The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a variety of research within the natural and social sciences. The Office of Research Development is happy to assist JMU faculty and staff with preparing NSF proposals. We have built a resource toolkit to help you with the process.
First step: We recommend starting by writing a one-page description of your project and sending it to a program officer for the solictation you are considering, to make sure your project is aligned with the goals of the funding opportunity. The NSF provides guidance on how to prepare a one-pager and reach out to a program director.
Additional NSF Resources:
Are you preparing an NSF proposal? We offer personalized assistance, including developing checklists for your particular solicitation and a suggested timeline. As time and staffing allows, we also can review proposal materials. Let us know how we can assist via our request assistance form. Your college-based Research Development Associate or Manager will follow up with you.
Remember, always follow your solicitation. If there is a conflict between requirements in the solicitation, the PAPPG, and these templates, the solicitation takes precedence, followed by the PAPPG.
Target date vs. deadline date: Programs with a target date will accept submissions after the indicated date, although they may miss a particular panel or committee meetings. Programs with a deadline date (or submission window) will not accept submissions after the deadline or closing of the window. Programs with rolling submissions accept proposals at any time.
Research.gov Account
Proposal Components
Description: The 1-page project summary provides an overview of the proposed activity, a statement on its intellectual merit, and a statement on its broader impacts. Frequently this is an revised version of the one-pager that they shared with a program officer to explore whether the project is a good fit for the funding opportunity.
Resources: ORD-Developed Template* (Remember to save as PDF before uploading into Research.gov.)
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: The project description, typically up to 15 pages long, details what the proposer wants to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. The references cited includes bibliographic citations; it can't be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the project description.
Frequently PIs prepare these together to ensure the references cited is complete. However, they must be saved as separate PDF files and uploaded into Research.gov separately.
PAPPG Guidance: Project Description and References Cited
Resources:
- ORD-Developed Template* (Remember to save as separate PDF files before uploading into Research.gov.)
- Videos of past ORD trainings, including Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. We also have videos of CAREER-specific trainings.
- The NSF-funded ARIS Broader Impacts Toolkit has a number of useful tools, including a Broader Impacts Wizard and a Planning Checklist.
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: This document outlines an individual's education and training, their appointments and positions, and other information that helps NSF assess how well qualified the individual is to conduct the proposed activities. Biosketches are required for all senior/key personnel (including but not limited to PIs and co-PIs).
As of January 2026, all NSF biosketches must have a digitally persistant identifier such as ORCID ID to comply with NSPM-33.
Resources:
- Biosketches must be prepared using SciENcv.
- ORD has recorded a training on how to use SciENcv.
Steps to start your biosketch:
- Register or sign-in to ORCID and ensure your publication list is up-to-date.
- Register or sign-in to SciENcv; we recommend using your Research.gov credentials.
- Under "My Profile", check that your ORCID ID is linked. If not, click on the edit button and proceed to link your ORCID ID. As of January 2026, you must link your ORCID ID for your biosketch to be compliant.
- In the lower right, select "+ New Document".
- Under Document Type, select "NSF Biosketch".
- For data source, choose to use an external source and then select ORCID.
- Name your document as appropriate.
You will likely need to edit/revise portions of your biosketch, which can be done using the edit button.
To add publications: Your "My Bibliography" may be blank. However, you should see a tab next to it which says ORCID, as shown below.
If you click on that tab, your list of publications from ORCID will appear. Select the checkbox next to the publications you wish to include.
Description: This document contains a list of an individual's proposed and active projects and sources of support. It is used by NSF to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out the research as proposed and helps assess any potential scientific and budgetary overlap or duplication, as well as overcommitment with the project being proposed. Current and Pending (Other) Support documents are required for all senior/key personnel (including but not limited to PIs and co-PIs).
Resources:
- Current and Pending (Other) Support documents must be prepared using SciENcv.
- ORD has recorded a training on how to use SciENcv.
Steps to start your Current and Pending Support:
- Register or sign-in to SciENcv; we recommend using your Research.gov credentials.
- In the lower right, select "+ New Document".
- Under Document Type, select "NSF Current and Pending (Other) Support".
- Name your document as appropriate.
