Dear Colleagues:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) released policy changes to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 24-1, via Supplement 1, effective December 8, 2025. Notable updates include:
- Changes to the public access requirements, including removal of the embargo period. Per the updated policy, “publications and supporting data are to be made publicly and freely available at the time of publication.” Exceptions to this must be justified in the project’s Data Sharing and Management Plans (DSMP).
- NSF’s Research Misconduct definition now includes the use of AI tools: “RESEARCH MISCONDUCT means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, whether committed by an individual directly or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, in proposing or performing research funded by NSF, reviewing research proposals submitted to NSF, or in reporting research results funded by NSF.”
- Program income should be used toward the project, within the period of the project. Per the updated policy, “In the event a recipient has unexpended program income remaining at the end of the grant, it must be remitted to NSF by crediting costs otherwise chargeable against the grant” or by remitting remaining program income to NSF.
NSF released additional updates, via Supplement 2. The updates clarify the above public access requirements and indicate a new tool on Research.gov will be implemented on April 27, 2026 for creating DSMPs. Proposals submitted before that date should continue preparing the DMSP as a PDF upload.
Regards,
Jeff Warner
Senior Director, Sponsored Projects
Office of Research
University of California Irvine
949-824-7654