Updated 12/11/2023
The U.S. Government recently released common disclosure forms for “Current and Pending (Other) Support Information” and “Biographical Sketch”. The common disclosure forms are part of the Government’s effort to harmonize disclosure requirements across federal agencies. NSF will require senior and key personnel to use the common disclosure forms starting spring 2024. Other federal agencies will adopt the common disclosure forms for use on a rolling basis. The new common forms and related definitions are available on NSF’s website at https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/nstc_disclosure.jsp. Please note that both common forms require key and senior personnel to certify that they do not participate in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program.
“Other Support” or “Current and Pending Support”
Many sponsors request that applicants provide summaries of their current and anticipated grant and contract funding, as well as other resources that may be available for the individual’s research.
Other Support/Current 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. This includes resources and/or financial support from all foreign and domestic entities, including, but not limited to, financial support for laboratory personnel, and provision of high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemicals, model systems, technology, etc.). Other support does not include training awards, prizes or gifts).
Information requested usually includes sponsor, project title, period of performance, committed effort, amount funded or sought and in-kind contributions.
The federal common disclosure forms discussed above require disclosure of certain consulting activities in Current and Pending (Other) Support, including consulting that requires performing research; consulting that is related to the individual’s research portfolio and may have the ability to impact funding, time or effort commitments, or otherwise impact scientific integrity; or consulting that requires the individual to conceal or withhold information about the activity.
Biographical Sketches/Biosketches
Senior personnel (or Senior Key Personnel), as well as Other Significant Contributors, are required to submit biographical sketches as part of the grant or contract proposal package. Funding agencies require that senior persons disclose all academic, professional, or institutional appointments and positions, beginning with the current appointment (including the associated organization and location). Appointments and positions include any titled academic, professional, or institutional position whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary). Professional appointments include all current domestic and foreign appointments outside of the individual's academic, professional, or institutional appointments at Columbia University.
The federal common disclosure forms discussed above require disclosure of all domestic and foreign professional appointments and positions outside Columbia for a period up to three years from the date the application is submitted.
Please note that this is an active area of rulemaking by sponsoring agencies. This website will be updated and the Columbia community notified when sponsoring agencies issue new rules, guidance or clarifications regarding disclosure requirements for “other support" or appointments. For agency specific guidance, see below.