NSF Announces New Effective Date for the Revised Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide

Due to the recent lapse in appropriations, implementation of the revised National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), (NSF 19-1) was postponed. NSF is pleased to announce that the revised PAPPG will now be effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after February 25, 2019. Significant changes include the following:

• Participant Support: Speakers and trainers are generally not considered participants.

• If the purpose of the individual’s attendance at the conference is learning and receiving training as a participant, then the costs may be included under participant support.
• If the primary purpose is to speak or assist with management of the conference, then such costs should be budgeted in appropriate categories other than participant support.

• Participant support costs may not be budgeted to cover room rental fees, catering costs, supplies, etc. related to an NSF-sponsored conference.
• Synergistic Activities in biosketch: Examples with multiple components are not permitted.
• Unexpended Balance: means the sum of the unobligated and obligated balances. An unexpended balance is the result of awarded funds not being spent, or when the total expenditures for a project are less than the amount awarded. It can also be defined as the unspent portion of a budgeted amount, available for authorized future expenses during the award period.
• Unobligated Balance: means the cumulative amount of budget authority that remains available for obligation under law in unexpired accounts.
• Eligibility standards for unaffiliated individuals has been revised.
• Specifications are added that conference proposals over $50,000 and all equipment proposals must include the Collaborators and Other Affiliations information in the proposal submission.
• Revision has been made to resubmission guidelines for NSF programs that accept proposals at any time.
• Specifications are added that proposers are required to have a policy or code-of-conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, and that includes clear and accessible means of reporting violations of the policy or code-of-conduct. This policy or code-of-conduct must be disseminated to conference participants prior to attendance at the conference as well as made available at the conference itself.
• Emphasis is placed on the importance of training faculty in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.
• Numerous clarifications and other changes have been made throughout the document.

You are encouraged to review the by-chapter summary of changes provided in the Introduction section of the PAPPG.

To learn about the changes in the revised PAPPG (NSF 19-1), please view the latest NSF Proposal & Award Policy Update webinar.

While this version of the PAPPG becomes effective on February 25, 2019, in the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 18-1) continue to apply.

Associated award terms and conditions (including RTC NSF Agency Specific Requirements, GC-1, and FL-26) will also be effective for proposals submitted or due, on or after, February 25, 2019. Cooperative Agreement Conditions (CA-FATC) and CA-FATC Modifications and Supplemental terms and conditions are effective for new awards and funding actions to existing awards beginning on February 12, 2019.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the DIAS/Policy Office at policy@nsf.gov.