Build and Broaden 2.0 (B2)

Build and Broaden 2.0 (B2) is sponsored by NSF. Supports research projects from Minority-Serving Institutions in social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

NSF 25-505: Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions (B2) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Archived funding opportunity This solicitation is archived.

Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements . All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects.

NSF 25-505: Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions (B2) Download the solicitation (PDF, 1.

5mb) Program Solicitation NSF 25-505 U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities Full Proposal Target Date(s) : Third Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter Important Information And Revision Notes Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted.

The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions (B2) Build and Broaden (B2) supports fundamental research and research capacity across disciplines at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and encourages research collaborations with scholars at MSIs.

Growing the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is a national priority. National forecasts of the impending shortage of workers with science and engineering skills and essential research workers underscore a need to expand opportunities to participate in STEM research ( President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2012 ).

Proposals are invited from single principal investigators based at MSIs and from multiple co-investigators from groups of MSIs. Principal investigators who are not affiliated with MSIs may submit proposals, but must collaborate with PIs, co-PIs, or senior/key personnel from MSIs and describe how their project will foster research partnerships or capacity-building with at least one MSI as a primary goal of the proposed work.

Proposals may address any scientific and cross-disciplinary areas supported by SBE. These areas include anthropology, archaeology, cognitive neuroscience, decision science, ecological research, economics, geography, linguistics, law and science, organizational behavior, political science, public policy, security and preparedness, psychology, and sociology.

To find research areas supported by SBE please visit the SBE programs page or visit the NSF funding and awards page . Broadening Participation In STEM: NSF recognizes the unique lived experiences of individuals from communities that are underrepresented and/or underserved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the barriers to inclusion and access to STEM education and careers.

NSF highly encourages the leadership, partnership, and contributions in all NSF opportunities of individuals who are members of such communities supported by NSF. This includes leading and designing STEM research and education proposals for funding; serving as peer reviewers, advisory committee members, and/or committee of visitor members; and serving as NSF leadership, program, and/or administrative staff.

NSF also highly encourages demographically diverse institutions of higher education (IHEs) to lead, partner, and contribute to NSF opportunities on behalf of their research and education communities. NSF expects that all individuals, including those who are members of groups that are underrepresented and/or underserved in STEM, are treated equitably and inclusively in the Foundation's proposal and award process.

NSF encourages IHEs that enroll, educate, graduate, and employ individuals who are members of groups underrepresented and/or underserved in STEM education programs and careers to lead, partner, and contribute to NSF opportunities, including leading and designing STEM research and education proposals for funding.

Such IHEs include, but may not be limited to, community colleges and two-year institutions, mission-based institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), women's colleges, and institutions that primarily serve persons with disabilities, as well as institutions defined by enrollment such as Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

"Broadening participation in STEM" is the comprehensive phrase used by NSF to refer to the Foundation's goal of increasing the representation and diversity of individuals, organizations, and geographic regions that contribute to STEM teaching, research, and innovation. To broaden participation in STEM, it is necessary to address issues of equity, inclusion, and access in STEM education, training, and careers.

Whereas all NSF programs might support broadening participation components, some programs primarily focus on supporting broadening participation research and projects. Examples can be found on the NSF Broadening Participation in STEM website. 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. SBE Build and Broaden Staff, sbebuildandbroaden@nsf.

gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 25 to 30 Pending the availability of funds and quality of proposals Anticipated Funding Amount: $8,000,000 Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131. The Principal Investigator for a Build and Broaden project must either be: A full-time scientist, educator or researcher at an accredited MSI.

(For more information, consult the eligibility matrix from the U.S. Department of Education and contact a Build and Broaden program officer with any questions). A full-time scientist, educator, or researcher at any eligible non-MSI institution or organization who includes one or more MSI scholar(s) as senior/key personnel, co-PI or subawardee PI on the proposal.

In this case, the PI must clearly demonstrate how they will foster research partnerships or capacity-building at the MSI as a primary goal of the proposed work. Proposals from principal investigators not based at MSIs must clearly demonstrate genuine collaboration and enrichment of the research capacity of the MSI scholar(s). For these proposals, more than 50 percent of the overall project’s direct costs must go to the MSI(s).

