NSF 18-1 January 29, 2018
Chapter XI - Other Post Award Requirements and Considerations

A. Non-Discrimination Statutes

1. General

a. A number of statutes prohibit NSF grantees from discriminating against individuals who participate in any of their programs, services, and activities. These statues include: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability); Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in Federally assisted education programs or activities); and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of age). In addition to statutory prohibitions, Executive Order (E.O.) 11246 bars various types of discriminatory employment practices under grants for construction, and E.O. 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)” requires government agencies to take steps to provide meaningful access to its programs and activities to members of the public who are limited in their English proficiency, including recipients’ programs and activities. The following sections discuss the application of each of these Statutes and E.O. 11246 and E.O. 13166 to NSF grantees.

b. When an NSF grantee receives a complaint alleging discrimination under any of these statutes and the complainant requests that NSF conduct the investigation, the original complaint is to be sent to the Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), National Science Foundation,, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Information on the complaint process can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/od/odi/titlevi_ix.jsp. The complainant may also use the grantee’s internal discrimination complaint process. Such processes are required for NSF grantees to implement under Title IX for sex discrimination complaints, including sexual harassment and under Section 504 for disability discrimination complaints. Grantees are prohibited by these regulations from engaging in acts of intimidation, coercion or retaliation against: a) any person who attempts to assert a right protected by these statutes and their implementing regulations; or b) cooperates in any part of NSF’s review, investigation and compliance resolution or enforcement process.

c. NSF proposers and grantees are required under these regulations to keep records deemed pertinent to ascertain a grantee's compliance with these regulations. It also requires the grantee to submit to NSF timely, complete and accurate reports, and in such form and containing such information, as NSF may determine to be necessary to ascertain whether the grantee has complied or is complying with these regulations.

d. NSF proposers and grantees are advised that NSF may conduct pre-award and post-award compliance reviews to ensure that the grantee is complying with NSF’s civil rights regulations. Grantees are required to provide NSF with access to information, records, grantee officials, grantee program participants, and facilities deemed pertinent by NSF to ascertain a grantee’s compliance with these regulations.

e. NSF proposers and grantees are required under these regulations to make available to its participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons, information regarding these regulations and their applicability to the program(s) under which the grantee receives Federal financial assistance from NSF. Proposers and grantees are also required to make such information available to these parties in such a manner as NSF finds necessary to apprise such persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by these regulations.

f. NSF proposers and grantees may contact ODI at the address in (b) above or at 1-703-292-8020 with any questions regarding these non-discrimination statutes and their implementing NSF regulations and their applicability to their institutions’ programs, services and activities.

2. Certification of Compliance/Civil Rights Certifications

3. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

a. Background

Section 602 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC § 2000d, et seq.) provides that no person in the US shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Section 602 requires that each Government agency which is empowered to extend such financial assistance issue rules or regulations implementing Title VI with respect to such programs or activities administered by the agency.

b. NSF Regulations

NSF regulations implementing Title VI are found at 45 CFR § 611. These regulations apply to grantees, subrecipients and successors in interest. These regulations do not apply to contracts for commercially available materials and supplies, equipment or general support services.

c. Key Procedural and Programmatic Requirements

The procedures for ensuring NSF grantees’ compliance with Title VI are found at 45 CFR §§ 611.6-11. These regulations provide for the compliance and investigative actions that NSF may initiate in order to ascertain grantees’ compliance with Title VI. These regulations also provide for the enforcement procedures to compel grantee compliance with Title VI if a grantee refuses to take corrective action for violations found during an NSF complaint investigation or compliance review. NSF’s Section 504, Title IX and Age Discrimination Act regulations incorporate by reference the Title VI compliance, investigative and enforcement procedures.

4. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

a. Background

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 USC §794) provides that "no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance...."

b. NSF Regulations

NSF regulations implementing Section 504 are found at 45 CFR §605. With a few changes, these regulations mirror the regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) at 45 CFR § 84. These regulations also apply to subrecipients and successors in interest. These regulations do not apply to contracts for commercially available materials and supplies, equipment or general support services.

c. Key Procedural and Programmatic Requirements

NSF’s Section 504 regulations, in addition to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, requires NSF grantees to designate a Section 504 coordinator, publish and adopt procedures to investigate and adjudicate complaints of internally-filed disability discrimination complaints, and notify the public of its obligation to comply with Section 504. NSF’s Section 504 regulation also requires NSF grantees to conduct a self-evaluation to determine the accessibility of its programs, services, activities and facilities, and implement modifications, implement corrective actions identified from the self-evaluation and conduct a transition plan to identify those physical elements of the NSF grantee's facilities that are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities and require retrofit. NSF’s Section 504 regulations also require that all new construction and alterations to existing facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities and meet current accessibility standards. See 45 CFR § 605 for all of the regulatory requirements for NSF grantees.

5. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

a. Background

Subject to exceptions regarding admission policies at certain religious and military organizations, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC §§ 1681-1686) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

b. NSF Regulations

NSF regulations implementing Title IX are found at 45 CFR §618. All NSF grantees who provide or operate educational programs as defined in 45 CFR 618.105 must comply with Title IX. These regulations also apply to subrecipients and successors in interest who operate such educational programs. These regulations do not apply to contracts for commercially available materials and supplies, equipment or general support services.

c. Key Procedural and Programmatic Requirements

NSF's Title IX regulations, in addition to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, requires NSF grantees to designate a Title IX coordinator, publish and adopt procedures to investigate and adjudicate complaints of internally-filed sex discrimination complaints, notify the public of its obligation to comply with Title IX, conduct a self-evaluation to determine whether its programs, services, activities and facilities comply with Title IX and implement corrective actions identified from the self-evaluation. See 45 CFR § 618 for all of the regulatory requirements for NSF grantees under Title IX.

6. Age Discrimination Act of 1975

a. Background

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 USC §§6101 et seq.), provides that pursuant to regulations issued by DHHS "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under, any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

b. NSF Regulations

NSF regulations implementing the Age Discrimination Act are found at 45 CFR §617. These regulations also apply to subrecipients and successors in interest. These regulations do not apply to contracts for commercially available materials and supplies, equipment or general support services.

c. Key Procedural and Programmatic Requirements

NSF's Age Discrimination Act regulations, in addition to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age in education programs, requires NSF grantees conduct a self-evaluation to determine each recipient shall identify all age distinctions it uses and justify each age distinction it imposes on the program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance from NSF. See 45 CFR § 617 for all of the regulatory requirements under the Age Discrimination Act for NSF grantees.

7. Equal Employment Opportunity under E.O. 11246

a. Background

E.O. 11246, as amended, requires contractors and subcontractors performing Federally assisted construction projects to provide equal opportunity, without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin, to persons employed or seeking employment with them. This E.O. may apply to some NSF grants for construction. E.O. 11246 is enforced by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

b. Grant Condition

In instances when E.O. 11246 is applicable, the grant will include an equal opportunity clause in conformance with regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor at 41 CFR §60.

8. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) under E.O. 13166

a. Background

E.O. 13166 requires Federal agencies and NSF grantees to take steps to provide meaningful access to its programs and activities to program participants who are limited English proficient (LEP). The failure to ensure that LEP persons can effectively participate in or benefit from Federally-assisted programs and activities may violate the prohibition under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and NSF’s Title VI implementing regulations against national origin discrimination. The US Department of Justice has published guidance to assist NSF grantees) in their efforts to comply with Title VI when providing LEP individuals with access to recipient programs, services and activities.

b. Grant Condition

In instances when E.O. 13166 is applicable, NSF grantees should contact NSF’s LEP Coordinator within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for guidance at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.

B. Protection of Living Organisms

1. Human Subjects

a. Background

The grantee is responsible for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in activities supported by NSF. All research involving human subjects supported or otherwise subject to regulation by any Federal agency is covered by a policy set forth in the Common Rule, "Protection of Human Subjects". For projects lacking definite plans for the use of human subjects pursuant to 45 CFR § 690.118, NSF can accept a preliminary approval from an IRB that establishes a limited approval period, requires the PI to submit an amendment or new IRB application prior to the expiration date, and stipulates that no work with human subjects, including recruitment, may be conducted until full IRB approval is obtained. Complete instructions on preparation and submission of proposals that involve use of human subjects are available in Chapter II.D.5.

b. NSF Regulation

(i) NSF's Common Rule on Protection of Human Subjects is available on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/45cfr690.pdf. Guidance about the regulation is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/human.jsp.

(ii) During the life of the award, additional IRB approval must be obtained if the protocols for the use of human subject has been changed substantively from those originally proposed and approved. When an additional IRB approval is required, the organization must provide to the cognizant NSF Program Officer a signed copy of the new IRB approval letter indicating approval of the covered activities and explicitly referencing the title of the award. In the event the grantee's FWA is canceled or lapses, the grantee must immediately notify the NSF Grants Officer identified in the award.

(iii) Supplements to existing awards do not require a separate IRB approval letter. If the scope of the project has been substantively changed from the award, however, a new signed IRB approval letter is required, indicating approval of the covered activities and explicitly referencing the title of the award.

c. Grant Conditions

Each NSF grant contains, as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing NSF regulations on projects involving research with human subjects. In addition, each award notice contains the following language relating to a grantee's responsibilities regarding the use of human subjects during the life of the grant:

"It is the grantee's responsibility to ensure that any human subjects work conducted under this award has an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, where required, and that such approval remains valid at all times that human subjects work is conducted under the award. Failure to comply with this condition will result in suspension and/or termination of the award."

2. Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules

a. Applicability

This section applies to all research, for which NSF grant funds are used, that falls within the scope of the Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines), as amended in March 2013, hereafter referred to as the "Guidelines".

b. Policy

NSF grantees performing research within the US that falls within the scope of the Guidelines shall comply with the Guidelines, including the procedural requirements and any subsequent revisions as they are published in the Federal Register. Grantee responsibilities include:

(i) Each organization involved in the conduct of NSF-supported recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research subject to the Guidelines must have a standing Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) as specified in Section IV of the Guidelines.

