To help guide you through completing the NSF Current & Pending (C&P) Form, information has been provided below for each field in the Form. You can click on the fields to receive information associated with that field. Please note that the NSF Current & Pending Form, has a separate in-kind contributions entry that has slightly different fields. For in-kind contribution entries, please go to the in-kind example form. NSF provides 15 project/proposal and 10 in-kind contribution entries for users to populate the Form. Please leave any unused entries blank. Please remember to enter your entries so they are grouped together based on the "Status of Support" and are in the order of Current, Pending, Submission Planned, and Transfer of Support from top to bottom. The NSF fillable forms can be found here for the actual completion of the Form.
Current and Pending Support includes all resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to all of his/her research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value. Information must be provided about all current and pending support, including this project, for ongoing projects, and for any proposals currently under consideration from whatever source, irrespective of whether such support is provided through the proposing organization or is provided directly to the individual. Concurrent submission of a proposal to other organizations will not prejudice its review by NSF, if disclosed.
- If the time commitment or dollar value is not readily ascertainable, reasonable estimates should be provided.
- For example, Federal, State, local, foreign, public or private foundations, non-profits, industrial or other commercial organizations or internal funds allocated toward specific projects.
- The Biological Sciences Directorate exception to this policy is delineated in PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.
Current and pending support includes the proposal being submitted, ongoing projects, and any proposal currently under consideration, from all sources. NSF has clarified that start-up packages provided to the individual from the proposing organization do not have to be reported. Gifts also do not need to be reported (see NSF's FAQs for their definition of a gift).
For a summary of the NSF requirements, refer to the Current and Pending/Other Support Requirements by Sponsor page.
Please review the FAQs for assistance with completing NSF Current and Pending Support forms.
NOTE: OSP recommends always starting with identifying the Source of Support first when completing the information.
Project/Proposal Title Field—Required
How is the distinct non-component activity identified? Use one of the following:
- Proposal:
- The activity proposed is distinct effort on a proposal submitted through MSU or unfunded collaboration
- Title should match the one in the pending proposal
- Include the PD number after the Title, i.e. (PD 12345) or indicate that there is no PD at this time
- Award:
- This is a current activity that is distinct effort on a project (funded or unfunded)
- Title should match the title listed on the Award document for the project.
- If MSU project, include the MSU account number after the Title, i.e. (RC012345)
- Activity: Activity is effort other than listed above.
- Distinct funded or unfunded activity: List title of project if known or include a short description of the activity
Status of Support Radio Button Options—Required
The research Project/Proposal is (select one):
- An activity you are currently working on. (Current)
- An activity you are planning to work on and/or have submitted a proposal for. (Pending)
- An activity you are planning to submit. (Submission planned)
Proposal/Award Number Field—Optional
Did the sponsor provide an award number? If so, use the award number found in the Award Document.
- This field not required and isn't provided for in-kind contributions disclosures.
- If the project is expected to receive a no-cost-extension, use that anticipated end date.
Source of Support Field—Required
Always start with Source of Support first.
What is the Prime (root) source of funding? Select one of the following:
- Proposal: Sponsor should be what is listed in the Prime Sponsor of the IP or PD.
- Award: Sponsor noted should be the Prime Sponsor. You can find the Prime Sponsor of the award in Account Explorer or Kuali Research (KR) Award Module.
- Distinct Unfunded (PI is not receiving financial support) collaboration: sponsor should be the same as the collaborator’s award, if known. List unknown if not.
- Distinct MSU funded activity: list Michigan State University. Start-ups packages do not have to be reported.
- In-kind: Please refer to the In-Kind Contribution Information below.
Where is the activity primarily being performed?
Project/Proposal Start Date Field—Optional
What is the expected start date?
This field not required or provided for in-kind contributions.
Project/Proposal End Date Field—Optional
What is the expected completion date?
This field not required or provided for in-kind contributions.
Total Award Amount (including indirect costs) Field—Required
- For proposals, what is the total requested amount?
- If Awarded, what is the total awarded amount?
- If provided as in-kind, please refer to the In-Kind Contribution Information below.
Year Field—Required
Add year of when effort happens. If effort spans more than one calendar year, list the latter year (i.e FY19-20, enter 2020).
Person-Month(s) or (Partial Person-Months) Per Year Committed to the Project Field —Required
Person Months need to be listed for project. Please NOTE that you have to prorate your person months to the time period of the Proposal that is being submitted to NSF.
- Disclose up to five years out from proposed start date.
- If the time commitment is not readily ascertainable, a reasonable estimate should be provided.
- The sum of all yearly committed Person-Months (for all projects and activities disclosed) should not exceed 12 months.
- The sum of all yearly committed Person-Months supported by NSF exceeding a total of 2 paid Person-Months requires prior written approval.
The NSF Current and Pending Support Form also includes in-kind contributions entries (such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students). If the in-kind contributions are intended for use on the project being proposed to NSF, the information must be included as part of the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal and need not be replicated in the individual's Current and Pending Support Form submission. In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed that have associated time obligations must be reported below. If the time commitment or dollar value is not readily ascertainable, reasonable estimates should be provided.
The revised definition states that current and pending support includes, “…all resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to all of his/her research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value.” NSF also added that C&P support includes all in-kind contributions, not just those related to the project being proposed. In-kind contributions for the project being proposed to NSF should be included in the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal and do not need to be included in the C&P form. This includes in-kind contributions with and without an associated time commitment.
In-kind contributions that are not intended for use on the project being proposed to NSF only need to be reported if there is an associated time commitment. This should be reported on the current and pending support form.
Below are examples NSF provided for in-kind contributions. If the time commitment or dollar amount is unknown, reasonable estimates should be provided.
- Office/Laboratory space
- Equipment
- Supplies
- Employees
- Students
Status of Support Radio Button Options—Required
The research Project/Proposal is (select one):
- An activity you are currently working on. (Current)
- An activity you are planning to work on. (Pending)
Source of Support Field—Required
Always start with Source of Support first.
The Prime (root) source of funding is in-kind. List the sponsor or “unknown” if applicable.
Please note:
- In-kind contributions for the project being proposed to NSF should be included in the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section of the proposal and do not need to be included in the C&P form. This includes in-kind contributions with and without an associated time commitment.
- In-kind contributions that are not intended for use on the project being proposed to NSF only need to be reported if there is an associated time commitment. If an in-kind contribution is received and there is no planned associated time commitment, then the activity does not need to be disclosed. In-kind contribution for the referenced activity examples provided by NSF include office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employee/student effort provided at no financial cost.
Primary Place of Performance Field—Required
Where is the activity primarily being performed?
Summary of In-Kind Contributions—Required
Add the Project Title to which the In-Kind Contributions are being used or a statement that describes what type of In-Kind Contributions have been provided.
Year Field—Required
Add year of when effort happens. If effort spans more than one calendar year, list the latter year (i.e FY19-20, enter 2020).
Person-Month(s) or (Partial Person-Months) Per Year Committed to the Project Field—Required
Person Months need to be listed for project. Please NOTE that you have to prorate your person months to the time period of the Proposal that is being submitted to NSF.
- Disclose up to five years out from proposed start date.
- If the time commitment is not readily ascertainable, a reasonable estimate should be provided.
- The sum of all yearly committed Person-Months (for all projects and activities disclosed) should not exceed 12 months.
Dollar Value of In-Kind Contributions—Required
What is the actual or estimated value? If the time commitment or dollar amount is unknown, reasonable estimates should be provided.
