APPENDIX 5:  RESOURCE UTILIZATION

The resources at NSF's disposal include: (1) a staff of approximately 1,200 government employees, an additional 126 scientists and engineers on various types of visiting appointments, and 192 contractors that support the agency’s work; (2) outstanding information management systems that help the agency process approximately 30,000 competitive proposals, 10,000 new awards and 10,000 continuing awards per year; and (3) members of the science and engineering community who donate tens of thousands of hours each year to the review of proposals for research and education.

NSF recognizes the need to secure a workforce that is skilled, flexible, and performance-oriented with a customer focus. It will increase its use of workforce planning and other strategies that align human resources with the fulfillment of its mission and goals.

Proposals and awards are managed through eight programmatic organizations -- the seven directorates and the Office of Polar Programs -- and a ninth organization that focuses on multidisciplinary programs, the Office of Integrative Activities.

• The Biological Sciences (BIO) directorate supports research ranging from the study of the structure and dynamics of biological molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, through cells, organs, and organisms, to studies of populations and ecosystems. (FY 2001 Request: $511.14 million)

• The Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate supports research on the theory and foundations of computing, system software and computer system design, and human-computer interactions, as well as prototyping, testing and development of cutting-edge computing and communications systems. (FY 2001 Request: $529.10 million)

• The Engineering (ENG) directorate supports research in bioengineering and environmental systems; chemical and transport systems; civil and mechanical systems; electrical and communications systems; design, manufacture, and industrial innovation; and engineering education activities. (FY 2001 Request: $456.50 million)

• The Geosciences (GEO) directorate supports research in the atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences. (FY 2001 Request: $583.0 million)

• The Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) directorate supports research in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and materials science. (FY 2001 Request: $881.16 million)

• The Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate supports research on human characteristics and behavior, including research on economic systems; supports the NSF’s international activities; and provides informational tools for tracking the resources that make up the nation’s science and engineering infrastructure. (FY 2001 Request: $175.14 million)

• The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) supports multidisciplinary research in Arctic and Antarctic regions. (FY 2001 Request: $285.41 million)

• The Education and Human Resources directorate (EHR) supports education and training activities at every level, informal education, research on teaching and learning, human resource development, and development of research capabilities. EHR is the focal point for NSF efforts to promote diversity. (FY 2001 Request: $729.01 million)

• The Integrative Activities (IA) budget activity funds selected Foundation-wide activities such as the Opportunity Fund and the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. (FY 2001 Request: $119.23 million)

Approximately 95% of NSF’s budget goes directly to investments in NSF’s three outcome goals. A fourth function, administration and management, provides operating support for the immediate activities of the agency. The FY 2001 Request leads to the following distribution of NSF budget resources across the three strategic goal and the Administration and Management (A&M) account, with a total Request of $4.572 billion. Dollar estimates are made at a programmatic level based on the principal objectives of the activity.

Crosswalk of Resources with Strategic Goals: FY 2001
(Estimated Millions of Dollars)

Working closely with the National Science Board, NSF advisory committees, and other groups, NSF will periodically re-examine the distribution of resources across these goals