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Although
the
National Science Foundation is migrating to submissions through grants.gov, electronic
submissions are still accepted through FastLane; read the guidelines to see if
your proposal is required to be submitted through grants.gov.
Every Principal Investigator
needs to have a Password to access http://fastlane.nsf.gov
( to get yours, call Carole Robarchek at 978-6806 or send an e-mail)
FastLane
Hints
You will
need to provide the following information for registration as a Principal
Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator and to access FastLane:
Flash!
Proposals are electronically submitted and signed electronically
by Dr. McDonald. PIs do not sign.
As of January 5, 2001, NSF will convert your text files to their approved
version of pdf for you!
Please
call Carole Robarchek at 6806 if you need help!
Check
the latest version of the Grant Proposal Guide by clicking on this link: 
Notice: In the January 2002
Grant Proposal Guide
(GPG), NSF published
revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to completion of the Project
Summary and Project Description. PIs were instructed that they must
address both merit review criteria in the preparation of proposals submitted
to NSF. The GPG now reflects that proposers must clearly address, in
separate statements within the one-page limitation, both of the NSF merit
review criteria in the Project Summary. The GPG 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.
Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are
available electronically on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf022/bicexamples.pdf
Excerpt
from a "Dear Colleague Letter" by
Thomas A. Weber
Director, Division of Materials Research, NSF, received Nov. 11, 2004:
"There are many ways to address the broader
impact criterion, as demonstrated by the materials research community. These
include training graduate and undergraduate students to be future professionals;
presenting seminars; organizing workshops and symposia; designing new materials
or new processing/fabrication routes to existing materials; exploring and
exploiting novel phenomena; creating new materials of potential use in
industrial, medical, or environmental applications; developing new devices and
methodologies for national security; forming start-up companies for
disseminating new technologies; writing scholarly review articles or articles
describing research to non-specialist audiences; forging links to other
scientific disciplines; sharing laboratory methods, instrumentation, software
for data analysis, or samples of novel materials; devising safer laboratory
procedures or more economical research practices; creating websites enhanced by
engaging animations and movies; consulting with industrial and government
colleagues; establishing collaborations with scientists from around the world;
hosting students, teachers or other professionals, including those from
under-served demographic groups; updating curriculum by writing texts or
developing new classroom instructional materials and laboratory experiments;
working with science centers on new exhibits; assisting journalists with their
stories on technical topics; and developing new art forms for communicating
science to wider audiences." For the full letter, click
here.
These changes should be carefully considered by PIs when preparing
proposals for submission to NSF. Effective October 1, 2002, proposals that
do not address the two merit review criteria in separate statements in the
project summary will be returned without
review.
NSF values proposals with strong
education components. Proposals including education components
should also include approved evaluation methods. Links to
evaluation handbooks and other
information are available on the NSF
Division of Research Evaluation &
Communication Website.
Here is a
link to the latest
NSF Strategic
Plan, which outlines their funding priorities.
Here is a
link to the NSF Publication:
A Guide for Proposal Writing
URL :
http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04016
Here is a
link to
specialized information for
PrincipaI Investigators: a page of the most commonly requested
information.
Here are
some hints for using FastLane (http://fastlane.nsf.gov).
To Start a
Proposal:
-
Click
on "Proposals, Awards & Status" at the top left of the navigation bar.
-
If
you are the PI or a Co-PI, login
with last name, social security number and password (do not use the other
boxes; they are for those who are not PIs on your proposal).
-
Click on "Proposal
Functions"
-
Click
on "Proposal Preparation"
-
Look
at the PI information on file for you; if it is not correct, edit
it.
-
Click
on "Prepare Proposal"
-
If
you have not already started this proposal, go to the bottom and click on "Create
Blank Proposal" ;
-
If already created,
make sure it is highlighted, and click on "Edit
Proposal". This is also the place to give the ORA access to the
proposal to help with budget entry and to have permission to submit the
proposal: Don't
forget to give our office access to your proposal to assist in editing and
to submit it! On the "Proposal Actions" page, press the
button marked "Allow SRO Access".
-
You
are now on the Forms Page. To work on a section of the proposal click
the "go" button. Remember to save your work by clicking on
the "OK" or "save" buttons on each section.
-
Start
with the Cover Sheet. If the Institution is correct, go to the Program
Announcement and select the right one; then go to the remainder of the Cover
Sheet and enter all information except the amount (that will appear
automatically when the budget pages are complete; Carole Robarchek can
assist you with this.) Don't forget to press the "OK" button
at the bottom to save your work.
-
Note
that each written section of the proposal (summary, description, references,
biographical sketch, budget justification, etc will be uploaded as a
separate file. Each section should have page numbers starting with
"1". Standard page format includes 1-inch margins on all
sides, and a font size must not exceed 15 characters per 2.5 cm; 12
point is recommended. Because FastLane is converting your files to pdf
for you, please choose a standard font or you may run into
difficulty. Budgets may be entered by Carole Robarchek after receiving
approval from Larry Smith. Current and Pending support must contain an
entry including the present proposal (make sure you are not committing over
100% of your time!).
-
You
may find this Word version of the Current
and Pending Support form useful.
To Check on the Status of
a submitted proposal:
-
Click
on "Proposals, Awards & Status" at the top left of the navigation bar.
-
If
you are the PI or a Co-PI, login
with last name, social security number and password (do not use the other
boxes; they are for those who are not PIs on your proposal).
-
Click on "Proposal
Functions"
-
Click on "Proposal Status"
-
You will see a list of
your submitted proposals; highlight the one you want to see and click on
"View". You will see when it was sent to review or if already
reviewed, you will be able to access the reviewer comments when the program
manager releases them to the website.
If
you find something that would assist others using FastLane, please advise Carole
Robarchek at 978-6806 or send an e-mail
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