The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense."
Notifications
06/22/2021 ANNOUNCEMENT
We are pleased to announce that a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 22-1) has been issued.
The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted or due on or after October 4, 2021. Significant changes include:
- A new section covering requests for reasonable and accessibility accommodations regarding the proposal process or requests for accessibility accommodations to access NSF's electronic systems, websites and other digital content;
- A table entitled, NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support . This table identifies where pre- and post-award current and pending support disclosure information must be provided. Proposers and awardees may begin using this table immediately;
- Increasing the page limit for the biographical sketch from two to three pages;
- Updates to the current and pending support section of NSF proposals to require that information on objectives and overlap with other projects is provided to help NSF and reviewers assess overlap/duplication;
- Adding planning proposals and Career-Life Balance supplemental funding requests as new proposal types;
- Updates to travel proposals will require that AORs certify that prior to the proposer's participation in the meeting for which NSF travel support is being requested, the proposer will assure that the meeting organizer has a written policy or code-of-conduct addressing harassment.
You are encouraged to review the by-chapter summary of changes provided in the Introduction section of the PAPPG.
NSF plans to conduct a webinar covering these changes. Visit the NSF policy outreach website to sign up for notifications about this and other outreach events.
While this version of the PAPPG becomes effective on October 4, 2021, in the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 20-1) continue to apply.
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the DIAS/Policy Office at policy@nsf.gov.
06/16/2021 ANNOUNCEMENT
In an effort to provide the community with helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosure information in the biographical sketch and current and pending support proposal sections, NSF has developed a disclosure table entitled, NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support, to identify where these disclosures must be provided in proposals as well as in project reports. Proposers and awardees may begin using this resource immediately to assist with completing the relevant proposal and project report sections. As a reminder, current and pending support information is used to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out the research as proposed, as well as to help assess any potential overlap/duplication with the project being proposed.
A revised Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) will be released next week with an effective date of October 4, 2021, and the disclosures table will be included in this revised version. As noted above, however, proposers and awardees may begin using this table immediately.
E-systems
FASTLANE
FastLane is an interactive real-time system used to conduct NSF business with researchers and potential researchers, reviewers, and research administrators and their organizations. In collaboration with NSF, more than 400,000 people use FastLane each year.
RESEARCH.GOV
Research.gov provides grants management for the research community. Research.gov will eventually become a full replacement for FastLane, providing quick access to research information and grants management services, all in one location.
- Research.gov Overview
- NSF still has no announced plans for administrators to initiate applications
- Instructions within research.gov override the PAPPG
- Once the application is initiated, the following items on Cover Sheet cannot be changed (a new application must be initiated):
- Funding Opportunity
- Directorate/Division/Program
- Proposal Type (Research, RAPID, etc.)
- Submission Type (Full Proposal, Renewal, LOI, Preliminary, etc.)
- Proposal Details (not collaborative, collaborative from one organization, collaborative from multiple organizations)
- NOTE: There is a workaround to change PI by adding a Co-PI and then removing the original PI.
- Separately-Submitted Collaborative Proposal:
- When the non-lead institution submits before the lead institution, a permanent proposal number is not assigned until the lead submits its proposal. Until that time, the application can still be edited.
- When a non-lead application is linked to the lead application, the applicable items on the Cover Sheet are replaced (Funding Opportunity, Title, etc.)
Sponsor Specific Guidance
PAPPG
The Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) contains policies and guidance relating to the Foundation's proposal and award process for the assistance programs of NSF. The PAPPG, in conjunction with NSF's Grant General Conditions, serves as the Foundation's implementation of 2 CFR § 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
- Proposals Submitted or Due Before October 4, 2021: PAPPG (NSF 20-1)
- Proposals Submitted or Due On or After October 4, 2021: PAPPG (NSF 22-1)
NSF Proposal Submission Templates for Senior Personnel
Biographical Sketch (Biosketch) |
Collaborators and Other Affiliations Infomation (COA) |
Current and Pending Support (C&P) |