Security and Preparedness

The Security and Preparedness (SAP) Program is a funding initiative administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) and the Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES). NSF is an independent federal agency of the United States government, tasked with supporting fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. The SAP program continues this mission by funding theoretically motivated and methodologically rigorous research that enhances the scholarly understanding of security-related topics, both at the global and national levels. The SAP program supports basic scientific research that addresses broad issues of global and national security. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, conflict and dispute resolution, international and comparative political economy, domestic political instability, and the processes that underlie conflict. The program also emphasizes research that examines the security implications of natural hazards and environmental stressors. Proposals are required to demonstrate strong intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. They should be conceptually precise and grounded in empirical inquiry. The SAP program is explicitly designed for basic research and does not fund applied research projects. In addition to research funding, the SAP program supports a range of ancillary activities that contribute to the development of the research community. These include undergraduate research experiences and infrastructure-building initiatives, such as the development of innovative research methodologies. Researchers are encouraged to explore related funding programs within NSF, including the Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB), Law and Science (LS), and Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS) programs. Proposals must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide, respectively. Applicants must adhere strictly to the proposal preparation guidelines set forth in these documents, regardless of the submission deadline. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification, even if a proposal is submitted before the final deadline. There is no fixed submission deadline for this program; full proposals are accepted at any time. As such, the opportunity is considered open and rolling, allowing applicants to submit when they are ready. However, all applications are subject to the terms and conditions updated as of October 1, 2024, in alignment with revised federal financial assistance regulations. These updated terms ensure consistency with the OMB guidance published in April 2024. For further information or assistance, applicants may contact one of the program directors: James I. Walsh at jwalsh@nsf.gov or (703) 292-4689, or Lee D. Walker at lwalker@nsf.gov or (703) 292-7174. Additional resources, including maps of past awards and program-specific updates, can be found on the NSF’s website. The program was originally published on August 29, 2019, and remains actively accepting applications under the funding code PD 19-118Y.