Glossary

AOR
See Authorized Organizational Representative

Authorized Organizational Representative
The administrative official who, on behalf of the proposing organization, is empowered to make certifications and assurances and can commit the organization to the conduct of a project that NSF is being asked to support as well as adhere to various NSF policies and grant requirements.

Award Abstract
A summary that describes the research and names of principal investigators and their institutions.

Continuing Grant
A type of grant under which NSF agrees to provide a specific level of support for an initial, specified period of time, with a statement of intent to provide additional support of the project for additional periods, provided funds are available and the results achieved warrant further support.

Cooperative Agreement
A type of assistance award that may be used when the project being supported requires substantial agency involvement during the project performance period. Substantial agency involvement may be necessary when an activity is technically or managerially complex, requires extensive or close coordination with other federally supported work, or helps assure suitability or acceptability of certain aspects of the supported activity. Examples of projects that may be suitable for cooperative agreements are systemic reform efforts, research centers, policy studies, large curriculum projects, multiuser facilities, projects which involve complex subcontracting, construction or operations of major in-house university facilities and major instrumentation development.

Cost Sharing
In accordance with Congressional requirements, NSF requires that each grantee share in the cost of research projects resulting from unsolicited proposals.

Crosscutting
Designates an activity in which two or more NSF directorates and/or other federal agencies participate.

Due Dates
The three types of due dates used by NSF are described in the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter I, Section F.

Funding Opportunity Document
Program announcements, program solicitations and program descriptions.

Funding Rate
Sometimes referred to as “success rate”, the proposal funding rate for a given period is calculated by dividing the number of new awards made in a fiscal year by the number of new awards and declines made in that fiscal year.

GPG
Grant Proposal Guide.

Interdisciplinary
Designates an activity designed for collaboration among two or more disciplines. See individual funding opportunity documents for specific requirements.

NSF-Wide
Designates an activity in which all NSF directorates participate.

Principal Investigator (PI)
The researcher for an award. There may be more than one PI per award.

Program Status
A program can have one of two statuses:

• Active: the program has a funding opportunity document under which proposals may be submitted, or the program has no funding opportunity document under which proposals may be submitted but has a funding opportunity document for which the program is still managing active awards.
• Archived: the program has no funding opportunity document under which proposals may be submitted or for which the program is still managing active awards.