Other Support (sometimes referred to as "current and pending support" or "active and pending support") includes all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant. Funding entities use this information in the identification and resolution of potential overlap of support.

Overlap, whether scientific, budgetary, or commitment of an individual's effort greater than 100 percent, is not permitted. The goals in identifying and eliminating overlap are to ensure that sufficient and appropriate levels of effort are committed to the project; that there is no duplication of funding for scientific aims, specific budgetary items, or an individual's level of effort; and only funds necessary to the conduct of the approved project are included in the award. (NIH NOT-03-029).

NIH Other SupportUpdated 6/28/22

On April 28, 2021, the NIH released "Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page" (NOT-OD-21-110). In summary:

  • Effective May 25, 2021, the NIH expects applicants and recipients to use the updated biosketch and other support formats for applications, Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR), and Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports. Immediate use of the updated formats is preferred but not required until January 25, 2022.
  • Effective January 25, 2022, the NIH will require the use of the updated formats for any submissions on or after January 25, 2022 (or anything with a due date on or after that date). Failure to follow the appropriate formats on or after January 25, 2022 may cause the NIH to withdraw applications from or delay consideration of funding.

NIH provided detailed information on the updated biosketch and other support formats in NIH NOT-OD-21-073 released on March 12, 2021. Additional information can be found in a table which outlines NIH Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support and NIH Other Support FAQs. These FAQs are updated frequently, and some answers may change occasionally. Bookmarking this page and reviewing it periodically for the latest information is recommended. Some questions addressed include:

  • Is the researcher’s signature now required on Other Support submissions?
  • What does NIH evaluate when reviewing Other Support submissions?
  • Do outside consulting activities have to be reported in Other Support?
  • Do in-kind contributions that will be used for the project being proposed need to be included in Other Support?
  • How should researchers list materials (e.g., data, samples, etc.) received from external collaborators on Other Support?
  • What types of foreign contracts are applicants and recipients required to submit with Other Support?

Who is required to report other support?

  • Reporting of Other Support is required for all individuals designated in an application as senior/key personnel—those devoting measurable effort to a project.
  • Information on Other Support is not specifically requested for Program Directors, training faculty, and other individuals involved in the oversight of training grants since applicable information is collected in other sections of a training grant application.
  • Other Support is not required to be submitted for individuals categorized as Other Significant Contributors.

What must be reported as Other Support?

Other Support includes all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Resources and/or financial support from all foreign and domestic entities, that are available to the researcher. Including but not limited to:
    • financial support for laboratory personnel, and
    • provision of high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemical, model systems, technology, etc.).
  • Consulting agreements, when the PD/PI or other senior/key personnel will be conducting research as part of the consulting activities. Non-research consulting activities are not Other Support.
  • In-kind contributions, e.g., office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, or employees or students supported by an outside source.
    • If the time commitment or dollar value of the in-kind contribution is not readily ascertainable, the recipient must provide reasonable estimates.

What does not need to be reported as Other Support?

  • Institutional resources, such as core facilities or shared equipment that are made broadly available (instead, such resources should be listed under Facilities and Other Resources).
  • Training awards
  • Prizes
  • Gifts
    • Note that a resource where there is an expectation of anything in return, e.g., time, services, specific research activities, money, etc., is not considered a gift for these purposes
    • An item or service given with the expectation of an associated time commitment is not a gift and is instead an in-kind contribution and must be reported as Other Support.

What is a Foreign Component?

Foreign Component is defined as: The existence of any "significant scientific element or segment of a project" outside of the United States, in other words

  1. performance of work by a researcher or recipient in a foreign location, whether or not NIH grant funds are expended and/or
  2. performance of work by a researcher in a foreign location employed or paid for by a foreign organization, whether or not NIH grant funds are expended.

If project Staff (including visiting faculty, scientists, etc.) leave the country to return home due to COVID-19 and continue to work on the project, whether paid by the project or not, this could qualify as a foreign component and would require prior approval from the NIH IC.

For Postdoctoral scholars that are required to work on their originally approved work remotely from a foreign country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, where no grant funds are going to a foreign entity, NIH has determined this scenario does not constitute the performance of a significant element or segment or the project outside the US. Therefore, this is not considered a foreign component and does not require prior approval.

See: NIH NOT-OD-19-114, NIH COVID-19 FAQs

What are some examples of a "significant element of a project" when making determinations regarding a foreign component?

The recipient institution should evaluate the element of the project that is being conducted outside of the United States within the context of the project as a whole when making determinations about significance. Some examples of activities that may be considered a significant element of the project include, but are not limited to:

  • collaborations with investigators at a foreign site anticipated to result in co-authorship
  • use of facilities or instrumentation at a foreign site
  • receipt of financial support or resources from a foreign entity

See: NIH FAQS

Does a Foreign Component need to be included in Other Support?

