General Age Related Disabilities Engineering (GARDE) | Apply Online

GARDE (General and Age Related Disabilities Engineering) Program FAQs

1) What is the GARDE program?

The General and Age Related Disabilities Engineering (GARDE) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports engineering and science research aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities through new technologies, devices, and software.

2) What kinds of research does GARDE support?

GARDE supports research that helps characterize, restore, or substitute for human functional abilities or cognition. It also supports research that improves how people with disabilities interact with their environment.

3) What is NSF looking for in terms of innovation or impact?

A central expectation is a strong case for novelty and potential transformative impact. NSF prioritizes fundamental advances and genuinely new ideas over small, incremental upgrades to existing approaches. Proposals are expected to explain how the concept goes beyond prior work, why it matters to engineering science, and what successful outcomes could mean for society and/or industry.

4) Are certain topic areas especially encouraged?

The program has shown particular recent interest in disability-related neuroscience and neuroengineering, along with rehabilitation robotics. It can also consider other innovative disability-related engineering topics when the concept is clearly transformative and well-justified.

5) What types of awards are available through GARDE?

GARDE supports multiple types of efforts, including standard research awards (unsolicited awards), small equipment proposals (under certain conditions), and Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects. The solicitation also notes other NSF proposal mechanisms that may be relevant, such as CAREER proposals, conferences/workshops, supplements, RAPID, and EAGER (with specific expectations described for each).

6) What are standard (unsolicited) research awards like in this program?

Standard research awards typically run one to three years, with an average annual award size of about $80,000.

7) Can I request a budget that is much higher than the typical GARDE research award size?

Requests substantially above the typical average annual amount are discouraged unless the investigator consults the Program Director in advance. NSF notes that unusually high requests without prior discussion may be returned without review.

8) Does GARDE support equipment purchases?

Yes. The program will consider small equipment proposals under $100,000, but they must be submitted during the program's designated annual submission window.

9) How important are submission windows and deadlines for GARDE?

Submission timing is critical. Proposals submitted outside the announced window dates are returned without review. For the referenced cycle, the submission window ran from August 15, 2011 to September 15, 2011, due by 5 p.m. local time, with a closing date of September 15, 2011.

10) Why does NSF encourage contacting the Program Director before submitting?

Investigators are encouraged to contact the Program Director before submitting, particularly if the topic is outside the most common focus areas or if the budget is higher than typical. This is described as a practical way to reduce the risk of a proposal being returned without review due to scope, budget, or fit considerations.

11) Are proposals evaluated only on peer review?

No. NSF indicates proposals are evaluated not only on reviewer feedback, but also on program-level considerations such as available funds, balance across subfields, and broader Foundation priorities.

12) What are Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects under GARDE?

These awards support undergraduate engineering (or engineering technology) students in completing substantial, real-world design experiences that directly help a specific person with a disability. The focus is on creating prototype "custom designed" devices or software tailored to individual needs.

13) How long does an individual undergraduate design project usually take?

Each design project is typically completed by a student or small student team over about one year per project.

14) How long are Undergraduate Engineering Design Project awards, and what is the typical funding level?

Undergraduate Design Project awards are generally three to five years in duration, with an average annual award size around $25,000.

15) What must be included in a proposal for an Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects award?

Proposals in this category must include: (1) a short description of ten possible design projects suitable for undergraduates to complete within about one year, and (2) a letter of support from an administrator at an institution that provides care or education to individuals with disabilities, confirming that the institution and the university will cooperate on the design projects.

16) What are the expectations after receiving an Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects award?

Funded project leaders are expected to implement a high percentage of the proposed projects each year, include appropriate quantitative engineering analysis, and submit annual reports describing the projects successfully completed in the previous academic year.

17) Does GARDE encourage CAREER proposals?

Yes. Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals are strongly encouraged. The solicitation notes a typical five-year duration and references a July deadline for engineering CAREER submissions.

18) Are conferences, workshops, and supplements allowed under this opportunity?

NSF indicates it may consider proposals for conferences, workshops, and supplements. These are ideally submitted within the regular annual proposal window and discussed with the Program Director ahead of time.

19) Can applicants submit RAPID or EAGER proposals related to GARDE?

RAPID and EAGER proposals are possible when appropriate, but they require prior discussion with the Program Director before submission.

20) What is the estimated total funding and expected number of awards for this GARDE announcement?

For this GARDE announcement (PD 12-5342), the estimated total funding amount was listed as $4.6 million, with an expectation of 38 awards.

21) Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity details state there is no cost sharing requirement.

22) What is the CFDA number and general category of this funding opportunity?

This is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity within the Engineering Grants CFDA (47.041), categorized under science and technology research and development.

23) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to applicant types), subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement.

24) What happens if I submit outside the specified window or do not follow the timing rules?

The solicitation states that proposals submitted outside the announced window dates are returned without review.

25) What is the main reason NSF might return a proposal without review?

Based on the details provided, proposals may be returned without review for being submitted outside the announced window dates. NSF also warns that unusually high budget requests without prior consultation with the Program Director may be returned without review.