Title: Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters (Hazards SEES) Date: 09/19/12 Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters (Hazards SEES) [1]Program Solicitation NSF 12-610 NSF Logo National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering Directorate for Engineering Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Office of Cyberinfrastructure Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 04, 2013 SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS General Information Program Title: Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters (Hazards SEES) Synopsis of Program: The overarching goal of Hazards SEES is to catalyze well-integrated interdisciplinary research efforts in hazards-related science and engineering in order to improve the understanding of natural hazards and technological hazards linked to natural phenomena, mitigate their effects, and to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The goal is to effectively prevent hazards from becoming disasters. Hazards SEES aims to make investments in strongly interdisciplinary research that will reduce the impact of such hazards, enhance the safety of society, and contribute to sustainability. The Hazards SEES program is a multi-directorate program that seeks to: (1) advance understanding of the fundamental processes associated with specific natural hazards and technological hazards linked to natural phenomena, and their interactions; (2) better understand the causes, interdependences, impacts and cumulative effects of these hazards on individuals, the natural and built environment, and society as a whole; and (3) improve capabilities for forecasting or predicting hazards, mitigating their effects, and enhancing the capacity to respond to and recover from resultant disasters. Hazards SEES seeks research projects that will productively cross the boundaries of the atmospheric and geospace, earth, and ocean sciences; computer and information science; cyberinfrastructure; engineering; mathematics and statistics; and social, economic, and behavioral sciences. Successful proposals will integrate across these multiple disciplines to promote research that advances new paradigms that contribute to creating a society resilient to hazards. Hazards SEES intends to transform hazards and disaster research by fostering the development of interdisciplinary research that allows for appropriately targeted data collection, integration, and management; modeling (including predictive models for real-time decision making); visualization and simulation; data analytics and data-driven discovery; real-time sensing; cross-cutting knowledge development; and synthesis of applicable models and theory. Proposals must demonstrate the inclusion of the appropriate expertise to address the research questions, hypotheses, and problems being posed. Hazards SEES research projects should be designed around one or more locations, identifiable hazards, and/or themes. Furthermore, Hazards SEES research should train the next generation of scientists for interdisciplinary hazards and disaster research. Cognizant Program Officer(s): Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact. * David M. Fountain, GEO/EAR, telephone: (703) 292-8552, email: [2]dfountai@nsf.gov * Thomas Janecek, GEO/OCE, telephone: (703) 292-5393, email: [3]tjanecek@nsf.gov * Bradley F. Smull, GEO/AGS, telephone: (703) 292-8524, email: [4]bsmull@nsf.gov * Kenneth Whang, CISE/IIS, telephone: (703) 292-5149, email: [5]kwhang@nsf.gov * Dennis E. Wenger, ENG/CMMI, telephone: (703) 292-8606, email: [6]dwenger@nsf.gov * Kishor Mehta, ENG/CMMI, telephone: (703) 292-7081, email: [7]kimehta@nsf.gov * Junping Wang, MPS/DMS, telephone: (703) 292-4488, email: [8]jwang@nsf.gov * David McGinnis, SBE/BCS, telephone: (703) 292-7307, email: [9]dmcginni@nsf.gov * Robert E. O'Connor, SBE/SES, telephone: (703) 292-7263, email: [10]roconnor@nsf.gov * Irene Qualters, OD/OCI, telephone: (703) 292-2339, email: [11]iqualter@nsf.gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): * 47.041 --- Engineering * 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences * 47.050 --- Geosciences * 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering * 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences * 47.080 --- Office of Cyberinfrastructure Award Information Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 10 to 25 Estimated Number of Awards: NSF anticipates funding a combined total of 10 to 25 Type 1 and Type 2 proposals, subject to the availability of funds. Project sizes for Type 1 proposals are expected to range up to $300,000 for up to 2 years duration. Project sizes for Type 2 proposals are expected to range up to $3,000,000 for up to 4 years duration. Anticipated Funding Amount: $20,000,000 pending availability of funds. Eligibility Information Organization Limit: The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I, Section E. PI Limit: Because this program is meant to support interdisciplinary research, a minimum of three investigators is required, the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) and two or more co-Investigators (co-PIs) from the lead or participating institutions who are eligible to serve as PI or co-PI on NSF proposals submitted through their respective institutions. In order to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to solving sustainability problems Hazards SEES principal investigators should represent three or more distinct disciplinary areas as described in this solicitation (atmospheric and geospace, earth, and ocean sciences; computer and information science; cyberinfrastructure; engineering; mathematics and statistics; social, economic, and behavioral sciences). Additional PIs or senior personnel may be added to cover other interdisciplinary needs of the project. The appropriateness of the research team's disciplinary composition and expertise will be factors in the merit review of the proposals (see Additional Review Criteria section). Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: None Specified Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1 An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, Senior Personnel (or any similar designation), or elsewhere in the proposal budget in no more than one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that no individual is listed as PI, co-PI, Senior Personnel, or elsewhere in the proposal budget on more than one proposal. In cases where an investigator appears in two or more proposals, all proposals submitted with that person may be returned without review. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions * Letters of Intent: Not Applicable * Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable * Full Proposals: + Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: [12]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. + Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: [13]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gran tsgovguide) B. Budgetary Information * Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable * Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. C. Due Dates * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 04, 2013 Proposal Review Information Criteria Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Award Administration Information Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply. Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. TABLE OF CONTENTS [14]Summary of Program Requirements I. [15]Introduction II. [16]Program Description III. [17]Award Information IV. [18]Eligibility Information V. [19]Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. [20]Proposal Preparation Instructions B. [21]Budgetary Information C. [22]Due Dates D. [23]FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements VI. [24]NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures A. [25]NSF Merit Review Criteria B. [26]Review and Selection Process VII. [27]Award Administration Information A. [28]Notification of the Award B. [29]Award Conditions C. [30]Reporting Requirements VIII. [31]Agency Contacts IX. [32]Other Information I. INTRODUCTION Every year, natural disasters lead to substantial loss of life and livelihoods, costing an estimated $50 billion in the form of destroyed public and private property and mobilization of emergency response personnel and equipment in the United States. In 2010, worldwide economic damages from natural disasters alone amounted to $123.9 billion; 297,000 lives were lost and another 217 million others were affected (Guha-Sapir D, Vos F, Below R, with Ponserre S. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2010: The Numbers and Trends. Brussels: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters; 2011). To enhance disaster resilience, fundamental challenges in disaster and hazards research must be addressed. The overarching goal of Hazards SEES is to catalyze well-integrated interdisciplinary research efforts in hazards-related science and engineering in order to improve the understanding of natural hazards and technological hazards linked to natural phenomena, mitigate their effects, and to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The goal is to effectively prevent hazards from becoming disasters. Hazards SEES aims to make investments in strongly interdisciplinary research that will reduce the impact of such hazards, enhance the safety of society, and contribute to sustainability. A sustainable world is one in which human needs are met equitably and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Meeting this formidable challenge requires a substantial increase in our understanding of the integrated system of society, the natural world, and the alterations humans bring to Earth. NSF's Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) activities aim to address this need through support for interdisciplinary research and education. A sustainable world is also one in which the degree to which a system's (such as a social or economic system, or a built environment) susceptibility to damaging effects of a hazardous event - i.e., its vulnerability - is reduced. And it is one in which a system, community or society exposed to hazards is able to resist, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects of a hazardous event; in other words to be resilient. Vulnerability and resilience depend upon the understanding of the degree to which the society and infrastructure are exposed to hazardous events and their potential consequences. Fundamental to all sustainability research is the simultaneous consideration of social, economic, and environmental systems and the long-term viability of those systems. Concepts that underlie the science of sustainability include complex adaptive systems theory, emergent behavior, multi-scale processes, as well as the vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and resilience of coupled human-environment systems. An important research goal is to understand how patterns and processes at the local and regional scales are shaped by - and feed into - processes and patterns that manifest at the global scale over the long term. These topics guide research to explore alternate ways of managing the environment, migrating from finite resources to renewable or inexhaustible resources, and applying technology to improve human well-being. Conceptual frameworks for sustainability, including general theories and models, are critically needed for such informed decision-making. SEES activities span the entire range of scientific domains at NSF and aim to: 1) support interdisciplinary research and education that can facilitate the move towards global sustainability; 2) build linkages among existing projects and partners and add new participants in the sustainability research enterprise; and 3) develop a workforce trained in the interdisciplinary scholarship needed to understand and address the complex issues of sustainability. II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Hazards SEES program is a multi-directorate (CISE, ENG, GEO, MPS, OCI, SBE) program that seeks to * advance understanding of the fundamental processes associated with specific natural hazards and