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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Census Research Network (Funding Opportunity No. 10-621)

What is the NSF Census Research Network opportunity (Funding Opportunity No. 10-621)?

The NSF Census Research Network is a National Science Foundation grant program intended to build a coordinated set of university-based research nodes. These nodes focus on improving the methods used to measure and understand the U.S. economy and population, with particular relevance to the U.S. Census Bureau and the broader Federal Statistical System.

What is the main goal of this program?

The program aims to support interdisciplinary, university-based teams that conduct methodological research to improve how economic and population statistics are measured, integrated, estimated, and interpreted. A key theme is producing research that can matter both to the academic community and to federal statistical agencies.

What does NSF mean by a “research node” in this program?

In this opportunity, a node is an organized research group based at a university (or college) where multiple researchers work together. The emphasis is on coordinated activity rather than isolated projects, including shared expertise across disciplines and the integration of research with educational and training activities.

Is the program intended to fund single-investigator projects?

No. The opportunity emphasizes organized nodes with multiple researchers working together and coordinating research and training. The framing is specifically about building a network of university-based research nodes rather than supporting disconnected individual projects.

What kinds of research topics does the opportunity support?

The opportunity supports methodological research questions tied to measuring and understanding the U.S. economy and population. It encourages work that advances both fundamental and applied knowledge related to statistical and measurement challenges for economic units (such as firms and establishments), households, and individuals.

What is meant by “fundamental” versus “applied” contributions under this program?

Fundamental contributions refer to deeper scientific progress on statistical and measurement challenges in studying economic units, households, and individuals. Applied contributions refer to practical improvements that strengthen federal statistics, such as improved survey and administrative-data methods, better data integration, higher-quality estimates, and more reliable ways to track change over time.

How is this opportunity relevant to the U.S. Census Bureau?

The program is designed to tackle methodological research questions with particular relevance to the Federal Statistical System and especially the U.S. Census Bureau. A major expectation is that the research will be significant enough to influence how key data are produced, interpreted, and used in federal statistical settings.

What types of practical improvements to federal statistics are emphasized?

Examples highlighted in the opportunity include better survey methods, better administrative-data methods, improved data integration, higher-quality estimates, and more reliable approaches to tracking changes over time.

Who is the intended beneficiary of the research results?

The results are intended to matter to both the broader academic research community and the Federal Statistical System, with particular relevance to agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau that depend on robust measurement and defensible methodology.

Does the opportunity include education and training requirements?

Yes. Training and workforce development are central expectations. Each node is expected to contribute to educating and preparing current and future researchers in skills relevant to modern data collection and measurement.

Who should be involved in the training and workforce development activities?

The opportunity indicates that this typically involves graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career faculty participating in hands-on methodological research and gaining exposure to real-world statistical system challenges.

What funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity that uses a Cooperative Agreement funding instrument. A cooperative agreement generally signals more active partnership or involvement by the funding agency than a standard grant.

Which NSF area and CFDA number does this program fall under?

The opportunity falls under NSF Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences and is listed with CFDA number 47.075. It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

How many awards did NSF anticipate making, and what was the estimated total funding level?

NSF anticipated making about 12 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $18.5 million.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide institutional matching funds as a condition of the award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based academic institutions. Proposals may be submitted only by accredited universities and colleges, including two-year and four-year institutions (explicitly including community colleges), as long as they are accredited in and have a campus located in the United States, and they must apply on behalf of their faculty members.

Can community colleges apply?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes community colleges, as long as they are accredited and have a campus located in the United States, and the proposal is submitted by the institution on behalf of its faculty.

Can an individual researcher apply directly?

The opportunity indicates that proposals must be submitted by eligible U.S.-based academic institutions on behalf of their faculty members. That implies individual applicants would apply through their institution rather than as independent applicants.

When was the opportunity posted, and what was the proposal deadline?

The opportunity was posted on September 30, 2010. The full proposal deadline was February 16, 2011, and the original and current closing date listed are the same.

Where are additional details published?

Additional details were provided through NSF Publication 10-621.

Where can applicants get technical help accessing the announcement?

Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to NSF’s Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.