It would be interesting to find out if this guide also advocates voluntary committed cost-share (not allowed for most NSF opportunities) as a way to make an application more competitive. I saw this suggestion in a 2008 version of another grant-writing consultation business's 'insider tips' guide, and it caused several pointed discussions with personnel in one of the departments I support. I agree that NSF makes a lot of information readily and widely available, and this kind of guide can't be more effective than reading/understanding the agency requirements and developing relationships with NSF program officers.

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