At its meeting on November 13, 1997, the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation approved a Resolution Concerning Competition, Recompetition and Renewal of NSF Awards (NSB 97-224). In the Resolution, the Board:

· “(a)ffirms its strong support for the principle that expiring awards are to be recompeted unless it is judged to be in the best interest of U.S. science and engineering not to do so. This position is based on the conviction that peer-reviewed competition and recompetition is the process most likely to assure the best use of NSF funds for supporting research and education.

· And (r)equests that the Director, NSF, take such steps necessary to ensure that NSF practices embody this principle.”