NSF Important Notices 12/10

NSF has issued requirements concerning (1) mandatory data management plans, (2) voluntary cost sharing prohibition, and (3) requirement of new project outcomes report for the general public. Please see a summary of the new requirements below.

(1) Data Management Plan Required. For NSF proposals submitted, or due, on or after 1/18/2011, proposals must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan". FastLane will reject and not allow submission of proposals missing this section. Important considerations:

o The plan should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on dissemination and sharing of research results.
o NSF resources for requirements and plans relevant to a specific Directorate, Office, Division, Program, or other NSF unit, are available at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp.
o A valid plan may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed, as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification.
o The plan will be reviewed as an integral part of the proposal, coming under Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, or both.

Northwestern is in the process of developing a website concerning data management resources. See http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/nsf_data_management_plan.html for more details.

(2) Voluntary Committed Cost Sharing Prohibited. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. In order for NSF to assess the scope of a proposed project, all organizational resources necessary for, and available to a project, must be described in the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal. The description should be narrative in nature and must not include any quantifiable financial information. See http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/nsf_voluntary_costshare.html for more details.

(3) Project Outcomes Report for the General Public Required. Within 90 days following expiration of the grant, a project outcomes report for the general public must be submitted electronically via Research.gov for all awards, funding increments, or supplements issued on or after January 4, 2010. This report serves as a brief summary, prepared specifically for the public, of the nature and outcomes of the project. See http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/nsf_public_outcomes.html for more details.

OSR Contact Information. Please contact Office for Sponsored Research staff (http://www.research.northwestern.edu/osr/staff.html) if you have any questions concerning the new NSF guidance.