The National Science Foundation published the new NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 07-140) on April 12 at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07140. The new guide is effective for proposals submitted on or after June 1, 2007.
The document comprises two previously stand-alone policy documents: the NSF Grant Proposal Guide and the Grant Policy Manual. The new Guide has two sections: the Grant Proposal Guide and the Award and Administration Guide. Each section has a summary of significant changes.
One change is NSF specifies the four fonts that may be used when preparing an NSF proposal. The page formatting section also has been revised to state that a standard, single-column format should be used in the body of the proposal.
Another changes eliminates the previous statutory (one percent) cost-sharing requirement. In accordance with prior Congressional requirements, NSF previously required that each grantee share in the cost of research projects resulting from unsolicited proposals. The appropriations providing funds to NSF no longer contain this language.
