Important Funding Agency Updates
National Science Foundation (NSF) Updates
NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders (Frequently Updated)
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August 28, 2025 - NSF expanding national AI infrastructure with new data systems and resources:
The U.S. National Science Foundation today announced two major advancements in America's AI infrastructure: the launch of the Integrated Data Systems and Services (NSF IDSS) program to build out national-scale data systems and the selection of 10 datasets for integration into the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot.
These efforts directly align with priorities outlined in the White House AI Action Plan, which calls for investments in research infrastructure and datasets to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI research, education and innovation.
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July 20, 2025 - Updates on NSF Priorities Updates on NSF Priorities | NSF - National Science Foundation
This page provides updated guidance on the priorities of the U.S. National Science Foundation.
If you are looking for information about recent executive orders, please visit the NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders page.
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June 23, 2025 - Update – Court Decision Issued - Indirect Cost Policy for Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs):
Judge Sides With Universities, Blocking NSF’s 15% Indirect Cost Cap
On June 20, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, in No. 1:25-cv-11231-IT, vacated NSF’s 15% Indirect Cost Rate policy (NSF 25-034). In compliance with the court’s decision, NSF will not implement the policy at this time.
For more information: No. 1:25-cv-11231-IT
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June 18, 2025 - Extended Deferred Implementation of Indirect Cost Policy for Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs)
Applies to: All new awards and associated subawards to IHEs.
This notice is being issued to all NSF proposers and recipient organizations, Principal Investigators, and Authorized Officials for awareness. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is extending its previously issued temporary pause in implementation of NSF Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate (NSF 25-034) until the District Court for the District of Massachusetts issues a decision, in accordance with a voluntary stay filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Association of American Universities, et al. v. National Science Foundation, et al., No. 25-cv-11231. This policy applies to all new awards and associated subawards to IHEs. New NSF awards and associated subawards issued during this pause will not implement NSF 25-034 but will include a term applying NSF 25-034 for the entirety of the award if there is a court decision permitting application of the policy.
NSF reserves the right to modify, rescind, or fully implement NSF 25-034 to the entirety of awards and subawards issued to IHEs on or after May 5, 2025 in accordance with applicable legal rulings and administrative procedures.
Research Security Updates for Federal Grant-Seekers: On May 1st, several federal agencies will require grant applicants to complete training in Research Security. This free training is hosted by NSF (https://www.nsf.gov/research-security/training). Complete all four modules and save your completion certificate; ORSP will launch a website to collect them on April 28th.
NSF Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Effective October 27, 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) for Research.gov. With the growing number of cyber threats, traditional password-only security is no longer sufficient. MFA provides an added layer of security and helps to ensure that only authorized users can access Federal resources online.
MFA is a layered security measure that requires two or more authentication methods to verify a user’s identity. MFA will increase the security of the Research.gov portal because even if one authentication method such as a password becomes compromised, unauthorized users will be unable to meet the second authentication requirement and will be prevented from accessing Research.gov.
Here are the three main types of MFA and examples of each:
- Something You Know – PIN, password, or one-time passcode (OTP)
- Something You Have – Physical object such as a mobile device, laptop, USB device, key, or smart card
- Something You Are – Biometric authentication such as a fingerprint or face scan
- Visit the new About Signing Into Research.gov page for how-to guides, video tutorials, and FAQs: https://www.research.gov/research-web/content/rgovsignin
National Science Foundation (NSF) - New Requirements for Senior/Key Personnel Documents
Biographical Sketches
NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as the NSF-approved format for use in preparation of the biographical sketch section of an NSF proposal. Adoption of a single, common researcher profile system for federal grants reduces administrative burden for researchers. Proposers must use SciENcv to prepare their biographical sketches for proposals to NSF. SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of the biographical sketch. Proposers must save this document and submit it as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Frequently asked questions on using SciENcv: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/SciENcvFAQs.pdf
Current and Pending (Other) Support
SF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as the NSF-approved format for use in preparation of the current and pending support section of an NSF proposal. Adoption of a single, common researcher profile system for federal grants reduces administrative burden for researchers. Proposers must use SciENcv to prepare their Current and Pending (Other) Support information for proposals to NSF. SciENcv will produce NSF-compliant PDF versions of the current and pending support format. Proposers must save this document and submit it as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Frequently asked questions on using SciENcv: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/SciENcvFAQs.pdf
Synergistic Activities
NSF requires this one-page document for each individual identified as senior/key personnel. What to include in your Synergistic Activities information: A list of up to five distinct examples that demonstrate the broader impact of your professional and scholarly activities, focusing on the creation, integration and transfer of knowledge.