(ii) Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research subject to the Guidelines must be registered with the IBC indicating compliance with the containment requirements specified in Part III of the Guidelines. IBCs are required to keep records of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid research conducted at their organization in a form that is available to NSF upon request.

c. Research Requiring Prior Approval

In certain instances research should not be initiated or registered with IBCs prior to approval and determination of containment level by the Director, NIH. Normally such experiments are reviewed by the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee before a decision is made by the Director, NIH. Such instances are:

(i) research for which containment levels are not explicitly specified by the Guidelines;

(ii) research involving experiments prohibited by the Guidelines, i.e., requests for exceptions to the Guidelines; and

(iii) requests to perform experiments without regard to the containment specified in the Guidelines, i.e., exemptions from the Guidelines.

3. Vertebrate Animals

a. Background

The grantee is responsible for the humane care and treatment of any vertebrate animal used or intended for use in such activities as field or laboratory research, development, training, experiments, biological testing or for related purposes supported by NSF grants.

b. Federal Regulations

(i) Any grantee performing research on vertebrate animals⁵⁷ shall comply with the Animal Welfare Act [7 USC 2131 et seq.] and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture [9 CFR 1.1-4.11] pertaining to the humane care, handling, and treatment of vertebrate animals held or used for research, teaching, or other activities supported by Federal awards. The grantee is expected to ensure that the guidelines described in the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Publication, "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" are followed and to comply with the Public Health Service Policy and Government Principles Regarding the Care and Use of Animals (included as Appendix D to the NAS Guide). Taxon-specific guidelines may be used as supplemental references.⁵⁸ Departures from the Guide must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and based on scientific, veterinary, medical, or animal welfare issues (for more information, see OLAW-Departures from the Guide).

(ii) During the life of the award, additional IACUC approval must be obtained if the protocols for the care of use of vertebrate animals have been changed substantively from those originally proposed and approved. When an additional IACUC approval is required, the organization must provide to the cognizant NSF Program Officer a signed copy of a new IACUC approval letter indicating approval of the covered activities and explicitly referencing the title of the award. In the event the grantee's PHS Assurance is canceled or lapses, the grantee must immediately notify the NSF Grants Officer identified in the award.

(iii) Supplements to existing awards do not require a separate IACUC approval letter. If the scope of the project has been substantively changed from the parent award, however, a new signed IACUC approval letter is required.

(iv) Research facilities subject to the Animal Welfare Act using or intending to use live animals in research and who receive Federal funding are required to register the facility with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), US Department of Agriculture. A current listing of licensed animal dealers may also be obtained from APHIS. The location of the nearest APHIS Regional Office, as well as information concerning this and other APHIS activities, may be obtained at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/.

(iv) Awards to US grantees for projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at a foreign institution or foreign field site also require approval of research protocols by the US grantee's IACUC. If the project is to be funded through a grant to a foreign institution or through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at a foreign institution, NSF will require a statement explicitly listing the proposer's name and referencing the title of the award to confirm that activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the foreign country and that the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see http://www.cioms.ch) will be followed.

(v) Awards to US grantees for projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at a foreign institution or foreign field site also require approval of research protocols by the US grantee’s IACUC. If the project is to be funded through a grant to a foreign institution or through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at a foreign institution, NSF will require a statement from the international organization explicitly listing the proposer’s name and referencing the title of the award to confirm that activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the foreign country and that the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see http://www.cioms.ch/) will be followed.

c. Grant Conditions

Each NSF grant contains, as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing NSF regulations on projects involving research with vertebrate animals. In addition, each award notice contains the following language relating to a grantee’s responsibilities regarding the care or use of vertebrate animals during the life of the grant:

"It is the grantee's responsibility to ensure that any vertebrate animal work conducted under this award has an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval, where required, and that such approval remains valid at all times that vertebrate animal work is conducted under the award. Failure to comply with this condition will result in suspension and/or termination of the award."

4. Government Permits and Activities Abroad

a. For awards that include activities requiring permits from appropriate Federal, State, or local government authorities, the grantee should obtain any required permits prior to undertaking the proposed activities.

b. The grantee should ensure that activities carried on outside the US are coordinated as necessary with appropriate US and foreign government authorities and that necessary licenses, permits or approvals are obtained prior to undertaking proposed activities. NSF does not assume responsibility for grantee compliance with the laws and regulations of the country in which the work is to be conducted.

5. Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)

a. Applicability

This section applies to all research, for which NSF grant funds may be used, that potentially falls within the scope of the US Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern (http://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/default.aspx) as published in September 2014, hereafter referred to as the "Policy".

b. NSF Implementation of the Policy

NSF is committed to preserving the benefits of life sciences research while minimizing the risk of misuse of the knowledge, information, products, or technologies provided by such research. The purpose of NSF’s implementation of this Policy is to clarify grantee expectations about NSF-funded research with certain high-consequence pathogens and toxins with potential to be considered dual use research of concern.

Grantees are responsible for monitoring the research progress and for implementation of all appropriate biosafety and biosecurity risk mitigation measures including compliance with all applicable laws and regulations related to that implementation, including the Policy specified above. While the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has lifted the research funding pause on gain of function research as of January 2017 (https://www.phe.gov/s3/dualuse/Pages/GainOfFunction.aspx), NSF will not consider funding research that would lead to a gain of function for agents of concern.

