Agency updates are provided to keep you apprised of what’s happening with some of our major federal sponsors. Many of these updates impact investigators directly.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH is rolling out new forms and data management and sharing policies effective January 25, 2023. Look for specific I/Cs to issue guidance on data management and sharing.

New Forms and Tools

• NIH’s Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) Policy applies to funding that generates data. For specific requirements, consult NIH NOT-OD-210014. Also, consult the following resources to prepare for DMSP 2023.
  • Video – Critical Appraisal of DMP for Program Officers
  • Article – Ten simple rules for maximizing the recommendations of the NIH data management and sharing plan
  • Practice! Reverse engineer a 2023 DMSP for a prior project using the DMPTool.
• New NIH ‘Forms-H’ Grant application forms and instructions are for grant applications due dates on or after January 25, 2023. Unsure if you have the correct form version? Consult NIH’s handy checklist.
• NIH Offers Virtual Training Session for Creating Data Management Plans: With a new policy going into effect Jan. 25, the agency will present a virtual class on Tues, Dec 13 from 1-2 pm ET focusing on how to use the free DMPTool, which walks a user through creation of a data management plan. Registration is required. READ MORE
• ARPA-H Launches New Website: The newly created Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health has unveiled its new website, which includes FAQs, research focus areas and other information. READ MORE

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The new Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 23-1, is effective January 30, 2023. Below is a bit of what’s changing with the new guidance. A summary of all the changes can be accessed here.

Systems and Tools

• NSF FastLane is officially retiring. Research.gov will be the tool for submitting and reviewing proposals and for award management.
• NSF has delayed the requirement to use SciENcv until October 2023 but is still encouraging investigators to use SciENcv and to obtain an ORCID to facilitate the pre-population of the biographical sketch.
• Concept outlines and the new Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) are required for Rapid Response Research (RAPID), Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), and Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAIS).
• NSF’s Broad Agency Announcement Management (BAAM) system will be used for proposal submissions to BAAs. The BAAM system is a simplified site that is separate from Research.gov.
• Clarifications relating to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) for subrecipients are provided. Subrecipients named in a proposal must obtain a UEI and register in Research.gov, however, they do not need to be registered in SAM.

Signatures and Authorizations

• A new certification regarding Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) training has been added for new proposals submitted or due on or after July 31, 2023. The new certification expands the training requirement to faculty and other senior personnel and mandates the training cover mentor training and mentorship.
• Investigators must certify that information in their biographical sketch and the current and pending forms are accurate, current, and complete. This certification will be included in both SciENcv and NSF fillable format for proposals submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023.

Honorable Mention

• NSF will end cost-sharing mandates for some of its major programs, including the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. WAY2GO NSF!