NSF- Annual Certification Requirement Regarding Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP).
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing this correspondence to inform organizations of a new annual certification requirement for Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) regarding Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP).
Starting on June 7, 2025, in accordance with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter II.D.1.e(ii), all PIs or co-PIs named on an NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024, must certify annually in Research.gov that they are not party to a MFTRP. Individuals who are currently a party to a MFTRP are not eligible to serve as senior/key personnel on an NSF proposal or on any NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024. NSF is providing notification of this new requirement to impacted PIs and co-PIs.
What you need to know about completing the required MFTRP certification in Research.gov:
- There is no organizational certification requirement, the certification requirement is for PIs and co-PIs.
- Impacted PIs and co-PIs will be prompted to complete the MFTRP certification after signing into Research.gov using the Sign In link at the top of www.Research.gov.
- PIs and co-PIs with more than one active award made on or after May 20, 2024, are only required to certify once, annually.
- Once completed, PIs and co-PIs can view their MFTRP certification response under the Academic/Professional Information section of their profile.
- NSF is working to expand the MFTRP annual certification requirement for all senior/key personnel roles at a future date. Additionally, NSF is working to provide organizations with access to the annual certifications.
- Please see PAPPG Chapter II.D.1.d(ix) for information about Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) responsibilities regarding senior/key personnel MFTRP certifications.
- Frequently Asked Questions and MFTRP contract examples will be available on the MFTRP section of the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy website shortly.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Updates
NIH New Initiatives and Policies (Frequently Updated)
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September 11: Implementation of NIH Research Security Policies (NOT-OD-25-154) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is committed to supporting the research community in safeguarding U.S. science and engineering through clear, actionable research security policies. In alignment with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167),National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33), and the July 29, 2024 Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) memorandum on Guidelines for Research Security Programs at Covered Institutions , NIH is establishing a series of requirements to strengthen transparency and accountability across NIH funded projects. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-154.html
September 11: NIH kicks off yearlong effort to modernize biosafety policies (Science) The National Institutes of Health (NIH) this week announced a yearlong effort to update its policies governing biological safety in research. The Biosafety Modernization Initiative, designed to expand on and improve guidelines the agency has relied on for nearly half a century, will begin this fall with a series of regional listening sessions. A draft policy, set to be published in winter or spring, will then be open to public comment. https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-kicks-yearlong-effort-modernize-biosafety-policies
August 29 - Introducing Highlighted Topics: A Centralized and Simple Resource to Learn About Research Areas of Interest to NIH:
The NIH announced a new centralized and simplified resource, called NIH Highlighted Topics, that informs the research community about particular areas of science of interest to NIH. Visiting this resource early and often when conceptualizing your research ideas will help ensure you are aware of some of NIH’s latest scientific interests. It also aims to help facilitate innovation and discovery through a strong focus on more investigator initiated driven research.
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August 21, 2025 - Supreme Court allows NIH to stop making nearly $800M in research grants for now:
Supreme Court allows NIH to stop making nearly $800M in research grants for now : NPR
The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned by a 5-4 decision a lower court order, deciding at least temporarily that the National Institutes of Health does not need to continue paying out approximately $783 million in research grants to projects that the NIH has since stopped funding.
But the court, in its emergency-docket order, also left in place by a 5-4 order a lower court ruling that threw out NIH memos that enforced the administration's policies.
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August 16, 2025 - Updates to NIH Inclusion Policy:
Updates to NIH Inclusion Policy | Grants & Funding
When you prepare inclusion plans for your next applications or data for progress reports, review the updated Revision: NIH Policy and Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (NOT-OD-25-131), effective August 16, 2025 for both new and ongoing clinical research projects.
The policy remains substantially unchanged. As before:
- Women and members of racial and/or ethnic minority groups must be included in all clinical research studies unless there is a compelling rationale for their exclusion.
- NIH-defined phase 3 trials require valid analyses.
- Applicable phase 3 clinical trials must report results of valid analyses at ClinicalTrials.gov.
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August 14, 2025 - NIH Will Stop Posting Notices of Funding Opportunities in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts in FY2026: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-143.html
This Notice informs the extramural community that, beginning in fiscal year 2026, NIH will no longer post NOFOs in the NIH Guide. Grants.gov will serve as NIH’s single official source for grant and cooperative agreement funding opportunities. The NIH Guide will continue to be used for policy and informational notices.
