This Funder Tool Kit specifically highlights the National Science Foundation (NSF). It includes news, priorities, funding opportunities, and award history, as well as proposal guidance and resources. The Funder Tool Kits are a collaborative effort between the UCF Libraries and OR Research Development Team.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
Primo is an easy way to search almost all the content UCF can access, including the catalog, books, e-books, videos, articles, STARS Collections, and more.
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PROPOSAL PREPARATION
NSF Grants Conferences - past and upcoming conference information
Understanding NSF Research Areas
Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation - NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2018 – 2022.
10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments - These are meant to define a set of cutting-edge research agendas and processes that are uniquely suited for NSF’s broad portfolio of investments, and will require collaborations with industry, private foundations, other agencies, science academies and societies, and universities.
NSF's Toolkit - information about the impact of NSF's investments in science and engineering research and education
Intro to NSF (presentation slides and video recording) - an "inside scoop" on NSF from Dr. John Weishampel, former NSF program manager and UCF professor
Pivot database (NSF saved search) - find, track and share current/anticipated funding opportunities
NSF Collaborations With Federal Agencies and Others
Crosscutting and NSF-wide Active Funding Opportunities
Grants.gov (NSF search) - Browse current/forecasted NSF funding opportunities
NSF Supplemental Funding - for New/Renewal Proposals and Active awards
Upcoming Deadlines (RSS Feed):
Award Search - Active UCF Awards, All UCF Awards, or Create New Search
DIA2 Guide - NSF Database Search Tool. Search by ORG structure, program, topic, and more.
NSF Budget Info System - Statistical and Funding History Reports and NSF Funding to UCF.
FOIA Request Information (NSF)
The OR Research Development team maintains a library of internal/external submitted proposals and can assist with securing a sample and submitting FOIA requests. Contact Research Development for more information.
NSF Advice to Proposal Writers
NSF Grants.gov Application Guide
FAQs on Proposal Preparation & Award Administration - Guide from NSF
NSF Review information:
Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research - Guide for investigators submitting an unsolicited interdisciplinary proposal for which there may not be a natural "home" in one of the existing NSF programs
Introduction to Transformative Research - Brief introduction to potentially transformative research and its support at NSF
Project Management for Research (from OSU)
NSF - Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development
NSF Handbook for Project Evaluation - Resource for project directors and principal investigators who will be evaluating NSF’s educational projects
Broader Impacts information:
NSF Proposal Template (general) - based on PAPPG 22-1 guidelines
Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
CAREER Information
CAREER Program Information - from NSF
NSF CAREER Contacts by Directorate and Division
FAQs for CAREER Program for Submission in Years 2020-2025 - from NSF
View all CAREER awards (any institution, sortable by directorate)
CAREER Resources
CAREER Proposal Template (based on PAPPG 22-1 guidelines)
Template for Departmental Letter - includes additional resources/tips
Samples - Contact Research Development for next steps!
CAREER Presentations
The Research Development team in the UCF Office of Research coordinates a series of workshops specifically on aspects of NSF CAREER. Past awardees and specialist speakers provide insights on planning, development, and review of CAREER proposals. For more information, visit the CAREER workshops webpage.
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)
In addition to standard research proposals, NSF also has the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) proposal type. This type of proposal is used when there is a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to, data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated events. See PAPPG Chapter II.E.2 for additional information on RAPID proposals.
RAPID proposals are NOT for: (1) Projects appropriate for submission as regular NSF proposals. (2) Events that are unanticipated due to lack of awareness of timelines; or (3) Collection of only non-perishable data.
Prior communication with NSF Program Manager is required with email documentation confirming approval to submit a RAPID proposal - THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
Submit a 1-2 page pre-proposal (and/or any questions) to a PM managing the program where the research is aligned. All questions about COVID19-related research should be addressed directly to a cognizant NSF Program Officer for the NSF program with which the research would be most closely aligned.
