Types of BPC Plans

There are three types of BPC Plans – Departmental BPC Plans, Standalone Project BPC Plans, and Connected Project BPC Plans. Below is a description of each type of BPC Plan. 

Departmental BPC Plans are a two page document that serves to coordinate BPC activities within a department (or college, school, or other similar unit) and provides context for the activities proposed by PIs in their Project BPC Plan. Your Departmental BPC Plan is a dynamic plan that can be updated over time as your department’s BPC activities change.

Project BPC Plans are submitted to the NSF and must follow the NSF’s current guidelines on formatting in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). A Connected Project BPC Plan may be used when each PI will engage in an activity listed in a Verified Departmental BPC Plan from their institution and allowed by the NSF solicitation. A Standalone Project BPC Plan does not include Departmental BPC Plans; instead, the BPC activities of all PIs are listed in a single 3-page document for the whole project.

  • Departmental BPC Plans

    • Two-page document that lists BPC activities of a department or academic unit.
    • Plans can be updated over time as a department or academic unit’s BPC activities change.
    • Plans are submitted to BPCnet.org for verification by BPCnet.

  • Project BPC Plans

    • Written by PIs submitting a proposal to NSF CISE for certain programs that require a BPC Plan.
    • Connected Plans list PI engagement with activities from a verified Departmental BPC Plan. Standalone Plans describe BPC activities and how PIs engage in them.
    • Connected Plans include a two-page verified Departmental Plan and supplemental material. Standalone Plans must be three pages shared by all participating institutions.

Resources to Create Effective BPC Plans

BPCnet.org and BPCnet Consultants have compiled a list of resources you can use to create your Departmental, Connected Project, and Standalone Project BPC Plans. The resources include plan checklists, plan templates, and samples of Project BPC plans. Resources can be found in their respective pages.

Departmental BPC Plans
Connected Project BPC Plans
Standalone Project BPC Plans

BPC Plan Consultancy

Verifying your Departmental BPC Plan is an important step to increasing broadening participation efforts. In order to have your plan verified, it must be reviewed by a BPCnet Consultant. Click on “Schedule a Consultation” to meet with a BPCnet Consultant and have your Departmental Plan reviewed. If you have already met with a consultant, click on “Submit Departmental BPC Plan” to have your plan verified.

BPC Consultants can also work with you if you are creating a Project BPC Plan to submit as part of an NSF proposal.

Schedule a Consultation
Submit Departmental BPC Plan