National Science Foundation: Proposal Requirement Changes
The National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a revised Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF24-1) on January 22, 2024. It will go into effect for proposals with deadlines on or after Monday, May 20, 2024, even if they are submitted prior to this deadline.
Below is a summary of the most significant changes that affect proposal submission. A summary of all changes can be found at https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/summary-changes.
NSF hosted a webinar on March 12, explaining the upcoming changes. A recording of the webinar and a PDF of the presentation slides are at https://nsfpolicyoutreach.com/resources/nsf-proposal-award-policy-updates/
Please contact Sponsored Programs with related questions.
Concept Outlines
Chapter I.D. has been updated to provide additional clarity and coverage on the use of concept outlines and the required use of the Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT)
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-1-pre-submission#ch1D1
Concept outlines can be directly submitted to NSF without Sponsored Programs involvement. Ensuing proposal submissions will be handled by Sponsored Programs like any other NSF submission.
Involvement of Foreign Organizations
Chapter I.E.2(c) provides updated guidance for 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. Guidance for information to be included in the justification can be found at:
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-1-pre-submission#ch1E2c
Biographical Sketch
The biosketch no longer has a page limitation and implements the Common Disclosure form, which also removes the Synergistic Activities section. The Biographical Sketch will still be created in SciENcv only, which will produce an NSF-compliant version.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2D2hi
Synergistic Activities
Synergistic activities that used to be included as part of the biosketch have been moved to a separate document. Each individual identified as senior/key personnel must include a one-page document with up to five distinct examples that demonstrate the broader impact of the individual’s professional and scholarly activities that focus on the creation, integration, and transfer of knowledge.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2D2hiv
Current and Pending Support
The updated guidance implements the Common Disclosure form. The Current and Pending Support form will continue to be created in SciENcv only, which will produce an NSF-compliant version.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2D2hii
Mentoring Plan
The mentoring plan has been expanded and requires a plan for both graduate students and postdoctoral researchers supported on a project. The page limit for a mentoring plan is still one page.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2D2i-i
Projects Requiring Advanced Computing, Data, and Analysis Capabilities
This section has been updated with revised instructions for projects that require such resources.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2E7
Proposal Font, Spacing, and Margin Requirements
This section has been updated to allow for submission of proposal documents in landscape format.
https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-2-proposal-preparation#ch2C2