Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (47.075)
Program
47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Federal Agency
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Authorization
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, Public Law 106-377, 42 U.S.C 1861 et seq.
Program Number
47.075
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To promote the progress of the social, behavioral, and economic sciences to promote the continued scientific strength and welfare of the Nation; to facilitate cooperative research activities for U.S. scientists and engineers with foreign scientists, engineers, and institutions; and to support understanding of the resources invested in science and engineering in the United States. The research supported is basic in character. The program includes support of research project grants in the following disciplines: Anthropological and geographic sciences; cognitive, psychological and language sciences; economic, decision and management sciences; social and political sciences; infrastructure, methods and science studies; studies of scientists and engineers, Federal R&D funding and expenditures, and educational attainment in science, mathematics and engineering; and international programs. Support is provided for science and technology centers and for research workshops, symposia, and conferences. In addition, awards are made to improve the quality of doctoral dissertations in the behavioral and social sciences and for dissertations requiring research outside the United States; for graduate traineeships; postdoctoral fellowships; special opportunities for junior faculty for research support; and mid- career professional development opportunities. Support is also provided for undergraduate student research, and for research opportunities for women, minorities, and disabled scientists and engineers.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
International cooperative scientific activities provide funds for U.S. scientists and engineers to carry out studies abroad, to conduct research, to engage in joint research projects with foreign counterpart organizations, and to support international workshops focused on well-defined scientific opportunities in the U.S. and abroad; travel must be on U.S. flag carriers. Other programs in social, behavioral and economic sciences and in science resources studies provide funds which may be used for paying costs necessary to conduct research or studies, such as salaries and wages, equipment and supplies, travel, publication costs, and other direct and indirect costs. Primary responsibility for general supervision of all grant activities rests with the grantee institution; the project director or principal investigator is responsible for the execution of the research activities. Grants are made on a competitive basis. For all programs, funds may not be used for purposes other than those specified in the proposal.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Public and private colleges and universities, nonprofit, nonacademic research institutions, private for profit organizations and unaffiliated scientists under special circumstances. For international cooperative scientific activities, government scientific organizations are also eligible.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public and private colleges and universities, nonprofit, nonacademic research institutions, private for profit organizations, and unaffiliated scientists under special circumstances. For international cooperative scientific activities, government scientific organizations are also eligible.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposals must be signed electronically by an official authorized to commit the institution or organization in business and financial affairs and who can commit the organization to certain proposal certifications. A copy of foreign counterpart proposals should accompany U.S. proposals for international bilateral research projects. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for colleges and universities and A-122 for nonprofit organizations. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
For international bilateral research programs, proposals should be developed between the two scientists for submission to the implementing agencies in both countries at the same time. Proposals must be cooperative in nature and be approved by implementing agencies in both countries. For other programs, none is required, but for all programs it is suggested that an initial inquiry be made before a proposal is submitted to determine whether a potential project qualifies for NSF support. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
For project support, submission of a formal proposal, signed electronically by an official authorized to commit the institution or organization in financial affairs, fully documenting the planned activity and proposed amount of award. Guidelines are contained in publications, "Grant Proposal Guide," NSF 03-2, and "Guide to Programs Fiscal Year 2003," NSF 03-009, and "International Opportunities for Scientists and Engineers," NSF 96-14. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
NSF staff members review and evaluate all proposals. To assist them, they usually obtain the advice of scientists and engineers who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are supported in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.
Deadlines
Deadlines and target dates are published in the NSF bulletin.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
The project director or principal investigator may request, in writing, that the Foundation reconsider its action in declining any proposal application, renewal application, or continuing application.
Renewals
Proposals for renewal of awards, containing the same type of information as the original proposal, should be submitted 6 to 9 months before the expiration of the original award. Renewals are treated in competition with pending proposals.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
For international bilateral research projects, funds are usually contributed from both countries. In most cases, each country assumes responsibility for support of its own participation in the project within its own territory. Cost-sharing does not apply to conferences and symposia. The Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)(Sec. II) and the Grant Policy Manual (Sec. 330) provide additional information on the general NSF policy on cost-sharing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Up to 5 years. International programs normally up to 2 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant program office at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period. Within 90 days after the expiration of a grant, the PI is required to submit a final project report. For travel grants, a travel report is required. Quarterly Federal Cash Transaction Reports are required. Other reporting requirements may be imposed via the grant instrument.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each award to ensure that funds are used for the general purpose for which the award was made. Records are subject to inspection during the life of the award and for 3 years thereafter.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2001, 4,101 proposals were received and 1,870 awards were made. In fiscal year 2002, approximately 4,265 proposals will be received and about 1,965 awards will be made, and in fiscal year 2003 approximately 4,430 proposals will be received and about 2,060 awards will be made.
Financial Information
Account Identification
49-0100-0-1-251.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $177,230,000; FY 03 est $168,790,000; and FY 04 est $195,610,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$1,000 to $9,000,000; $94,826.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
48 CFR Chapter 25; 45 CFR Chapter VI; "NSF Guide to Programs, 2003," NSF 03-009 (http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf03009); and "Grant Proposal Guide," NSF 03-2, (http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf032).
Related Programs
47.041, Engineering Grants; 47.049, Mathematical and Physical Sciences; 47.070, Computer and Information Science and Engineering; 47.074, Biological Sciences; 47.050, Geosciences; 47.076, Education and Human Resources; 47.078, Polar Programs.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. Office of International Science and Engineering, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 935, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8710. NSF World Wide Web site URL: http://www.nsf.gov/. Division of Science Resources Statistics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 965, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8780. NSF World Wide Web site URL: http://www.nsf.gov/. Division of Social and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 995, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8760. NSF World Wide Web site URL: http://www.nsf.gov/. Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 995, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 292-8740. NSF World Wide Web site URL: http://www.nsf.gov/.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
"Indicators for the Information Society;" "Indicators of Technology-Based Competitiveness: Incorporating Recent Changes in the Concept 'High Technology' and in Data Availability;" "Information Technology Measures and Benchmarks: New Approaches for International Measurements and Public Policy;" "Privately Provided Public Goods: Theoretical, Econometric and Experimental Studies of Cooperation;" "Distributive Justice Norms in Marriages;" "U.S.-South Africa Workshop: Bacterial Wilt Disease, White River, South Africa, February 2002."
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities. On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127, Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making funding decisions. In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January 2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators (PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative. Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of broader impacts to NSF-funded projects. The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information). 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 he/she is qualified to make judgements. 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 and original 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? NSF staff 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.