C. Construction, Rearrangements and Reconversions

1. Davis-Bacon Act

The Davis-Bacon Act (40 USC §§ 276a et seq.) establishes minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on construction contracts to which the US is a party involving public buildings or public works within the US. A number of other statutes have extended this provision to specific Federal grant programs involving construction. However, unless specifically stated in the grant, the Davis-Bacon Act does not normally apply to NSF grants since grantees normally retain title to property acquired under the grant and the construction, if any, is normally on non-Government land.

2. Bonding and Insurance

The NSF Act (42 USC § 1870c) provides NSF with authority to enter into grants, contracts or other agreements without performance or other bonds. Therefore, unless the grant specifically provides otherwise, NSF does not require performance or other bonds or insurance.

3. Seismic Safety of Buildings

E.O. 12699 Seismic Safety of Federal and Federally-assisted or Regulated New Building Construction dated January 5, 1990, requires that consideration be given to seismic hazards in the design of buildings. Very seldom are NSF grantees involved with Federally-assisted construction and rarely are new buildings involved. NSF ensures compliance with the Order through its grantees by inclusion of a specific grant condition in any appropriate grant.

D. Intellectual Property

1. Patents and Inventions

a. Background

(i) The disposition of rights to inventions made by small business firms and non-profit organizations, including universities and other institutions of higher education, during NSF-assisted research is governed by Chapter 18 of Title 35 of the USC, commonly called the Bayh-Dole Act. In accordance with a Presidential Memorandum entitled Government Patent Policy issued on February 18, 1983 and under the authority of Section 12 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC § 1871), NSF applies the policies of the Bayh-Dole Act to all its grantees. The Department of Commerce (DOC) is the lead agency for implementing the Bayh-Dole Act and has published guidance to Federal agencies in 37 CFR § 401. NSF’s implementing rules are published in 45 CFR § 650.

(ii) NSF's standard Patent Rights clause, published at 45 CFR § 650.4(a) and below at Chapter XI.D.1.c, "Standard Patent Rights Clause" is identical to that prescribed in the DOC guidance (37 CFR § 401.14(a)) except that:

(a) NSF has tailored the clause to apply to grants and to identify NSF;

(b) pursuant to Section 401.5(d) of the DOC guidance (37 CFR § 401.5(d)), NSF has added to paragraph b. of the clause a stipulation that NSF reserves the right to direct a grantee to transfer to a foreign government or research performer such rights to any subject invention as are required to comply with any international treaty or agreement identified when the grant is made as being applicable to the assisted research;

(c) as permitted by Section 401.5(f) of the DOC guidance (37 CFR § 401.5(f)), NSF has added a subparagraph to the end of paragraph f. of the clause to require grantees or their representatives to send NSF confirmations of the Government licenses for subject inventions and of the page of any United States patent application that contains the Federal support clause;

(d) since NSF normally uses the same clause for all subrecipients, the first two subparagraphs of paragraph g. of the clause specified in the DOC guidance have been reduced to one;

(e) paragraph c.1 of the clause has been changed to require that invention disclosures be submitted electronically via the iEdison system; and

(f) paragraph L. of the clause has been changed to require that all communications required by the Patents Rights clause be submitted electronically via the iEdison system unless prior permission is obtained from the NSF Patent Assistant.

b. National Science Foundation Patent Policy

As authorized by the NSB, the Director of the NSF has adopted the following NSF patent policy.

(i) In accordance with the Bayh-Dole Act and the Presidential Memorandum entitled Government Patent Policy issued February 18, 1983, NSF will use the Patent Rights clause prescribed by DOC in all its funding agreements for the performance of experimental, developmental or research work, including grants made to foreign entities, unless NSF determines that some other provision would better serve the purposes of that Act or the interests of the US and the general public.

(ii) In funding agreements covered by a treaty or agreement that provide that an international organization or foreign government, research institute or inventor will own or share patent rights, NSF will acquire such patent rights as are necessary to comply with the applicable treaty or agreement.

(iii) If a grantee elects not to retain rights to an invention, NSF will allow the inventor to retain the principal patent rights unless the grantee, or the inventor’s employer, if other than the grantee, shows that it would be harmed by that action.

(iv) NSF will normally allow any patent rights not wanted by the grantee or inventor to be dedicated to the public through publication in scientific or engineering journals or as a statutory invention registration. If another Federal agency is known to be interested in the relevant technology, however, NSF may give it an opportunity to review and patent the invention so long as that does not inhibit the dissemination of the research results to the research community.

c. Standard Patent Rights Clause

Each NSF grant contains as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing the standard patent rights clause.

d. Electronic Invention Handling

Grantees are required to use the iEdison System to disclose NSF subject inventions. Detailed instructions for use of that system are provided at: http://s-edison.info.nih.gov/iEdison/ and should be followed for NSF subject inventions except that:

a. All communications required must be provided electronically as a PDF or TIFF file through iEdison unless prior permission for another form of submission is obtained from the NSF Patent Assistant.

b. NSF may request a Utilization or other report or statement regarding a subject invention.

Questions on use of iEdison and requests for permission to submit material in other forms may be sent to the NSF Patent Assistant at: patents@nsf.gov, or at the Office of the General Counsel, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.

