2008 Applied Mathematics Solicitation Multiscale Mathematics And Optimization For Complex Systems

This web page provides information about the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research 2008 Applied Mathematics Program solicitation for Multiscale Mathematics and Optimization for Complex Systems.

Link to the grant opportunity notice DE-PS02-08ER08-13.
Link to the laboratory announcement LAB 08-13.

The period for submitting Proposals ended Monday April 28, 2008.

This solicitation is not to be confused with the Office of Science Annual Notice for unsolicited proposals, DE-PS02-08ER08-01 for new grants or DE-PS02-08ER08-02 for renewals. For general information on DOE Office of Science funding opportunities, including information for preparing and submitting applications, see the Grants and Contracts Web Site.

For questions not answered below, contact Dr. Homer Walker, Applied Mathematics Program, Telephone: (301) 903-1465, Fax: (301) 903-7774, E-mail: walker@ascr.doe.gov.


PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDANCE AND FAQ

Federal Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the DOE National Laboratories, should respond to the laboratory program announcement LAB 08-13. Detailed instructions on how and what to submit are provided in the announcement; see the section entitled "OFFICE OF SCIENCE GUIDE FOR PREPARATION OF SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED BY NATIONAL LABORATORIES".

Other institutions, including universities and corporations, should respond to the grant opportunity notice DE-PS02-08ER08-13. General instructions on applying for grants can be found in the Office of Science Grant Application Guide. Detailed instructions on how and what to submit for this notice, as well as an application package, can be downloaded from http://apply.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=11694 on the Grants.gov site.

The following advisory is very important.

Content advisory. All proposals in both the Multiscale Mathematics and Optimization categories should address the potential for advances in mathematical methods or numerical algorithms appropriate for that category and not just the application of methods and algorithms to problems, no matter how challenging. Educational aspects, while always welcome, are neither required nor emphasized in this call.

FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Note: These will continually evolve as new questions are asked or new information becomes available. Please tune in occasionally for updates.

Q. I am involved in a collaboration involving universities and laboratories, and I am still confused. Please clarify further what we should submit and why things should be done this way?

A. Each institution in a collaboration should make a separate formal submission through its appropriate channels. However, only one PDF file of the complete proposal should be emailed to complexsystems@ascr.doe.gov, and that should be sent by the coordinating PI at the lead institution.

The separate formal submissions are necessary to give the proposals proper official standing. To help us keep things straight, we want all proposals in each collaboration to be identical in all parts (title, abstract/summary, technical proposal/narrative, references, etc.) except those parts that are unique to the each collaborating institution (cover page, budget pages, perhaps a few other things). We will probably consider these separate proposals only to make sure they are consistent with the PDF file of the complete proposal.

The PDF file of the complete proposal is what we will use for the review. It should contain all of the proposal information for all of the collaborating institutions, not only the parts in common but also all budget pages from the separate proposals, all bio sketches, etc.

Q. Will I receive an acknowledgement of the complete proposal PDF file that I email to complexsystems@ascr.doe.gov?

A. Not at the time you send it. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR PROPOSAL MORE THAN ONCE when you fail to receive an acknowledgement. We will send acknowledgements of each proposal received by email to the lead PI on Tuesday, May 6. If you are the lead PI and do not receive an acknowledgement on that date, please contact Homer Walker, 301-903-1465, walker@ascr.doe.gov.

Q. Does a full proposal have to conform in all details to the Letter of Intent (LOI)?

A. No. As long as the research thrust of the proposed project is the same, the proposal can differ in details from the LOI, even important ones such as the senior investigators, institutions, budget, etc.

Important: Please let us know if the lead PI, lead institution, or title of your proposal is not the same as in your LOI. We will use this information to keep track of proposals during the review process, and it is extremely important that it be accurate in our database.

Q. Are you serious about the 15-page limit for the project narrative? Even for collaborative proposals involving several institutions?

A. Yes to both questions. Note, however, that this limit applies only to the project narrative. Pages for the bibliography, bio sketches, current/pending support, etc. do not count toward the 15-page limit.

Q. What start date should I use on my proposal?

A. Use January 1, 2009. (This supersedes previous advice to use November 1, 2008.) This is based on a conservative estimate of how long it will take to make funding decisions and get awards in place. As always, actual start dates may differ if necessary or appropriate at the time awards are made. We maybe able to start projects earlier but can not count on that. In any event, DOE allows charging preaward costs up to 90 days in advance of the actual start date (at the awardee's risk, of course).

Q. I am a PI on a project funded under the 2005 Multiscale Mathematics solicitation, and I am seeking additional funding to continue this project. Should I submit my proposal as a new proposal or a renewal proposal? My current project is scheduled to terminate in August 2008. Should I still use the January 1, 2009 start date? Is there anything else I should do?

A. You should submit your proposal as a renewal proposal and use the January 1, 2009, start date.

Your proposal should include a section summarizing progress under your current Multiscale Mathematics funding. This section may be included as an appendix of no more than five pages and will not count toward the 15-page limit on the project narrative.

If applicable, you are advised to get a no-fund extension (NFE) to cover the gap between the termination date of your current project and January 1, 2009. With an NFE, your current project will remain active until the renewal funding is in place, and you can use any unspent funds in the interim. In addition, you will not have to provide a final report for your current project; the progress summary in your proposal will serve in its stead.

Please note: NFEs are easy to arrange, and there is no need to worry about them at this time. At least one month before your current project is scheduled to terminate, have your contracts/grants office send the program manager (preferably as an email attachment) a request on letterhead asking for a no-fund extension until January 1, 2009. As justification, say that this will be necessary to allow time for renewal funding to be put in place. Important: NFEs should be requested by all institutions in a collaborative project to which this applies, and not just by the lead institution.

Q. How will the proposals be reviewed?

A. The proposals will be reviewed in panel reviews in mid-to-late June. There will be three review panels, two for proposals in Multiscale Mathematics for Complex Systems and one for proposals in Optimization of Complex Systems.

Q. If I find a mistake in the proposal that I submitted, can I submit a corrected version?

A. If the corrections are minor (typos, wordsmithing, etc.), don' bother. If they are substantive (changes in the budget, etc.), first resubmit the proposal for each institution involved through its official channel, indicating that the resubmission is a revised proposal; then email a PDF file of the complete revised proposal to complexsystems@ascr.doe.gov. Please indicate CORRECTED VERSION in the subject. Important: Do not send a corrected PDF file unless you have successfully submitted the corrected proposal(s). The information in the PDF file, which we will use for the review, must match that in the submitted proposal(s) in every respect.