---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 3918"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "3918"
heading: "Approval of proposals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/3918"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Education for Economic Security"
  - "Subchapter I — National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Education"
---

# §3918. Approval of proposals


The [Foundation](/usc/20/3902.md?p=5) shall adopt approval procedures designed to assure that awards are made on the basis of the scientific and educational merit as determined by the peer review process. To the maximum extent possible, the [Foundation](/usc/20/3902.md?p=5) shall assure that there is an equitable distribution of resources with respect to institutions and geographical areas.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–377, title I, § 108, as added Pub. L. 99–159, title II, § 201, Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 896.)