Other Support and Foreign Influences

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Below is a summary of specific NSF guidance for PIs and senior project personnel related to reporting “Current and Pending Support” as well as how to address the need for cooperative work with a foreign entity.

Current and Pending Support

Per PAPPG 24-1 effective May, 20, 2024, Current and pending (other) support information must be provided separately for each individual designated as a senior/key person through use of SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae). SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of current and pending (other) support. Senior/key personnel must prepare, save, certify, and submit these documents as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

NSF requires that all senior project personnel disclose information on all current and pending support—both domestic and foreign—at the proposal stage for all ongoing projects and proposals. Detailed information may be found in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, Chapter II.D.2.h.ii. The following must be reported:

  • All resources made available, or expected to be made available, to an individual in support of the individual’s research and development efforts, regardless of
    • whether the source is foreign or domestic;
    • whether the resource is made available through the entity applying for a research and development award or directly to the individual; or
    • whether the resource has monetary value;
    and
    • includes in-kind contributions requiring a commitment of time and directly supporting the individual’s research and development efforts, such as the provision of office or laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees or students.
  • In-kind contributions:
    • with an estimated dollar value of $5,000 or more,
    • not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed,
    • have an associated time commitment.
  • Current or pending participation in, or applications to, programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government sponsored talent recruitment programs. (Appropriate placement in each document may be contract dependent.)
  • Consulting activities must be disclosed under the proposals and active projects section of the common form when any of the following scenarios apply:
    • The consulting activity will require the senior/key person to perform research as part of the consulting activity;
    • The consulting activity does not involve performing research, but is related to the senior/key person’s research portfolio and may have the ability to impact funding, alter time or effort commitments, or otherwise impact scientific integrity;
    • The consulting entity has provided a contract that requires the senior/key person to conceal or withhold confidential financial or other ties between the senior/key person and the entity, irrespective of the duration of the engagement.
  • Postdoctoral scholars, students or visiting scholars who are supported by an external entity, whose research activities are not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed and have an associated time commitment.
  • Travel supported/paid by an external entity to perform research activities with an associated time commitment.
  • Startup company based on non-organization-licensed IP.
  • Startup packages from other than the proposing organization.

Consistent with NSPM-33, senior/key personnel are required to disclose contracts associated with participation in programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs. Further, if an individual receives direct or indirect support that is funded by a foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, even where the support is provided through an intermediary and does not require membership in the foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, that support must be disclosed. Senior/key personnel must also report other foreign government-sponsored or affiliated activities. In accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 19232, individuals are prohibited from being a party in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

Detailed information about the content is available in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter II.D.2.h.ii.

NSF has developed the NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance Pre- and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support table to provide helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosure information in the biographical sketch and current and pending support proposal sections. The table identifies where these disclosures must be provided in proposals as well as in project reports.

For more information, see the NSF Policy Office:

Cooperative Work with Foreign Organizations

NSF rarely provides direct funding support to foreign organizations. NSF will consider proposals for cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations, provided support is requested only for the U.S. portion of the collaborative effort.

In cases however, where the proposer considers the foreign organization or foreign individual’s involvement to be essential to the project and proposes to provide funding through the NSF budget (through a subaward or consultant arrangement), the proposer must explain why support from the foreign counterpart’s in-country resources is not feasible and why the foreign organization or foreign individual can carry out the activity more effectively than a U.S. organization or U.S. individual. In addition, the proposed activity must demonstrate how one or more of the following conditions have been met:

  • The foreign organization or foreign individual contributes unique expertise, organizational capability, facilities, data resources, and/or access to a geographic location not generally available to U.S. investigators (or which would require significant effort or time to duplicate); and/or
  • The foreign organization or foreign individual offers significant science and engineering education, training, or research opportunities to the U.S.

Such information must be included in any proposal to NSF, including new and renewal proposals. The information must be included in the project description section of the proposal. The box for “Funding of a Foreign Organization or Foreign Individual” must be checked on the Cover Sheet if the proposal includes funding for a foreign organization or foreign individual.

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