[Flex] Fwd: Enforcement of NSF-approved Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats Begins on 10/5/20

Sheila Clifford sclifford at whoi.edu
Mon Sep 14 11:52:14 EDT 2020 

:-\


-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Enforcement of NSF-approved Biographical Sketch and Current 
and Pending Support Formats Begins on 10/5/20
Date: 	Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:27:37 +0000
From: 	NSF ERA Forum <nsferaforum at nsf.gov>
To: 	NSF ERA Forum <nsferaforum at nsf.gov>



Dear Colleagues:

Effective October 5, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will 
begin enforcing the /Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide/ 
<https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20001&org=NSF> 
(PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) requirement to use NSF-approved formats for the 
preparation of the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support 
proposal documents. The NSF-approved formats are SciENcv: Science 
Experts Network Curriculum Vitae <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/> 
and an NSF fillable PDF.

All other PAPPG (NSF 20-1) changes were effective on June 1, 2020. 
Please refer to the complete list of PAPPG (NSF 20-1) significant 
changes and clarifications 
<https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg20_1/sigchanges.jsp> which 
include the IT system changes and other policy-related changes. A set of 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on proposal preparation and award 
administration 
<https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/papp/pappg20_1/faqs20_1.pdf> 
related to NSF PAPPG 
<https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20001&org=NSF> 
(NSF 20-1) is also available and includes Biographical Sketch and 
Current and Pending Support information.

*Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Websites *

·The NSF Biographical Sketch 
<https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/biosketch.jsp> and Current and 
Pending Support <https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/cps.jsp> websites 
include links to the NSF-fillable PDF formats, updated FAQs, and 
instructions.

·For the fillable PDF formats, NSF recommends users download and save 
the blank PDF document prior to adding content. Populating content 
directly into a web browser (e.g., Chrome or Safari) may result in 
formatting inconsistencies. The completed and saved PDF can then be 
uploaded via FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov.

·Beginning on October 5, 2020, links to the Biographical Sketch 
<https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/biosketch.jsp> and Current and 
Pending Support <https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/cps.jsp> websites 
will also be located in FastLane (on the Biographical Sketch and Current 
and Pending Support Personnel pages), in Research.gov (on the 
Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Upload pages), and 
in Grants.gov (on the NSF Senior Key Person Profile form version 2.0).

*Change of Principal Investigator (PI) and Add/Change Co-PI Requests*

·Effective October 5, 2020, Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending 
Support documentation must also be in an NSF-approved format when 
uploaded with a Change of PI and an Add/Change co-PI request in FastLane.

*Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Submissions with Active 
Other Support Changes*

·Effective October 5, 2020, PIs and co-PIs must include an NSF-approved 
format for Current and Pending Support when _notifying NSF that active 
other support has changed since the award was made, or since the most 
recent annual report_.

·This new requirement serves as NSF’s implementation of the revised 
RPPR, a uniform format for reporting performance progress on 
Federally-funded research projects and research-related activities.

·Further details about the RPPR can be found on the Research.gov About 
Project Reports website 
<https://www.research.gov/research-portal/appmanager/base/desktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=research_node_display&_nodePath=/researchGov/Service/Desktop/PublicOutcomesReport.html>. 


*Automated Compliance Checks for NSF-approved Formats*

·Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents not in an 
NSF-approved format will trigger a compliance error and ultimately will 
prevent proposal submission or completion of the post-award action. This 
compliance check applies to proposals, Change of PI requests, Add/Change 
co-PI requests, and relevant RPPR submissions.

·The complete lists of FastLane and Research.gov automated proposal 
compliance checks effective October 5, 2020, are available on the 
Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals website 
<https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/autocompliance.jsp>.

·Note that automated compliance checks also apply when a proposal file 
update (PFU) is performed on a proposal. Proposers should be aware that 
if a proposal was previously submitted successfully, a PFU performed on 
the proposal will be prevented from submission if the proposal does not 
comply with the compliance checks in effect at the time.

