NSF requires full disclosure of current and pending support, which includes domestic support and any foreign support or engagement.
As posted on June 22, 2021, the following guidelines in Chapter II.C.2.h of the NSF Proposal & Awards Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 22-1 apply:
Current and Pending Support
What to Disclose
Current and pending support information must be separately provided for each individual designated as senior personnel on the proposal. Current and pending support includes all resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to all of his/her research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value. Current and pending support also includes in-kind contributions (such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students. In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed also must be reported.
Current and pending support information must be provided for this project, for ongoing projects, and for any proposals currently under consideration from whatever source, irrespective of whether such support is provided through the proposing organization or is provided directly to the individual.
The total award amount for the entire award period covered (including indirect costs) must be provided, as well as the number of person-months (or partial person-months) per year to be devoted to the project by the individual.
Concurrent submission of a proposal to other organizations will not prejudice its review by NSF, if disclosed. If the project (or any part of the project) now being submitted has been funded previously by a source other than NSF, information must be provided regarding the last period of funding.
Please consult this list of Frequently Asked Questions provided by NSF for additional guidance on the disclosure of current and pending support.
NSF-Approved Formats for Current and Pending Support
As of October 5, 2020, the following NSF-approved formats must be used to provide current and pending support information:
- SciENcv - NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as an NSF-approved format for use in preparation of both the biographical sketch and current and pending support sections of NSF proposals. SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of these documents, which proposers can save and submit as part of their proposals via FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov. Additional information about the NSF-approved SciENcv formats is available on the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites, and in the FAQs on using SciENcv.
- NSF Fillable PDF - NSF is providing a fillable PDF as an NSF-approved format for preparation of both the biographical sketch and current and pending support sections of proposals. Proposers can download and complete the biographical sketch and current and pending support forms and then upload them as part of their proposal via FastLane, Research.gov or Grants.gov. Additional information and links to the forms are available on the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites, and in the FAQs on NSF Fillable PDF Documents.
Please see the NSF announcement Enforcement of NSF Approved Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats for additional details. A webinar on the NSF website also provides additional information on these formats.
In June 2021, NSF issued 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. An updated version was issued on January 10, 2022.
Please contact your representative at the UCLA Office of Contract and Grant Administration (OCGA) if you have any questions.
When to Disclose
Current and pending support must be disclosed to NSF when grant applications and annual and final progress reports are submitted. If that information hasn’t been incorporated into applications or progress reports and should have been, the PI should contact OCGA as soon as possible so that revised information can be submitted to NSF.
A revision of the NSF Agency Specific Requirements which became effective on October 5, 2020 will require that this information be submitted to NSF by the university’s Authorized Organizational Representative within 30 calendar days of the identification of the undisclosed support or contribution.
On September 28, 2020 NSF announced the implementation of additional requirements for the Revised Research Performance Report (RPRR), including a new question on current and pending support to be answered by PIs when submitting their annual and final reports.
International Activities
What to Disclose
NSF defines an international activity as research, training, and/or education carried out in cooperation with foreign counterparts either overseas or in the U.S. using virtual technologies. For each proposal that describes an international activity, PIs should list the primary countries involved on the proposal cover sheet (a maximum of five countries may be listed). Proposers also should enter the country/countries with which project participants will engage and/or travel to attend international conferences. See Item 8 of NSF 20-1, Chapter II.D.
If payment to a foreign organization is being proposed, including through use of a subaward or consultant arrangement, the proposer also must enter the name of the applicable country(ies) in the International Activities Country Name(s) box described above. See Item 6 of NSF 20-1, Chapter I.E.
Other Information on Recent Policy Changes at NSF
NSF held a webinar on February 6, 2020, during which they provided clarification of some of the new requirements for reporting current and pending support as well as other changes in the new PAPPG (NSF 20-1).