NSF Issues Updated Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Forms

By: Naomi Charalambakis
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Beginning January 30, the new National Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) goes into effect for proposals submitted or due on or after this date. A guide that outlines the requirements for successful NSF proposals, the latest version includes revisions to the biographical sketch and current and pending support, two forms that investigators must complete when submitting an NSF grant proposal. To facilitate compliance with the new requirements, NSF published new guidance about the approved formats investigators must use beginning January 30.

Investigators may create biographical sketches and current and pending support through one of two ways: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) or an NSF fillable form. SciENcv, a new electronic portal that enables researchers to compile the information needed to submit a federal research proposal, generates an NSF-compliant document that investigators can then save and submit as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Alternatively, investigators can create their biographical sketch and current and pending support forms by downloading a blank PDF available on the NSF website (biographical sketch fillable form; current and pending support fillable form). In accordance with the new PAPPG requirements, both forms must be certified via signature to verify that the information is accurate, current, and complete.

While grantees currently have two options to submit the required information, NSF will make SciENcv the only accepted format beginning October 23. The agency anticipates that the use of a single, common research profile system for federal grants will reduce the administrative burden for the research community and streamline the proposal submission process. To ease the transition process, agency officials encourage investigators to familiarize themselves with SciENcv before the October deadline.