*NSF-approved Format Updates*

Based on feedback from the research community, NSF has enhanced both 
approved formats, and users are encouraged to use the latest versions. 
Please see the system-related FAQs on using SciENcv 
<https://www.research.gov/common/attachment/Desktop/SciENcv-FAQs.pdf> 
and the system-related FAQs on using the NSF fillable PDF 
<https://www.research.gov/common/attachment/Desktop/NSFPDF-FAQs.pdf> for 
a list of the improvements to each format. In particular, note the 
permitted use of “et al.” for publication citations in the Biographical 
Sketch when listing multiple authors. Senior personnel who wish to 
include publications in the products section of the Biographical Sketch 
that include multiple authors may, at their discretion, choose to list 
one or more of the authors and then "et al." in lieu of including the 
complete listing of authors' names.

*//*

*SciENcv Enhancements*

The SciENcv module for creating NSF Biographical Sketch and Current and 
Pending Support documents will be updated prior to October 5, 2020; 
however, all SciENcv-generated Biographical Sketch and Current and 
Pending Support PDF documents created on or after April 1, 2020 remain 
compliant in NSF systems.

Prior to the October 5^th requirement to use the NSF-approved format, 
SciENcv will make a number of enhancements that include:

  * ability for users to reorder products and appointments in the
    Biographical Sketch
  * ability for users to edit long author citations imported from ORCID
    on the Biographical Sketch and add “et al.”
  * addition of a Current and Pending Support tool tip to provide
    clarification and guidance on how users should document support
    under a fiscal year calendar

Please see the system-related FAQs on using SciENcv 
<https://www.research.gov/common/attachment/Desktop/SciENcv-FAQs.pdf> 
for details.

As a reminder, the SciENcv tool integrates with ORCID, enabling users to 
populate the Biographical Sketch by importing data directly from ORCID 
records rather than having to manually enter all the required 
information. This helps reduce administrative burden associated with the 
Biographical Sketch preparation process. Additionally, SciENcv allows 
users to grant access to delegates to assist with maintaining and 
updating data. SciENcv also offers users a dynamic and more customized 
PDF. For example, users with fewer Current and Pending Support entries 
may elect to use SciENcv to generate their Current and Pending Support 
PDF document since SciENcv will produce a PDF without any blank pages. 
Conversely, the Current and Pending Support fillable PDF will always be 
15 pages regardless of how much data is included.

*Latest NSF Fillable PDF Version*

·Revised NSF fillable PDF formats were released on May 1, 2020; however, 
the previous versions remain compliant in NSF systems.

·The May 1, 2020 version is indicated by "Revised 05/01/2020" printed on 
the first page of each form.

*//*

*Additional Training Resources*

To learn more about the NSF-approved formats for Biographical Sketch and 
Current and Pending Support, please view the NSF PAPPG (NSF 20-1) 
webinar 
<https://www.nsfpolicyoutreach.com/resources/2-20-pappg-webinar/> and 
NSF-Approved Formats for the Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending 
Support Sections of NSF Proposals webinar 
<https://www.nsfpolicyoutreach.com/resources/april-2020-nsf-approved-formats-for-proposals/>.

SciENcv has created the following materials to guide NSF users through 
the preparation of the NSF documents available in SciENcv:

  * NSF Biographical Sketch Video Tutorial <https://youtu.be/nk7qlbele0k>
  * NSF Current and Pending Support Video Tutorial
    <https://youtu.be/bhWQYvEEtJs>
  * NSF-specific Bookshelf Resource
    <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK154494/> (includes
    screenshots and step-by-step instructions)

*Other Updates for Proposers*

A revised /NSF Grants.gov Application Guide/ will be published on 
September 16^th and effective October 5, 2020. The Guide will be updated 
to remove references and instructions for the Research & Related 
Personal Data Form. NSF will no longer require this form, and this form 
will no longer be included in NSF's packages effective October 5, 2020.

**

*Questions?* Policy-related questions should be directed to 
policy at nsf.gov <mailto:policy at nsf.gov>. If you have IT system-related or 
technical questions regarding the SciENcv or NSF fillable PDF formats, 
please contact the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM 
ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via fastlane at nsf.gov 
<mailto:fastlane at nsf.gov>.

Best regards,

*NSF ERA Forum Team*

National Science Foundation

nsferaforum at nsf.gov <mailto:nsferaforum at nsf.gov>

Maria Koszalka

Staff Associate, Research.gov

Division of Institution and Award Support

Budget, Finance & Award Management

National Science Foundation

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