[United States Government Manual]
[June 01, 2000]
[Pages 481-486]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230

Phone, 703-306-1234. Internet, www.nsf.gov.
National Science Board                              

Chairman                                          Eamon M. Kelly
Vice Chairman                                     Anita K. Jones
Members                                           John A. Armstrong, 
                                                          Pamela A. 
                                                          Ferguson, Mary 
                                                          K. Gaillard, 
                                                          M.R.C. 
                                                          Greenwood, 
                                                          Stanley V. 
                                                          Jaskolski, 
                                                          George M. 
                                                          Langford, 
                                                          Joseph A. 
                                                          Miller, Jr., 
                                                          Robert C. 
                                                          Richardson, 
                                                          Michael G. 
                                                          Rossmann, Vera 
                                                          C. Rubin, 
                                                          Maxine L. 
                                                          Savitz, Luis 
                                                          Sequeria, 
                                                          Daniel 
                                                          Simberloff, 
                                                          Bob H. Suzuki, 
                                                          Richard A. 
                                                          Tapia, Chang-
                                                          Lin Tien, (6 
                                                          vacancies)
    (Ex officio)                                  Rita R. Colwell

[[Page 482]]

    Executive Officer                             Marta C. Cehelsky
    Inspector General                             Christine C. Boesz

Officials:                                          

Director                                          Rita R. Colwell
    Deputy Director                               Joseph Bordogna
    Assistant Director for Biological             Mary E. Clutter
            Sciences
    Assistant Director for Computer and           Ruzena Bajcsy
            Information Science and 
            Engineering
    Assistant Director for Education and          Judith S. Sunley, 
            Human Resources                               Acting
    Assistant Director for Engineering            Louis Martin-Vega, 
                                                          Acting
    Assistant Director for Geosciences            Margaret S. Leinein
    Assistant Director for Mathematical           Robert A. Eisenstein
            and Physical Sciences
    Assistant Director for Social,                Norman M. Bradburn
            Behavioral, and Economic 
            Sciences
    Chief Financial Officer and                   Thomas N. Cooley, 
            Director, Office of Budget,                   Acting
            Finance, and Award 
            Management
    Director, Office of Integrative               Nathaniel G. Pitts
            Activities
    Director, Office of Legislative and           Michael C. Sieverts, 
            Public Affairs                                Acting
    Director, Office of Polar Programs            Karl A. Erb
    Director, Office of Information and           Linda P. Massaro
            Resource Management
    General Counsel                               Lawrence Rudolph

[For the National Science Foundation statement of organization, see the 
        Federal Register of February 8, 1993, 58 FR 7587-7595; May 27, 
        1993, 58 FR 30819; May 2, 1994, 59 FR 22690; and Oct. 6, 1995, 
        60 FR 52431]

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The National Science Foundation promotes the progress of science and 
engineering through the support of research and education programs. Its 
major emphasis is on high-quality, merit-selected research--the search 
for improved understanding of the fundamental laws of nature upon which 
our future well-being as a nation depends. Its educational programs are 
aimed at ensuring increased understanding of science and engineering at 
all educational levels, maintaining an adequate supply of scientists, 
engineers, and science educators to meet our country's needs.

The National Science Foundation is an independent agency created by the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1861-
1875).
    The purposes of the Foundation are: to increase the Nation's base of 
scientific and engineering knowledge and strengthen its ability to 
conduct research in all areas of science and engineering; to develop and 
help implement science and engineering education programs that can 
better prepare the Nation for meeting the challenges of the future; and 
to promote international cooperation through science and engineering. In 
its role as a leading Federal supporter of science and engineering, the 
agency also has an important role in national policy planning.
    The Foundation consists of a National Science Boardand a Director. 
The National Science Board is composed of 24 members and the Director ex 
officio. Members are appointed by the President with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, for 6-year terms, with one-third appointed every 
2 years. They are selected because of their records of distinguished 
service in science, engineering, education, research management, or 
public affairs to be


