Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST)

Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Geosciences. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

NSF 24-558: Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) | 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 24-558: Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers Download the solicitation (PDF, 1mb) National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies, and Education Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitting organization’s local time): Deadline for Track 1 "Coordination Hub" proposals Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals Deadline for Track 2 proposals Important Information And Revision Notes The Directorate for Geosciences requires that proposers who include off-campus or off-site research as part of their project submit, as supplementary documentation, a Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan.

For this solicitation, this document replaces the required plan associated with the certification in Chapter II. E. 9 of the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Instructions for inclusion of the SAIF Plan can be found in the additional proposal preparation instructions in this solicitation. 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 Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) Focus On Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) seeks to facilitate the transition from status quo graduate career preparation to a student-centered model with a particular emphasis on building entrepreneurial and innovation capacity at emerging research institutions (ERIs).

Transformers are scientists ready to tackle the challenges the nation and world are facing due to climate change. This opportunity will adopt the spirit of multiple directives for the research community; for example, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report on Earth System Science and the Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education report on Engaged Research .

These directives call on the research enterprise to support the building of a robust scientific workforce ready to work with communities in addressing societal challenges.

Through convergence research approaches to address societal challenges, the transdisciplinary researchers engaged in FORECAST will foster community resilience and the translation of research outcomes for societal benefits, as well as gain a broader understanding of the governmental context related to these issues.

A new generation of scientists trained in "engaged research" will be expected to have a national impact in communities that may be disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. The program will build cohorts of innovative scholars from the full spectrum of diverse talent at emerging research institutions to include groups historically excluded in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Participants, who are senior students in undergraduate programs and students who are in master's degree programs, will be supported through intentional professional development activities. FORECAST participants must be US citizens or permanent residents. FORECAST proposals will fall into three categories: Track 1, Track 2, and FORECAST Planning grants.

Track 1 will support one Coordination Hub, to coordinate support for rising seniors from emerging research institutions (ERIs) or historically excluded and underserved groups as part of a national cohort to participate in structured professional development opportunities. Track 2 projects will support cohorts of Master's degree students at ERIs. Mentorship and capacity building should be central to the cohort approach.

FORECAST Planning grant proposals will build capacity at ERI institutions and with the appropriate partners to undertake the activities necessary to establish a future FORECAST track 2 cohort. 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.

email: geoforecast@nsf. gov email: geoforecast@nsf. gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or Cooperative Agreement Estimated Number of Awards: 16 NSF expects to make up to 16 awards per year contingent upon availability of funds.

One Track 1 award for the coordination hub, up to five Track 2 awards for graduate student cohorts, and up to 10 FORECAST planning grants at ERIs. Anticipated Funding Amount: $15,000,000 The average total award size is expected to be less than $100K for FORECAST planning grants, $4M for Track 2 awards, and $7. 5M for the Track 1 award.

The duration of FORECAST planning grant awards will be up to 12 months. The duration of the Track 1 award will be a maximum of 60 months, and the duration of the Track 2 awards will be a maximum of 48 months. Anticipated funding amount, number of awards, and average award size and duration are contingent upon the availability of funds.

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 labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Track 2 and FORECAST Planning Grants: Master’s degree-granting Emerging Research Institutions (defined in 42 §USC 18901 as institutions of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that have less than $50,000,000 in Federal research expenditures) that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by NSF and that are accredited in, and have a campus located in the US.

Information from NSF 24-308, the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey (Table 24. Federally financed higher education R&D expenditures, ranked by FY 2022 R&D expenditures: FYs 2010–22) will be used to determine institutional eligibility ( https://ncses. nsf.

gov/pubs/nsf24308/ ). There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: FORECAST does not accept separately submitted collaborative proposals.

Any collaboration among organizations should be through a subaward. An eligible organization may submit only two (2) proposals. Proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review.

Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission. Organizations participating only as evaluators or subawardees on projects are excluded from this limitation. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on only one (1) proposal submitted to this solicitation.