Supporting Documentation:
Important Notice 149 requires JMU to collect and maintain supporting documentation for all support disclosed, which must be provided to the NSF upon request. OSP-AS will work with you to gather appropriate supporting documentation. If you have an award or proposal that was processed by OSP-AS they will be able to supply the documentation from their records. For other types of support, you may be required to provide a contract or similar document. For more information, please see JMU Policy 2213 and OSP-AS's related SOP.
What Needs to be Disclosed?
The NSF does expect the current proposal to be listed as pending support. Therefore, this document cannot be finalized until you have finalized your budget.
The NSF follows the NSPM-33 disclosure requirements, which are summarized in this table. The following must be disclosed:
- (a) All resources made available, or expected to be made available, to an individual in support of the individual’s research and development efforts, regardless of (i) whether the source is foreign or domestic; (ii) whether the resource is made available through the entity applying for a research and development award or directly to the individual; or (iii) whether the resource has monetary value; and (b) includes in-kind contributions requiring a commitment of time and directly supporting the individual’s research and development efforts, such as the provision of office or laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, or students.
- In-kind contributions (i) with an estimated dollar value of $5000 or more, (ii) not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed, and (iii) have an associated time commitment.
- Current or pending participation in, or applications to, programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs. (Depending on the contract, this could alternatively be disclosed on the biosketch and/or Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources- please see NSPM-33 for additional guidance.)
- Consulting activities under the proposals and active projects section of the form when any of the
following scenarios apply: (i) the consulting activity will require the senior/key person to perform
research as part of the consulting activity; (ii) the consulting activity does not involve performing
research, but is related to the senior/key person’s research portfolio and may have the ability to
impact funding, alter time or effort commitments, or otherwise impact scientific integrity; or (iii) the consulting entity has provided a contract that requires the senior/key person to conceal or
withhold confidential financial or other ties between the senior/key person and the entity, irrespective of the duration of the engagement. - Postdoctoral scholars, students, or visiting scholars who are supported by an external entity, whose research activities are not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed and have an associated time commitment.
- Travel supported/paid by an external entity to perform research activities with an associated time
commitment. - Startup company based on non-organization-licensed IP.
- Startup packages from other than the proposing organization.
The following do NOT have to be disclosed:
- Recently completed support or support that has ended.
- Travel supported/paid by an external entity to attend a conference or workshop.
- Teaching commitments.
- Startup company based on organization-licensed Intellectual Property (IP).
- Organizational startup packages provided to the individual from the proposing organization.
- Honoraria or other given for the purpose of conferring distinction or to symbolize respect, esteem, or admiration unrelated to research oversight, supervision, or co-authorship.
- Unrestricted Gifts (see the definition in NSPM-33).
- Training awards and prizes.
- Mentoring as part of appointment or agreement, or mentor/mentee arrangements that do not involve the individual’s research activities.
- Academic Year Salary or salary provided to the individual by the home organization.
- Core facilities and/or shared equipment that is broadly available.
- F&A Reimbursement provided to the proposing/home organization.
Description: This document contains a table of an individual's collaborators, such as their advisors, co-authors and other collaborators. Collaborators and other affiliations documents are required for all senior/key personnel (including but not limited to PIs and co-PIs).
How to Prepare: The NSF requires this to be prepared using their template document. This is uploaded into Research.gov as an xlsx (Excel) file and Research.gov will convert it to a PDF.
What to disclose: See the guidance from the NSF. Information you must provide includes:
- Your name and organizational affiliation.
- The names of anyone whose relationship to you precludes their service as a reviewer — including personal, family or business relationships — and what type of relationship you have with them.
- Names and organizational affiliations of your Ph.D. advisor and Ph.D. thesis advisees.
- Names and organizational affiliations of any co-authors or project collaborators in the last 48 months.
- Names of editorial boards, editors-in-chief and co-editors you have interacted with in the last 24 months. Do not list editors or reviewers you have interacted with because of a paper submission.
Description: 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. Synergistic activities documents are required for all senior/key personnel (including but not limited to PIs and co-PIs).
Resources: ORD-Developed Template* (Remember to save as PDF before uploading into Research.gov.)
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: The budget section details how much money the proposer is requesting, by category, to complete the project. This information must be provided across each year of support requested. A justification, typically up to 5 pages long, must document and justify each budget line item included in the proposal budget.