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broadly representative of the views of national science and engineering 
leadership. The Director and the Deputy Director are also appointed by 
the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to a 6-year 
term and an unspecified term, respectively.
    The National Science Foundation Act assigns policymaking functions 
for the Foundation to the National Science Board, within the framework 
of applicable policies set forth by the President and the Congress, and 
assigns the administration of the Foundation to the Director. By statute 
the Director of the Foundation is an ex officio member of the Board and 
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board.
    The Board also has a broad national policy responsibility to monitor 
and make recommendations to promote the health of U.S. science and 
engineering research and education.
    The Foundation's Office of Inspector General is responsible for 
conducting and supervising audits, inspections, and investigations 
relating to the programs and operations of the Foundation, including 
allegations of misconduct in science.

Activities

The National Science Foundation initiates and supports fundamental, 
long-term, merit-selected research in all the scientific and engineering 
disciplines. This support is made through grants,contracts, and other 
agreements awarded to universities,colleges, academic consortia, and 
nonprofit and small business institutions. Most of this research is 
directed toward the resolution of scientific and engineering questions 
concerning fundamental life processes, natural laws and phenomena, 
fundamental processes influencing the human environment, and the forces 
affecting people as members of society as well as the behavior of 
society as a whole.
    The Foundation encourages cooperative efforts by universities, 
industries, and government. It also promotes the application of research 
and development for better products and services that improve the 
quality of life and stimulate economic growth.
    The Foundation promotes the development of research talent through 
support of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral 
researchers. It administers special programs to identify and encourage 
participation by groups underrepresented in science and technology and 
to strengthen research capability at smaller institutions, small 
businesses, undergraduate colleges, and universities.
    The Foundation supports major national and international science and 
engineering activities, including the U.S. Antarctic Program, the Ocean 
Drilling Program, global geoscience studies, and others. Cooperative 
scientific and engineering research activities support exchange programs 
for American and foreign scientists and engineers, execution of jointly 
designed research projects, participation in the activities of 
international science and engineering organizations, and travel to 
international conferences.
    Support is provided through contracts and cooperative agreements 
with national centers where large facilities are made available for use 
by qualified scientists and engineers. Among the types of centers 
supported by the Foundation are astronomy and atmospheric sciences, 
biological and engineering research, science and technology, 
supercomputers, and long-term ecological research sites.
    The Foundation provides competitively awarded grantsfor repair, 
renovation, or, in exceptional cases, replacement of facilities used for 
research and research training at academic and nonprofit institutions.
    The Foundation's science and engineering education activities 
include grantsfor research and development activities directed to model 
instructional materials for students and teachers and the application of 
advanced technologies to education. Grants also are available for 
teacher preparation and enhancement and informal science education 
activities. Funding is also provided for college science 
instrumentation, course and curriculum

[[Page 485]]

improvement, faculty and student activities, and minority resource 
centers. In addition, studies of the status of math, science, and 
engineering education are supported.
    The National Science Board presents the Vannevar Bush Awardannually 
to a person who, through public service activities in science and 
technology, has made an outstanding contribution toward the welfare of 
mankind and the Nation. It also presents the Public Service Awardto an 
individual and to a company, corporation, or organization who, through 
contributions to public service in areas other than research, have 
increased the public understanding of science or engineering. The 
National Science Foundation annually presents the Alan T. Waterman 
Awardto an outstanding young scientist or engineer for support of 
research and study. The Foundation also provides administrative support 
for the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science.
    Information on these awards is available through the Internet, at 
www.nsf.gov/home/nsb/start.htm.

