September 5, 2018
For UVM faculty:
Call for Pre-Proposals: NSF EPSCoR FY 2019 RII Track-2 FEC (Focused EPSCoR Collaborations)
The National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) has announced the following funding opportunity: Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII Track-2 FEC)
- All proposals must promote collaborations among researchers in EPSCoR jurisdictions and emphasize the recruitment/development of diverse early career faculty and STEM education and workforce development on the single topic: "Harnessing the Data Revolution to solve problems of national importance."
- Proposals submitted for the FY19 RII Track-2 FEC competition should be firmly placed in the context of NSF's "Harnessing the Data Revolution," https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas/harnessing.jsp one of NSF’s Ten Big Ideas, and must address a specific and compelling problem related to a scientific topic area of national importance. Full details are available in the solicitation.
- The number of submissions per state is unlimited but there can be only one per institution.
- An investigator cannot be PI or co-PI on more than one proposal
- At UVM, the Vice President for Research and VT EPSCoR State Committee, the Vermont Technology Council, will determine which if any proposal goes forward.
- Each proposal must have a collaborator from an institution in a different RII-eligible EPSCoR jurisdiction as Co-PI. The second institution will be issued a subcontract.
Please note that you may be a Co-PI on a proposal with a PI from another EPSCoR eligible state, but you are not allowed to be PI or co-PI on more than one proposal; it’s either one or the other.
This announcement is to allow you as much time as possible for preparation for the pre-proposal process. The FY 2019 RFP can be found at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18589/nsf18589.htm
We ask that you submit the following via epscor@uvm.edu by 4 pm on October 1, a 5-page pre-proposal that addresses:
- A topic area consistent with the NSF FYI 2019 priority programmatic focus area: "Harnessing the Data Revolution to solve problems of national importance."
- A plan for collaboration with a Co-PI, preferably with a history of collaboration with the PI. Describe the history of the collaboration.
- A plan for enhancing the careers of junior faculty.
- The impact on the states research infrastructure.
Questions regarding the new RII Track-2 FEC solicitation may be directed to Dr. J.D. Swanson (jswanson@nsf.gov; 703-292-2898).