New NSF PAPPG (16-1)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), (NSF 16-1). 

The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 25, 2016.  

Significant changes include:

• Enforcement of 5 p.m. submitter’s local time across all NSF funding opportunities;*
• Implementation of NSF’s Public Access Policy;**
• Submission of proposal certifications by the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) concurrently with proposal submission;
• NSF’s implementation of the US Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences on Dual Use Research of Concern;
• Provision of Collaborators and Other Affiliations information as a new single-copy document, instead of as part of the Biographical Sketch; 
• Submission of Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support separately for each senior personnel; 
• Electronic signature and submission of notifications and requests by the AOR only;
• Revision of timeframe for submission of final project reports, project outcomes reports and financial closure of awards to 120 days after the award end date;
• Numerous clarifications throughout the document.

* With this revision and the automation of Fastlane, after the 5 PM deadline, proposals will no longer be accepted.  As such, please make sure that SRO access to SUBMIT is granted at least 24 hours before the deadline.  Also be mindful that heavy internet traffic during major deadlines can slow the submission process, and technical difficulties do happen.  Therefore, communicate early and often with your NSF Contracting Officer.

** Once the new access policy takes effect in January, PIs will be required to make their publications resulting from NSF-funded research publicly accessible for free and it will need to be uploaded into the NSF Public Access Repository.  For more information, visit the FAQ's on NSF's Public Access Policy.

A webinar to brief the community on the new PAPPG will be held on October 29th at 2 PM EST.  Registration is required at https://nsfevents.webex.com/nsfevents/onstage/g.php?d=747703895&t=a.

For your convenience, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will host this webinar in the Seminar Room of the Research Administration Building (RAB, 505 Tenth Street, NW) and has limited seats available.  Please register at https://training.osp.gatech.edu if you wish to attend.  You can also view the webinar from your office by registering with the National Science Foundation through the link above.

In the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 15-1) continue to apply until January 25, 2016 and will remain on the NSF website.