Appendix B.1: Pre-invitation email from NSF

Appendix B.1: Pre-invitation email from NSF

Good afternoon,

I am writing to request your participation in a survey about your past experiences with the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) merit review process. The purpose of this survey is to understand applicant and reviewer satisfaction with and perceptions of various aspects of the review process, such as the burden associated with participating and the quality of proposals and/or reviews.

We want to assure you that your responses will be kept strictly confidential and participants are subject to safeguards as provided by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a). Your participation is completely voluntary and choosing not to participate will in no way adversely affect you. Additionally, survey responses will only be shared in the aggregate and specific findings cannot identify individual respondents.

Input from individuals, like you, is critical to the success of NSF improvement efforts. Your participation will help NSF ensure that the merit review process is fair, transparent, effective, and efficient for all applicants and reviewers.

NSF has contracted with RIVA Solutions, Inc. and Insight Policy Research (Insight) to conduct this survey. In the next few days, you will receive an email from Insight inviting you to participate in this survey. The survey should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

Thank you in advance for your important contribution to this research. NSF greatly values your feedback on the merit review process.

If you have questions regarding the survey, please contact the survey help desk at MeritReviewSurvey@insightpolicyresearch.com.

Sincerely,

C. Suzanne Iacono

Office Head

Office of Integrative Activities

National Science Foundation

OMB Control Number: XXXXX

Expiration Date: XXXXXX