Systems Science | Apply Online

NSF Systems Science (SYS) Program (PD 12 8085) - FAQs

1) What is the NSF Systems Science (SYS) program?

The NSF Systems Science (SYS) program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12 8085) supported fundamental, theory-driven research on engineered systems. Its purpose was to build a mathematically rigorous foundation for systems engineering by advancing basic scientific understanding of complex engineered systems.

2) What kinds of outcomes was SYS trying to produce?

SYS emphasized generalizable theory, methodology, and mathematical frameworks that help explain, model, and predict the behavior of complex engineered systems, support better decisions about them, and improve lifecycle management. The intent was not to produce a specific product, prototype, or near-term deployment.

3) Was this program focused on applied development or deployment projects?

No. SYS explicitly did not fund development projects. Proposals centered mainly on building, integrating, or deploying a particular system, tool, or application were not considered a good fit unless they clearly drove new foundational system science.

4) What is meant by "engineered systems" in the SYS context?

Based on the program description, SYS addressed complex engineered systems in a broad, cross-cutting way, focusing on systems-level scientific challenges that span traditional engineering disciplines, rather than a single narrow application area.

5) What were the main research topic areas encouraged by the program?

SYS invited proposals addressing core systems-level challenges, including:

• System performance prediction: methods to anticipate how a system will perform under varying conditions.
• Uncertainty quantification in a systems context: ways to represent and propagate uncertainty across interconnected components and scales.
• Theoretical foundations for aggregation: how to combine component-level models or data into reliable system-level representations.
• Decision making in the systems context: formal methods for planning, tradeoffs, optimization, and risk-aware choices in complex systems.
• Operation and maintenance in the systems context: models and theories that improve reliability, sustainment, and lifecycle management.

6) What was the unifying theme across the SYS topic areas?

The unifying theme was the development of generalizable theory and mathematically grounded methods that apply across many types of engineered systems, not just one specific system or use case.

7) If my work is "systems-related" but mostly fits a traditional engineering discipline, where should it be submitted?

NSF noted an expectation that if a proposal has systems or systems engineering relevance but the main scientific contribution fits squarely within an existing Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) disciplinary program, it should be submitted to that disciplinary program instead, listing Systems Science as a secondary program.

8) What does it mean that SYS was a "cross-cutting" program?

SYS was positioned as a foundational program intended to address systems-level scientific challenges that cut across traditional engineering disciplines, rather than serving as the primary home for research that is primarily disciplinary.

9) How many awards did the opportunity anticipate making?

The opportunity anticipated around 15 awards.

10) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity indicated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

11) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.

12) What was the grant category and CFDA listing?

Administratively, this was a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category, listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

13) What were the proposal due dates and submission windows?

The solicitation timeline showed recurring annual due dates of January 15 and February 15, as well as a September 1 to October 1 window. The original closing date was noted as October 1, 2012.

14) Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is archived. It lists an archive date of January 15, 2015, which means it is no longer accepting applications under that specific posting.

15) What should applicants do if they have access issues related to the listing or submission?

For access issues, the listing pointed applicants to NSF's Grants.gov support contact at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

16) What kinds of proposals are most clearly not a fit for SYS?

Proposals that are primarily development-focused, such as building, integrating, or deploying a particular system, tool, or application, were not a fit unless the work clearly advanced foundational system science.

17) What kinds of proposals are most clearly aligned with SYS (based on the description)?

Proposals aligned with SYS were those that advanced mathematically rigorous, theory-driven system science that improves the ability to explain, model, predict, decide about, and manage complex engineered systems across their full life cycle.