The public's perception of science and technology and of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is addressed and discussed in this report in terms of the social contract that exists between the scientific community and the public. A social contract is defined as the set of mutual expectations and obligations of the public, government, and science. The origins and evolution of this social contract of science and the present strains on it are examined. The discipline-driven model and the goal-driven model of the social contract are analyzed and a new pluralistic model is offered. The pluralistic model is favored because it allows scientists to determine what is good science and the public to determine for what science is good. Recommendations are presented for the implementation of the pluralistic model and suggestions are offered on how the National Science Foundation can function in this matter. The roles that the National Science Foundation performs under the pluralistic model are also specified. (ML)