National Science Foundation (NSF)

picture of NSF logo

A new set of instructions was released by the National Science Foundation on January 30th.  Some of the changes went into effect that day, and some are happening later this year.  Here are the updates:

 

  • Certification Requirement for Senior Personnel Specified in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, is a new certification requiring senior personnel to certify that the information provided in their Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents are accurate, current, and complete. This certification will be included in both SciENcv and the NSF fillable format for proposals submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023.
    • This new requirement is going to need additional time to prepare applications, especially when working with community partners.    
    • For now, all PIs, CoPIs and senior personnel are required to certify that the information contained in the biosketch and other support documents are current, accurate, and complete. This includes, but is not limited to, information related to domestic and foreign appointments and positions.  New forms can be found on the NSF webpage and if using SciENcv will be automatically updated.
    • Beginning in October – All PIs, CoPIs and Senior personnel will be required to use SciENcv and the fillable forms will no longer be allowed. Now is the time to start using SciENcv.  Please make ORSP (ORSPPPD@marquette.edu) a delegate on your SciENcv account so we can help prepare your other support information. 
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  • A second new certification regarding Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) was added for proposals submitted on or after July 31, 2023. The certification replaces the existing RECR certification and expands the training requirement to faculty and other senior personnel and mandates that the training cover mentor training and mentorship.
    • Everyone named as PI, CoPI or Senior Personnel, as well as students and postdocs will need to complete the RCR training. MU is working to develop a new curriculum for Faculty and Postdocs. 
  • A third new certification requires the AOR to certify that any organization proposing to conduct research off-campus or off-site has a plan in place for this proposal regarding safe and inclusive working environments.
    • Please work with ORSP to determine whether your work is considered on or off campus. 
    • Some NSF programs are requiring an actual plan be submitted with the application. Pay close attention to the program instructions. 
  • A new Collaborators and Other Affiliations Excel Spreadsheet has been released – for all forthcoming applications, you will need to redo your COA document to include with the application. 

 

 

If you have any questions, please email the Project Planning and Development team in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.