Finance for Researchers

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (NSF 09-1), which will be effective for proposals received on or after January 5, 2009. Two important changes are included in this revised version of the guide:

The Project Description section has added an entirely new requirement for proposals which request funds to support postdoctoral researchers. A separate section within the 15 page project description must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Examples of such activities are provided and the mentoring plan will be evaluated during the merit review process under the Broader Impacts criterion. Proposals which request funds for postdoctoral researchers that do not address mentoring in a separate section within the Project Description will be returned by NSF without review;

Effective April 6, 2009, in lieu of the above, each proposal that requests funds to support postdoctoral researchers must include as a supplementary document, in no more than one page, the mentoring activities to be provided for such individuals.

• Limits salary compensation for senior project personnel to no more than two months of their regular salary in any one year:

- The limit includes salary compensation received from all NSF-funded awards.

- Broadens the previous policy away from the concept of “two summer months” and allows senior project personnel to schedule work when appropriate throughout the year.

- Any compensation in excess of two months must be specifically justified in the proposal, and if approved by NSF, will be included in the award budget.

All proposals forwarded to Research Administration and Finance (RA&F) for submission to NSF must follow the guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) section of this manual. It is important that all proposals conform to the instructions provided in the GPG as NSF may return without review, proposals that are not consistent with these instructions. The complete copy of the manual can be found on the NSF website at:

Finance for Researchers

NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide.

Significant Changes to NSF Guide

Basic Requirements for NSF Proposals

NSF Proposal Preparation Tips for Business Managers