Guidance on Other Support/Current and Pending Support - NSF
The Current and Pending (Other) Support document includes a list of an “individual’s proposed and active projects and sources of support. It is used by NSF to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out the research as proposed and help assess any potential scientific and budgetary overlap or duplication, as well as overcommitment with the project being proposed.” The Current and Pending (Other) Support instructions included in the current version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide serve as NSF's implementation of the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form developed by the National Science and Technology Council's Research Security Subcommittee. 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).
The NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 20-1) effective June 1, 2020 revised the expectations around the information included on the Current and Pending (Other) Support form. “Current and pending support includes all resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to all of his/her research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value. Current and pending support also includes in-kind contributions (such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students). In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed also must be reported. Current and pending support information must be provided for this project, for ongoing projects, and for any proposals currently under consideration from whatever source, irrespective of whether such support is provided through the proposing organization or is provided directly to the individual.”
The NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 24-1) effective May 20, 2024 further clarifies that consulting activities must be disclosed under the proposals and active projects section of the Current and Pending (Other) Support 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; or
- 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.
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. See below for more information on the prohibition against participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs.
NSF provides a table entitled, NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance Pre- and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support to provide helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosures. The table includes the types of activities to be reported, where such activities must be reported in the proposal, as well as when updates are required in the proposal and award lifecycle. A final column identifies activities that are not required to be reported. We encourage you to review the table as you prepare your proposal materials and throughout the award lifecycle.
Certification Regarding Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs – new 2024
The NSF Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 24-1) effective May 20, 2024 includes a new section establishing that individuals who are a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP) are not eligible to serve as a senior/key person on an NSF proposal. All senior personnel will be required to certify prior to proposal submission that they are not party to an MFTRP. The required certification has been incorporated into the Current and Pending (Other) Support document in SciENcv. In addition, the Authorized Organization Representative (i.e., the person who submits your proposals) will need to certify that all senior personnel associated with the proposal have been made aware of and have complied with their responsibility under that section to certify that they are not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
Starting on June 7, 2025, all PIs or co-PIs named on an NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024, must certify annually via Research.gov that they are not party to a MFTRP on an annual basis. NSF intends to expand the MFTRP annual certification requirement for all senior/key personnel roles at a future date. When you are required to certify, a pop-up message will display in Research.gov after you sign in to notify you that you must complete your MFTRP annual certification and what steps you need to take in Research.gov to complete the certification. PIs and co-PIs can view their most recent MFTRP annual certification response under the Academic/Professional Information section of their profile by signing into Research.gov and selecting My Profile at the top of the screen.
False representations regarding either of the above certifications in (i) and (ii), may be subject to prosecution and liability pursuant to, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §§.287, 1001, 1031 and 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733 and 3802.
In accordance with NSF Important Notice No. 149: Updates to NSF Research Security Policies NSF requires “NSF proposers and recipients” ie, the grantee or NBER, to collect and maintain “copies of contracts, grants, or any other agreements specific to foreign appointments, employment with a foreign institution, participation in a foreign talent recruitment program and other information reported as current and pending (other) support for all senior/key personnel.” The NBER is expected to review provided documents for compliance with NSF award terms and conditions and the material must be made available to the NSF upon request. The NBER will do its utmost to maintain the confidentiality of any such collected documents.