FAQs: NSF

NSF response:  Please see question #5 in this NSF document: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Current and Pending Support June 28, 2021

This will address your questions. The text of the answer to question 5 is included below.

"Is mentoring of a trainee an example of a time commitment that must be reported in current and pending support? There is a difference between a time commitment and an activity that takes time. Should the latter be reported in current and pending support?

An individual need not identify any mentoring activities in their current and pending support submission that take place as part of their regular appointment at the proposing organization. If an individual, however, receives in-kind support either directly or through their organization from an external source to support mentoring of undergraduate or graduate students, that in-kind support, including the time associated with such mentoring, should be identified in the individual’s current and pending support submission."

More than likely you are experiencing a browser issue. Depending on one’s browser settings, it may be trying to open a PDF with the browser’s Adobe add-on. When a live form (one with fillable fields) is clicked on, the browser’s Adobe cannot process and present the ‘sophisticated’ format.  To alleviate this, be sure to first save the attachment to your computer, and then open it with Adobe. You should then be able to view the document as it was originally uploaded to FastLane.

As of April 2017, the NSF has required that investigators submit their collaborators and other affiliations in an excel template. These collaborator lists are no longer included in the NSF biographical sketch, and no longer need to be provided in alphabetical order. Additionally, investigators are no longer required to list postdocs sponsored. Please note that two categories for part B of the template sound very similar: category “G” is for the investigator’s own PhD advisors, while category “P” refers to the investigator’s non-PhD graduate advisors (e.g. Master’s advisor). The required template is available from the NSF website at https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/coa.jsp. 

Please also see Fastlane Advisory dated September 29, 2017:

ATTENTION: Proposers using the Collaborators and Other Affiliations template for more than 10 senior project personnel will encounter proposal print preview issues. Click here for COA Template [XLSX].

Research.gov will show two key dates for every Research Project Progress Report (RPPR), which are required annually and at the end of the project: the date the RPPR is “due” and the date it is “overdue”. These dates represent the start and end dates of the window during which a report can be submitted. Ideally, reports should be submitted to the NSF early in the reporting window, in order to allow time for revisions if the Program Officer requests any. If the Program Officer does not approve the report by the “Overdue” date, the report is considered delinquent. NSF will not make any new awards or allow any extensions to a PI or Co-PIs other awards while any report is due or under review. For more information, see the NSF Reporting page.

This cost category is primarily used by the NSF, although the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.75) defined it for all federal sponsors. Participants Support Costs can only be used for direct costs paid to or on behalf of participants in a sponsored conference or training activity. Participant support costs are exempt from overhead, but funds awarded for this purpose cannot be rebudgeted without sponsor approval. Not all conference expenses qualify as participant support costs; room rental fees, catering, and supplies are not eligible for this category. To qualify as a “participant”, a person must be the beneficiary of the educational component of a workshop, conference, or training. Participants may not be MIT employees, and should not be speakers or organizer in the sponsored activity.

No. As of 2013, the NSF has specified that only federally negotiated indirect cost rates are allowable on NSF awards. MIT does not have a federally negotiated F&A rate for non-research activities. However, federal regulations allow us to charge a de minimis F&A rate of 10% MTDC on non-research activity funded by Federal awards, provided we do so consistently. This is the rate that should be proposed and will be charged. DLCs are not required to fund underrecoveries of fund overhead associated with awards that receive the de minimis rate. 

No. It is not required that the training be completed at that time. The MIT plan for training requires that training be completed within 60 days of their salary being charged to the account. RAS strongly recommends that the training be completed within 30 days.

Section 7009 of the America COMPETES Act was directed solely at the National Science Foundation, and the foundations implementation therefore applies to proposals submitted or due to NSF on or after January 4, 2010. NSF is aware that other agencies may have other RCR training requirements.

You will receive a letter about Responsible Conduct of Research training when your salary becomes supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF requires that all undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral associates and fellows supported on its awards complete Responsible Conduct of Research Training.

The NSF expects institutions to be able to verify that those students (undergraduates and graduates) and postdoctoral researchers who receive NSF funds (support from salary and/or stipends to conduct research on NSF grants) will obtain RCR training. However, NSF anticipates that institutions will develop their RCR training programs in a manner that helps prepare the next generation of researchers, including the consideration of risks or other factors associated with student and postdoctoral researcher participation in research. More information at Responsible Conduct of Research