Security and Preparedness

The Security and Preparedness (SAP) Program is an initiative of the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically administered under the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) and the Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SBE/SES). The NSF, a leading federal agency in supporting scientific research across a wide range of disciplines, established SAP to promote foundational research addressing key aspects of global and national security. Through this program, NSF aims to deepen academic understanding of conflict processes, political stability, comparative political systems, and the socio-political implications of natural hazards and environmental stressors. SAP focuses exclusively on basic scientific research that is both empirically grounded and theoretically robust. Projects supported under this program must demonstrate high levels of intellectual merit and broader impacts, as defined in the NSF’s peer review criteria. The program places a premium on conceptual precision and methodological rigor, emphasizing theoretically driven inquiries rather than applied or practice-based projects. Importantly, the program explicitly excludes applied research proposals from consideration. This funding opportunity supports a wide range of topics that intersect with issues of security and preparedness, including international and comparative political economy, conflict resolution mechanisms, and the dynamics of domestic political instability. Additionally, the program supports infrastructure-related activities such as the development of innovative research methodologies and the incorporation of undergraduate student research experiences. These inclusions align with NSF's mission to advance the scientific workforce and improve research capabilities across institutions. Proposals submitted to the SAP Program must adhere strictly to the submission guidelines outlined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect at the time of submission. The program accepts full proposals through Research.gov and Grants.gov. Notably, FastLane is no longer an accepted submission portal for this program. As of now, there are no posted upcoming deadlines for the SAP program. It operates under program solicitation number PD 19-118Y, and future cycles are anticipated, although no specific future dates have been announced. Evaluations of submissions are based on NSF’s standard review criteria. These include the significance of the proposed research, its potential contributions to the field, and the extent to which the project will achieve broader societal impacts. The program also encourages applicants to review related funding programs such as the Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB), Law and Science (LS), and Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS) programs for complementary or related funding opportunities. Applicants may direct inquiries to the program directors: James I. Walsh ([email protected], 703-292-4689) or Lee D. Walker ([email protected], 703-292-7174). Both are affiliated with the SBE/SES. The program guidelines were last formally published on August 29, 2019. The program does not currently have a scheduled open date, but recurring cycles are expected based on historical activity, warranting regular review of the NSF website for updates.