Proposal & Award
Policies & Procedures Guide viii NSF 24-1
Introduction:
A. About the National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to “promote
the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare” by supporting research and
education in all fields of science and engineering.
From those first days, NSF has had a unique place in the Federal Government: it is responsible for the overall health
of science and engineering across all disciplines. In contrast, other Federal agencies support research focused on
specific missions such as health or defense. The Foundation also is committed to ensuring the nation’s supply of
scientists, engineers, and science and engineering educators.
NSF recognizes the unique lived experiences of individuals from communities that are underrepresented and/or
underserved in science, technology, education, 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. 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 and in the implementation of NSF awards.
NSF encourages institutions of higher education (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 NSF 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.
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and
cooperative agreements to approximately 3,000 institutions of higher education, K-12 school systems, businesses,
informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the U.S. The Foundation accounts for
about one-fourth of Federal support to IHEs for basic research.
The Foundation considers proposals
1
submitted by organizations on behalf of individuals or groups for support in
most single, multi-, cross-, trans- and inter- disciplinary fields of STEM research and education convergence research.
NSF does not normally support technical assistance, pilot plant efforts, research requiring security classification, the
development of products for commercial marketing, or market research for a particular project or invention. Biological
research on mechanisms of disease in humans, including on the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or
disorder, is normally not supported. Biological research to develop animal models of such conditions, or the
development or testing of procedures for their treatment, also are not normally eligible for support. However, research
with etiology, diagnosis- or treatment-related goals that advances knowledge in engineering, mathematical,
physical, computer, or information sciences is eligible for support. Bioengineering and assistive information
technology research to aid persons with disabilities also are eligible. The agency operates no laboratories itself but
This section has been modified to
include additional DEIA text encouraging participation from
groups underrepresented in STEM.
Greater clarity is provided regarding
NSF support for single, cross-, trans- and inter- disciplinary
fields of STEM research and education convergence