technological hazards linked to natural phenomena, and their interactions; * better understand the causes, interdependences, impacts and cumulative effects of these hazards on individuals, the natural and built environment, and society as a whole; and * improve capabilities for forecasting or predicting hazards, mitigating their effects, and enhancing the capacity to respond to and recover from resultant disasters. Hazards SEES seeks research projects that will productively cross the boundaries of the atmospheric and geospace, earth, and ocean sciences; computer and information science; cyberinfrastructure; engineering; mathematics and statistics; and social, economic, and behavioral sciences. Successful proposals will integrate across these multiple disciplines to promote research that advances new paradigms that contribute to creating a society resilient to hazards. Hazards SEES intends to transform hazards and disaster research by fostering the development of interdisciplinary research that allows for appropriately targeted data collection, integration, and management; modeling (including predictive models for real-time decision making); visualization and simulation; data analytics and data-driven discovery; real-time sensing; cross-cutting knowledge development; and synthesis of applicable models and theory. Proposals must demonstrate the inclusion of the appropriate expertise to address the research questions, hypotheses, and problems being posed. Hazards SEES research projects should be designed around one or more locations, identifiable hazards, and/or themes. Furthermore, Hazards SEES research should train the next generation of scientists for interdisciplinary hazards and disaster research. Key Attributes of Hazards SEES Research 1. Integration across Disciplines: Proposals submitted to the Hazards SEES program must demonstrate meaningful integration across disciplines to solve outstanding problems that would address the principal objectives outlined above and that go beyond existing approaches that can be addressed within the individual disciplines and usual core-program co-funded research opportunities at NSF. Although many disciplinary challenges remain in hazards and disaster research, it is the intent of this program to bridge significant existing gaps between disciplinary foci and to foster new lines of research that emerge only in an interdisciplinary context. Proposals are expected to document that the proposed research is truly interdisciplinary and that the respective components are fully integrated and necessary for the successful execution of the proposed project. Plans for integration of the respective research components must be fully outlined in the proposal. In order to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to solving sustainability problems Hazards SEES principal investigators should represent three or more distinct disciplinary areas as described in this solicitation (atmospheric and geospace, earth, and ocean sciences; computer and information science; cyberinfrastructure; engineering; mathematics and statistics; and social, economic, and behavioral sciences). The appropriateness of the research team's disciplinary composition and expertise will be factors in the merit review of the proposals (see Additional Review Criteria section). 2. Broadly Applicable/Transferable: Even if conducted more locally or regionally, Hazards SEES research should be readily transferrable and can clearly support applications to equivalent hazards in a global context. An integral component of all proposals should be the communication of outcomes, availability of research artifacts, and connection to related national and international activities where applicable, including involvement of relevant stakeholders, where appropriate. 3. Partnerships: Hazards and disasters research has natural linkages with federal agencies, various stakeholders (practitioners, policy, communities, etc.), and international partners. In order to enhance the broader applicability and transferability of this research, linkages within and between universities; research centers; state, local, and tribal governments; community organizations; federal agencies and national labs; and private organizations are encouraged. Engaging partners and stakeholders in the early phases of problem identification and definition, and iterative subsequent engagement can lead to novel paths of scientific inquiry and facilitate application of new scientific insights. Proponents are also encouraged to look for synergies with existing activities, facilities, networks, and centers. Hazards SEES proposals should build on these partnerships and provide a full description of the contribution and relevance of such partnerships in the Project Description and in letters of collaboration. 4. Education and Workforce Development: Hazards SEES proposals should include plans for the education, training, and development of the next generation of researchers in hazards and disaster research as well as explore mechanisms to transfer knowledge to practitioners in disaster mitigation and response. Components of education and workforce development might include: 1) involvement of undergraduate students in hazards and disaster research through the inclusion of an REU supplement to the Hazards SEES proposal as described in [33]NSF 12-569; 2); technology transfer and community education to stakeholders, partners, and practitioners; 3) training of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; 4) workshops focused on training researchers in fields of hazards and disaster research that are outside of their discipline (e.g., workshops on engineering research on tornadoes for geoscientists, social scientists, etc.). Hazards SEES will support two types of awards that embody the attributes above: Type 1: These proposals forge new or emerging interdisciplinary teams to develop ideas and approaches through either: (a) exploratory research that could, for example, mine, integrate, and synthesize existing data sets, collect limited new data, conduct modeling experiments, test new integrative