Proposals that exceed the PI/co-PI eligibility limit (beyond the first submission based on timestamp) will be returned without review regardless of the individual's role (PI or co-PI) in the returned proposal(s). 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: Other budgetary limitations apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitting organization’s local time): Deadline for Track 1 "Coordination Hub" proposals Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals Deadline for Track 2 and Planning Grant proposals Deadline for Track 2 proposals 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. Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Focus On Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) seeks to facilitate the transition from status quo graduate career preparation to a student-centered model with an emphasis on building entrepreneurial and innovation capacity at emerging research institutions (ERIs).

The CHIPS and Science Act defines ERI as “an institution of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that has less than $50,000,000 in federal research expenditures. ” FORECAST will support students through intentional entrepreneurial and innovation-building development activities for both undergraduate scholars and master’s degree students at ERIs.

Using convergence research approaches to address societal challenges, the transdisciplinary researchers engaged in FORECAST will foster community resilience and the translation of research outcomes for societal benefits, as well as gain a broader understanding of the governmental context related to these issues (e.g. policies, regulations, and processes).

Congress and several important studies have called on the scientific enterprise to develop and support a robust research workforce with skills to address societal and economic challenges and national priorities. In 2018, Congress authorized NSF to provide grants for innovative approaches to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce development.

The authorization reiterated the need for a workforce with the right mix of skills to meet the diverse needs of the economy.

The findings of recent reports from the scientific community align with Congressional and Federal priorities, as seen in the 2022 National Academies' Earth System Science Report , and 2022 Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education report on Engaged Research , and call on NSF to prepare people to conduct “engaged research.

” Undergraduate and graduate students must be prepared to enter the work environment, as well as conduct community and partner-engaged science for the benefit of society and the economy.

Understanding the broader policy context related to community-engaged research topics, within which climate resilience innovations can be adopted widely, will help students become more effective scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs as they enter the workforce.

It is critical to consider who is presently involved in science and how we can build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the nation, a theme also reflected in the recent Congressionally approved CHIPS and Science Act.

Many of the communities that are most vulnerable to natural hazards and environmental change include significant populations of groups that historically have not been included in STEM fields or in the development of STEM research.

This solicitation strives to create a community of scientists ready to tackle the challenges the nation and world are facing due to climate change, who know the means and vehicles available to them to meet that challenge, and who can effectively work within established social, economic, and social justice fabric to ensure implementation and sustainability of solutions co-designed with parties in need of climate resilience.

Success in this arena requires new, creative, entrepreneurial ways of thinking, project selection, and problem solving, as well as awareness of the broader governmental context that affects climate resilience implementation, in ways that have not been part of traditional graduate education and training.

This solicitation changes that dynamic with an emphasis on social entrepreneurship, engaging with communities to understand their needs in climate mitigation and working with them to devise workable solutions that they can implement and that can be translated to other communities with similar needs.

It also provides an understanding of the entrepreneurial process and the means and process of leading and successfully spinning off components of successful solutions to the economy. The FORECAST solicitation invites creative proposals designed to prepare students to enter the work environment and conduct community and partner-engaged science in benefit of society.

Using a student-centered approach, the goals of the program are to: Catalyze entrepreneurship and innovation while fostering supportive student cohorts and professional development opportunities that would result in a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and scientists trained in “engaged translational research” and aware of governmental processes; Increase capacity for master’s degree programs at ERIs to train diverse cohorts of transdisciplinary STEM professionals for a range of research and research-related careers within the workforce; Promote building innovative community flexibility and adaptability to environmental change by fostering community resilience and the translation of core research outcomes for societal benefits.

Creation of sustainable programmatic capacity at institutions is an expected outcome. Consequently, all proposals should describe mechanisms to institutionalize effective training elements after award expiration and provide appropriate documentation of institutional support for such efforts (see Proposal Preparation Instructions, section V. A.)

Track 1: Coordination Hub, one managing organization will be selected to coordinate support for rising seniors from either emerging research institutions (ERIs) or from historically excluded and underserved groups as part of a national cohort to participate in structured professional development opportunities.

