The new version of the Grant Proposal Guide (NSF
09-1 January 2009) is available on the NSF web site:
<http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf09_1/gpg_index.jsp>http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf09_1/gpg_index.jsp
One change may affect a number of ecologists on
soft-money positions or those seeking sabbatical salary.
Scroll down about half way to g. Budget, (i)
Salaries and Wages, (a) Senior Project Personnel
Salaries and Wages Policy. The second paragraph is what's new.
This is also in the summary of significant changes:
Chapter II Section C.2g(i), Salaries and Wages,
has undergone a major revision of NSFs salary
reimbursement policy. In general, the Foundation
will now limit salary compensation for senior
project personnel to no more than two months of
their regular salary in any one year. This limit
includes salary compensation received from all
NSF-funded grants. This change moves away from
the concept of summer salary and allows for
reimbursement of two months of salary per year
whenever appropriate during the year.
A second issue that will affect lots of PIs is a
new requirement to specify how postocs will be
mentored: (note that without this, a proposal is returned without review!)
Chapter II Section C.2d(i), Project
Description, has had entirely new guidance added
regarding mentoring activities. This was done to
address the mentoring requirement of the America
COMPETES Act. Each proposal that requests funding
to support postdoctoral researchers must include,
as a separate section within the 15-page project
description, a description of the mentoring
activities that will be provided for such
individuals. Examples of such activities are
provided and the mentoring plan will be evaluated
during the merit review process, under the
Broader Impacts criterion. Proposals that do not
include a separate section on mentoring
activities within the Project Description will be
returned without review. The Proposal Preparation
Checklist (Exhibit II-1) and Chapter IV.B. on
Return without Review have been updated to reflect that.