The Foreign component should be part of the proposal, R&R Other Project Information Form, not the Other Support document. The addition of a foreign component to an ongoing NIH grant continues to require NIH prior approval, as outlined in the NIHGPS, Section 8.1.2, Prior Approval Requirements. Principal Investigators should work with their OCGA Team to submit the prior approval request.

If an activity does not meet the definition of foreign component because all research is being conducted within the United States, but there is a non-U.S. resource that supports the research of an investigator and/or researcher, it must be reported as other support.

For example, if a PD/PI of an NIH-funded grant has a collaborator outside of the U.S. who performs experiments in support of the PD/PI's NIH-funded project, this would constitute a foreign component, regardless of whether the foreign collaborator receives funding from the PD/PI's grant. Additional funding from a foreign source for the NIH-supported research of a PD/PI at a U.S. institution would not constitute a foreign component but would necessitate reporting as other support.

See: NIH NOT-OD-19-114, NIH Grants Policy Statement, NIH 424 Guide

Resources:

NSF Current and Pending SupportUpdated 8/5/21

All proposed and ongoing projects from all sources (federal, state, local, foreign, public or private foundation, non-profit, industry or commercial, or internal funds), whether provided through the proposing organization or provided directly to the individual.

Includes:

  • All resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to their research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value
  • All in-kind contributions (e.g. office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students) or items or services, whether intended/not intended for use on the project/proposal, and with the expectation of an associated time commitment
    • If the time commitment or dollar value is not readily ascertainable, reasonable estimates should be provided
    • In-kind contributions intended for use on the project with no associated time commitment are included in the Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources section of the proposal and are not replicated in the current and pending support
    • In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project with no associated time commitment are not reported
    • Startup packages from any organization other than the proposing organization
    • If the project or any part of the project was funded previously by a source other than NSF, information must be provided regarding the last period of funding

NSF Current and pending Support is a required for each individual designated as senior personnel as part of the proposal.

NSF has published a helpful quick reference for Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support, which outlines additional disclosure requirements for personnel on NSF grants and proposals.

Post-Award Disclosure:

If it is discovered that a PI or a co-PI on an active NSF grant failed to disclose current support or in-kind contribution information as part of the proposal submission process (see PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.h), the AOR must submit the Current Support information within 30 calendar days of the identification of the undisclosed current support or in-kind contribution through use of the "Other Request" category in the Notification and Request Module in Research.gov. Please work with your OCGA Team to follow the instructions in the NSF Award Terms and Conditions - Article 38: Post-Award Disclosure of Current Support and In-Kind Contribution Information.

NSF Resources:

DOD Previous/Current/Pending SupportUpdated 8/5/21

On March 20, 2019, the Department of Defense (DOD) released the Actions for the Protection of Intellectual Property, Controlled Information, Key Personnel and Critical Technologies memo, stating Current and Pending Support for all key personnel (regardless of source) will be used to "support protection of intellectual property, controlled information, key personnel, and information about critical technologies relevant to national security. Additionally, this information will be used to limit undue influence, including foreign talent programs, by countries that desire to exploit United States' technology with the DOD research, science and technology, and innovation enterprise."

For all previous (award period of performance ending within the past 5 years), current, and pending research support, include the title, time commitments, supporting agency, name and address of the funding agency's procuring Contracting/Grants officer, performance period, level of funding, brief description of the projects goals, and list of the specific aims. If applicable, identify where the proposed project overlaps with other existing and pending research projects. Clearly state if there is no overlap.

List all positions and scientific appointments, both domestic and foreign, held by senior/key personnel that are relevant to an application, including affiliations with foreign entities or governments. This includes titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary).

Report all resources and other support for all individuals designated in an application as senior/key personnel–including for the PI and for other individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they request salaries or compensation. Information must be provided about all current support for ongoing projects, irrespective of whether such support is provided through the applicant organization, through another domestic or foreign organization, or is directly provided to an individual who supports the senior/key personnel’s research efforts.

Report all current projects and activities that involve senior/key personnel, even if the support received is only in-kind (e.g., office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees). All research resources including, but not limited to, foreign financial support, research or laboratory personnel, lab space, scientific materials, selection to a foreign "talents" or similar-type program, or other foreign or domestic support must be reported.

Provide the total award amount for the entire award period covered (including facilities and administrative costs), as well as the number of person-months (or partial person-months) per year to be devoted to the project by the senior/key personnel involved.

If there is no previous, current, or pending support, enter "None." An updated previous, current, and pending support document will be required if an award is recommended for funding.

DOD Resources:

NASA Current and Pending Support New 8/5/21

In Section 2.16 Current and Pending Support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), effective February 15, 2021, it states:

2.16 Current and Pending Support

PIs and Co-PIs shall provide all ongoing and pending projects and proposals (regardless of salary support) in which they are performing or will perform any part of the work. Co-Is proposing to spend 10% or more of their time in any given year to the proposed effort shall provide a list of ongoing and pending projects and proposals (regardless of salary support) that require more than 10% of their time in any given year. Proposals do not need to include the current proposal on the list of pending proposals unless it has been submitted in response to another funding opportunity (i.e., NASA or another sponsor).

