The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a revised version of the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), version 24-1, on January 22, 2024. Below are some of the most significant policy changes related to proposals submitted on or after May 20, 2024. For a complete list of the changes and for additional detail, please see the updated PAPPG (NSF 24-1). Please contact your OSP representative if you have any questions.
- Biographical Sketch – Biographical Sketch no longer has a page limitation, and implements the new Common Disclosure form, which also removes the Synergistic Activities section. The Biographical Sketch will continue to be created in SciENcv, which will produce a pdf compliant version that can be attached to the proposal in Research.gov.
- New Synergistic Activities Document – Synergistic Activities that used to be included as part of the Biographical Sketch has been moved to a separate document. Each individual identified as senior/key personnel must include a one-page document with up to five examples that demonstrate the broader impact of the individual’s professional and scholarly activities that focus on the creation, integration, and transfer of knowledge. This document is submitted as part of the Senior/Key personnel documents in Research.gov.
- Mentoring Plan – Mentoring Plan has been expanded, now requiring a plan for graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers supported on a project. The page limit for a Mentoring Plan is still one page.
- Current and Pending (Other) Support – implementing the new Common Disclosure form. The Current and Pending Support form will continue to be created in SciENcv, which will produce a pdf compliant version that can be attached to the proposal in Research.gov.
- Foreign Organizations – updated guidance for justifying inclusion of a foreign organization (subaward) or foreign individual (consultant) in a proposal budget. The justification must be included in the project description section of the proposal and the box for “Funding of a Foreign Organization or Foreign Individual” must be checked on the Cover Sheet.
- Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs – guidance provided for individuals who are a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program. Such individuals are not eligible to serve as a Senior/Key Person on NSF proposals and awards. This new policy is part of NSF’s implementation of the National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33). Additionally, as part of the proposal submission, Syracuse University must certify that all individuals identified as senior/key persons have been made aware of and have complied with their responsibility to certify that they are not party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program.
- Proposal Font, Spacing, and Margin Requirements – updated to allow for submission of proposal documents in landscape format.
- Projects Requiring Advanced Computing, Data, and Analysis Capabilities updated instructions – updated to say that many research projects require access to computational, data, analysis, and/or visualization resources to complete the work proposed. Typically, such resources will be noted in the proposal under Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources. For projects that require such resources at scales beyond what may be available locally, NSF supports an array of national resources. Proposals are reviewed for both their scientific and computational/data needs, as well as readiness to utilize the resources.
- Concept Outlines and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) – Concept Outlines are used for Planning, RAPID, EAGER and RAISE proposals. Concept Outlines are typically submitted via email or through the ProSPCT tool. Follow the submission guidelines included in the NSF funding opportunity.
- Tribal Nation Approval – proposals that may impact the resources of a Tribal Nation must seek and obtain approval from the Tribal Nation prior to award.