Call for VT EPSCoR RII Track-1 Letters of Intent & White Papers - Due June 3, 2019 and July 15, 2019 respectively

Subject:	Vermont EPSCoR RII Track 1 Call for Letters of Intent (due June 3, 2019) and White Papers (due July 15, 2019)
Date:	May 8, 2019
From:	John Evans, Ph.D. President, Vermont Technology Council

Colleagues:

As announced at the Informational Meeting held on April 29, 2019 and in multiple announcements beginning in early April, we are seeking White Papers to determine the research theme for the next NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 proposal. Vermont is eligible to submit a new proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 (RII Track-1) in July 2020[1]. NSF limits EPSCoR-eligible states to a single RII Track-1 proposal submission.

The proposed research theme must be of national importance and have the best potential to improve Vermont's future research and development competitiveness. Proposed research topics must have these features:

Alignment with priorities in the 2019 Vermont Science and Technology Plan
Alignment with current scientific and engineering grand challenges, either NSF's Big Research Ideas[2] or NSF-relevant grand challenges put forth by other agencies or entities
Topics funded by NSF's regular programmatic and cross-cutting areas; and
Leverage the strengths of Vermont's research institution

The proposed research program is the centerpiece of the RII Track-1 project. The focal point of an RII Track-1 proposal is hypothesis- and/or problem-driven research that requires a comprehensive and integrative approach to a grand challenge in a scientific area of regional or jurisdictional importance and relevance. The intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed activities are expected to provide the rationale for the requested infrastructure investments that, in turn, enhance the overall research capacity and competitiveness of the jurisdiction.

RII Track-1 projects are unique in their jurisdiction-wide scope and complexity. They integrate researchers, institutions, and organizations and play a role in developing the diverse, well-prepared, STEM-enabled workforce necessary to sustain research competitiveness and catalyze economic development.

Call for Letters of Intent (LOI) – Due June 3, 2019 midnight

Interested parties should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by June 3, 2019 via email to epscor@uvm.edu

Please include the following:

Draft title of the project
Name, department, and institution(s) of people involved
Abstract of the project (one-page maximum) that describes the work in sufficient detail to determine relevance to the NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 program
Suggested reviewers to include or exclude

Letters of Intent are required for consideration in White Paper competition. Individuals, or teams, in addition to self-organized groups, are encouraged to submit a LOI even if they are not associated with a more defined team or group organized around a proposed research theme. Individuals should indicate a general research theme that they could potentially align themselves with and contribute to.

LOIs will help identify potential teams and aid in selection of potential qualified reviewers.

Call for White Papers – Due July 15, 2019 midnight

Interested parties are invited to submit a white paper on key research topics that might be applicable to an NSF EPSCoR RII Track 1 project. (Note that the Track 1 is required to address a comprehensive, integrated, trans-disciplinary statewide focus that creates a substantial academic research infrastructure & involves participants from colleges & universities throughout the state. It is not designed for individual, single institution, or small group faculty research.) The research must be of importance to the state and nation and have an economic impact on the state and region.

In order to be competitive, your white paper must convey:

Intellectual merit, broader impacts, and research hypotheses/questions
Alignment with State Science and Technology (S+T) Plan

Also, your white paper should convey:

Alignment with current scientific and engineering grand challenges, either NSF's Big Research Ideas or NSF-relevant grand challenges put forth by other agencies or entities
Topics funded by NSF's regular programmatic and cross-cutting areas
Leverage the strengths of Vermont research institutions

Also desirable (if possible):

Alignment with NSF's Big Process Ideas
Mid-scale Research Infrastructure
NSF 2026
Growing Convergence Research
NSF INCLUDES

REQUIRED FOR EVERY RII TRACK-1 GRANT: Alignment with Vermont State S+T plan. Identified Research Areas in 2019 VT S+T Plan include:

Environment
Health
Advanced manufacturing
Computing/Big Data/AI

S+T Plan for Vermont can be found at: https://vttechcouncil.org (lower left corner)

Basis for white paper review:

Intellectual merit (e.g. what has the best chance for NSF funding)
Alignment with the State S+T plan (NSF will scrutinize)
Other elements (outreach, education, etc.) do NOT factor into white paper review, so do not include them

White Paper contents – 5 pages maximum length (not including cover page, references and bio sketches): Due July 15, 2019

Please submit via email to epscor@uvm.edu

Cover Page (1 page) list title, team members and abstract

5 pages maximum for the following:

Clear vision and goals
Potential impact
Scope and research
Separate statements of:

Intellectual merit
Broader impacts

Alignment with Vermont S&T Plan
How the proposed research advances Vermont's competitiveness in the area
Bonus: Description of what a “Center of Excellence” in proposed research area would look like at end of 5 year award period and how funded

Additional materials:

References (no page limit)
Bio sketches of key/senior personnel (NSF Style, 2 pages each maximum)
Suggested reviewers to include or exclude

Strategies to think about as you work on your white paper

EPSCoR dollars are catalytic, not foundational.
The award is not the goal. The award is the means to achieve the goal.
Collaboration and teamwork are critical.
The current NSF EPSCoR director, Dr. Loretta Moore, is a big proponent of the I-Corps program and INCLUDES

Recommendations for White Papers:

Problem has national, state importance
Hypothesis-driven
Representation from across Vermont institutions
Has an NSF focus
Is able to result in a sustainable center that will live beyond the award period
Has an economic impact
Is the right project for Vermont

An external panel of experts convened by an independent organization will review submitted white papers using NSF-based review criteria and methods. Based on the recommendations of the review panel, the Vermont State Committee will approve the white paper that will be invited for full proposal development.

To see more about the investments and progress of the current Track-1 program, please go to the Vermont EPSCoR website: www.uvm.edu/EPSCoR

Anticipated Timeline
Event	Date
Informational Meeting	April 29, 2019
Call for White Papers	May 8, 2019
Letters of Intent Due	June 3, 2019
White Papers due	July 15, 2019
External review completed	September, 2019
White paper team selected	October, 2019
Full proposal development begins	November, 2019
Solicitation released by NSF	early May 2020*
Proposal due to NSF	mid-July 2020*
Notification of Awards	Spring 2021
Awards made	Summer 2021

[1] Based on FY18 dates
[2] https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas/
This is desirable, but not required. There are 6 research priorities.
* Based on FY18 dates

Please contact Dr. Bomblies or me for any additional information.

John Evans, Ph.D.
President
Vermont Technology Council
john.evans@med.uvm.edu

Dr. Bomblies' contact information:
Arne Bomblies, Ph.D., P.E.
VT State EPSCoR Director and Project Director
Arne.Bomblies@uvm.edu
(802) 656-2215