approaches, and/or identify new conceptual ideas and key gaps in knowledge and methods; or (b) networking activities that would foster communication/coordination and promote new collaborations among scientists and engineers with diverse expertise across disciplinary, organizational, institutional, geographical and/or international boundaries. The inclusion of early career researchers and, where appropriate, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students in Type 1 projects is encouraged. Type 1 proposals are expected to range up to $300,000 for up to 2 years duration. Type 2: These proposals support interdisciplinary research to conduct major new integrated hazards research. These may include theoretical, field, laboratory and/or modeling activities. Type 2 proposals are expected to range up to $3,000,000 for up to 4 years duration. III. AWARD INFORMATION Estimated Number of Awards: NSF anticipates funding a combined total of 10 to 25 Type 1 and Type 2 proposals, subject to the availability of funds. Project sizes for Type 1 proposals are expected to range up to $300,000 for up to 2 years duration. Project sizes for Type 2 proposals are expected to range up to $3,000,000 for up to 4 years duration. IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION Organization Limit: The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter I, Section E. PI Limit: Because this program is meant to support interdisciplinary research, a minimum of three investigators is required, the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) and two or more co-Investigators (co-PIs) from the lead or participating institutions who are eligible to serve as PI or co-PI on NSF proposals submitted through their respective institutions. In order to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to solving sustainability problems Hazards SEES principal investigators should represent three or more distinct disciplinary areas as described in this solicitation (atmospheric and geospace, earth, and ocean sciences; computer and information science; cyberinfrastructure; engineering; mathematics and statistics; social, economic, and behavioral sciences). Additional PIs or senior personnel may be added to cover other interdisciplinary needs of the project. The appropriateness of the research team's disciplinary composition and expertise will be factors in the merit review of the proposals (see Additional Review Criteria section). Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: None Specified Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1 An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, Senior Personnel (or any similar designation), or elsewhere in the proposal budget in no more than one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that no individual is listed as PI, co-PI, Senior Personnel, or elsewhere in the proposal budget on more than one proposal. In cases where an investigator appears in two or more proposals, all proposals submitted with that person may be returned without review. Additional Eligibility Info: PIs from non-NSF-sponsored FFRDC's are not permitted to submit proposals to Hazards SEES. V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system. * Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: [34]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from [35]nsfpubs@nsf.gov. Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing. * Full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: ([36]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgo vguide). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants.gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from [37]nsfpubs@nsf.gov. Except as modified below, proposals should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines in the Grant Proposal Guide or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. Hazards SEES Collaborative Proposals: All Hazards SEES proposals that involve multiple institutions must be submitted as a single proposal with subawards. Guidance on the preparation and submission of a collaborative proposal from one organization is found in Chapter II, Section D.4 of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide. Cover page: The title of the proposed project should begin with the string "Hazards SEES Type 1:" or "Hazards SEES Type 2:" Make sure to identify this Solicitation Number on the Proposal Cover Sheet. Supplementary Documents: Management and Integration Plan: A Management and Integration Plan up to 3 pages in length is required for Type 1 and Type 2 proposals. The Management and Integration Plan should: a) list all Senior Personnel in the project (provide the last name, first name, and institution/organization); b) describe how the group effort will be coordinated; c) describe how the disciplinary components will be integrated; d) describe collaborations and partnerships and their integration with the project; e) describe how data, models, and ideas will be disseminated and shared with the research community and stakeholders. A clear time line of expected outcomes should be included, as well as plans for the integration of research and education. Use of NSF Research Platforms and Facilities: Projects that will be utilizing NSF research platforms (e.g., ships, research aircraft, etc.) or other shared use facilities (e.g., field instrumentation, analytical or experimental facilities) are responsible for filing a copy of their Request for Facility Support as a supplementary document in their proposal. PIs should coordinate their requests with the appropriate facility to ensure that access is available and fits within the time line of the proposed research. Computational Facilities: For projects that will be utilizing NSF computational facilities, a copy of the allocation request that would be submitted to the facility in question should be provided as a supplementary document. Data Management Plan: Proposals must include a data and information management plan that describes how access to quality-controlled and fully-documented data and information by researchers, and others, will be achieved