>> Important News for NSF Grantseekers >> >> Sometime in the second half of the year 2000 the National Science >> Foundation will begin to REQUIRE (with some minor exceptions) that ALL >> proposals prepared for NSF consideration MUST be submitted via FastLane, >> NSF's Web-based document handling system. All researchers and others >> planning to submit proposals to NSF's Societal Dimensions of Engineering, >> Science & Technology Program (SDEST) and its Science & Technology Studies >> Program (STS) should take steps to comply with this requirement by making >> contact with their institution's Sponsored Programs Offices well in >> advance of these programs' Summer 2000 target date of 8/1/2000. >> >> After much negotiation, it appears that SDEST and STS will be >> granted the authority to issue waivers of this requirement for proposals >> submitted by independent scholars. Such potential applicants should keep >> in close touch with these programs as the target date approaches to >> determine precise mechanisms for the granting of such waivers. But once >> this requirement goes into effect, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that such waivers >> could be granted to researchers affiliated with just-about ANY U.S. >> institution. >> >> For further information about FastLane and this requirement, please >> consult the FastLane Website, <www.fastlane.nsf.gov>; or Gail Williams of >> NSF's Division of Information Services ([log in to unmask]); or Philip >> Johnson, SBE Computer Specialist ([log in to unmask]). For information >> about the programs themselves, please contact the SDEST Program Director >> (Rachelle Hollander; [log in to unmask]), or the STS Program Director >> (through July 2000, Michael Sokal; [log in to unmask]).