Track 2: FORECAST Cohorts at Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) projects will support cohorts of Master’s degree students at ERIs. Mentorship and capacity building should be central to the cohort approach.

FORECAST Planning grant proposals for Track 2 will be accepted to build capacity at the institution and with the appropriate partners to undertake the activities necessary to establish a future FORECAST cohort or similar activities at ERIs. Track 1 (1 award; Coordination Hub): There will be one award to a managing hub organization (the coordination hub).

The coordination hub will oversee the Track 1 undergraduate senior program and assist with coordination of the Track 2 projects. Track 1 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) of up to $7. 5 million.

The hub organization will develop, design, and deliver professional development for Track 1 participants. The participants will start the program, Phase 1, during their senior year and could continue to participate if they transition to a graduate program, Phase 2. Professional development should include attention to training and building skills necessary for making connections between basic science and translation to societal benefits.

These skills include management, having vision, communications, and knowing how to organize science ( National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2022 ). The professional development for the cohort should include entrepreneurial and innovative approaches to community and/or campus resilience, as well as an introduction to government processes related to climate resilience.

Participants will have the opportunity to develop transdisciplinary projects while engaging communities in setting up research goals. Track 1 Phase 1: The coordination hub will be expected to use the Education and Training Application Portal (ETAP) to solicit and review participant applications. Each national cohort of senior undergraduate student participants should be comprised of at least 25 students.

Facilitated by the coordination hub, participants enrolled in the last year of their undergraduate program will hone skills on translational research, engaged research, and innovation. The undergraduate student participants will design research projects that they could implement as graduate students or develop business plans in support of the goals and interests of companies or communities.

Track 1 Phase 2: Following their undergraduate education, Track 1 participants may continue to be supported during the first two years of a graduate program (Master's or PhD) at a school of their choice. In Phase 2, graduate student participants will become FORECAST Associates and will continue to receive professional development and support as they implement the research projects designed during Phase 1.

The hub will manage funding for all Track 1 participants. Receiving a living wage while engaged in activities is crucial to facilitate participation of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds ( National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2023 ).

Undergraduate participants (Phase 1) will receive a stipend to be paid for time spent preparing for, traveling to/from, and participating in professional development activities. Undergraduate student participants who become graduate student FORECAST Associates (Phase 2) will receive an educational allowance for up to two years.

Phase 2 FORECAST Associates may accept fellowships, tuition assistance, etc. in addition to the educational allowance provided by FORECAST.

Track 2 (~5 awards): FORECAST Cohorts at Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) Master's degree-granting emerging research institutions (ERIs) are eligible to submit proposals to both train cohorts of master’s degree graduate students and build institutional capacity in translational , engaged research to address challenges related to global change.

Track 2 proposals should include an introduction to the broader governmental context of climate resilience. Track 2 proposals may request a total budget (up to four years in duration) of up to $4 million.

Eligibility to submit to Track 2 is limited to master’s degree-granting ERIs accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members, that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation.

FORECAST Planning Grants (10 awards): Master's degree-granting emerging research institutions (ERIs) are eligible to submit FORECAST planning grant proposals to build capacity at the institution and with the appropriate partners to undertake the activities necessary to establish a future FORECAST Track 2 cohort.

Eligibility to submit to FORECAST Planning Grants is limited to master’s degree-granting ERIs accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members, that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation.

NSF recognizes that institutions may have interest in establishing a cohort, but may not have the full complement of skills, expertise, and relationships needed to successfully implement a meaningful cohort.

FORECAST Planning Grants can be used to support team formation activities (e.g. filling gaps in expertise); develop and nurture relationships with potential partners; and access specialized frameworks or resources needed to better develop a Track 2 cohort project.

FORECAST Planning Grants are suitable for institutions that would like to prepare to host a Track 2 project and ensure their institution is fully inclusive and welcoming to project participants, by training staff, conducting climate surveys, or establishing collaborations and partnerships. FORECAST Planning Grants should include plans for the expansion, sustainability, and scale of their activities.

