Initial Implementation Guidance Regarding Implementation of the Revised NSF Cost Sharing Policy

NSF has received many inquiries concerning the National Science Board approved change to the NSF cost sharing policy (NSB-04-157). The following provides basic implementation details that are available to date with respect the revised NSB-approved cost sharing policy:

1. The new cost-sharing policy, as approved by the NSB, eliminates program-specific cost-sharing, and requires only the existing statutory cost sharing requirement (1%). The statutory cost sharing requirement applies to all unsolicited research proposals. This includes all proposals submitted in response to NSF program announcements and those submitted solely in response to the NSF Grant Proposal Guide.

2. All previously issued program solicitations that specify a cost sharing requirement remain valid, unless program managers issue a formal amendment modifying the cost requirement. (At this point, none have opted to do so.)

3. The revised policy will be effective for all new NSF program solicitations issued after October 14th. This includes those not yet published on the NSF website (i.e., still in draft form).

4. Formal implementation of the policy will be forthcoming in a widely-distributed NSF Important Notice and via changes to official NSF policy documents including the Grant Proposal Guide and Grant Policy Manual.

5. Cost sharing commitments contained in current active awards remain unchanged.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Jean Feldman Head, Policy Office Division of Institution & Award Support Office of Budget, Finance & Award Management Voice: (703) 292-4573 email: jfeldman@nsf.gov