Subject: Correction:NSF Program Guideline
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 92 08:03 EST

Hi Paul,
   This is to be posted to the NIH Listserver as:
     MECHANIC.920320
                    Thanks.
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
Title       : NSF9220--An Institute for Mechanics and Materials
Type        : Program Guideline
NSF Contact : ENG/MSS
Date        : March 19, 1992

 
 
            AN INSTITUTE FOR MECHANICS AND MATERIALS

 

 

 
 
          Announcement of
          Program Initiative

 
          Directorate For Engineering
          Division of Mechanical and Structural Systems

 

 
 
          DEADLINE DATES:
                    Letter of Intent:   April 15, 1992
                    Formal Proposal:    May 15, 1992

 

 
 
          NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 

 

 

               INSTITUTE FOR MECHANICS AND MATERIALS
 
               I. INTRODUCTION
 
  New technologies pose extreme and specialized requirements on
materials to be used in new information, living, environmental,
energy, and transportation systems.  These requirements are driving
the synthesis, processing, and characterization of new materials
whose utilization will result in substantial benefits to society.
The solution of many problems encountered in the design and
production of new materials, forming them into parts, and product
design are amenable to the research methodologies developed within
the emerging discipline of mechanics and materials.  Over the past
twenty five years the physical understanding of microstructural
mechanisms developed in materials science, and the mathematical and
computational techniques developed in mechanics are beginning to
lead to the view that the methodologies of mechanics and materials
can be systematically used to improve the understanding,
production, and quality of engineering materials, and to the design
and realization of components, structures, and systems to fulfill
national technological objectives.  There is abundant evidence to
illustrate that such societal needs can be met best by an
interdisciplinary research approach which integrates mechanics and
materials science, and which promotes strong interaction between
academe, industry, and government.
 
  In order to strengthen the intellectual vigor of the nation's
current effort in mechanics and materials, the Foundation is
considering the establishment, on a five-year trial basis, of an
Institute for Mechanics and Materials.  By participating in the
programs of the Institute the knowledge and research expertise of
the involved engineers and scientists will be enhanced, and the
boundary of knowledge in the field will be expanded in an efficient
way.
 
              II. PURPOSE AND REPRESENTATIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE
               INSTITUTE
 
  The primary purpose of this Institute will be to provide a
catalytic environment conducive for (a) fostering research which
bridges the traditional boundaries between the disciplinary areas
of mechanics and materials science and engineering, and which
integrates the strengths of these two communities;  (b) stimulating
in-depth communication across disciplines and between mechanicians
and materials scientists in universities, national
laboratories, and industry; (c) advanced education; (d)
identification and prioritization of research objectives whose
solutions demand multidisciplinary approaches; (e) identification
of specific research problems of interest to industry; and (f)
establishing long term goals of research in mechanics and
materials.
 
  To realize its objectives, the Institute is expected to involve
both mature and young researchers and to undertake the following
representative activities: (a) develop short courses which
encourage interdisciplinary activity; (b) organize workshops which
integrate activities of universities, government laboratories
and industry; (c) sponsor visits of short and intermediate duration
for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty and engineers
and scientists from government and industrial laboratories; and (d)
catalyze the formation of small research groups.
 
  For effective involvement of the community and  for effective
dissemination of information, a well defined outreach program is
expected to be an integral part of the Institute's activities.

               III.   MANAGEMENT AND LOCATION OF THE INSTITUTE
 
Management:
 
  The Institute should have a clearly defined management structure
commensurate with the objectives of the Institute.  One possible
structure is a single Director and an Associate Director, both
working in collaboration with an overseeing body, such as a Board
of Governors.  The overseeing body should consist of approximately
10 to 15 leading engineers and scientists in mechanics and
materials, with membership drawn largely from outside the host
institution, and constituted to provide broad representation
geographically and by technical interests, and also from industrial
and national laboratories.  The purpose of the overseeing body will
be to provide guidance to the Director and to evaluate on at least
a yearly basis the effectiveness of the programs and management of
the Institute and the outreach of the Institute to the scientific
community and industry.  Other management structures may be
acceptable.  However, it is important that proposals to the
Foundation clearly delineate how the proposed management structure
permits the goals and activities of the Institute to be pursued
effectively.
 
  The Institute should have clearly defined mechanisms for
receiving recommendations for Institute programs, such as
workshops, short courses, and yearly research programs.
The approval and implementation process for these programs also
should be described.  Program selection should take place at least
one year in advance.  A portion of these programs could encompass
well-defined post-doctoral and short and long term visitors
programs, built around concentration topics.  Procedures for the
selection of organizers, instructors, and participants in these
programs should also be clearly laid out.

