General Programmatic Terms and Conditions (PTC) for the Chemical…

General Programmatic Terms and Conditions (PTC) for the Chemical Bonding
Centers (CBC), (NSF 07-575) Cooperative Agreements


1.    Key Personnel: Except for the Principal Investigator(s) (PIs) or Co-PIs identified
      in this award, requests to make any changes to personnel, organizations, and/or
      partnerships specifically named in the proposal, that have been approved as part
      of this award, shall be submitted in writing to the cognizant NSF Program Official
      for approval prior to any changes taking effect. Requests for prior approval of
      changes to the PI(s) must be submitted through FastLane for review by the
      cognizant NSF Program Official and approval by an NSF Grants Officer.

2.    Program Description: Chemical Bonding Centers (CBCs) bring together
      researchers with diverse expertise to support high risk, transformative science, to
      energize the chemistry research community to tackle grand challenges and to
      creatively engage the public in the scientific enterprise. CBCs operate in
      partnership with industry, government laboratories, and/or partners from other
      sectors to address complex, interdisciplinary challenges in the chemical
      sciences, and to integrate research with education both internally and through a
      variety of partnership activities. The CBC Program supports projects that are too
      complex and multi-faceted for individuals or small groups of researchers to tackle
      on their own.

3.    Project Governance: The Awardee will ensure that an efficient and effective
      project governing structure is in place throughout the award period to support all
      critical or significant project activities. The responsibilities of governing
      components will be as follows:

      A.     The CBC Director, as the Principal Investigator of the award, is the
             primary contact for the NSF Program Official. The Director is the chief
             executive officer for the Center and is responsible for all technical and
             non-technical aspects of Center management and project reporting
             requirements throughout the award period. The Director or his/her
             designee, as appropriate, chairs the CBC Management Team, and the
             Director ensures that decisions by that Team are properly executed. The
             Director, with the assistance of the Management Team, is the primary
             liaison to the External Advisory Committee.

      B.     The CBC Management Team advises the CBC Director on all aspects of
             Center management. The Management Team's membership generally
             consists of, but is not limited to, the Director, or his/her designee, as
General Programmatic Terms and Conditions for NSF 07-575
Cooperative Agreements                                                            1 of 3
             appropriate, as chair of the Management Team, the various leaders of the
             Center's major thrusts or interdisciplinary research groups, and other
             individuals concerned with education, outreach and diversity. It may also
             include individuals not directly involved with the Center.

      C.     An External Advisory Committee (EAC) serves in an advising capacity to
             the CBC Director and the Management Team. The Director, in
             consultation with the CBC Management Team, determines the
             membership of the EAC. The EAC generally meets annually at a time and
             place to be determined in consultation with the Director and the
             Management Team. NSF program staff will participate in the annual EAC
             meetings.

4.    Reporting Requirements: The Awardee will provide ad hoc and regular reports
      as designated by the cognizant NSF Program Official with content, format, and
      submission time line established by the cognizant NSF Program Official. The
      Awardee will submit all required reports via FastLane using the appropriate
      reporting category; for any type of report not specifically mentioned in FastLane,
      the Awardee will use the "Interim Reporting" function to submit reports.

      A.     CBCs will maintain and execute a diversity strategic plan with goals and
             intended actions to increase the diversity of the center's leadership,
             faculty, undergraduate, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates.
             The CBC will include the diversity strategic plan in its annual report and
             will discuss in that annual report the execution of the previous year's
             diversity strategic plan, the outcomes and impacts achieved (statistical
             and other information), and it will update the diversity strategic plan for the
             coming year. The updated strategic plan should highlight key deficiencies
             identified in the previous year's plan and new strategies to rectify them.

      B.     The awardee will submit research highlights to NSF at the request of the
             NSF Program Official. NSF may request the Awardee to maintain a
             uniform database of quantitative indicators of activity and progress.
             Details of the database will be determined by NSF and provided to the
             Center after coordination with the Center Director.

5.    Awardee Support of Ongoing Management and Oversight: The Awardee will
      ensure full commitment and cooperation among the governing structure
      components, and all project staff during all ongoing NSF project management
      and oversight activities. The Awardee will ensure availability of all key
      institutional partners during any desk or onsite review as well as timely access to
      all project documentation.

      In addition to the annual prioritization and budgeting process, it may be
      necessary to redirect resources more frequently (quarterly or monthly). It may
      also be necessary to bring new investigators/new institutions into the Center,

General Programmatic Terms and Conditions for NSF 07-575
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      establish new subawards and rebudget existing subawards. This is permitted
      and encouraged. NSF approval will be required for new subawards. Changes in
      subaward amounts and/or to research directions of ongoing projects will be
      reported to NSF program officials in a timely manner.

6.    Additional Terms and Conditions: The Center will create a World Wide Web
      page describing the essential features of the Center as well as progress
      highlights of the Center's technical and educational program in accordance with
      CBC guidance.




General Programmatic Terms and Conditions for NSF 07-575
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