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August 8, 2025 - The NIH Scientific Data Sharing Pages are Now on the NIH Grants & Funding Site:
Information on NIH’s scientific data sharing policies and data repositories can now be found on the NIH Grants & Funding site – nearer the other information you need to start an application or manage an award. The change is meant to simplify and streamline access to important information on NIH’s Data Management & Sharing (DMS) and Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) policies, as well as enhance access to NIH-supported data repositories. No changes have been made to NIH’s scientific data sharing policies, nor have there been updates to NIH-supported data repositories
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Jul 31, 2025 - Policy on AI Use in NIH Research Applications and Limiting Submissions per PI:
NIH has recently announced a new policy that will continue to support originality, creativity, and fairness in the research application process. NIH has noticed that some Principal Investigators (PIs) have been submitting a large number of research applications that far exceed the numbers we traditionally expect and may have been prepared using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
While AI may be a helpful tool in preparing applications, the rapid submission of large numbers of research applications from a single PI may undermine the fairness and originality of the research application process and unfairly strain NIH’s application review processes.
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July 8, 2025 - NIH Request for Information on Maximizing Research Funds by Limiting Allowable Publishing Costs: NOT-OD-25-138: Request for Information on Maximizing Research Funds by Limiting Allowable Publishing Costs
NIH aims to maximize the value of each research grant, and as such, NIH grantees should utilize as much of their grant funds as possible for research activities. While NIH recognizes the value of disseminating and publishing findings, journals with large publishing fees can lead awardees to pay unreasonably high fees from their NIH awards that lessen the funds available for conducting research and which burden American taxpayers.
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July 1, 2025 - The NIH 2024 Public Access Policy is now in effect: Accelerating Access to Research Results: New Implementation Date for the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy | National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Since the release of NIH’s 2008 Public Access Policy, more than 1.5 million articles reporting on NIH-supported research have been made freely available to the public through PubMed Central. While the 2008 Policy allowed for an up to 12-month delay before such articles were required to be made publicly available, in 2024, NIH revised the Public Access Policy to remove the embargo period so that researchers, students, and members of the public have rapid access to these findings.
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June 26, 2025 - NIH will reinstate 900 grants in response to court order | Science | AAAS: NIH will reinstate 900 grants in response to court order | Science | AAAS
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) yesterday moved to reinstate about 900 grants that a judge last week ruled had been canceled illegally because their topics, ranging from vaccine hesitancy or promoting diversity in the scientific workforce, had been blacklisted by President Donald Trump’s administration. The grant restorations, announced in an internal memo, follow the 16 June decision from Judge William Young of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on two lawsuits filed by 16 state attorneys general and several researchers and scientific groups challenging the terminations.
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May 1, 2025 - Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards: NOT-OD-25-104: Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards
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NIH Implementation of SciENcv and ORCID IDs in 2025
Effective May 25, 2025, the NIH will require the use of Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) to complete Common Forms (i.e., Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support) and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement to produce digitally certified PDF(s) for use in application submission. NSF already requires PIs to use SciENcv to create these forms. NIH will also require all Senior/Key Personnel to enter their ORCID ID into SciENcv in the Persistent Identifier (PID) section of the Common Forms.
What is SciENcv? Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) is an application that helps researchers assemble the professional information needed for participation in federally funded research.
Benefits:
- Allows researchers to describe their scientific contributions in their own language
- Reduces the administrative burden associated with federal grant submission and reporting requirements
- Eliminates the need to repeatedly enter biographical and Current and Pending (Other) Support information
- Leverages data from existing systems
SciENcv is run by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). To set up a SciENcv account, follow the following directions:
Use the following URL to get started https://account.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/signup or https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/.
- If you already have an eRA Commons or NSF account, please use it to create your NCBI account.
For help setting up your SciENcv account, visit My NCBI Help at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK154494/.
What is ORCID iD? ORCID is a free, unique, persistent identifier (PID) for individuals to use as they engage in research, scholarship, and innovation activities. To register for an ORCID iD, visit https://orcid.org/register.
For help setting up your ORCID iD, please review the videos listed at the following site: https://vimeo.com/showcase/4268215
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Updates
August 20, 2025 - NEH Announces Reorganization of its Grantmaking Offices, Programs, and Personnel
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced an agency-wide reorganization to consolidate its grantmaking programs and divisions.
Following a reduction in force (RIF) of two thirds of the agency’s workforce in June, NEH will merge the functions and staff of seven grantmaking offices and divisions into four new divisions to support projects that advance humanities research, education, public programs, infrastructure, and cultural preservation.
Effective immediately, NEH’s new divisions will be:
- Division of Federal/State Partnership
- Division of Collections & Infrastructure
- Division of Lifelong Learning
- Division of Research
For additional information: NEH Announces Reorganization of its Grantmaking Offices, Programs, and Personnel | National Endowment for the Humanities