Location:
 
  Proposals for the establishment of the Institute may be submitted
by either a single institution or a consortium of institutions.
 
The advantages of the Institute being located near an Institution
where a major effort in the new discipline of mechanics and
materials is being pursued are obvious.  The physical location of
the Institute can also have a significant influence on its
effectiveness.  Issues related to ease of access, availability of
housing, and proximity to support facilities are important
considerations.  For a institution to be considered as a host site,
it must satisfy several criteria:
 
     o It must have a substantial ongoing research activity
       in mechanics and materials.
 
     o The principal participants must have proven records of
       scholarship, leadership and administrative experience,
       and they should be willing to serve in the best interests
       of the nationwide community in mechanics and materials.
 
     o The host institution must make a commitment to support the
       Institute.
 
     o Physical space must be available to carry out the mission
       of the Institute. Space modifications may be necessary to
       accommodate the needs of the Institute.
 
     o It is recognized that serious research activity in mechanics
       and materials includes interrelated components of
       theoretical, computational, and experimental work.  The
       experimental and computational components require
       state-of-the-art facilities to which the proposers for the
       Institute should demonstrate some access without
       compromising the limited funds that will be available from
       the Foundation.

 

               IV.  DESCRIPTION OF FOUNDATION SUPPORT
 
  Foundation estimates indicate $750,000 to $1,000,000 per year.
However, proposers should describe programs with budgets necessary
to accomplish the aim of the project.  Initial funding would be
provided in FY 1992.  The Foundation contemplates making one award
for a trial period of up to five years.
 
  While cost sharing is not mandatory, it is encouraged.

 
               V. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
 
               A. Proposal Format
 
  Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation
should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines
provided in NSF brochure, Grants for Research and Education in
Science and Engineering (GRESE) NSF 90-77.  Single copies of
this brochure are available at no cost from NSF Forms and
Publications Unit, phone (202) 357-7668, or via e-mail.
 
  The cover page should indicate that the proposal is being
submitted for consideration under the Program Solicitation for
an Institute for Mechanics and Materials.

               B.  Proposal Content
 
  The main body of the proposal, the project description, should
be a detailed statement of all plans for the proposed Institute.
Any consortium arrangements should be described fully and
documented with letters from all the cooperating parties.
 
   The proposal should state what is hoped will be accomplished
and propose a plan for its accomplishment.  The personnel involved
in the project should be named and the extent of their commitment
to it indicated.  Information on the central figures who will
participate in the project should be included.  The mechanisms for
selection, rotation, and distribution between the mechanics and
materials communities of members of the overseeing body should be
clearly delineated.  A description should be given of the proposed
method of directing the project, choosing topics for study, getting
the project started, maintaining continuity, and choosing visiting
participants.  The degree to which participation in the project
would be open to engineers and scientists throughout the community
should be explained.  A method of disseminating results of
discussions, workshops, and short courses to the community should
be described.
 
  The proposal should indicate arrangements for secretarial and
related assistance, for office space, and for the use of existing
library, computer, and experimental facilities.  No major capital
expenditures are envisioned.  The anticipated expenses of the
project and the plan for dealing with them (including other sources
of support) should be discussed in detail.
 
  Budgets should be submitted on NSF Form 1030.  The yearly and
cumulative budgets should be submitted with sufficient detail and
explanation to facilitate adequate review.  A full discussion of
budget categories is contained in GRESE.

               C. Proposal Submission
 
  Ten copies of each proposal, including one copy bearing
signatures should be mailed to:
 
  Proposal Processing Unit, Room 223
  Attn: Mechanical and Structural Systems Division - NSF 92-20
  Solicitation for Institute for Mechanics and Materials
  National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street, N.W.,
  Washington, D.C.  20550.

 
Only one (1) copy of NSF Form 1225, Information about
Project Director, should be sent, attached to the original signed
proposal.
 
  Proposals may also be submitted electronically.  For information,
  contact the Electronic Proposal Submission Program Director,
  Office of Information Systems (OIS), phone (202) 357-9767, or via
  e-mail at gstuck@nsf (BITNET) or [email-masked] (INTERNET).
  Proposers must notify the Foundation by April 15, 1992 of their
  intention to submit a proposal by a letter addressed to: Program
  Directors, Dr. Jerome L. Sackman and Dr. Huseyin Sehitoglu,
  Mechanics and Materials Program, Division of Mechanical and
  Structural Systems, Room 1108, National Science Foundation, 1800
  G Street N.W., Washington, DC  20550.  Proposals submitted in
  response to this solicitation must be received by NSF no later
  than May 15, 1992.