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 An individual may be the principal investigator (PI) or co-PI for only one proposal for this program; i.e., no investigator, PI or co-PI, can be listed on the NSF proposal cover sheet on more than one proposal to the Build and Broaden Program per year. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A.

Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Not required Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals submitted via Research. gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=pappg . 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: https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ). Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Other Budgetary Limitations: Full Proposal Target Date(s) : Third Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter Proposal Review Information Criteria National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information Standard NSF award conditions apply. Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) supports research in many areas associated with our evolving world, including fundamental research on human behavior and surrounding social, economic and natural environments.

Research supported in SBE advances the understanding of people, social organizations and society in a changing world where there are increasing new opportunities for interconnectedness as well as challenges that affect the ability to live dignified, healthy and productive lives. Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) play a critical role in educating millions of Americans.

They provide a vehicle for educational attainment, social mobility, and promote higher education for both rural and urban communities. MSIs thus enable millions of students from a variety of backgrounds to participate in STEM fields. Whether an institution is designated by the federal government to be minority-serving is based on the original purpose of its establishment or its current enrollment thresholds.

For more information, please see the eligibility matrix from the Department of Education . Most recently, NSF supported more than $16 million in its Build and Broaden Program, which focuses on supporting research, offering training opportunities and creating greater research infrastructure at more than 25 minority-serving institutions in 12 states and Washington, D. C.

As part of NSF's support, these institutions will expand their research infrastructure by developing enhanced research capabilities and gaining greater access to scientific resources and tools. B2 aims to expand this effort by supporting research activities and capacity needs in the SBE sciences at MSIs. Many institutions have well-established research infrastructures that could be utilized to support research collaborations with MSIs.

The goal of the SBE B2 funding opportunity is to encourage submission of proposals from MSIs, and partnerships with and among MSIs, in order to advance fundamental research and build capacity in the SBE sciences. NSF’s SBE directorate welcomes submission of proposals from MSIs, and from partnerships that include MSIs, that address any of the research areas supported by the directorate.

B2 is designed to support research projects that: Contribute to stronger, more innovative science by diversifying research and widening the STEM pipeline. Furthers intellectual innovation in the social and behavioral sciences. Provide researchers with new ways to diversify and sustain collaborations.

Build capacity and enhance research productivity in the SBE sciences at MSIs. Foster partnerships that strengthen career and research trajectories for faculty at MSIs.

Supported projects are expected to yield results that will promote scientific progress; advance national health, prosperity and welfare; strengthen collaborative research initiatives involving MSI scholars and MSI institutions; and establish more robust training and research networks among researchers in the SBE sciences and across other disciplines that have similar interests.

Proposals from Principal Investigators who are not affiliated with MSIs must partner with senior/key personnel, a co-PI or a subawardee PI who is based at an MSI. In these cases, PIs must describe how their project will foster partnerships or research capacity-building with at least one MSI.

In addition to standard research and collaborative research proposals that advance research and build capacity for investigators at MSIs, the B2 Program also invites conference proposals, Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals) and Research Coordination Network (RCN) proposals (for more information on conference proposals and EAGERs, please consult the PAPPG ).

EAGER and RCN proposals should describe exploratory and experimental activities involving projects that are theory-driven with outcomes that may be uncertain and involve risk. Proposals may address any of the scientific areas supported by SBE.

Anticipated Type of Award: Continuing Grant or Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 25 to 30 Anticipated Funding Amount: $8,000,000 Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals. IV.

Eligibility Information Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131. The Principal Investigator for a Build and Broaden project must either be: A full-time scientist, educator or researcher at an accredited MSI.

(For more information, consult the eligibility matrix from the U.S. Department of Education and contact a Build and Broaden program officer with any questions). A full-time scientist, educator, or researcher at any eligible non-MSI institution or organization who includes one or more MSI scholar(s) as senior/key personnel, co-PI or subawardee PI on the proposal.