2. Copyright

a. Rights to Copyrighted Material

The following principles governing the treatment of copyrighted material produced under NSF grants were adopted by the NSB.

(i) NSF normally will acquire only such rights to copyrighted material as are needed to achieve its purposes or to comply with the requirements of any applicable government-wide policy or international agreement.

(ii) To preserve incentives for private dissemination and development, NSF normally will not restrict, or take any part of income earned from, copyrighted material except as necessary to comply with the requirements of any applicable government-wide policy or international agreement.

(iii) In exceptional circumstances, NSF may restrict or eliminate a grantee's control of NSF-supported copyrighted material and of income earned from it, if NSF determines that this would best serve the purposes of a particular program or grant.

b. Standard Copyrighted Material Clause

Unless a special copyrighted material clause has been negotiated, each NSF grant that relates to scientific or engineering research contains as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing the standard copyrighted material requirements.

c. Public Access to Copyrighted Material

NSF's policy on public access to copyrighted material (Public Access Policy) reflects the Foundation's commitment to making certain that, to the extent possible, the American public, industry and the scientific community have access to the results of Federally funded scientific research. Pursuant to this policy, grantees must ensure that articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and papers in juried conference proceedings:

• are deposited in a public access compliant repository (as identified in the Public Access Policy);
• are available for download, reading, and analysis within 12 months of publication;
• possess a minimum set of machine-readable metadata elements as described in the Public Access Policy; and
• are reported in annual and final reports with a persistent identifier.

Either the final printed version or the final peer-reviewed manuscript is acceptable for deposit. NSF’s Public Access Policy applies to awards, funded in whole or in part, as a result of proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 25, 2016. NSF’s Public Access Policy may be viewed at: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/public_access/index.jsp.

Each NSF grant contains as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing the public access requirements.

3. Special Patent and Copyright Situations

a. Special Grant Provisions

At the request of the prospective grantee or on recommendation from NSF staff, the NSF Grants Officer, with the concurrence of the cognizant NSF Program Officer, may negotiate special patent or copyright provisions when he/she determines that exceptional circumstances require restriction or elimination of the right of a prospective grantee to control principal rights to subject inventions or writings in order to better achieve the objectives of the program, the National Science Foundation Act, or (in the case of inventions) Chapter 18 of Title 35 of the USC. Every special copyright or patent provision will allow the grantee, after an invention has been made or copyrighted material created, to request that it be allowed to retain principal rights to that invention or material, unless doing so would be inconsistent with an obligation imposed on NSF by statute, international agreement or pact with other participants in, or supporters of, the research.

b. Grants Not Primarily for Research

(i) Grants not primarily intended to support scientific or engineering research generally do not contain patent or copyrighted material provisions. Examples of such grants are travel, conference and equipment grants.

(ii) NSF Fellowships and Traineeships. In accordance with Section 212 of Title 35 of the USC, NSF claims no rights to inventions made by fellows or trainees. The following provision will be included in each fellowship or traineeship program solicitation and made part of the grant:

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship or traineeship grants. However, fellows and trainees should be aware that the NSF, another Federal agency, or some private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, fellows and trainees should note their obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.

[END OF PROVISION]

c. Grants Affected by International Agreements

(i) Many of the bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements underlying NSF’s international cooperative research programs contain provisions on allocation of rights to inventions or writings. These sometimes require an allocation of rights different from that provided by the standard Copyrighted Material or Patent Rights clauses. In those cases, the standard clauses will be modified through the addition of the following to the grant:

"This project is supported under the cooperative program listed below. Your rights in inventions, writings, and data may be affected."

The applicable agreement or treaty will be identified immediately beneath that sentence.

(ii) After an invention is disclosed to the Patent Assistant, the recipient of a grant subject to an international agreement will be informed as to what rights, if any, it must transfer to foreign participants. Grantees also may ask the NSF Program Officer for copies of the identified international agreement before or after accepting a grant.

4. Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results

a. Investigators are expected to promptly prepare and submit for publication, with authorship that accurately reflects the contributions of those involved, all significant findings from work conducted under NSF grants. Grantees are expected to permit and encourage such publication by those actually performing that work, unless a grantee intends to publish or disseminate such findings itself.

b. Investigators are expected to share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the primary data, samples, physical collections and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of work under NSF grants. Grantees are expected to encourage and facilitate such sharing. Privileged or confidential information should be released only in a form that protects the privacy of individuals and subjects involved. General adjustments and, where essential, exceptions to this sharing expectation may be specified by the funding NSF Program or Division/Office for a particular field or discipline to safeguard the rights of individuals and subjects, the validity of results, or the integrity of collections or to accommodate the legitimate interest of investigators. A grantee or investigator also may request a particular adjustment or exception from the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

c. Investigators and grantees are encouraged to share software and inventions created under the grant or otherwise make them or their products widely available and usable.

d. NSF normally allows grantees to retain principal legal rights to intellectual property developed under NSF grants to provide incentives for development and dissemination of inventions, software and publications that can enhance their usefulness, accessibility and upkeep. Such incentives do not, however, reduce the responsibility that investigators and organizations have as members of the scientific and engineering community, to make results, data and collections available to other researchers.

e. NSF program management will implement these policies for dissemination and sharing of research results, in a way appropriate to field and circumstances, through the proposal review process; through award negotiations and grant conditions; and through appropriate support and incentives for data cleanup, documentation, dissemination, storage and the like.

f. Each NSF grant contains, as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing dissemination and sharing of research results.

