Subject:  Revised NSF Cost Sharing Policy

  

As some of you are already aware, the Chronicle of Higher Education (see attached

Article for the full details,) in the October 15, 2004 edition, announced the Board

of the National Science Foundation has approved a change to the NSF Cost Sharing

Policy.  This change has resulted in the the elimination of most of the cost sharing

requirements for NSF funded projects.   Since this article has been released, NSF

has received many inquiries concerning the change to the policy and have released

the following to help guide us during the implementation:

 

 

            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 sharing requirement in the program

solicitation.  (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) 292-8243

        email: jfeldman@nsf.gov