Reporting
SMART FIRES is required to submit detailed annual reports to the National Science Foundation (NSF) 90 days prior (April 30th) to the end of each project year (July 31st). This reporting cycle serves as the official mechanism for the NSF Program Officer to evaluate our collaborative research milestones, workforce development milestones, and broader impacts before authorizing the release of our next year of funding. Below, you will find our internal deadlines, instructions for our data entry portal—the EPSCoR Data Outcomes Collection System (EDOCS)—and details regarding the project’s external evaluation and mandatory NSF Reverse Site Visits.
Timeline
* EDOCS
EDOCS is NSF EPSCoR’s required reporting system for participant demographic information and project data including publications, grant proposals, external engagmements, and collaborations. As a member of the SMART FIRES Team, an account will be created for you in EDOCS, and you will be asked to regularly update and add information to EDOCS at this link https://edocs.epscor.nsf.gov.
† NSF EPSCoR Reverse Site Visit (RSV)
The RSV is a formal progress review conducted during Years 2 and 4 of the award period. It allows project leadership to present accomplishments, milestones, management activities, and broader impacts to NSF staff and an external review panel. The review evaluates progress against the project’s strategic plan and award objectives, identifies strengths and areas for improvement, and helps inform continued funding decisions and project guidance.
The visit typically includes the project leadership team and key stakeholders involved in implementing the award. This often includes:
- The Project Director/Principal Investigator (PI)
- Co-PIs and leadership team members
- Research thrust leaders and workforce development leads
- Evaluation and assessment personnel‡
- Representatives from participating universities and partner institutions
- Members of the jurisdiction’s EPSCoR governing or steering committee
- Sponsored programs or research administration staff
- In some cases, external advisory board members and state partners
NSF generally limits the formal presentation team to a small number of speakers, but additional project personnel may attend and participate in question-and-answer sessions. The RSV is designed to give NSF reviewers a broad view of the jurisdiction’s research, management, collaboration, education, workforce development, and sustainability efforts.
‡ External Evaluation
For external evaluation Montana NSF EPSCoR is working with Drs. Julia Melkers and Eric Welch from Arizona State University.