5. Tangible Property

a. Background

Some NSF grants support collection or creation of tangible property, such as insects, marine life, drilling core samples and genetically-altered microorganisms. As used in this section "tangible property" means any personal property other than equipment (see Chapter II.C.2.g(iii)), and intellectual property.

b. Legal Rights to Tangible Property

Unless otherwise provided in the grant, all legal rights to tangible property collected or created during NSF-assisted research remain with the grantee or investigators as determined by the policies of the organization. As members of the scientific and engineering community, both grantees and investigators are responsible for making such tangible property appropriately available to other researchers.

E. Publication/Distribution of Grant Materials

1. NSF Policy

NSF advocates and encourages open scientific and engineering communication. NSF expects significant findings from research it supports to be promptly submitted for publication, with authorship that accurately reflects the contributions of those involved. Copyrighted material published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and papers included in juried conference proceedings must comply with NSF’s Public Access Policy as implemented in the grant terms and conditions.

2. Costs

Cost of documenting, preparing, publishing, disseminating and sharing research findings and supporting material are allowable charges against the grant. (See Chapter X.A.2.c.)

3. Responsibilities

Unless otherwise provided in the grant, preparation, content, editing, identification of authorship and submission for publication of significant research findings are the responsibility of the investigators, consistent with such policies and procedures as the grantee may prescribe.

4. Grantee Obligations

a. Acknowledgement of Support. Unless otherwise provided in the grant, the grantee is responsible for assuring that an acknowledgment of NSF support is made:

(i) in any publication (including web pages) of any material based on or developed under this project, in the following terms:

"This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (NSF grant number)."

(ii) NSF support also must be orally acknowledged during all news media interviews, including popular media such as radio, television and news magazines.

b. Disclaimer. The awardee is responsible for assuring that every publication of material (including web pages) based on or developed under this award, except scientific articles or papers appearing in scientific, technical or professional journals, contains the following disclaimer:

"Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."

c. Copies for NSF. The grantee is responsible for assuring that the cognizant NSF Program Officer is provided access to, either electronically or in paper form, a copy of every publication of material based on or developed under this award, clearly labeled with the award number and other appropriate identifying information, promptly after publication.

d. Compliance with NSF Public Access Policy. The grantee is responsible for ensuring that copyrighted material published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and papers in juried conference proceedings are accessible to the public in accordance with the grant terms and conditions.

e. Grantees also should note their obligations in regard to copyrights (see Chapter XI.D.2) and their responsibilities as members of the scientific and engineering community to disseminate and share research results (see Chapter XI.D.4).

f. Each NSF grant contains, as part of the grant terms and conditions, an article implementing the grantee obligations regarding the acknowledgement of support and disclaimer.

F. International Considerations

1. Travel to Foreign Countries

a. Policy

(i) Expenses for transportation, lodging, subsistence and related items incurred by project personnel and by outside consultants employed on the project, (see Chapter II.C.2.g(iv)) who are on travel status on business related to an NSF-supported project are allowable as prescribed in the governing OMB cost principles.

(ii) Except as provided in the governing OMB cost principles, the difference between economy airfare and a higher-class airfare is unallowable. A train, bus or other surface carrier may be used in lieu of, or as a supplement to, air travel at the lowest first-class rate by the transportation facility used. If such travel, however, could have been performed by air, the allowance will not normally exceed that for jet economy airfare.

(iii) Support for the foreign travel of an investigator's dependents is allowable only under the conditions identified in Chapter X.C.5.

b. Use of US-Flag Air Carriers

(i) In accordance with the Fly America Act (49 USC 40118), any air transportation to, from, between, or within a country other than the US of persons or property, the expense of which will be assisted by NSF funding, must be performed by or under a code-sharing arrangement with a US-flag air carrier if service provided by such a carrier is available (see Comptroller General Decision B-240956, dated September 25, 1991). Tickets (or documentation for electronic tickets) must identify the US flag air carrier’s designator code and flight number.

(ii) For the purposes of this requirement, US-flag air carrier service is considered available even though:

(a) comparable or a different kind of service can be provided at less cost by a foreign-flag air carrier;

(b) foreign-flag air carrier service is preferred by, or is more convenient for, NSF or traveler; or

(c) service by a foreign-flag air carrier can be paid for in excess foreign currency.

(iii) The following rules apply unless their application would result in the first or last leg of travel from or to the US being performed by a foreign-flag air carrier:

(a) a US-flag air carrier shall be used to destination or, in the absence of direct or through service, to the farthest interchange point on a usually traveled route.

