Appendix X: Comments from the National Science Foundation 



NSF Grant Conditions (Grant General Conditions (GC-1), July 2002, Article 27. 

 Nondiscrimination, and the Federal Demonstration Partnership Phase IV 

 Operating Procedures, Appendix B) require compliance with the provisions of 

 Title IX. Nonetheless, we will task our Policy Office in the Division of Grants and 

 Agreements to explore the viability of use of additional mechanisms for 

 communicating the requirements of Title IX compliance to NSF grantees, such as 

 through outreach and other fomial policy issuances. 



NSF continues to value and invest in broadening the participation of women, 

 minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering. The Science 

 and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-516) mandated 

 that NSF report statistics on underrepresented groups and initiate programs 

 fostering more proportionate participation. Our funding policies, review policies, 

 and programs continue to implement and embed this Important mandate. One of 

 the four long-term strategic goals in our 2003-2008 Strategic Plan is a diverse, 

 competitive, and globally-engaged U.S. worldorce of scientists, engineers, 

 technologists, and well-prepared citizens. 



Sincerely. 



kjiJKrAery L. Bement, Jr 

 ' Acting Director 



Page 48 GAO-04-639 Gender Issues 



