Systems and methods for formatting frames in neighborhood aware networks are described herein. One aspect of the subject matter described in the disclosure provides a method of communicating in a wireless neighborhood aware network (NAN). The method includes determining at least one connection setup information element indicating one or more connection parameters of the NAN. The method further includes determining at least one service identifier of the NAN. The method further includes generating a public action discovery frame comprising the at least one connection setup information element and the at least one service identifier. The method further includes transmitting, at a wireless device, the public action discovery frame.