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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - NSF Engineering and Systems Design (ESD) Program (PD 13-1464)

What is the NSF Engineering and Systems Design (ESD) program?

The NSF Engineering and Systems Design (ESD) program is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. Its stated purpose is to fund foundational research that improves how engineering design and systems engineering are understood, explained, and guided across many application areas.

What is the funding opportunity number for this program?

The funding opportunity number listed is PD 13-1464.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

What types of projects does ESD aim to support?

ESD emphasizes foundational research that contributes to broader theory and deeper understanding of engineering design and systems engineering. The program description indicates it is not focused on building or deploying a particular product, but rather on research that advances understanding, explanation, and guidance for design and systems engineering practice across contexts.

Is this program focused on developing or deploying a specific product?

No. The information provided states that, rather than focusing on building or deploying a particular product, ESD emphasizes research that contributes to broader theory and understanding of engineering design and systems engineering.

Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is described as open to unrestricted applicants (any eligible entity type), subject to any clarifications in the official eligibility language for the program.

Does the ESD program require cost sharing or matching funds?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

What is meant by descriptive research in the context of ESD?

Descriptive research, as described for ESD, focuses on carefully observing, characterizing, and explaining how design and systems engineering actually happen in real contexts. This includes studying people, processes, constraints, and information flows involved in real-world design and systems engineering work.

What is meant by normative research in the context of ESD?

Normative research, as described for ESD, focuses on developing principles, frameworks, methods, and models for how design and systems engineering should be carried out in order to make better decisions and achieve better outcomes.

How does ESD encourage proposals to connect design decisions to the full system life cycle?

The program expresses interest in research that links design decisions to the full system life cycle context. This includes considering how needs and preferences are identified and defined over time, how alternatives are generated and evaluated, and how uncertainty is handled when making choices that affect downstream stages such as development, manufacturing, operation, maintenance, upgrade, and retirement or disposal.

What does it mean to view design through a systems lens in this solicitation?

The solicitation highlights a systems view where a system is not isolated but embedded in a broader environment. It notes interest in research spanning multiple domains and scales, from small designed artifacts to large, complex engineered systems, and in understanding interactions between systems and their operating environments.

What scales and domains of engineered systems are relevant to ESD?

The information provided indicates NSF is interested in work ranging from small designed artifacts to large, complex engineered systems, and in research that spans multiple domains and scales.

What example cross-cutting emphasis areas are mentioned for ESD?

Examples mentioned include: (1) how systems interact with their operating environments, (2) how manufacturability influences design decisions and trade spaces, and (3) how complexity changes the nature of design reasoning, coordination, and decision making.

What role do digital tools and digital engineering play in ESD priorities?

The solicitation emphasizes the relationship between data, information, and knowledge in digitally supported environments. This points toward research on digital engineering, model-based approaches, and how modern digital tools and representations affect what designers know, how decisions are justified, and how uncertainty and risk are communicated and managed.

How does ESD relate to NSF's System Science (SYS) program?

The announcement clarifies a distinction: if a project is primarily fundamental research in system science or system engineering theory itself, it should be submitted to SYS. If the primary contribution is observing and describing systems engineering practice (for example, practices, workflows, decision behaviors, and organizational or socio-technical patterns), it belongs in ESD.

When should an applicant submit to SYS instead of ESD?

Based on the information provided, proposals that are primarily fundamental research in system science or system engineering theory should be submitted to NSF's System Science (SYS) program rather than ESD.

If a project fits ESD but overlaps SYS, how should it be indicated?

The notice advises that if a project belongs in ESD but has topical overlap with SYS, the proposer should identify the System Science program as a secondary program while keeping ESD as the main program home.

When was this opportunity originally posted?

The opportunity was originally posted on April 5, 2013.

What was the original closing date listed for the opportunity?

The original closing date listed is October 1, 2013.

What recurring annual submission windows are listed?

The listing includes recurring annual submission windows of January 15 to February 15 and September 1 to October 1.

What time are proposals due on the listed due dates?

Proposals are listed as due by 5 p.m. local time.

Is this funding opportunity currently active?

The record indicates the opportunity has been archived, with an archive date of January 15, 2015.

What does it mean that the listing is archived and shows expected awards and estimated total funding as 0?

The provided information explains that the archived record shows expected awards and estimated total funding as 0, which typically reflects the status of the listing rather than a definitive statement about whether the underlying program exists in later years.

Where can applicants get help if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?

The notice directs applicants to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for issues accessing the full announcement electronically.

Is there a reference to additional information about the program?

Yes. The notice references an additional information link for the NSF program description.