Proposers funded through this solicitation may use the FORECAST Planning Grant funding to organize catalytic activities (including, but not limited to, workshops and conferences) that can help collaborating organizations to crystallize their vision to address a transdisciplinary graduate student cohort and build entrepreneurial and translational capacity at the institution and to develop a Track 2 project proposal.

FORECAST Planning Grants could include a small pilot program and adequate evaluation. It is expected that FORECAST planning grants will have a period of performance of 12 months. Having a planning grant awarded is not a guarantee of subsequent funding for a Track 2 project.

A Planning Grant is not a prerequisite for future FORECAST competitions. FORECAST Planning Grant proposals may request a total budget (up to 12 months in duration) of up to $100,000. Please note that the FORECAST Planning Grant proposals described in this solicitation are a solicitation-specific project category and are separate and distinct from the type of proposal described in Chapter II.

F. 1 of the PAPPG. When preparing a Planning proposal in response to this solicitation, the “Research” type of proposal should be selected in the proposal preparation module in Research.

gov or Grants. gov. Competitive FORECAST Planning Grants, Track 1 and 2 Project proposals will be based on inclusive research and training principles and prioritize strategic partnerships while developing an entrepreneurial mindset in the participants. Successful projects will be rooted in mentorship, ally-ship, equity, anti-racist and anti-harassment practices, and increasing accessibility.

Project leaders need to show their commitment to foster research and learning environments with a strong sense of belonging and safety for all. Proposals seeking funds to support an existing activity must clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of current activities and identify the gaps that would be addressed if additional resources were made available.

Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education (2022) Engaged research for environmental grand challenges: Accelerating discovery and innovation for societal impacts. A report of the NSF Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education , Prepared by the Advisory Committee on Environmental Research and Education. Batchelor, R.

L. , Ali, H. , Gardner-Vandy, K.

G. , Gold, A. U.

, MacKinnon, J. A. and Asher, P.

M. (2021) Reimagining STEM workforce development as a braided river , Eos , 102 , Published on 19 April 2021. https://doi.

org/10. 1029/2021EO157277 Berhe, A. A.

, Barnes, R. T. , Hastings, M.

G. et al. (2022) Scientists from historically excluded groups face a hostile obstacle course.

Nature Geoscience , 15 , 2–4. https://doi. org/10.

1038/s41561-021-00868-0 Burrage, A, Carter, T. , and Goldstein, A. (2022) The future of academic research on climate solutions , Second Nature.

Marin-Spiotta, E. , Diaz-Vallejo, E. J.

, Barnes, R. T. , Mattheis, A.

, Schneider, B. , Berhe, A. A.

, et al. (2023) Exclusionary behaviors reinforce historical biases and contribute to loss of talent in the Earth sciences. Earth's Future , 11 , e2022EF002912.

https://doi. org/10. 1029/2022EF002912 Mosher, S.

, and Keane, C. (Eds.) (2021) Vision and change in the geosciences: The future of undergraduate geoscience education, American Geosciences Institute.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2022) Next generation Earth systems science at the National Science Foundation, Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi. org/10.

17226/26042 . National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2023) Transforming research and higher education institutions in the next 75 years: Proceedings of the 2022 Endless Frontier Symposium, Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.

org/10. 17226/26863 National Science and Technology Council, Committee on STEM Education (2018) Charting a course for success: America's strategy for STEM education. Quider, A.

M. , and Blazey, G. C.

(2023) How to keep emerging research institutions from slipping through the cracks, Issues in Science and Technology 39 , no. 3 (Spring 2023), 50 - 53. https://doi. org/10.

58875/ACQP2387 The average total award size is expected to be less than $100K for FORECAST planning grants, $4M for Track 2 awards, and $7. 5M for the Track 1 award. The duration of FORECAST planning grant awards will be up to 12 months.

