Applying in response to a specific program solicitation? NSF program solicitations may modify NSF's standard proposal preparation guidelines;
in these cases, follow the guidelines outlined in the solicitation.
This checklisthighlights critical items that shouldn't be overlooked as you prepare your NSF proposal.
The checklist does not provide an exhaustive list of proposal requirements and guidelines. For the full
requirements, refer to Chapter II of the PAPPG.
Common Parts of an NSF Proposal
The list below briefly outlines common parts of an NSF proposal; it does not provide an exhaustive list of proposal requirements and guidelines. For the full
requirements, refer to Chapter II of the PAPPG.
Research proposals to NSF generally must include the following parts:
The 1-page project summary provides an overview of the proposed activity, a statement
on its intellectual merit, and a statement on its broader impacts.
The project description, typically up to 15 pages long, details what the proposer
wants 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.
Each senior person involved in a proposed project must submit the following information with the proposal:
Biographical sketch: This three-page document outlines an individual's education and training, their appointments
and positions, and other information that helps NSF assess how well qualified the
individual is to conduct the proposed activities.
Current and pending (other) support: This document contains a list of an individual's proposed and active projects and
sources of support. It is used by NSF to assess the capacity of the individual to
carry out the research as proposed and helps assess any potential scientific and budgetary
overlap or duplication, as well as overcommitment with the project being proposed.
Collaborators and other affiliations: This document contains a table of an individual's collaborators, such as their advisors,
co-authors and other collaborators.
The budget section details how much money the proposer is requesting, by category,
to complete the project. This information must be provided across each year of support
requested. A justification, typically up to 5 pages long, must document and justify
each budget line item included in the proposal budget.
This section outlines the internal and external resources (both physical and personnel)
that the proposing organization and its collaborators will provide to the project
if it is funded by NSF. NSF uses this information to assess whether the proposers
have adequate resources available to perform the project they propose.
SBU Facilities & Other Resources: Sign into Sharepoint with your SBU email address/password to view a list of facilities and other campus
resources avaiable to SBU research cimmunity members.
If your proposal requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers, you must include
a 1-page summary describing the mentoring activities that will be provided to those
individuals.
This section, up to two pages long, describes how a proposal will follow NSF policy
on disseminating and sharing research results. Solicitations will often outline specific
requirements for these plans.
