Announcement: USC researchers and administrative staff should be aware of updates to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Award Terms and Conditions, effective October 1, 2024. These revisions align with the latest 2 CFR regulations published on April 22, 2024. For detailed guidance, visit the NSF Grant Award Terms and Conditions webpage and/or join the NSF Policy Office in the Division of Institution and Award Support (DIAS) on September 12 at 2:00 PM EST for a webinar which will provide the framework for these revisions and how they impact NSF awards.
General Updates
Enhanced clarity, updated references, updated website links and terminology alignment with the updated 2 CFR.
Scope
GC-1 now covers all NSF grant recipients, except for cooperative agreements and individual fellowships.
Prior Approval Requirements
The previous Project Changes term and condition text has been revised to consolidate the prior approval requirements into the same location in the document. Specific information on flow down provisions has been removed, given that the recipient is responsible for addressing the relevant requirements in subaward instruments. The Prior Approval Matrix has been updated for consistency with the revised 2 CFR part 200. The document also has been revised to solely list those requirements that are applicable to NSF grants and has been renamed the NSF Prior Approval Matrix.
Participant Support Costs
The term and condition also has been updated to incorporate the revised definition of participant support costs specified in 2 CFR § 200.1.
Equipment
The term and condition also has been revised to specify that, unless specifically identified in the award as exempt property, title to equipment purchased or fabricated under the award conditionally vests upon acquisition in the recipient for consistency with 2 CFR § 200.313(a). NSF reserves the right to transfer the title to the Federal Government or a third party named by the Federal Government at any time during the award period or in disposition instructions issued no later than 120 days after the end date of the NSF-supported project for which it was acquired.
Payments
Coverage on recipient requests for payment has been updated to emphasize the requirements in 2 CFR § 200.305 regarding timing of payments.
Project Reporting Requirements
Language addressing significant developments that occur between project reporting due dates has been added.
Expenditure Reports
A footnote has been added regarding the timeframe for completing final payment requests when all funds on an award will be canceling at the end of the Federal fiscal year.
Program Income
The full definition of program income from 2 CFR § 200.1 has been incorporated for greater transparency.
Intangible Property
Links to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Bayh-Dole Regulations for Federal Funding Inventions and the current Interagency Domestic Manufacturing Waiver Form have been added to this term and condition.
Similar Revisions have also been made to:
- Cooperative Agreement Financial & Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC);
- Cooperative Agreement Modifications and Supplemental Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions for Major Multi-User Research Facility Projects and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers;
- Cooperative Agreement Modifications and Supplemental Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions for Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Projects; and
- Special Terms and Conditions for Administration of NSF Conference or Travel Grants (FL 26).
Questions? Please direct any questions to the DCG Contracts and Grants Officer assigned to your unit.