100 



Request. Current plans in FY 1997 are for continued funding of the Laser Inter- 

 ferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory ($70 million) and initiation of the South 

 Pole Safety Project ($25 million). 



NSF has scrutinized its major research facilities very carefully during the past 

 year. We have put in place a process, involving NSF senior management and the 

 National Science Board, for dealing both with existing research facilities and with 

 requests for development of new or refurbished facilities. As noted in the FY 1997 

 Budget Request, we expect to keep research facilities at approximately 20-25 per- 

 cent of the total NSF program budget. This will be done to maintain an appropriate 

 balance across NSF's key program functions and to enable the construction of new 

 world-class facilities that will advance human knowledge further. 



NSF's procedures for developing and approving major facilities projects involve 

 substantial planning efforts prior to the initiation of construction, including exten- 

 sive discussion within the science and engineering community, external studies and 

 reports, and internal NSF review and study. Following these efforts, NSF requires 

 that a detailed project development plan be drafted to provide information on the 

 project costs and schedule, as well as on project management and operations. The 

 project development plan must be reviewed and publicly approved by the National 

 Science Board in order for further work on the project to proceed. NSB approval is 

 required prior to a project's inclusion in NSF's budget request to OMB and subse- 

 quently to the Congress. It is important to note, however, that not all planning ef- 

 forts or projects which receive approval from the NSB are included in the Founda- 

 tion's budget or actually proceed to the construction phase. 



In examining candidates for construction within the MRE account, NSF takes into 

 consideration items such as the potential impact on the relevant scientific commu- 

 nities; appropriateness of the scientific plans; balance in the Foundation's portfolio 

 of research facilities; appropriateness of the construction plans, including detailed 

 cost estimates and construction schedule; plan for operating the facility in the future 

 from within existing funds, including phase-out of existing facilities as necessary 

 and impact on other activities in the relevant directorate(s); and potential for cost 

 sharing, particularly international cost sharing. 



Educational Impact: In attempting to address the educational impact of each indi- 

 vidual grant as a way of improving undergraduate education, NSF has undertaken 

 a broader examination of the current issues in undergraduate pedagogy and how to 

 provide incentives to researchers and institutions to improve the quality of under- 

 graduate teaching. In FY 1997, NSF will expand its initiative for Institution-Wide 

 Reform of Undergraduate Education in Science and Engineering and will establish 

 a new Recognition Awards for the Integration of Research and Education activity. 

 The Undergraduate Reform initiative focuses on prior accomplishments by under- 

 graduate institutions with the goal of promoting activities that spread the reform 

 effort institutionwide. The goal of the recognition awards will be to identify and rec- 

 ognize research intensive universities that have shown bold leadership, innovation, 

 and tangible accomplishments in linking research and education. The awards will 

 focus on institutions where NSF has made the largest investments and therefore 

 where NSF has the greatest potential influence in correcting any imbalances be- 

 tween research and education. 



RESPONSES TO H.R. 2405 



QUESTION: What is NSF doing in regards to four other provisions in the 

 House passed bill: the financial disclosure requirement of temporary NSF 

 employees under the Ethics and Government Act; universities to support 

 educational leave of reservists recalled to active duty; incorporation of Im- 

 portant Notice Number 91 in Grant General Conditions; and prohibition of 

 lobbying activities. 



ANSWER: The "Omnibus Civilian Science Authorization Act of 1995" (H.R. 2405) 

 as passed by the House of Representatives contains the following provisions: 

 SEC. 126. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION AND FACILITIES. 

 The Foundation shall incorporate the guidelines set forth in Important Notice No. 

 91, dated March 11, 1983 (48 Fed. Reg. 15754, April 12, 1983), relating to the use 

 and operation of Foundation-supported research instrumentation and facilities, in 

 its notice of Grant General Conditions, and shall examine more closely the adher- 

 ence of grantee organizations to such guidelines. 

 SEC. 127. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. 



Persons temporarily employed by or at the Foundation shall be subject to the same 

 financial disclosure requirements and related sanctions under the Ethics in Govern- 