(b) if a US-flag air carrier does not serve an origin or interchange point, a foreign-flag air carrier shall be used only to the nearest interchange point on a usually traveled route to connect with a US flag air carrier.

c. Use of Foreign-Flag Air Carriers

There are certain circumstances under which use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible. These circumstances are outlined below:

(i) Airline "Open Skies" Agreement:

A foreign-flag air carrier may be used if the transportation is provided under an air transportation agreement between the United States and a foreign government, which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the requirements of the Fly America Act. For information on "Open Skies" agreements in which the United States has entered, please refer to the GSA website at: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191.

In 2007, the US entered into an "Open Skies" Agreement with the European Union (EU). This agreement was modified in June 2010. The current Agreement gives European Community airlines (airlines of Member States) the right to transport passengers and cargo on flights funded by the US government, when the transportation is between: (1) any two points outside the United States; or (2) a point in the United States and any point outside the United States that the EU airline is authorized to serve under the "Open Skies" Agreement.

In 2011, two significant changes were made to the US/EU Open Skies Agreement. First, EU airlines are now granted the right to transport civilian agency-funded passengers who are NOT eligible to travel on GSA Airline City Pair Contract fares (e.g., grantees) between a point in the United States and a point outside the United States even if there is a GSA Airline City Pair Contract fare in effect between the origin and destination points. An individual, however, who is traveling on a route for which there is a City Pair Contract fare in effect, and who is eligible for such a fare (e.g., Federal employee), are be required to fly on a US carrier, absent another applicable exception.

Second, under the amended Agreement, EU airlines are now authorized to transport passengers between points in the United States and points outside the EU if the EU airline is authorized to serve the route under the Agreement. This includes flights that originate, arrive, or stop in the EU. Prior to this change, EU airlines were limited to flying passengers between points in the US and points in the EU.

(ii) Involuntary Rerouting

Travel on a foreign-flag carrier is permitted if a US-flag air carrier involuntarily reroutes the traveler via a foreign-flag air carrier, notwithstanding the availability of alternative US-flag air carrier service.

(iii) Travel To and From the US on non-European Community Airlines

Use of a non-European Community foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if the airport abroad is:

(a) the traveler's origin or destination airport, and use of US-flag air carrier service would extend the time in a travel status by at least 24 hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier; or

(b) an interchange point, and use of US-flag air carrier service would increase the number of aircraft changes the traveler must make outside of the US by two or more, would require the traveler to wait four hours or more to make connections at that point, or would extend the time in a travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.

(iv) Travel Between Points Outside the US on non-European Community Airlines

Use of a non-European Community foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if:

(b) travel by a US-flag air carrier would require a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point; or

(c) the travel is not part of the trip to or from the US, and use of a US-flag air carrier would extend the time in a travel status by at least six hours more than travel by a foreign-flag air carrier.

(v) Short Distance Travel

For all short distance travel, regardless of origin and destination, use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible if the elapsed travel time on a scheduled flight from origin to destination airport by a foreign-flag air carrier is three hours or less and service by a US-flag air carrier would double the travel time.

2. Charter Flights

Because of the risk of catastrophic loss, NSF does not encourage the use of charter flights as a means of mass transportation for groups of scientists and engineers nor does it make arrangements for purchase of charter flight airline tickets.

3. Projects in a Foreign Country

a. For awards that include activities requiring permits from appropriate Federal, State, or local government authorities, the grantee should obtain any required permits prior to undertaking the proposed activities.

b. The grantee must comply with the laws and regulations of any foreign country in which research is to be conducted. Areas of potential concern include: (1) requirements for advance approval to conduct research or surveys; (2) special arrangements for the participation of foreign scientists and engineers; and (3) special visas for persons engaged in research or studies. NSF does not assume responsibility for grantee compliance with the laws and regulations of the country in which the work is to be conducted.

c. The grantee also should assure that activities carried on outside the US are coordinated as necessary with appropriate US and foreign government authorities and that necessary licenses, permits or approvals are obtained prior to undertaking the proposed activities.

4. Passports and Visas

NSF assumes no responsibility for securing passports or visas required by any person because of participation in an NSF-supported project. For restrictions concerning directly charging visa costs to an NSF award, see 2 CFR § 200.463.

It should be noted that some countries that normally do not require visas for tourists do require special visas for scientists and engineers engaged in research or studies.

G. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

The Foundation’s regulation on Intergovernmental Review of National Science Foundation Programs and Activities is published in 45 CFR Part 660.

H. Handling of Information

1. Questionnaires: Data Collection Under NSF Grants

a. Paperwork Control

Under the OMB regulation, Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public (5 CFR § 1320), if a grantee obtains information from ten or more persons by means of identical questions, it is considered to be "sponsored" by NSF only if:

(i) the grantee is collecting the information at the specific request of NSF; or

(ii) the terms of the grant require specific approval by NSF of the collection or its procedures.

If either of these conditions is met, OMB approval of the data collection is generally required and grantees should obtain the necessary control number from the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

b. NSF Policy

Data collection activities of NSF grantees are the responsibility of grantees, and NSF support of a project does not constitute NSF approval of the survey design, questionnaire content or data collection procedures. No representation may be made to respondents that such data are being collected for, or in association with, NSF or the government. However, this requirement is not intended to preclude mention of NSF support of the project in response to an inquiry or acknowledgment of such support in any publication of this data (see Chapter XI.E.4).

