National Science Foundation (NSF) - Specific Requirements & Advice

is effective forproposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024
Highlights of changes related to proposal preparation in PAPPG NSF 24-1:

  • Proposal Font, Spacing, and Margin Requirements has been modified to allow for submission of proposal documents in landscape format
  • Biographical Sketch(es)
    • Implements Common Form developed by the National Science and Technology Council's Research Security Subcommittee
    • There is now no page limitation
    • The Synergistic Activities section has been removed from the biographical sketch; this information must now be submitted as a single page document
  • Current and Pending (Other) Support implements the Common Form developed by the National Science and Technology Council's Research Security Subcommittee
  • Mentoring Plan must now apply to or postdoctoral researchers and/or graduate students supported on the project

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SciENcv is the only option for preparing NSF biosketch and Current & Pending (Other) Support documents



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-- review and proposal preparation

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Getting to Know NSF


The Program Suitability & Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) is for prospective Principal Investigators (PIs) to contact the National Science Foundation (NSF) to determine suitability of a project idea prior to submission of a proposal.


NSF 101 is an informational series for the science and engineering research community that covers a wide range of topics related to grant seeking, including answers to commonly asked questions and how to communicate with NSF.
NSF101 collaborates with program staff across the agency to provide clear, basic instructions to improve accessibility and demystify the NSF experience.


Slides and videos of NSF webinars and conferences

Proposal Writing and Review

Reminder: URLs are not allowed in proposal components with page limitations


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ICYMI:

  • Important to very via download that Research.gov version of proposal is correct
  • Incomplete discussion of previous NSF support is the most common reason that proposals are returned without review
  • Statement the "Data Management Plan is not needed" is very often found during review to be not true -- a DMP is needed

(19-minute video)

Broader Impacts


For more resources, see Developing Broader Impacts and Outreach Activities

Data Management

-- DMP guidance, including requirements by Directorate, Office, Division Program or other NSF Unit

STEM Education

and
A report from the Institute of Educational Sciences/US ED and the National Science Foundation

  • Guidance on building the evidence base in STEM learning
  • Provides guidelines for six types of education “research” projects
  • Overview of the nature, justification, evidence generation and so on for each project type

(November, 2018)
A Supplement to the Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development

For other resources, seeRD Digital Library>> NSF -- NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION