FrontMatter -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- Introduction -- Description of National Science Foundation's Current Process -- Concerns About the National Science Foundation's Current Priority-Setting Process -- Recommendations -- Implementing the Recommendations -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Appendixes -- Appendix A Committee and Professional Staff Biographical Information -- Appendix B Charge to the Committee and Origins of the Study -- Appendix C Histories of Projects Funded by National Science Foundation Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction Account -- Appendix D Approval Processes in Other Agencies and Other Countries -- Appendix E Examples of Criteria Used to Prioritize or Select Research Projects -- Appendix F NSF Background Materials -- Appendix G Executive Summary of COSEPUP Report.