2. Release of Information by NSF

a. Press Releases

Grants for projects which appear to be of special interest to the general public may be made the subject of an NSF or joint NSF/grantee press release to the news media. (See Chapter X.C.2.)

b. Open Government Legislation

(i) Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC § 552), NSF will provide agency records, with certain exceptions, if the request is in writing, includes the requester's name and mailing address, is clearly identified as a FOIA request, and describes the records sought with sufficient specificity to permit identification. The requester must also agree to pay fees that are chargeable under the NSF regulations. Detailed procedures are contained in 45 CFR § 612. Further information is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/policies/foia.jsp.

(ii) The Government in the Sunshine Act (5 USC § 552b) requires that all meetings of the NSB be open to public observation unless the subject falls within one of ten exemptions. NSF's Sunshine Act regulations are contained in 45 CFR § 614. The Sunshine Act and the FOIA cited above, may require NSF to release to the public information, correspondence and documents received by NSF from grantees, unless they fall within the Acts' limited exceptions.

c. Release of Project Reports

NSF expects significant findings from research it supports to be promptly submitted for publication. To the extent permitted by law, NSF will honor requests from grantees that release of Annual and Final Project Reports be delayed to permit orderly dissemination of significant findings through refereed channels. Unless such a request is received or material is marked as proprietary, such reports may be made available to others without notice to the grantee. Information, the disclosure of which might invade personal privacy, will be redacted before release.

I. Tax Staus

Determination of the tax status of an organization or person receiving compensation in any form as a result of an NSF grant is the responsibility of the IRS, State and local tax authorities and the courts.

J. Protection of Properties in the National Register of Historic Places

NSF is required by 16 USC § 470f to take into account the effect of grant activities on properties included in the National Register of Historic Places. Occasionally, an NSF grant may involve activities that require mitigation or other actions under the National Historic Preservation Act and implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36 CFR § 800). In such cases, as deemed appropriate by NSF, conditions executing the goals of the National Historic Preservation Act may be included in the grant and grantees or prospective grantees may be required to coordinate with State or local historical preservation officers.

K. Environmental Compliance

Prior to making an award, NSF considers the anticipated environmental impacts associated with the activities described in the proposal. The assessment of environmental impacts is based, in part, on information provided by the organization. If, while performing the work required by the grant, the grantee learns of any potential or actual unanticipated environmental impacts, the grantee shall immediately notify NSF of such impacts. The grantee also shall cease all work anticipated to cause or causing such unanticipated environmental impacts until NSF has had a reasonable opportunity to assess the situation, comply with all relevant environmental laws, and provide further direction to the grantee.

L. National Security

NSF grants are intended for unclassified, publicly releasable research. The grantee will not be granted access to classified information. NSF does not expect that the results of the research project will involve classified information.

If, however, in conducting the activities supported under a grant, the PI/PD is concerned that any of the research results involve potentially classifiable information that may warrant Government restrictions on the dissemination of the results, the PI/PD should promptly notify the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

M. Miscellaneous

1. Liabilities and Losses

NSF cannot assume any liability for accidents, bodily injury, illness, breach of contract, any other damages or loss, or any claims arising out of any activities undertaken pursuant to the grant, whether with respect to persons or property of the grantee or third parties. The grantee is advised to insure or otherwise protect itself or others, as it may deem desirable.

2. Pre-College Students and Experimental Curriculum Development Projects

As required by 42 USC § 1869 a and b, grantees of projects which involve pre-college students in research or development, or pilot-testing, evaluation or revision of, experimental or innovative curriculum development projects will:

a. provide to the school board, or comparable authority responsible for the schools considering participation in the project, information concerning the need for and purposes of, the particular education project, the proposed content of the material to be used, the expected benefits to be derived and other information to assist the jurisdiction in arriving at a decision on participation;

b. obtain written approval for participation in the project activities after the responsible authority has carried out its procedures;

c. provide information and materials to the responsible school authority to assist it in carrying out its own established procedures regarding the participation of students in project activities;

d. provide information to NSF describing compliance with the above provisions; and

e. provide in every publication, testing or distribution agreement involving instructional material developed under a grant (including but not limited to teacher’s manuals, textbooks, films, tapes or other supplementary material) that such material will be made available within the school district using such material, for inspection by parents or guardians of children engaged in educational programs or projects of that school district.

3. Use of Metric Measurements

The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 USC §§ 205a-k) and E.O. 12770 (3 CFR, § 1991 comp.) encourage Federal agencies to use the Metric System in procurement, grants and other business-related activities. The NSF grant will contain a provision encouraging PI/PDs to submit project reports, final reports, other reports and publications produced under grants that employ the metric system of measurements.

4. Executive Order 13788, Buy American and Hire American

Pursuant to Executive Order 13788, dated April 18, 2017, it is the policy of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to maximize, consistent with law and regulation, the use of goods, products, and materials produced in the US. Further, it is the policy of the Executive Branch that relevant agencies will rigorously enforce and administer the laws governing entry into the US of workers from abroad.

⁵⁷In addition to vertebrate animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act, the requirements specified in this coverage also are extended to rats, birds, and mice.Back to Text
⁵⁸Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research; Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research; Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research; Guidelines for the Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory Research. Back to Text