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NSF CREST (NSF 09-510) Grant Opportunity: Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the NSF CREST program?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program is a discretionary, science and technology-focused funding opportunity designed to strengthen the research capacity of minority-serving institutions (MSIs). It does this by creating or expanding center-based efforts that tightly connect research and education.

2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The core purpose is to build sustainable institutional research strength, increase faculty research productivity, generate new knowledge in NSF-supported fields, and broaden participation by increasing the number and success of students who have been historically underrepresented in STEM.

3) What kinds of projects does CREST aim to support in practice?

In practice, CREST is aimed at helping eligible institutions move from developing research capacity to a more competitive, nationally visible research footprint, often emphasizing fields and research areas where minority representation remains especially low.

4) What is the NSF publication or funding opportunity number for this solicitation?

This solicitation is NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity Number 09-510.

5) What proposal types are included under this solicitation?

This solicitation supports multiple proposal types under one umbrella:

• Full proposals to establish CREST Centers
• CREST partnership supplements (for institutions that already hold CREST awards)
• HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU RISE) proposals
• Diversity collaborative supplements connected to NSF co-funded SBIR/STTR projects
• Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) track: Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3)

6) What is a CREST Center proposal?

CREST Center proposals are full proposals to establish multi-investigator, center-scale projects intended to serve as institutional hubs for research excellence and workforce development, tightly connecting research and education.

7) What are CREST partnership supplements?

CREST partnership supplements are available for institutions that already hold CREST awards. They are intended to strengthen or extend existing collaborations that enhance research capability and outcomes.

8) What is HBCU RISE under this solicitation?

HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU RISE) is a related track focused specifically on research infrastructure and capacity at eligible Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with doctoral STEM programs.

9) What are SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplements in this solicitation?

These are diversity collaborative supplements connected to NSF co-funded Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) projects. They are meant to link current SBIR/STTR awardees with CREST or HBCU RISE institutional partners to advance diversity-focused collaboration in innovation and technology development.

10) What is the I3 track (Innovation through Institutional Integration)?

I3 is an EHR track that supports institutions in strategically integrating multiple NSF-funded efforts to create coherent, institution-wide impact rather than isolated project outcomes. It emphasizes institutional strategy and coordination among awards and stakeholders.

11) What is notable about the I3 component compared with other elements of the solicitation?

I3 places a strong emphasis on institutional-level strategy and coordination. It encourages faculty leaders, administrators, and stakeholders to align and integrate NSF-funded awards (especially those managed within EHR) to amplify outcomes in STEM education and related research.

12) Which EHR programs were referenced as part of the I3 framing for the fiscal year in the notice?

For the fiscal year referenced, proposals advancing I3 goals were sought across nine EHR programs:

• CREST
• Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GSE)
• HBCU Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)
• Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)
• Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
• Math and Science Partnership (MSP)
• Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce)
• Research in Disabilities Education (RDE)
• Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)

13) What does NSF’s emphasis on I3 suggest about the agency’s priorities?

The I3 framing signals NSF interest in systemic, cross-program alignment that can change institutional practice and outcomes at scale, rather than producing disconnected results across separate projects.

14) What type of funding instrument is used for awards under this opportunity?

Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically implies substantial NSF involvement during the award period compared with standard grants.

15) How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity, and how many awards were anticipated?

The estimated total funding is $22.5 million, with an anticipated 42 awards.

16) What is the expected size range for individual awards?

Individual awards range from $75,000 up to $5,000,000.

17) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

18) What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?

The activity categories tie to CFDA numbers 47.041 (Engineering Grants) and 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).

19) Who is eligible to submit a CREST Center proposal?

CREST Center proposals are invited from U.S. minority-serving institutions (MSIs) defined here as institutions with enrollments of 50 percent or more from underrepresented minority groups in science and engineering fields.

20) Which underrepresented groups are specifically named in the MSI definition used here?

The solicitation specifically lists Alaska Natives, African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders.

21) Does the solicitation indicate any preferences for the types of institutions submitting CREST Center proposals?

Yes. The solicitation indicates a preference for institutions demonstrating growing strength in NSF-relevant fields, such as developing capacity to offer doctoral degrees in one or more STEM disciplines.

22) What institutional expectations are described for CREST Center applicants?

Institutions are expected to demonstrate:

• Ability and willingness to function as a resource center in one or more research areas
• Evidence of strong collaborations in the proposed research field
• A demonstrated commitment to enrolling and graduating minority scientists and engineers

23) Who is eligible to submit an HBCU RISE proposal?

HBCU RISE proposals are limited to Historically Black Colleges and Universities that offer doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines.

24) Who is eligible for SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplement proposals?

These proposals are limited to current SBIR/STTR grantees working with CREST or HBCU RISE institutional partners.

25) Who is eligible to submit an I3 proposal?

I3 eligibility is generally limited to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education with a U.S.-based campus, including two-year and four-year colleges. If an I3 proposal is exclusively for STEM education or related research, then all proposer categories listed in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide may be eligible.

26) Are there citizenship or residency requirements for principal investigators (PIs)?

Yes. PIs for CREST, HBCU RISE, and SBIR/STTR-related awards must be U.S. citizens or nationals, or permanent residents.

27) Are there employment requirements for PIs?

Yes. PIs for CREST, HBCU RISE, and SBIR/STTR-related awards must be employed by an eligible institution for the relevant track.

28) Who is expected to serve as PI for I3 proposals?

For I3 proposals, the PI is expected to be the university provost or an equivalent chief academic officer, reflecting that I3 is meant to drive institution-level integration and decision-making.

29) Is there any stated exception to the I3 PI requirement?

Yes. When the proposal is exclusively for I3 STEM education or related research, a different PI structure may be allowed.

30) When was the solicitation posted?

The solicitation was posted on November 19, 2008.

31) Was a letter of intent required, and when was it due?

A letter of intent date is listed as December 30, 2008 for CREST Centers and HBCU RISE.

32) What proposal deadlines or target dates are mentioned?

The notice lists multiple deadlines and target dates across components, including early 2009 dates (including February 2009 deadlines) and a March 13, 2009 target/current closing date, plus additional CREST/HBCU RISE deadlines later in 2009.

33) Is this opportunity still active?

No. The opportunity was archived on March 5, 2010.

34) Where were applicants directed for full details?

Applicants were directed to NSF Publication 09-510 for full details.

35) What support contacts are referenced for submission or access issues?

The announcement references NSF/Grants.gov support contacts for access and submission issues.