September 20, 2023
Dear Colleagues:
As the financial, regulatory, and administrative requirements of sponsored projects management become more complex, institutions will need ample post-award research administration capacity to be effective in supporting investigators engaged in externally sponsored research, innovation, and training activities. Increasing capacity and access to post-award research support and service infrastructure is critical to lessen administrative burden and maximize participation in research activities. Through the NSF GRANTED program description funding opportunity (PD 23-221Y), NSF invites proposals for innovative approaches and ambitious projects that address the gaps, challenges, and opportunities for growth in post-award regulatory, financial, and administrative research support. GRANTED-aligned project ideas may include but are not limited to the following:
- Innovation in post-award service provision including the organization of post-award support and service structures, functions, and governance;
- Development of pathways into the post-award administration workforce, including curriculum development, certification, and other means to attract talent into this essential part of the research enterprise;
- Development and testing of new roles/positions that span the boundary between pre-and post-award activities or that support post-award and project management activities;
- Development of programs/resources that increase efficiency and reduce the burden of post-award research administration management activities;
- Research on the post-award sector of the research enterprise.
In issuing this DCL, the GRANTED initiative encourages proposals focused on post-award research administration and management. The GRANTED program description funding opportunity, however, remains open to all ideas that are GRANTED aligned. Post-award administration and management projects should be aligned with one or more of the three primary themes of GRANTED. Proposals that focus on enhancing access to post-award research support infrastructure at emerging research and minority-serving institutions and/or that include partnerships with national and regional professional societies are strongly encouraged.
Proposers are encouraged to submit proposals focused on growing access to post-award research support and service infrastructure to NSF by January 9, 2024. Subsequent target dates will be listed on the GRANTED website: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/broadening-participation/granted. To ensure a geographically broad portfolio, institutions and organizations located in EPSCoR jurisdictions are particularly encouraged to apply.