External evaluator for NSF ATE and S-STEM proposals
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The National Science Foundation’s technical-education program will not fund a project that has not budgeted for an independent evaluator, and its scholarship program asks for an external evaluation plan. If you lead a community college project, we can be the evaluator you name.
Does an NSF ATE proposal require an external evaluator?
Yes. The ATE solicitation (NSF 24-584) says funds to support an evaluator independent of the project must be requested, and S-STEM (NSF 25-514) asks for a rigorous external evaluation plan carried out by an evaluator external to the project. ATE evaluations generally run 4 to 10 percent of direct costs. Plotline Evaluation can be the evaluator you name.
What the solicitations say
- Advanced Technological Education (ATE), NSF 24-584: “funds to support an evaluator independent of the project must be requested” (solicitation). The evaluator may work at your institution only if they sit in a separate unit with a different reporting line.
- The ATE evaluation plan is a named subsection of the project description. It must line up with the project’s goals, name the data sources, instruments and methods, and give a timeline for data collection and reporting (EvaluATE checklist).
- At proposal stage the evaluator supplies the evaluation plan, a biosketch and a letter of collaboration, and is named in the proposal (EvaluATE checklist).
- Budget: “ATE evaluations are generally between 4 and 10% of a project’s direct costs” (EvaluATE).
- ATE award sizes: up to $475,000 for small projects, including institutions new to ATE; up to $1,000,000 for projects; $1.2 to $3 million for consortia; up to $7.5 million for centers.
- S-STEM, NSF 25-514, asks for “a rigorous, clear and specific external evaluation plan”, carried out by an evaluator external to the project (solicitation).
Facts on this page were checked against the official sources on October 31, 2026. Rules change; rely on the official announcement or regulation linked here, not on this summary.
Where we fit
An ATE evaluator’s job, in the solicitation’s words, is to analyze the data and inform the project team’s decisions. That is formative, hands-on work.
- The evaluation plan and logic model for your proposal, with the biosketch and letter of collaboration
- Student, faculty and employer surveys, developed with your project team as the solicitation expects
- Focus groups and interviews with students, faculty and industry partners
- Quantitative analysis of enrollment, completion and placement data, on top of sound data management
- Expert data visualization for your annual reports and advisory board
- Final reporting in multiple formats: full report, executive summary, slide deck, one-page brief or dashboard
Mixed methods is our default design: qualitative and quantitative data, collected together and reported as one story.
Timing
The next ATE deadline is October 7, 2027. ATE proposals are due on the first Thursday of October each year (program page). S-STEM proposals are due on the first Tuesday of March; the next date listed is March 2, 2027. Evaluators are best brought in while the project is still being designed. Our free evaluation plan covers both programs.
Several other NSF education programs that used to expect an external evaluator had no open solicitation when we checked, after the 2025 cuts and reorganization. Always confirm on nsf.gov that a solicitation is live before you plan around it.
Questions people ask
How much of an ATE budget goes to evaluation?
EvaluATE, the ATE evaluation resource center, says ATE evaluations are generally between 4 and 10 percent of a project’s direct costs.
When are ATE and S-STEM proposals due?
The next ATE deadline is October 7, 2027, and ATE proposals are due on the first Thursday of October each year. S-STEM proposals are due on the first Tuesday of March; the next listed date is March 2, 2027. Confirm on nsf.gov before planning around either.
What does the evaluator provide at proposal stage?
The evaluation plan, as a named subsection of the project description, plus a biosketch and a letter of collaboration. The evaluator is named in the proposal.
Writing an ATE or S-STEM proposal?
Tell us the program, the track and your deadline. You will hear back within one business day.
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