at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time during the course of the award, e.g., via a recognized data repository. The plan should address, as appropriate, provisions for reuse and derivative use, archival plans, and preservation of access for both research and non-research communities. If applicable, policies and provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements should be included. Single Copy Documents: Project Personnel (text-searchable PDF, in FastLane, under Additional Single Copy Documents). A list of all project personnel is required. For each person, provide the last name, first name, and institution/organization. A corresponding biographical sketch should be provided for all individuals included on this list, as instructed in Section II.C.2.f of the Grant Proposal Guide. Collaborators/Individuals with Conflicts of Interest (text-searchable PDF, in FastLane, under Additional Single Copy Documents). A list, in an alphabetized table, of the full names and institutional affiliations of all persons with potential conflicts of interest as specified in NSF's Grant Proposal Guide is required. For each PI, Co-PI, collaborator and other Senior Personnel, include all co-authors/editors and collaborators (within the past 48 months), all graduate advisors and advisees, and any other individuals or institutions with which the investigator has financial ties (please specify type). In addition, list all subawardees who would receive funds through the Hazards SEES award. B. Budgetary Information Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited Other Budgetary Limitations: Budgets should include costs of travel for up to four members of the research team (including the PI and a least one other senior investigator) to the Washington, D.C. area to participate in grantees meetings in year 1 for Type 1 and 2 proposals and in year 3 for Type 2 proposals. The purpose of these meeting is to provide an opportunity for participants to share research approaches and results, promote interaction of Type 1 and Type 2 awardees, and to encourage discussion of the new types of interdisciplinary collaborations necessary for Hazards SEES research. This program will support the costs of U.S.-based scientists and their students. International collaborators are encouraged to seek support from their respective funding organizations. Funding guidelines for involving international collaborators allow the following expenses to be included in the NSF budget: 1) Travel expenses for U.S. scientists and students participating in exchange visits integral to the project; 2) Limited project-related expenses for international partners to engage in research activities while in the United States as project participants; 3) Project-related expenses for U.S. participants to engage in research activities while abroad. Budgets for Research Platforms and Facilities: For projects utilizing NSF research platforms (e.g., ships, research aircraft, etc.) or other shared use facilities (e.g., field instrumentation, analytical or experimental facilities) PIs must prepare their budgets consistent with the customary practices of the facility. Costs that are not borne by the facility must be included in the budget cap of $300K for Type 1 proposals and $3M for Type 2 proposals. Non-NSF facilities costs should be included in the proposal budget and count toward the applicable budget cap. C. Due Dates * Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 04, 2013 D. FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements * For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane: Detailed technical instructions regarding the technical aspects of preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: [38]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [39]fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity. Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: [40]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp. * For Proposals Submitted Via Grants.gov: Before using Grants.gov for the first time, each organization must register to create an institutional profile. Once registered, the applicant's organization can then apply for any federal grant on the Grants.gov website. Comprehensive information about using Grants.gov is available on the Grants.gov Applicant Resources webpage: [41]http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp. In addition, the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide provides additional technical guidance regarding preparation of proposals via Grants.gov. For Grants.gov user support, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or by email: [42]support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Contact Center answers general technical questions related to the use of Grants.gov. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation. Submitting the Proposal: Once all documents have been completed, the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must submit the application to Grants.gov and verify the desired funding opportunity and agency to which the application is submitted. The AOR must then sign and submit the application to Grants.gov. The completed application will be transferred to the NSF FastLane system for further processing. VI. NSF PROPOSAL PROCESSING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a scientist, engineer, or educator serving as an NSF Program Officer, and usually by three to ten other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. Proposers are invited to suggest names of persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal and/or persons they would prefer not review the proposal. These suggestions may serve as one source in the reviewer selection process at the Program Officer's discretion. Submission of such names, however, is optional. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal. A. NSF Merit Review Criteria All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities. The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgments. What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are available electronically on the NSF website at: [43]http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf. Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral researchers supported on the project, as described in a one-page supplementary document, will be evaluated under the Broader Impacts criterion. Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria In addition to the National Science Board merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to apply several specific criteria when reviewing Hazards SEES proposals. These criteria include: 1. How well do the proposed research and educational activities integrate across NSF-supported disciplines, such as creating new interdisciplinary networks and/or collaborations? 2. How well do the proposed activities advance the foundations of sustainability by including a strong conceptual framework that addresses the social, economic, and environmental components? 3. How will the proposed activities advance the development of a workforce skilled in the interdisciplinary scholarship needed to understand and address the complex issues of sustainability? 4. Quality and appropriateness of the Management and Integration Plan. This includes: a) a well defined management plan with a highly qualified project director, b) the extent to which the group effort integrates across disciplines and is focused on a cohesive, well-delineated goal or set of goals, c) the strength and appropriateness of proposed collaborations and partnerships, including, if appropriate, international collaborations; d) the quality of the plans for dissemination and sharing of data, models, tools and ideas, including dissemination to the research community and stakeholders; e) quality and expected significance of education and workforce development plan; f) the adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed time line. NSF staff also will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions: Integration of Research and Education One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives. Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports. B. Review and Selection Process Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Panel Review. Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation. After scientific, technical and programmatic review and consideration of appropriate factors, the NSF Program Officer recommends to the cognizant Division Director whether the proposal should be declined or recommended for award. NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time interval begins on the deadline or target date, or receipt date, whichever is later. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation. A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Officer. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding. In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk. VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION A. Notification of the Award Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See Section VI.B. for additional information on the review process.) B. Award Conditions An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (GC-1); * or Research Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreements also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) and the applicable Programmatic Terms and Conditions. NSF awards are electronically signed by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer and transmitted electronically to the organization via e-mail. *These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at [44]http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from [45]nsfpubs@nsf.gov. More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at [46]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag. C. Reporting Requirements For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the Principal Investigator must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period. (Some programs or awards require more frequent project reports). Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI also is required to submit a final project report, and a project outcomes report for the general public. Failure to provide the required annual or final project reports, or the project outcomes report will delay NSF review and processing of any future funding increments as well as any pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data. PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project-reporting system, available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and final project reports. Such reports provide information on activities and findings, project participants (individual and organizational), publications, and other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system. Submission of the report via FastLane constitutes certification by the PI that the contents of the report are accurate and complete. The project outcomes report must be prepared and submitted using Research.gov. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. This report will be posted on the NSF website exactly as it is submitted by the PI. More comprehensive information on NSF Reporting Requirements and other important information on the administration of NSF awards is contained in the NSF Award & Administration Guide (AAG) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Website at [47]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag. VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact. General inquiries regarding this program should be made to: * David M. Fountain, GEO/EAR, telephone: (703) 292-8552, email: [48]dfountai@nsf.gov * Thomas Janecek, GEO/OCE, telephone: (703) 292-5393, email: [49]tjanecek@nsf.gov * Bradley F. Smull, GEO/AGS, telephone: (703) 292-8524, email: [50]bsmull@nsf.gov * Kenneth Whang, CISE/IIS, telephone: (703) 292-5149, email: [51]kwhang@nsf.gov * Dennis E. Wenger, ENG/CMMI, telephone: (703) 292-8606, email: [52]dwenger@nsf.gov * Kishor Mehta, ENG/CMMI, telephone: (703) 292-7081, email: [53]kimehta@nsf.gov * Junping Wang, MPS/DMS, telephone: (703) 292-4488, email: [54]jwang@nsf.gov * David McGinnis, SBE/BCS, telephone: (703) 292-7307, email: [55]dmcginni@nsf.gov * Robert E. O'Connor, SBE/SES, telephone: (703) 292-7263, email: [56]roconnor@nsf.gov * Irene Qualters, OD/OCI, telephone: (703) 292-2339, email: [57]iqualter@nsf.gov For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact: * FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: [58]fastlane@nsf.gov. For questions relating to Grants.gov contact: * Grants.gov Contact Center: If the Authorized Organizational Representatives (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submission of application, please contact via telephone: 1-800-518-4726; e-mail: [59]support@grants.gov. IX. OTHER INFORMATION The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, National Science Foundation Update is a free e-mail subscription service designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail when new publications are issued that match their identified interests. Users can subscribe to this service by clicking the "Get NSF Updates by Email" link on the [60]NSF web site. Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at [61]http://www.grants.gov. ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering." NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research. NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level. Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals. The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339. The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111. The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at [62]http://www.nsf.gov * Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230 * For General Information (NSF Information Center): (703) 292-5111 * TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090 * To Order Publications or Forms: Send an e-mail to: [63]nsfpubs@nsf.gov or telephone: (703) 292-7827 * To Locate NSF Employees: (703) 292-5111 PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, [64]NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and [65]NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne H. Plimpton Reports Clearance Officer Division of Administrative Services National Science Foundation Arlington, VA 22230 [66]Policies and Important Links | [67]Privacy | [68]FOIA | [69]Help | [70]Contact NSF | [71]Contact Web Master | [72]SiteMap National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA Tel: (703) 292-5111, FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749 Last Updated: 11/07/06 [73]Text Only [x.gif] References 1. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#toc 2. mailto:dfountai@nsf.gov 3. mailto:tjanecek@nsf.gov 4. mailto:bsmull@nsf.gov 5. mailto:kwhang@nsf.gov 6. mailto:dwenger@nsf.gov 7. mailto:kimehta@nsf.gov 8. mailto:jwang@nsf.gov 9. mailto:dmcginni@nsf.gov 10. mailto:roconnor@nsf.gov 11. mailto:iqualter@nsf.gov 12. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg 13. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide 14. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#summary 15. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#pgm_intr_txt 16. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#pgm_desc_txt 17. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#awd_info 18. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#elig 19. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#prep 20. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#prep 21. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#budg_cst_shr_txt 22. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#dates 23. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#fastlane 24. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#review 25. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#reviewcrit 26. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#reviewprot 27. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#awardadmin 28. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#awardnotify 29. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#grantcond 30. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#reportreq 31. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#cont 32. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12610/nsf12610.htm#othpgm 33. http://nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12569/nsf12569.htm 34. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg 35. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov 36. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide 37. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov 38. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm 39. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov 40. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp 41. http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp 42. mailto:support@grants.gov 43. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf 44. http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/award_conditions.jsp?org=NSF 45. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov 46. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag 47. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=aag 48. mailto:dfountai@nsf.gov 49. mailto:tjanecek@nsf.gov 50. mailto:bsmull@nsf.gov 51. mailto:kwhang@nsf.gov 52. mailto:dwenger@nsf.gov 53. mailto:kimehta@nsf.gov 54. mailto:jwang@nsf.gov 55. mailto:dmcginni@nsf.gov 56. mailto:roconnor@nsf.gov 57. mailto:iqualter@nsf.gov 58. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov 59. mailto:support@grants.gov 60. http://www.nsf.gov/ 61. http://www.grants.gov/ 62. http://www.nsf.gov/ 63. mailto:nsfpubs@nsf.gov 64. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-50_Principal _Investigator_Proposal_File.pdf 65. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/SOR_PA_NSF-51_Reviewer _Proposal_File.pdf 66. http://www.nsf.gov/policies 67. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/privacy.jsp 68. http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp 69. http://www.nsf.gov/help/ 70. http://www.nsf.gov/help/contact.jsp 71. mailto:webmaster@nsf.gov 72. http://www.nsf.gov/help/sitemap.jsp 73. http://transcoder.usablenet.com/tt/referrer