In this case, the PI must clearly demonstrate how they will foster research partnerships or capacity-building at the MSI as a primary goal of the proposed work. Proposals from principal investigators not based at MSIs must clearly demonstrate genuine collaboration and enrichment of the research capacity of the MSI scholar(s). For these proposals, more than 50 percent of the overall project’s direct costs must go to the MSI(s).

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 An individual may be the principal investigator (PI) or co-PI for only one proposal for this program; i.e., no investigator, PI or co-PI, can be listed on the NSF proposal cover sheet on more than one proposal to the Build and Broaden Program per year.

Additional Eligibility Info: The lead institution on a Build and Broaden proposal may be any minority-serving institution or any non-MSI. However, we strongly encourage proposals from institutions that have received fewer than $25,000,000 total in NSF awards within the previous five years, or fewer than $3,000,000 total in SBE awards within the previous five years.

To determine how much funding your organization has received within the previous five years, please use the NSF awards advanced search tool . 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 Research. gov or Grants. gov. Full Proposals submitted via Research.

gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf.

gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp? ods_key=pappg .

Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf. gov . The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number.

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: ( https://www. nsf.

gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ).

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) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf. gov . In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following: Collaborative Proposals.

All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research. gov. PAPPG Chapter II. E.

3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals. See PAPPG Chapter II. D.

2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions. As described in the PAPPG, the project summary must include an overview of the project, a statement of intellectual merit and a statement on the broader impacts of the project.

If a partnership including an MSI or among MSIs is proposed, the proposal must also list information about the participating organization(s) and research discipline(s), as well as a statement describing the proportion of requested support to be spent on the MSI(s).

Please include the following information as a bulleted list in the overview section at the beginning of the project summary: Description of the MSI(s) and MSI proportion of requested support. Research discipline(s) advanced by the project. Follow PAPPG guidelines when writing the Project Description.

Under the section labeled " Broader Impacts ", explain how the proposed research and associated activities will enhance career development, research trajectories, collaborative research networks or professional training for faculty and students at the participating MSI(s). Please also include the following additional separate sections in the project description: A section labeled “ Nature of Partnership and Investigator Roles.

” If the proposal does not include a partnership and is submitted by a single PI at an MSI, the PI should state “does not apply” in this section. If the proposal includes a partnership, this section should detail the nature of the research partnership between all participating institutions. Please describe the role of each PI, co-PI, senior personnel and collaborator in the research project.

For proposals submitted by PIs who are not based at an MSI, proposers should describe clearly the nature of the partnership with the participating MSI(s), including efforts to ensure true collaborations among MSI and non-MSI principal investigators, co-principal investigators and senior personnel. Proposals involving MSIs in peripheral roles will be returned without review. A section labeled “ Intellectual Merit.

” This section should discuss how the proposed work advances our understanding and/or basic science in one or more core SBE science areas. It should detail the potential to advance knowledge and address the following types of questions: What is the potential for the proposed activity to advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (intellectual merit)?

To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original or potentially transformative concepts? Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?

How well qualified is the individual, team or organization to conduct the proposed activities? Are there adequate resources available to the principal investigator (PI) either at the home organization or through collaborations to carry out the proposed activities? NSF recognizes the unique context of MSIs and the greater volume of teaching responsibilities often required.

Proposals may include limited requests for resources to enable researchers at MSIs to be full and equal partners in any research activity supported by B2. Salary compensation could enable a reduction in teaching responsibilities. Please refer to the PAPPG for full guidelines on senior/key personnel salaries and wages.

Letters of collaboration are not required. Data Management and Sharing Plan: In addition to the information provided in the PAPPG, please follow the guidance issued by SBE for writing a data management plan . The data management and sharing plan must include a statement of how the data will be made publicly available.

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Full Proposal Target Date(s) : Third Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter D. Research.

gov/Grants. gov Requirements For Proposals Submitted Via Research. gov: To prepare and submit a proposal via Research.

gov, see detailed technical instructions available at: https://www. research. gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?

_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/ProposalPreparationandSubmission. html . For Research.

gov user support, call the Research. gov Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail rgov@nsf. gov .