Sources of Information

Board and Committee Minutes  Summary minutes of the open meetings of the 
Board may be obtained from the National Science Board Office. Phone, 
703-306-2000. Information on NSB meetings, minutes, and reports is 
available through the Internet, at www.nsf.gov/home/nsb/start.htm. 
Summary minutes of the Foundation's advisory groups may be obtained from 
the contacts listed in the notice of meetings published in the Federal 
Register. General information about the Foundation's advisory groups may 
be obtained from the Division of Human Resource Management, Room 315, 
Arlington, VA 22230. Phone, 703-306-1181.
Contracts  The Foundation publicizes contracting and subcontracting 
opportunities in the Commerce Business Daily and other appropriate 
publications. Organizations seeking to undertake contract work for the 
Foundation should contact either the Division of Contracts, Policy, and 
Oversight (phone, 703-306-1242) or the Division of Administrative 
Services (phone, 703-306-1122), National Science Foundation, Arlington, 
VA 22230.
Electronic Access  Information regarding NSF programs and services is 
available through the Internet, at www.nsf.gov.
Employment  Inquiries may be directed to the Division of Human Resource 
Management, National Science Foundation, Room 315, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Phone, 703-306-1182, or, for the hearing impaired (TDD), 703-306-0189. 
The Foundation's vacancy hotline numbers are 703-306-0080 or 800-628-
1487. Internet, www.nsf.gov.
Fellowships  Consult the NSF Guide to Programs and appropriate 
announcements and brochures for postdoctoral fellowship opportunities 
that may be available through some Foundation divisions. Beginning 
graduate and minority graduate students wishing to apply for fellowships 
should contact the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. Phone, 
703-306-1694.
Freedom of Information Act Requests  Requests for agency records should 
be submitted in accordance with the Foundation FOIA regulation at 45 CFR 
part 612. Such requests should be clearly identified with ``FOIA 
REQUEST'' and be addressed to the FOIA Officer, Office of General 
Counsel, National Science Foundation, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Phone, 703-306-1060. Fax, 703-306-0149. E-mail, [email protected].
Grants  Individuals or organizations who plan to submit grant proposals 
should refer to the NSF Guide to Programs, Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 00-
2), and appropriate program brochures and announcements that may be 
obtained as indicated in the Publications section. Grant information is 
also available electronically through the Internet, at www.nsf.gov.
Office of Inspector General  General inquiries may be directed to the 
Office of Inspector General, National Science

[[Page 486]]

Foundation, Room 1135, Arlington, VA 22230. Phone, 703-306-2100.
Privacy Act Requests  Requests for personal records should be submitted 
in accordance with the Foundation Privacy Act regulation at 45 CFR, part 
613. Such requests should be clearly identified with ``PRIVACY ACT 
REQUEST'' and be addressed to the Privacy Act Officer, National Science 
Foundation, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230. Phone, 703-306-1060.
Publications  The National Science Board assesses the status and health 
of science and its various disciplines, including such matters as human 
and material resources, in reports submitted to the President for 
submission to the Congress. The most recent report is Science and 
Engineering Indicators, 1998 (NSB-98-1).
    The National Science Foundation issues publications that announce 
and describe new programs, critical dates, and application procedures 
for competitions. Single copies of these publications can be ordered by 
writing to NSF Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 218, Jessup, MD 20794-0218. 
Phone, 301-947-2722. E-mail, [email protected]. Internet, www.nsf.gov.
    Other Foundation publications include: the Grant Policy Manual (NSF-
95-26), which contains comprehensive statements of Foundation grant 
administration policy, procedures, and guidance; Guide to Programs, 
which summarizes information about support programs; the quarterly 
Antarctic Journal of the United States and its annual review issue; and 
the NSF Annual Report. These publications are available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 
20402. Internet, www.nsf.gov.
Reading Room  A collection of Foundation policy documents and staff 
instructions, as well as current indexes, are available to the public 
for inspection and copying during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, in the National Science Foundation Library, 
Room 225, Arlington, VA 22230. Phone, 703-306-0658.
Small Business Activities  The Office of Small Business Research and 
Development provides information on opportunities for Foundation support 
to small businesses with strong research capabilities in science and 
technology. Phone, 703-306-1330. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization oversees agency compliance with the provisions of 
the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 631, 661, 683). Phone, 703-306-1330.

For further information, contact the National Science Foundation 
Information Center, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Second Floor, Arlington, VA 
22230. Phone, 703-306-1234. TDD, 703-306-0900. E-mail, [email protected]. 
Internet, www.nsf.gov.

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