National Science Foundation (NSF)
Disclosure Requirements
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires investigators and institutions to disclose information regarding professional appointments and affiliations, research support, collaborations, in-kind contributions, and other activities necessary to promote transparency, research integrity, and research security.
NSF disclosure requirements apply throughout the lifecycle of an award, including proposal submission, award administration, annual certifications, project reporting, and award closeout. Investigators are responsible for ensuring that information provided to NSF is complete, accurate, current, and consistent with both NSF requirements and their University Disclosure Profile.
University Disclosure Requirements
Before preparing an NSF proposal or completing sponsor disclosures, investigators should ensure that their University Disclosure Profile is current.
Maintaining an accurate institutional disclosure helps ensure consistency across sponsor submissions and supports the University's Conflict of Interest, Conflict of Commitment, Research Security, and Foreign Talent Recruitment Program compliance processes.
Related University Guidance
- Disclosure of External Interests & Commitments
- Conflict of Interest
- Conflict of Commitment
- Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs
NSF Proposal & Award Disclosures
NSF requires disclosures at various stages of the proposal and award lifecycle. Required information varies depending on the proposal document, reporting requirement, and award stage. Investigators should carefully review the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and applicable funding opportunity instructions.
| Disclosure Requirement | Purpose | When Required |
|---|---|---|
| Biographical Sketch | Describes an individual's professional preparation, appointments, synergistic activities, and other required information. | Proposal submission |
| Current & Pending (Other) Support | Discloses all resources available in direct support of an individual's research and development activities, including current, pending, and in-kind support. | Proposal submission and post-award updates, as applicable |
| Collaborators & Other Affiliations (COA) | Identifies collaborators, co-authors, advisors, advisees, and other professional affiliations to support NSF's reviewer selection and conflict of interest processes. | Proposal submission |
| Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources | Describes the institutional facilities, equipment, laboratory space, and other resources available to support the proposed research. | Proposal submission |
| Project Reports | Provides annual and final reports regarding project accomplishments, participants, products, and other required information. | During the award and at project completion |
| Post-Award Disclosures | Certain changes to current and pending support, appointments, affiliations, or other reportable information may require notification to NSF through the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). | Throughout the award period, as required |
Examples of Information Commonly Reported
Depending on the applicable NSF disclosure document, investigators may be required to report information such as:
- Academic, professional, and institutional appointments (domestic and foreign)
- Current, pending, and in-kind research support
- Professional collaborations and affiliations
- Graduate, postdoctoral, and other mentoring relationships, where applicable
- Consulting activities and other professional activities, when required by the applicable NSF disclosure document
- Facilities, equipment, laboratory space, and other resources available to support the proposed research
Investigators should not assume that information required for one NSF disclosure document is required for another. Each disclosure has its own purpose, definitions, and reporting instructions.
Annual Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP) Certification
Beginning June 7, 2025, Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-PIs named on NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024, must annually certify in Research.gov that they are not participating in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP).
The certification is completed directly by the individual within Research.gov and does not require institutional submission. NSF has indicated that this annual certification requirement may be expanded in the future to include additional senior/key personnel.
Investigators should ensure that participation in any foreign talent recruitment program has been appropriately disclosed to both the University and the sponsor before completing this certification.
Research Security Requirements
The National Science Foundation has incorporated research security requirements into its proposal, award, and post-award processes to promote transparency, protect the integrity of federally funded research, and comply with the CHIPS and Science Act and National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33).
As part of this framework, investigators are expected to ensure that information provided to NSF is complete, accurate, current, and consistent across all proposal documents, annual reports, certifications, and institutional disclosures.
Research security-related disclosure requirements may include:
- Disclosure of domestic and international professional appointments and affiliations
- Disclosure of current and pending (other) support, including in-kind contributions
- Disclosure of international collaborations and foreign activities, when required
- Annual MFTRP certifications
- Consistency across all sponsor and institutional disclosures
- Compliance with applicable research security training requirements
Research security requirements continue to evolve. Investigators should review current NSF guidance and consult the Office of Research Security (ORS) whenever questions arise regarding disclosure obligations, international collaborations, foreign affiliations, or other research security matters.
Research Security Training
Covered senior/key personnel on NSF research and development awards must complete research security training in accordance with federal requirements and NSF policy.
Stony Brook University provides institution-specific Research Security Training that incorporates applicable federal requirements while addressing University policies, disclosure processes, international collaborations, cybersecurity, foreign travel, conflict of interest, conflict of commitment, and research security best practices.
Learn More
Important Post-Award Requirements
Investigators have an ongoing responsibility to ensure that required disclosures remain complete, accurate, and current throughout the life of an NSF award.
Current & Pending (Other) Support
Review changes to current and pending (other) support throughout the award period. New research support, changes in commitments, or other reportable resources may require disclosure in accordance with NSF policy.
Undisclosed Current Support or In-Kind Contributions
If Stony Brook University determines that required current support or in-kind contribution information was omitted from a proposal submission, the University's Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must notify NSF and submit the required information in accordance with NSF policy.
Institutional Reporting
Promptly notify the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) and the Office of Research Security (ORS) whenever new external appointments, affiliations, research support, international collaborations, or other reportable activities arise during the award period. Early notification allows the University to determine whether sponsor updates, prior approvals, or other institutional actions are required.
Sponsor Notification Requirements
Certain changes to an NSF-funded project require notification to, or prior approval from, NSF. Investigators should consult OSP before implementing changes that may affect award terms and conditions, including changes involving foreign components, senior/key personnel, or other activities requiring sponsor approval.
Current NSF Guidance
Proposal & Award Administration
Proposal Disclosure Requirements
Research Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Assistance?
Questions regarding NSF disclosure requirements should be raised as early as possible during proposal development or whenever circumstances change during an active award.
Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
Provides assistance with proposal preparation, sponsor requirements, award administration, and sponsor prior approvals.
Office of Research Security (ORS)
Provides assistance with research security, disclosure requirements, international collaborations, foreign affiliations, research support disclosures, conflict of commitment, foreign talent recruitment programs, and other sponsor-related compliance matters.