 

               D.  Proposal Review
 
  Evaluation of competing proposals will be administered
by the Foundation's Division of Mechanical and Structural Systems.
An award will be made only if a proposal of sufficient merit is
received; that is, NSF reserves the right to make no award.
Proposals will be reviewed in accordance with established
Foundation procedures and the four general criteria described in
GRESE.  In addition to these general criteria, evaluation criteria
will include:
 
     1. Potential impact of the proposed Institute on the
        discipline of mechanics and materials, and society at
        large.
 
     2. Governance and leadership: (a) qualifications and
           commitment of the director and the staff; (b) management
        system; (c) ability to attract high quality membership with
        appropriate interests; (d) mechanisms for measurement of
        the performance of the Institute, (e) ability to represent
        the views of the community at the national level; and (f)
        vision of the future.
 
     3. The suitability of the method of directing the
        project, choosing topics for study, getting
        the project started, maintaining continuity, and
        choosing participants.
 
     4. The suitability of the plans for outreach --- opening the
        project to engineers and scientists throughout the
        community and disseminating results.
 
     5. Commitment of the host institution and supporting
        institutions and companies.

     6. The suitability of location with regard to ease
        of access and housing.
 
     7. The quality of and access to library, computing and
        experimental facilities, and office space at the host
        institution(s).
 
     8. The suitability of the plan for evaluating the extent
        which the Institute met its goal.
 
The review of proposals will be conducted by a panel of experts
which will select the top two or three proposals based on the
criteria outlined above.  Site visits to the institutions from
which these highly-ranked proposals are received will be conducted
before final ranking and an award decision is made.

  The continuing evaluation of the performance of the Institute
will be handled in a manner similar to that conducted for the
Directorate's Engineering Research Centers.  This might entail a
site visit by a panel at the end of each year.  An annual report
and a final project report are required.  At the end of
every third year in a five year cycle, the decision for
continuation for another five-year period would be made by the
Foundation on the recommendation of the panel.

               VI. GRANT ADMINISTRATION
 
The grant awarded as a result of this solicitation will be
administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF
GC-1, ``Grants General Conditions,'' or FDP-II,``Federal
Demonstration Project General Terms and Conditions,'' depending on
the grantee organization. Copies of these documents are available
at no cost from NSF Forms and Publications Unit, phone (202)
357-7668, or via e-mail (Bitnet: pubs@nsf or Internet:
[email-masked]).  More comprehensive information is contained is
contained in NSF Grant Policy Manual (July 1989) for sale through
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402.
 
               VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  General inquiries should be made to Mechanics and Materials
Program, Dr. J. Sackman or Dr. H. Sehitoglu, Program Directors,
Mechanical and Structural Systems Division, Directorate for
Engineering, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC
20550, telephone (202) 357-9542.
 
  Upon completion of the project a comprehensive final project
report (in addition to completion of NSF Form 98A, including the
Part IV Summary) will be required. Applicants should review this
form prior to proposal submission so that appropriate tracking
mechanisms are included in the proposal plan to ensure that
complete information will be available at the conclusion of the
project.

 
  The Foundation provides awards for research in the sciences and
engineering.  The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of
such research and preparation of the results for publication.  The
Foundation, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such
findings or their interpretation.
 
The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified
scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women,
minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any
of the research and research-related programs described in this
document.
 
In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and NSF
policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national
origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in,
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under,
any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the
National Science Foundation.
 
Telephonic Device for the Deaf number: (202) 357-7492.
 
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable
persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including
student research assistants) to work on an NSF project.  See the
program announcement, or contact the program coordinator in the
Directorate for Education and Human Resources.
 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance #47.041
 
Electronic Dissemination
 
You can get information fast through STIS (Science and Technology
Information System), NSF's online publishing system, described in
NSF 91-10 (Revised 10/4/91), the "STIS flyer."
 
To get a paper copy of the flyer, call the NSF Publications Section
at 202-357-7861.  For an electronic copy, send an E-mail message
to [email-masked] (Internet) or stisfly@nsf (BITNET).
 
Ordering by Electronic Mail
 
If you are a user of electronic mail and have access to either
BITNET or Internet, you may order publications electronically.
BITNET users should address requests to pubs@nsf.  Internet users
should send requests to [email-masked].  In your request, include the
NSF publication number and title, number of copies, your name, and
a complete mailing address.  Publications will be mailed within 2
days of receipt of request.

 
OMB No. 3145-0058
K.W.    060600
        060900                                     NSF-92-20 (NEW)

 
..stis file is nsf9220
..expires December 31, 1992
 
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