RAPID proposals may be submitted to existing NSF funding opportunities
Once invited to submit a full RAPID proposal:
Title of the proposal must begin with the prefix "RAPID:"
$200K max amount for up to one year
Project Description is limited to 5 pages
NSF RAPID grants must follow standard proposal preparation instructions in the NSF PAPPG except for the RAPID-specific requirements, unless explicitly noted in a specific RFP or directed by an NSF program manager.
RAPID Full Proposal Template - based on NSF PAPPG 22-1 guidelines
View RAPID Awards - NSF Advanced Award Search
Data Management Plans - Proposals submitted to NSF must include a supplementary document (2 pages max) labeled "Data Management Plan"
Public Access
Revision of NSF-Specific Requirements to Research Terms and Conditions (effective 3/1/2018) - Note Article 35 regarding procedures if breach of Personally Identifiable Information occurs.
UCF Library Support - The UCF library maintains a Data Management Research Guide. You can schedule a consultation to meet with a librarian for an in-depth one on one consultation specific to your research topic.
EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
The EAGER funding mechanism may be used to support exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. This work may be considered especially "high risk-high payoff" in the sense that it, for example, involves radically different approaches, applies new expertise, or engages novel disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives.
These exploratory proposals may also be submitted directly to an NSF program, but the EAGER mechanism should not be used for projects that are appropriate for submission as “regular” (i.e., non-EAGER) NSF proposals.
Requirements as stated in PAPPG 22-1
EAGER Proposal Template - based on 2021 guidelines
View EAGER Awards - NSF Advanced Award Search
This guide provides quick-reference information and templates for specific sections required in NSF proposals (refer to RFP for special requirements).
Content is based on NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 22-1 (effective 10/4/2021).
Note: Separate instructions and templates specifically for CAREER and EAGER proposals are included in the section tabs above.
Significant Changes and Clarifications to the NSF PAPPG 22-1
Formatting Requirements (font, spacing, margins, pagination)
Project Summary (1 page max)
Page limits and use of URLs/hyperlinks in the Project Description
NOTE: A separate "Intellectual Merit" section in the PD has not been required as of PAPPG 20-1 onward, but refer to the specific RFP to see if that solicitation continues to require an Intellectual Merit section in the PD.
Broader Impacts (required section)
Results from Prior NSF Support (required if applicable, only allowed for PIs/CoPIs. Include required subheadings and information)
Biographical Sketch (now extended to 3 pages max)
(NOTE: THE BIOSKETCH MUST USE ONE OF THE TWO TEMPLATES APPROVED BY NSF (Note: Edited PDF files and any Biosketches made using other methods will be returned without review - see Policy Notice from NSF)
(NOTE: THE C&P DOCUMENT MUST USE ONE OF THE TWO TEMPLATES APPROVED BY NSF (Note: Edited PDF files and any C&Ps made using other methods will be returned without review - see Policy Notice from NSF)
Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
Data Management Plan (2 pages max) - (see the "Data Mgmt" tab above for additional resources)
NSF Policy on Public Access:
The OR Research Development Team can provide support with proposal coordination, templates, samples, supplemental documents, reviews, and more. Visit our website for more information.
POINTS OF CONTACT
This point of contact is very familiar with NSF priorities/processes and can give helpful advice to increase the competitiveness of your proposal.
Saiful Khondaker, PhD
Professor of Nanoscience, Physics, Electrical Engineering
Office of Research Faculty Fellow
University of Central Florida
407-864-5054
Saiful@ucf.edu
Additionally, information on Office of Research points of contact related to contracts, proposal submission, compliance, tech transfer, IRB, and IACUC is available at research.ucf.edu
Now that you have found the perfect funding opportunity, let us help you build the perfect proposal. The OR Research Development team can help with planning, preparation assistance, draft review feedback, informational resources, and more! Visit our website for next steps information.
Find potential collaborators via the PIVOT Database - Run a search or View tutorials
Find scholarship resulting from NSF Awards by using the Web of Science - View tutorial or Search now
See UCF awardees with the NSF Award Database - Active Awards or All Awards
The OR Research Development Team would be happy to help search for potential collaborators at UCF. Visit our website for more information.