Author: Tricia Callahan, Interim Director, Research Training

Sourced: NSF Summary of PAPPG Changes (https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/summary-changes)

The NSF 2024 PAPPG and its updated guidelines go into effect for all proposals with due dates on or after May 20, 2024. If you submit a proposal before May 20, 2024, that has a due date on or after May 20, 2024, you will need to follow the new guidance. Below is an outline of some of the most significant changes as noted on the NSF Policy website. 

• Clarification about what “submitter’s time” means. It is 5:00 PM local time for the submitting organization (i.e., Emory University), not the location of the person submitting the proposal. 

• Common Forms will be mandatory for all proposals in SciENcv with due dates on or after May 20, 2024. SciENcv guidance is available on the Research Training website under ‘Job Aids.’ 

• Forms include biosketch and current and pending documents. 

• NSF aims to have the forms available about one month before May 20th. 

• There will no longer be any page limits for the Biosketch. 

• Synergistic Activities will no longer be listed on the Biosketch but will be uploaded as a separate document for each Senior/Key personnel.   

• Limited to 1 page  

• Limited to 5 distinct examples that show the broader impacts of the Senior/Key personnel’s scholarly and professional activities. 

• Foreign Organizations (either as subawards or consultants). If they are included in the proposal, extra justification should be provided in the PROJECT NARRATIVE to answer the following questions: 

• Why it isn’t feasible to have the work done in the U.S.? 

• Why can the foreign organization do the work more effectively than one in the U.S? 

• What unique expertise, capabilities, location, data, etc., does the foreign organization have for the work proposed, and is it generally not available in the U.S.? 

• What significant contribution (science, training, data, etc.) do they offer to the U.S.? 

• Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP) 

• Any person found to be party to an MFTRP is INELIGIBLE to be a Senior or Key personnel on an NSF proposal or award made after May 20, 2024. 

• Each Senior or Key personnel must certify that they are not a party to an MRTRP on the new common forms, Biosketch, and current and pending, found in SciENcv, at the proposal stage and annually after that in research.gov for awards after May 20, 2024. 

• The Mentoring Plan will now include graduate students and postdoctoral scholars supported by the project (including those listed in subawards and collaborative proposals). Only one plan is allowed and will be limited to one (1) page.  

• If a postdoc or graduate student is rebudgeted on a project and a mentoring plan is not in place, the plan must be sent to the cognizant NSF Program Officer. 

• An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is required for all postdoctoral and graduate students substantially supported on the project. It does not require submission to NSF but can be requested anytime. 

• For the IDP, NSF defines substantial support as equal to or greater than one month of support. 

• The IDP must be updated and certified annually by PI or Co-PI when they complete their annual report. 

• Safe and Inclusive Working Environment plans must be developed, maintained, and disseminated before departure post-award if funds are rebudgeted to support off-campus or off-site research and the original proposal did not have a plan.  

• Tribal Nations Approval is required on all projects that impact tribal resources or interests. An award decision will not be released until ii. or iii. below have been received from the relevant Tribe(s).  

RESOURCES: 

Summary of Changes to the PAPPG (NSF 24-1): https://new.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1/summary-changes 

NSF 24-1 PAPPG: Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 24-1) | NSF – National Science Foundation 

On March 12, 2024, NSF held a virtual conference to go over changes to the PAPPG. You can view that conference and many more at:  https://nsfpolicyoutreach.com/resource-center/ 

NSF hosted another webinar on April 25, 2024,  at 12:00 PM on “NSF Implementation of the Common Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support.”  You can find this information and more on the NSF policy page: US NSF – About