Preparing Proposals
Unless specified in an NSF program solicitation, proposals to NSF must be submitted electronically via either the NSF FastLane System or Grants.gov.
Proposals submitted via FastLane should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp.Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Proposals submitted via Grants.gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide.
The Policy Office, in the Division of Institution and Award Support, provides general policy guidance for proposers. The Policy Office page includes NSF regulations, other Federal regulations, notices of important policies and other information for proposers and awardees.
NSF conducts outreach on proposal preparation and award administration, through NSF Grant Conferences, and FastLane outreach activities.
