NSF Pre & Post Award Resources

 

NSF maintains several resources for pre- and post-award administration. Below, please find the latest resources, notices, training opportunities, and standard templates to assist faculty, staff and the Division of Research in the submission and award management of sponsored projects.

 

Expand FAQ List

  • Important Changes to Biosketches and Current & Pending Support

     

    • Updated, NSF-approved biographical sketch and current & pending support forms (linked above) incorporate important revisions in the PAPPG. The updated forms must be used for proposals due on or after October 4, 2021.
    • Biographical sketches may now be 3 pages instead of 2 pages.
    • Current & pending support now requires information on objectives and overlap with other projects to help NSF and reviewers assess overlap/duplication.
    • SciENcv documents created prior to October 4 are automatically converted to the new version.
    • Review the FAQs – SciENcv and NSF Biographical Sketch for more information on biographical sketches and current & pending support.
    • Research.gov and FastLane will generate an error message if a proposer/grantee uploads an out-of-date version of the biographical sketch or current & pending support forms.
    • Biographical sketches and current & pending support documents must be uploaded with Change of Principal Investigator (PI) and Add/Change Co-PI requests in FastLane.
    • To notify NSF that other support has changed since the award was made, or since the most recent annual report, current and pending support information must be uploaded in both annual and final project reports in the Research.gov Project Reporting System.

    Effective August 30, 2021, Current & Pending Support fillable PDFs uploaded in FastLane and Grants.gov will be trimmed of pages that do not contain data entered by users (i.e., blank pages). The trimming service only applies to the NSF-approved Current & Pending Support fillable PDFs and not to any other uploaded PDFs. When viewing the updated PDF after the trimming process, please note that only blank pages are removed, and the remaining pages will not be re-numbered.

    The trimming service will be available in Research.gov on October 4th for Current & Pending Support fillable PDFs submitted as part of proposals and project reports.

    NSF-Specific Programs – Additional Submission Requirements

    Major Research Instrumentation Program: The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training.

    MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. The MRI program has two tracks: 1) acquisition or 2) development of a multi-user research instrument.

    MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. An MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers, and builders.

    Program Requirements:

    • Limited Submission Opportunity (requires Institutional Review & Approval)
    • Follow PAPPG with following additions:
    1.  Cost Share is required and must equate to 30% of Total Project Cost.
    2. For acquisition proposals, at least 70% of the Total Project Cost must be equipment.
    3. Support Letters are required to confirm:
      • A. Ph.D. Granting Classification
      • B. Institutional Commitment to operations, maintenance
      • C. Institutional Commitment for cost sharing
    4. Vendor Quote for Equipment Required

    Faculty Early Career Development: CAREER: The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

    Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.

    NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

    Program Requirements:

    • PI may only submit one CAREER proposal per annual competition.
    • Proposers must meet all eligibility requirements as of the annual deadline:
    1. Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF;
    2. Be engaged in research in an area of science, engineering, or education supported by NSF;
    3. Hold at least a 50% tenure-track (or tenure-track-equivalent*) position as an assistant professor (or equivalent title);
    4. Be untenured; and
    5. Have not previously received a CAREER award.

     

    *Tenure-Track Equivalency – Must meet the following requirements: (1) the employee has a continuing appointment that is expected to last the five years of a CAREER grant; (2) the appointment has substantial research and educational responsibilities; and (3) the proposed project relates to the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as the mission of the department or organization. The Departmental Letter must affirm that the investigator's appointment is at an early-career level equivalent to pre-tenure status and must clearly and convincingly demonstrate how the faculty member's appointment satisfies all the above requirements of tenure-track equivalency.

     

    • Faculty members who are Associate Professors or in equivalent appointments, with or without tenure, are not eligible for the CAREER program.
    • Faculty members who hold Adjunct Faculty or equivalent appointments are not eligible for the CAREER program.
    • Follow PAPPG with following additions:
    1. Departmental letter from Chair (2-page limit – see solicitation for more information)
    2. Letters of Collaboration
    3. Co-PIs are not allowed in CAREER proposals. Support for other senior personnel (i.e., in the Budget Category A) or consultants is permitted but must be commensurate with their limited role in the project.
    4. It is expected that the primary support for a CAREER award will be for the PI and his/her research efforts.
    5. In some cases, it may be appropriate to include academic year salary support for the PI on a CAREER budget. Proposers should talk to the cognizant Program Officers about their individual cases.