Decision, Risk and Management Sciences

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency of the United States government, administers the Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (DRMS) Program. NSF funds research across scientific and engineering disciplines, and through this program it supports projects that advance understanding of decision making at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. DRMS research is expected to draw from theories and methodologies in the social and behavioral sciences, addressing both fundamental scientific questions and issues of broad societal relevance. The DRMS Program funds several categories of projects. These include disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research improvement grants (DDRIGs), and conferences. Core research areas supported by DRMS encompass judgment and decision making, decision analysis and aids, risk analysis, perception and communication, societal and public policy decision making, and management science and organizational design. Proposals must be theory-driven and yield results that are generalizable. Research that is purely algorithmic in nature should instead be submitted to NSF’s Operations Engineering program. DRMS also supports certain special funding mechanisms. The program accepts proposals under the RAPID mechanism for research involving ephemeral data collection, such as during disasters or unanticipated events. In rare cases, the program also funds Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), which support high-risk but potentially transformative proof-of-concept projects. DDRIGs are offered to enhance the quality of dissertation research by doctoral students, and they follow separate solicitation guidelines specific to DRMS. Eligibility for DRMS is consistent with NSF’s standard requirements as outlined in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Proposals may be submitted by academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and certain other eligible entities. Doctoral students seeking dissertation improvement grants must apply through their accredited institution. All proposals must be submitted electronically either through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must conform to the guidelines in the NSF PAPPG or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide, as applicable. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that submissions meet these requirements. Proposals are evaluated through NSF’s merit review process. Reviewers assess proposals based on intellectual merit, meaning the potential to advance knowledge, and broader impacts, meaning the potential to benefit society and contribute to desired societal outcomes. The program encourages work that contributes to fundamental knowledge while also addressing decision making challenges in applied contexts. Applicants are advised to consult the PAPPG for specific requirements and review criteria. The program has two annual target dates for submissions. For the 2026 cycle, full proposals are due January 20, 2026, with an ongoing annual deadline of January 18 in subsequent years. A second annual deadline falls on August 18, with the next occurring on August 18, 2026, and annually thereafter. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis but through these recurring cycles. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers indicated in this program description. The DRMS Program is administered by NSF’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES). The primary program contacts are Robert E. O’Connor, Program Director, who can be reached at roconnor@nsf.gov or (703) 292-7263, and Claudia Gonzalez-Vallejo, Program Director, at clagonza@nsf.gov or (703) 292-4710. NSF headquarters are located at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Updates to policies, deadlines, and program details are posted on the NSF website, and applicants are encouraged to review these prior to submission.