PIs and Co-PIs also shall list their current and pending support with Chinese universities and other similar institutions or a Chinese-owned company at the prime recipient level and at all subrecipient levels, whether the bilateral involvement is funded or performed under a no exchange of funds arrangement[3]. (See paragraph 2.2.1) For those investigators for whom it is required (see above), the proposal shall provide the following information for each current and pending project:

    • Title of funded project or proposal title;
    • Name of PI on award or proposal;
    • Program name (if appropriate) and sponsoring agency or organization, including a point of contact with their telephone number and email address;
    • Performance period;
    • Total amount proposed (if pending) or received by that PI (including indirect costs) for that award or the amount per year if uniform (e.g., $50k/year); and
    • Time commitment by the PI for each year of the period of performance.

The proposing PI shall notify the NASA Program Officer identified in the NOFO immediately of any successful proposals that are awarded for substantially overlapping work as proposed to NASA, any time after the proposal due date and until the announcement of NASA’s selections.

Current and pending support is not required for Co-Is at non-U.S. institutions. Current and pending support is usually not required for students, but it may be requested, depending on the requirements of the NOFO.

NASA Resources:

[3] "China or Chinese-owned Company" means the People's Republic of China (PRC), any company owned by the PRC, or any company incorporated under the laws of the PRC. Chinese universities and other similar institutions are considered to be incorporated under the laws of the PRC and, therefore, the funding restrictions apply to grants and cooperative agreements that include bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination with Chinese universities.

DOE (Energy) Current and Pending Support Updated 6/28/22

On June 1, 2022 the Department of Energy issued Financial Assistance Letter FAL 2022-04, which provides guidance to DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) contracting and grants officers regarding current and pending support disclosure requirements. Effective, immediately, all DOE and NNSA funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) financial assistance activities and awards issued in response to those FOAs, must incorporate consistent current and pending support requirements as summarized below. DOE and NNSA investigators, preparers and reviewers should ensure that they are using the most current version of the FOA and guidelines, and carefully review the current and pending support requirements.

Who Must Disclose:

All PIs and other senior/key personnel.

When to Disclose:

  • At the time of proposal/application
  • After selection for funding and throughout the lifetime of the award:
    • if there are changes to or addition of senior/key personnel;
    • if there are changes to previously submitted current and pending support disclosures;
    • updated current and pending support disclosures must be submitted within 30 days of the change.

What to Disclose:

All sponsored activities, awards, and appointments, whether paid or unpaid; provided as a gift with terms or conditions or provided as a gift without terms or conditions; full-time, part-time, or voluntary; faculty, visiting, adjunct, or honorary; cash or in-kind; foreign or domestic; governmental or private-sector; directly supporting the individual’s research or indirectly supporting the individual by supporting students, research staff, space, equipment, or other research expenses. All involvement in foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs must also be identified.

Specific information that must be provided for each activity includes:

  • The sponsor of the activity or the source of funding.
  • The award or other identifying number.
  • The title of the award or activity. If the title of the award or activity is not descriptive, add a brief description of the research being performed that would identify any overlaps or synergies with the proposed research.
  • The total cost or value of the award or activity, including direct and indirect costs and cost share. For pending proposals, provide the total amount of requested funding.
  • The award period (start date–end date).
  • The person-months of effort per year being dedicated to the award or activity.

In addition, details on any obligations, contractual or otherwise, to any program, entity, or organization sponsored by a foreign government must be provided on request. Supporting documentation must be provided to DOE on request and include certified translations of any documents.

Addition of Certification Statement and Signature

Each Current and Pending Support report be signed and dated and include the following certification:

I, [Full Name and Title], certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the information contained in this Current and Pending Support Disclosure Statement is true, complete, and accurate. I understand that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent information, misrepresentations, half -truths, or omissions of any material fact, may subject me to criminal, civil or administrative penalties for fraud, false statements, false claims or otherwise. (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 287, and 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733 and 3801-3812). I further understand and agree that (1) the statements and representations made herein are material to DOE’s funding decision, and (2) I have a responsibility to update the disclosures during the period of performance of the award should circumstances change which impact the responses provided above.

As with the NIH Other Support certification, OCGA will require the use of DocuSign for DOE/NNSA certification by UCLA researchers. A Job Aid for PIs is available on the ORA Portal.

Use of NSF Current and Pending Support Forms

For convenience Current and Pending Support may be provided using NSF-approved formats. SciENcv is currently working on an update to include the certification language.

DOE Resources:

  • DOE Financial Assistance Letter FAL 2022-04 – Current and Pending Support Disclosure Requirements for Financial Assistance
  • DOE Policy on Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program Memo
  • DOE Order O 486.1A – Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities
  • FAQs for DOE O 486.1
  • FY 2022 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistant Program – DE-FOA-0002562

Other Support FAQs

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Additional Resources

Page Last Updated: June 28, 2022