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

NSF requires all senior project personnel provide information on all current and pending support from both domestic and foreign sources be provided at the proposal stage for ongoing projects and proposals. The following must be reported:

  • All projects (including the current project) under consideration from whatever source, and all ongoing projects, irrespective of whether support is provided through the proposing organization, another organization or directly to the individual must be disclosed under Current and Pending Support.
  • In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed to NSF and which have an associated time commitment
  • Consulting that falls outside of an individual’s appointment duties/responsibilities
  • Travel supported/paid by an external entity to perform research activities with an associated time commitment
  • Startup company based on non-organization-licensed IP

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

NSF has developed the NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending 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. However, in cases where the proposer considers a foreign organization’s involvement to be essential to the project (e.g., through subawards or consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain why local support is not feasible and why the foreign organization can carry out the activity more effectively than a domestic entity.

In addition, the proposed activity must demonstrate how the foreign organization is essential to the proposed project and how the foreign organization will contribute to science and engineering education, training or research opportunities to the U.S.

Such information must be included in the project description section of the proposal. The box for “Funding of a Foreign Organization, including through use of a subaward or consultant arrangement” must also be checked on the Cover Sheet if the proposal includes funding for a foreign organization.

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