Important Changes to NSF Proposal Requirements

The Office of Sponsored Programs would like to remind researchers of important changes to proposal submissions to the National Science Foundation.

All proposals will require these updated forms beginning June 1.

NSF-approved formats are now available for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of NSF proposals. These documents fall under the revised Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) (see the Feb. 6 webinar for complete details on all revisions to the PAPPG). Both forms can be accessed in the "Investigator's Toolbox" on the Office of Sponsored Programs website.

Use of an NSF-approved format aims to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiencies by providing proposers with a compliant and reusable way to maintain this information for subsequent proposal submissions to NSF, while also ensuring that the information is submitted in a standard and searchable composition.

NSF-approved Formats

• SciENcv: NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as an NSF-approved format for use in preparation of both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of an NSF proposal. SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of the documents which proposers can save and submit as part of their proposals via FastLane, Research.gov or Grants.gov. Additional information about the NSF-approved SciENcv formats is available on the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites.

The SciENcv tool integrates with ORCID, enabling proposers to populate their Biographical Sketches by importing data directly from their ORCID records rather than having to manually enter all the required information. Additionally, Biographical Sketch data maintained in SciENcv can be quickly and easily updated on an ongoing basis for subsequent proposal submissions.

• NSF Fillable PDF: NSF is also providing a fillable PDF as an NSF-approved format for use to prepare both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of an NSF proposal. Proposers can download the respective fillable PDF form from the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites and then submit the completed forms as part of their proposals via FastLane, Research.gov or Grants.gov. Note that the NSF fillable PDF for the Biographical Sketch does not integrate with ORCID.

It is important to note that beginning June 1, proposers will be required to use one of the NSF-approved formats for both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of NSF proposals. NSF's compliance check should catch any out-of-compliance forms prior to submission which will give you the opportunity to correct. 

If you have any questions regarding proposals, please contact a grant specialist for assistance. More information can also be found on the Office of Sponsored Programs website.