Summary of NSF PAPPG 22-1 Changes Effective October 4, 2021

The National Science Foundation (NSF) released a revised version of the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), version 22-1, on June 22, 2021. Below are some notable policy changes related to proposals and awards that we want to draw your attention to. For a complete list of the changes and for additional detail, please see the updated PAPPG (NSF 22-1). Please contact your OSP Proposal Team with any proposal questions and the CGA Awards Group with any post award questions.

• NEW SECTION - Chapter II.A.2, Requests for Reasonable and Accessibility Accommodations
  • To support diversity and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
  • When requesting accessibility accommodations for accessing the NSF’s electronic systems, websites, and other digital content, use the email rarequest@nsf.gov
  • Send the request at least 30 days prior to the proposal deadline date.
  • Proposal deadline dates specified in the NSF funding opportunity cannot be changed.
  • Information provided is considered confidential and available only to designated agency staff that are responsible for providing and/or coordinating accommodation services. NSF may request medical documentation signed and dated by the proposer’s physician that describes a) the nature, severity, and duration of the impairment; b) the activities the impairment limits; and c) why and how the reasonable accommodation requested will assist the PI.
• Chapter II.C.2.f, Biographical Sketches
  • Page limit has been increased to three pages
  • To assist users in completion of the biosketch, a new table was created entitled, NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support (see link).
  • Additional narrative and FAQs provided to address: the purpose of biographical sketches in the merit review process, information regarding professional appointments, use of “et al.”, and guidance on synergistic activities examples.
• Chapter II.C.2.h, Current and Pending Support
  • Added project objectives and overlap input field – include narrative describing the objectives of the activity and any scope/budget/person-months overlap in relationship to the project being reported on.
  • To assist users in completion of these sections of the proposal, a new table was created entitled, NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support (see link).
• Chapter II.C.2.g(xiii)(d), Home Office Workspace
  • Rental costs of any property owned by individuals or entities affiliated with NSF grantees (including commercial or residential real estate), for use as home office workspace is unallowable. See 2 CFR §200.465(f).
• Chapters II.C.2.g(xiii)(e) and X.F, Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment
  • Recipients are prohibited from spending grant funds to procure or obtain equipment, services or systems that use “covered telecommunications equipment”. 
  • “Covered Telecommunications Equipment” is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).
  • Also includes video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).
• Chapter II.E.8, Career-Life Balance (CLB) Supplemental Funding Requests
  • To help cover efforts on an NSF project while an individual is on family leave for either primary dependent care responsibilities or other direct family considerations.
  • Available for senior personnel, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and graduate research fellows.
  • Use the “Supplemental Funding Request” function in Research.gov.
• Chapter II.E.11, Travel Proposal
  • MSU Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must certify that prior to MSU’s participation in the meeting for which NSF travel support is being requested, that the meeting organizer has a written policy or code-of-conduct addressing harassment.
• Chapter VIII.D.4, Program Income
  • On an annual basis, grantees are required to submit a Program Income Reporting Worksheet to NSF to report program income earned and expended for any of their grants, or to validate that they did not earn and expend program income for any of their grants during the applicable period (coordinated and reported by CGA).
  • Failure to report program income or to validate that no program income was earned/expended, could result in suspension of future grant payments.
• Chapter VII.D.5, Grant Closeout
  • If a grantee does not submit all required reports within one year of the period of performance end date, NSF must report the grantee’s material failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the award with the OMB-designated integrity and performance system.
• Chapter I.G.2, How to Submit Proposals
  • This section has been supplemented with language to address the new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) requirements that go into effect by April 2022. UEI references have also been added to Chapter II.C.2.a(4)(g), "Awardee Organization Information".