FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Law 97-89, NSA/CSS Directive 60-11.

The National Security Agency (NSA) is involved with the development of secure computing systems. This grant program is designed to assist in the area of unclassified Information Security research. This research should provide significant advances in our nation's ability to design, build, and maintain computer systems that perform with a high degree of integrity, confidentiality, and service assurance. Additionally, this grant program is aimed at developing computer science graduates who are knowledgeable in the area of Information Security from which NSA can recruit.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Investigators must be an employee of a U.S. college or university, the principal investigator and supported graduate students must be (at least) a permanent resident of the U.S., graduate students must at least have started to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   This will benefit researchers in the information security field of computer science that are at least permanent residents as well as their students that are permanent residents of the U.S. and intending to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Credentials/Documentation:   None.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   A brochure is available from NSA giving the form of the proposal. A proposal may be sent directly to NSA by a college or university before the yearly deadline. NSA has the authority for the final approval and passes the funds to a college or university. The college or university distributes the funds to the principal investigator, students, postdoctoral students, etc.

Award Procedure:   The agency grant and contracting officer coordinates with the performing organization for the effective administration of the grant.

Deadlines:   December 15 is the deadline for submission of proposals with certain exceptions, such as conference applications for which there is no deadline.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Generally within 6 months, but may be made at any time throughout the year for which funding is authorized.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Only no-cost extensions allowed when work is not completed. Funds will remain.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Since this is a research and technology program the assistance is generally available for a 1 to 2-year period.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Interim and final reports are required. Additionally, copies of publications, conference presentations, dissertations, and theses published as a result of this research are required.

Audits:   Not applicable.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   97-0400-0-1-051.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,400,000; FY 02 est $1,000,000; and FY 03 est $2,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $50,000 to $100,000. Average: $80,000.

In calendar year 2001, there were 45 proposals received. (At the time of this writing, proposal reviews were in process and funding determinations not yet made.)

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

NSA provides a free brochure describing how to apply for a grant.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Program Director, INFOSEC University Research Program, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, ATTN: R23, 9840 O'Brien Road, Fort George Meade, MD 20755-6000. Telephone: (301) 688-0847. FAX: (301) 688-0255. E-mail urp@tycho.ncsc.mil.

Web Site Address:   http://www.darpa.mil/cmo

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Past funded research has been in the following areas: (1) Multilevel Secure Distributed Systems Security; (2) Multilevel Secure Network Systems; (3) Multilevel Secure Databases; (4) Formal Methods; (5) Computer Misuse and Anomaly Detection; (6) Object Oriented Technology; and (7) Secure Applications.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The evaluation of proposals is based on the following factors (listed in order of importance): (1) The relevance of the research to the INFOSEC Research and Technology Group and NSA; (2) the perceived quality and realism of the research; (3) qualifications of the principal investigator(s); (4) graduate student involvement and support; and (5) cost realism.