The duration of the Track 2 awards will be a maximum of 48 months, and the duration of the Track 1 award will be a maximum of 60 months. Anticipated funding amount, number of awards, and average award size and duration are contingent upon the availability of funds. 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 labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

Track 2 and FORECAST Planning Grants: Master’s degree-granting Emerging Research Institutions (defined in 42 §USC 18901 as institutions of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that have less than $50,000,000 in Federal research expenditures) that award degrees in STEM disciplines supported by NSF and that are accredited in, and have a campus located in the US.

Information from NSF 24-308, the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey (Table 24. Federally financed higher education R&D expenditures, ranked by FY 2022 R&D expenditures: FYs 2010–22) will be used to determine institutional eligibility ( https://ncses. nsf.

gov/pubs/nsf24308/ ). There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: FORECAST does not accept separately submitted collaborative proposals.

Any collaboration among organizations should be through a subaward. An eligible organization may submit only two (2) proposals. Proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review.

Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission. Organizations participating only as evaluators or subawardees on projects are excluded from this limitation. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on only one (1) proposal submitted to this solicitation.

Proposals that exceed the PI/co-PI eligibility limit (beyond the first submission based on timestamp) will be returned without review regardless of the individual's role (PI or co-PI) in the returned proposal(s). Additional Eligibility Info: The FORECAST program encourages proposals from ERIs designated as Minority Serving Institutions. 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 .

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. Please note that the FORECAST Planning Grant proposals described in this solicitation are a solicitation-specific project category and are separate and distinct from the type of proposal described in Chapter II. F.

1 of the PAPPG. When preparing a Planning proposal in response to this solicitation, the "Research" type of proposal should be selected in the proposal preparation module in Research. gov or Grants.

gov. The following instructions supplement or deviate from the guidance contained in the PAPPG: Title : Provide a short informative title that begins with the appropriate prefix.

The proposal title should clearly indicate which proposal type is being supported by the proposed project, using the relevant format here: For Track 1 projects, the title should read as “FORECAST Track 1: [Rest of Project Title…]” For Track 2 projects, the title should read as “FORECAST Track 2: [Rest of Project Title….]

” For planning grant projects, the title should read as “FORECAST Planning Grant: [Rest of Project Title…]” Cover Sheet : If international activities are proposed, whether or not they will be funded via the FORECAST award, the international cooperative activities box should be checked, and the individual countries listed.

Project Description : The project description should provide a clear statement of the work to be undertaken and must include the objectives for the period of the proposed work and the expected significance.

In addition to the guidance contained in the PAPPG, including the requirement for a separate section labeled “Broader Impacts”, the Project Description should include the following: Track 1: Coordination Hub (maximum 20 pages) Overview . Provide a brief description of the goals and objectives of the proposed project, the intellectual focus, organizational structure. Organizational/Institutional Profile(s) .

Provide a brief description of the submitting organization and any other organizational partners in the project. Proposals should describe current student training opportunities and programs that include diverse perspectives. If more than one organization is involved in the project, the proposal should describe the goals of the collaboration and the anticipated outcomes of the collaboration.

Project Design . Describe the goals and implementation plan for the professional development of the students. Describe the characteristics of the student participant cohort that would be engaged in this project.

Describe how the organization plans to interact with recipients of Track 2 awards. Include a project timetable. Participant Recruitment and Selection .

Describe outreach, recruitment, and selection plan for senior student participants that would accomplish the organization’s desired cohort characteristics. FORECAST participants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Describe number of FORECAST students per cohort with a minimum of two cohorts of at least 25 students per cohort.

The coordination hub will be expected to use the Education and Training Application Portal (ETAP) to solicit and review participant applications. Senior Undergraduate/Associate Support . Describe the mechanism that will be put in place to support cohort participants, including opportunities to connect with the broader community that is demographically and/or geographically diverse.

Describe plans for managing student funding support during Phase 1 (senior undergraduate participants) and Phase 2 (when participants move to graduate school). FORECAST Community Networking Plan . Proposals