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Information related to the proposal development process for NSF, NIH, and general procedures.

NSF Special Announcement Re Covid-19

On June 1, 2020, NSF will implement the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) for proposals submitted or due on or after this date. The revised PAPPG implements a variety of changes and clarifications, the highest profile of which requires use of an NSF-approved format for the preparation of the biographical sketch and current and pending support.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing stress on proposers, the research community has not been able to adequately prepare and train their staff for the implementation of the new requirements.

NSF has therefore made the decision to delay the requirement to use NSF-approved formats for the biographical sketch and current and pending support sections of NSF proposals until October 1, 2020. Proposers must continue to format these documents in accordance with PAPPG requirements (see PAPPG sections II.C.2.f and II.C.2.h). NSF encourages the community to use these formats and continue to provide valuable feedback as we enhance them for future implementation.

Over the coming week, NSF will make updates to existing policy guidance, websites and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to reflect the change. NSF will communicate further with the community once these updates have been made.

Webinars covering the use of NSF-approved formats as well as all of the significant changes to the PAPPG are available on the NSF Policy Outreach website.

NSF will continue to implement all other changes to the PAPPG beginning June 1, 2020, including the following:

• New requirement for proposing organizations to submit government-wide representations and certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM);
• New requirement for providing e-mail documentation of Program Officer approval for the submission of RAPID and EAGER proposals; and
• Clarifications to current and pending support coverage as well as other changes throughout the document.

You are encouraged to review the by-chapter summary of changes provided in the Introduction section of the PAPPG. If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the DIAS/Policy Office at policy@nsf.gov.

National Science Foundation

 NSF-Approved Formats for Biosketch and Current and Pending Support, effective 6/1/2020

NSF recently recorded a webinar about the requirement to use an NSF-approved format for both the biographical sketch and current & pending support documents as part of proposals submitted to NSF. The policy, outlined in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1), goes into effect for proposals submitted or due, on or after June 1, 2020. The two NSF-approved formats are SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae, and an NSF Fillable PDF.

Webinar topics include:

• the policy guidance for preparation of the biographical sketch and current and pending support sections of the proposal;
• a walk-through of the user experience in accessing these formats in NSF systems;
• detailed guidance from NIH on using SciENcv for preparing both documents; and
• answers to a number of frequently asked questions.

For additional information, see the NSF pages for the biographical sketch and current and pending support.

NSF Webinar: understanding the NSF Broader Impacts Criterion

UNDERSTANDING THE NSF BROADER IMPACTS CRITERION (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT NABI/ARIS) (6/26/19)

Presenters: Megan Heitmann, Iowa State University/ARIS Center,Janice McDonnell, Rutgers University/ARIS Center,Jory Weintraub, Duke University/ARIS Center

Every proposal submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) is evaluated on two criteria: Intellectual Merit (IM) and Broader Impacts (BI). IM refers to the potential for the work to advance understanding in the discipline. BI refers to the societal benefits of the proposed work, and typically involves efforts to engage underrepresented groups, the education community or the general public in their research efforts and outcomes.

While most investigators generally feel comfortable addressing the IM in their proposal, many struggle to develop the BI sections and address the BI criteria adequately. Since most US higher education institutions lack a dedicated BI support office, Research Development staff are often on the front lines of supporting investigators’ efforts to design BI activities and develop these sections of NSF proposals.

The Understanding the NSF Broader Impacts Criterion webinar provides information on the NSF BI criterion, and effective ways to address it. It is led by BI professionals who serve on the Steering Committee for NABI (National Alliance for Broader Impacts) and the Management and Training Teams of the recently established, NSF-funded ARIS (Advancing Research in Society) Center.

Listen to Webinar 

Presentation Slides

National Institutes of Health