The Research. gov Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the Research. gov 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. 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: https://www.

grants. gov/applicants . In addition, the NSF Grants.

gov Application Guide (see link in Section V. A) provides instructions regarding the technical 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: 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.

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 Research. gov for further processing. The NSF Grants.

gov Proposal Processing in Research. gov informational page provides submission guidance to applicants and links to helpful resources including the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide , Grants.

gov Proposal Processing in Research. gov how-to guide , and Grants. gov Submitted Proposals Frequently Asked Questions .

Grants. gov proposals must pass all NSF pre-check and post-check validations in order to be accepted by Research. gov at NSF.

When submitting via Grants. gov, NSF strongly recommends applicants initiate proposal submission at least five business days in advance of a deadline to allow adequate time to address NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p. m.

submitting organization's local time on the deadline. Please note that some errors cannot be corrected in Grants. gov. Once a proposal passes pre-checks but fails any post-check, an applicant can only correct and submit the in-progress proposal in Research.

gov. Proposers that submitted via Research. gov may use Research. gov to verify the status of their submission to NSF.

For proposers that submitted via Grants. gov, until an application has been received and validated by NSF, the Authorized Organizational Representative may check the status of an application on Grants. gov. After proposers have received an e-mail notification from NSF, Research.

gov should be used to check the status of an application. VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program for acknowledgement and, if they meet NSF requirements, for review.

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 either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists, or both, who are experts in the particular fields represented by the proposal. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with 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. In addition, Program Officers may obtain comments from site visits before recommending final action on proposals. Senior NSF staff further review recommendations for awards.

A flowchart that depicts the entire NSF proposal and award process (and associated timeline) is included in PAPPG Exhibit III-1. A comprehensive description of the Foundation's merit review process is available on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf.

gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/ . Proposers should also be aware of core strategies that are essential to the fulfillment of NSF's mission, as articulated in . These strategies are integrated in the program planning and implementation process, of which proposal review is one part.

NSF's mission is particularly well-implemented through the integration of research and education and broadening participation in NSF programs, projects, and activities. One of the strategic objectives in support of NSF's mission is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions.

These institutions must recruit, train, and prepare a diverse STEM workforce to advance the frontiers of science and participate in the U.S. technology-based economy. NSF's contribution to the national innovation ecosystem is to provide cutting-edge research under the guidance of the Nation's most creative scientists and engineers.

NSF also supports development of a strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by investing in building the knowledge that informs improvements in STEM teaching and learning.

NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities and expanding participation of groups, institutions, and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which 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. A.

Merit Review Principles and Criteria The National Science Foundation strives to invest in a robust and diverse portfolio of projects that creates new knowledge and enables breakthroughs in understanding across all areas of science and engineering research and education.

To identify which projects to support, NSF relies on a merit review process that incorporates consideration of both the technical aspects of a proposed project and its potential to contribute more broadly to advancing NSF's mission "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes."

NSF makes every effort to conduct a fair, competitive, transparent merit review process for the selection of projects. 1. Merit Review Principles These principles are to be given due diligence by PIs and organizations when preparing proposals and managing projects, by reviewers when reading and evaluating proposals, and by NSF program staff when determining whether or not to recommend proposals for funding and while overseeing awards.

Given that NSF is the primary federal agency charged with nurturing and supporting excellence in basic research and education, the following three principles apply: All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge. NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals.

These "Broader Impacts" may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. The project activities may be based on previously established and/or innovative methods and approaches, but in either case must be well justified.

Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful.

Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated, level than the individual project. With respect to the third principle, even if assessment of Broader Impacts outcomes for particular projects is done at an aggregated level, PIs are expected to be accountable for carrying out the activities described in the funded project.

Thus, individual projects should include clearly stated goals, specific descriptions of the activities that the PI intends to do, and a plan in place to document the outputs of those activities. These three merit review principles provide the basis for the merit review criteria, as well as a context within which the users of the criteria can better understand their intent.

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities. The two merit review criteria are listed below.

Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.

D. 2. d(i).

contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II. D.

2. d(i), prior to the review of a proposal. When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful.

These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria: Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts