Biological Sciences

How to Apply

Award Procedure:
NSF staff members review and evaluate all proposals generally with the assistance and advice of other qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are accepted in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds. States will be notified of Federal assistance awards through the Federal Assistance Awards Data System (FAADS).

Preapplication Coordination:
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:
By electronic submission via FastLane of a formal proposal describing the research or study to be undertaken. Guidelines are contained in publications, "Grant Proposal Guide." This program is subject to the provisions of coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.

Deadlines:
Many NSF programs accept proposals at any time. Other programs, however, establish due dates for submission of proposals. NSF utilizes Target Dates, Deadline Dates, and Submission Windows. Consult the Grant Proposal Guide, Section I.F. for a further description of these types of due dates.

Range of Approval / Disapproval Time:
6 months.

Appeals:
The principal investigator may request, in writing, that the Foundation reconsider its action in declining any application.

Renewals:
Proposals for renewal, containing the same type of information as the original proposal, should be submitted 6 to 9 months before funding from the current award is expected to be exhausted, renewals are treated in competition with all other pending proposals.