The National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) provides guidance to Investigators and their Research Administrators as they are preparing proposals for submission to NSF. Currently, NSF proposals must follow NSF’s PAPPG 23-1. However, on January 22nd, NSF issued a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 24-1). The new PAPPG (NSF 24-1) will be effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024.
You are encouraged to review the by-chapter Summary of Changes provided in the PAPPG.
Below are some highlights taken from the Summary of Changes:
Chapter I: Pre-Submission Information
Chapter I.D: Concept Outlines has been updated to provide clarity on the use of the Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT).
Chapter II: Proposal Preparation Instructions
Chapter II.B: NSF Disclosure Requirements now incorporates the annual post award annual reporting requirements mandated by Section 10339B, "Foreign Financial Support", of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, (42 U.S.C. § 19040). Language also has been added to this section to reference the certification regarding malign foreign talent recruitment programs.
Chapter II.C.2: Proposal Font, Spacing, and Margin Requirements has been modified to allow for submission of proposal documents in landscape format.
Chapter II.D.1.e(ii): Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs is a (NEW!) section that addresses Section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. § 19232), requirements regarding malign foreign talent recruitment programs. This applies to individuals designated as senior/key persons on a proposal.
Chapter II.D.2.h(i): Biographical Sketch(es), the updated guidance serves as NSF’s implementation of the biographical sketch common form developed by the National Science and Technology Council’s Research Security Subcommittee. The 3-page limitation has been removed (there is no page limitation for the Biosketch. The Synergistic Activities section has been removed from the biographical sketch. This information must now be submitted by individuals designated as senior/key persons as part of the senior/key personnel documents in Research.gov.
Chapter II.D.2.h(ii): Current and Pending (Other) Support, has also been updated as part of NSF’s implementation of the Current and Pending (Other) Support common form.
Chapter II.D.2.i(i): Mentoring Plan, has been expanded to address the revision to Section 7008(a) of the America COMPETES Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. § 1862o(a)) requiring a one-page mentoring plan for postdoctoral researchers or graduate students (NEW!) supported on the project.
Chapter VI: Award, Administration and Monitoring of NSF Assistance Awards
Chapter VI.E: Supplemental Support has been modified to reflect that NSF Dear Colleague Letters and solicitations may identify supplemental funding opportunities with specified durations longer than six months and for additional funding amounts.
Chapter VII: Award Administration
Chapter VII.B.2.f: Disposition of an Award When a PI Transfers from One Organization to Another:
- implements the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 requirement to mentor graduate students in addition to postdoctoral researchers; and
- includes new language to remind users about NSF's policies regarding funding of foreign organizations, including foreign subawards and consultant arrangements.
Chapter VII.B.5: Postaward Additions of Postdoctoral or Graduate Student Researchers, has been modified to expand the requirement to cover graduate student researchers.
Chapter VII.B.6: Postaward Addition of Off-Site or Off-Campus Research, is a (NEW!) section to address postaward requirements associated with the plan for safe and inclusive working environments.
Chapter VII.B.7: Individual Development Plans for Postdoctoral Scholars or Graduate Students, implements Section 10313 (42 U.S.C. § 18993) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 requirement for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students who receive substantial NSF support must have an Individual Development Plan which is required to be updated annually.
NSF will present information about these changes in a webinar on March 12th at 1PM. Sign up on the Policy Office outreach website to be notified once registration opens.
While this version of the PAPPG becomes effective on May 20, 2024, in the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 23-1) continue to