
G. How to Submit Proposals ................................................................................................................... I-7 1. Electronic Requirements ....................................................................................................... I-7 2. Submission Instructions ........................................................................................................ I-7 3. Requirements Relating to Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
Numbers and Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM)............................ I-7 4. NSF ID .................................................................................................................................. I-8 5. Proposal Receipt ................................................................................................................... I-8
H. Proposal Processing .......................................................................................................................... I-8
Chapter II: Proposal Preparation Instructions ..................................................................... II-1
A. Conformance with Instructions for Proposal Preparation................................................................... II-1 B. Format of the Proposal....................................................................................................................... II-2
1. Proposal Pagination Instructions........................................................................................... II-2 2. Proposal Margin and Spacing Requirements ....................................................................... II-2 3. Page Formatting.................................................................................................................... II-3
C. Proposal Contents.............................................................................................................................. II-3 1. Single-Copy Documents ....................................................................................................... II-3
a. Authorization to Deviate from NSF Proposal Preparation Requirements ................ II-3 b. List of Suggested Reviewers or Reviewers Not to Include ...................................... II-3
Grant Proposal Guide i NSF 16-1
c. Proprietary or Privileged Information........................................................................ II-3 d. Proposal Certifications ............................................................................................. II-3 e. Collaborators & Other Affiliations Information.......................................................... II-6
2. Sections of the Proposal ....................................................................................................... II-6 a. Cover Sheet ............................................................................................................. II-7 b. Project Summary...................................................................................................... II-9 c. Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... II-9 d. Project Description ................................................................................................... II-9
(i) Content ....................................................................................................... II-9 (ii) Page Limitations and Inclusion of Uniform Resource Locators
(URLs) within the Project Description ......................................................... II-10 (iii) Results from Prior NSF Support.................................................................. II-10 (iv) Unfunded Collaborations............................................................................. II-11 (v) Group Proposals ......................................................................................... II-11 (vi) Proposals for Renewed Support ................................................................. II-11
e. References Cited...................................................................................................... II-11 f. Biographical Sketch(es) ........................................................................................... II-11
(i) Senior Personnel......................................................................................... II-11 (a) Professional Preparation................................................................ II-12 (b) Appointments ................................................................................. II-12 (c) Products ......................................................................................... II-12 (d) Synergistic Activities ...................................................................... II-12
(ii) Other Personnel .......................................................................................... II-12 (iii) Equipment Proposals ................................................................................. II-13
g. Budget and Budget Justification............................................................................... II-13 (i) Salaries and Wages .................................................................................... II-13
(a) Senior Personnel Salaries & Wages Policy ................................... II-13 (b) Administrative and Clerical Salaries & Wages Policy .................... II-14 (c) Procedur