Resources: The Office of Sponsored Programs-Administrative Services (OSP-AS) assists JMU faculty with developing budgets for sponsored programs, ensuring that they comply with JMU, state, and sponsor regulations. You can request a grants specialist to assist you in developing your budget through their Interest Form.
- OSP-AS maintains an NSF budget template* and a sample NSF budget justifiation*.
- List of frequently asked budgeting questions.
- Video training on NSF budgets coming soon.
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: This section outlines the internal and external resources (both physical and personnel) that the proposing organization and its collaborators will provide to the project if it is funded by NSF. NSF uses this information to assess whether the proposers have adequate resources available to perform the project they propose.
Resources: ORD-Developed Template* (Remember to save as PDF before uploading into Research.gov.)
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: If your proposal requests funding to support graduate students or postdoctoral researchers, you must include a 1-page summary describing the mentoring activities that will be provided to those individuals. Some programs also require a mentoring plan if you are requesting funding to support undergraduate students; please check your solicitation.
PAPPG Guidance; see also additional NSF 101 guidance on mentoring plans.
Resources: ORD-Developed Template* (Remember to save as PDF before uploading into Research.gov.)
*: Requires JMU Log-In
Description: This section, up to two pages long, describes how a proposal will follow NSF policy on disseminating and sharing research results. Solicitations will often outline specific requirements for these plans.
PAPPG Guidance; see also NSF's general guidance and specific requirements of each directorate.
Resources:
- Through JMU Libraries, JMU subscribes to DMP Tool, which assists PIs in developing compliant data management plans. You can log-in with your JMU email address.
- ORD has partnered with JMU Libraries to record a training on using the DMP Tool.
How to Start your Data Management Plan:
- After you have logged in, select "Create plan".
- After entering the title of your project and JMU as the primary research organization, enter "National Science Foundation" for the Primary Funding Organization.
- Select the DMP Template for the division that your proposal will be directed to.
- Click create plan.
- Enter the information for your plan.
DMP Collaborators are invited to edit the plan within DMP Tool. You may request feedback from a member of the JMU Libraries staff on your data management plan from within the tool. When outputting your data management plan, we recommend not including the question text or a coversheet. It is frequently necessary to download in docx or a similar form to edit (for example, to add an introductory or concluding sentence) prior to submitting to Research.gov. Remember to convert it to a PDF before uploading to to Research.gov.
Description: Letters of collaboration should be limited to stating the intent to collaborate and should not contain endorsements or evaluation of the proposed project. Letters of collaboration are not letters of support, and generally speaking, letters of support should not be included unless required by a specific program solicitation. Proposals that contain letters of support not authorized by the program solicitation may be returned without review.
ORD recommends using the following language, quoted from the PAPPG:
If the proposal submitted by Dr. [insert the full name of the Principal Investigator] entitled [insert the proposal title] is selected for funding by NSF, it is my intent to collaborate and/or commit resources as detailed in the Project Description or the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal.
Letters of collaboration should generally be prepared on official letterhead of the collaborator's organization.
Additional Components, Requirements, and Similar
The NSF requires Research Security Training for all individuals listed as senior/key personnel, including but not limited to all PIs (see Important Notice 149). The Office of Sponsored Programs-Administrative Services has implemented the SECURE center's condensed research security training module. This training must have been completed in the year prior to submission.
If your project involves human subjects research, IRB review will generally be required. The NSF recommends that:
When possible, researchers should file their proposal with their local IRB at the same time they submit it to NSF so that the approval procedure will not delay the award processing.
In some cases OSP-AS may be possible to process an award with a Section 118 letter, although PIs will be limited in their ability to spend funds.
The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance has oversight of JMU's Internal Review Board and provides information on submission procedures.
If your project involves vertebrate animals, IACUC review will generally be required. Note that as per NSF policy:
Although a proposal can be reviewed without IACUC approval, NSF will not recommend projects involving live vertebrate animals for funding until the cognizant NSF program director has received a copy of the IACUC approval letter or an exempt certification.
We recommend proceeding with IACUC approval as soon as possible after proposal submission to avoid delays in award processing.
The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance has oversight of JMU's Institutional Animal Care and Use Program and provides information on submission procedures.