Funding-Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD); September 16, 2010

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National Science Foundation

Directorate for Biological Sciences
     Division of Integrative Organismal Systems

 

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): 

September 16, 2010

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

November 16, 2010

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

Investigators requesting financial support for postdoctoral fellows should be aware that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) specifies that each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. This mentoring plan, if required, should be included in the Supplementary Documents (not part of the 15-page Project Description). Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPPG; Part I: Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter II for further information about this requirement).

This revised Solicitation contains important clarification regarding PI eligibility.  Please note the importance of including a detailed Oversight Plan in your proposal. Please review this information carefully prior to preparation and submission of a proposal.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title: 

Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development  (BREAD)
A program jointly supported by NSF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

Synopsis of Program:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are partnering to support a new research program to be administered by NSF. The objective of the BREAD Program is to support innovative basic scientific research designed to address key constraints to smallholder agriculture in the developing world. A significant distinction between BREAD and other NSF programs is that proposals to BREAD must make a clear and well-defined connection between the outcomes of the proposed basic research and its direct relevance and potential application to agriculture in the developing world. The BREAD Program takes the activities of the Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) to the next level by supporting a broader range of scientific research and by enabling funding to be allocated to international collaborators through subawards.

The Program's focus is on novel, transformative basic research at the proof-of-concept stage rather than its application or development. Especially encouraged are original proposals that address major constraints to the productivity of crops important to smallholder farmers, or on the development of novel and efficient production practices. Although the Program places an initial emphasis on crop improvement, it will also consider innovative basic research proposals from scientists in all fields of research and engineering as long as the proposed research is consistent with the Program objectives. Proposals are also expected to address project outcomes in the context of broader societal impacts, and as appropriate to the research proposed, engage international partners in scientific collaborations.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

·         Nora Lapitan, telephone: (703) 292-4400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (703) 292-4400      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, email: BREAD-WG@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:  Continuing Grant

Estimated Number of Awards:    10 to  20  

Anticipated Funding Amount:   $12,000,000  Up to $12 million is anticipated to be available for funding of this program in FY 2011, subject to availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit: 

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

·         Universities and colleges [universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.]; US non-profit research organizations, including museums, research laboratories, professional societies; or similar organizations in the US that are directly associated with educational or research activities; or consortia led by the eligible organizations listed here.

A proposal from a consortium of organizations must be submitted as a single proposal with one US organization serving as the lead and all other organizations as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted and will be returned without review.

Subawards may be made to US or non-US academic institutions, research organizations, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

PI Limit: 

The PI must hold a position at an eligible US institution.

Federal employees may not submit applications to the BREAD program unless the application is submitted via an appointment at an eligible US Institution.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 

None Specified

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

An investigator may serve as PI or Co-PI on only one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

·         Full Proposals:

o    Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.

o    Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide)

B. Budgetary Information

C. Due Dates

September 16, 2010

November 16, 2010