The federal government has mandated measures to ensure that covered individuals fully disclose information that can reveal potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment with federally funded research. The federal government has developed consistent disclosure requirements and common disclosure forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support. Select the link to view common disclosure forms. 

Information within the Biographical Sketch and other supporting documents are used to assess the capacity of the individual to carry out the proposed research as well as to help assess potential overlap/duplication with the project being proposed.

Current and Pending (Other) Support information is used to assess the capacity or any conflicts of commitment that may impact the ability of the individual to carry out the research effort as proposed. The information also helps assess any potential scientific and budgetary overlap/duplication with the project being proposed.

The National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) describes disclosure requirements and provides guidance on specific information that covered individuals must disclose in proposals for federal funding. Please see below for more information. 

NSPM-33 Current and Pending (Other) Support:

(a)   all resources made available, or expected to be made available, to an individual in support of the individual’s research and development efforts, regardless of 

(i) whether the source is foreign or domestic; 

(ii) whether the resource is made available through the entity applying for a research and development award or directly to the individual; or 

(iii) whether the resources have monetary value; and 

(b)   includes in-kind contributions requiring a commitment of time and directly supporting the individual’s research and development efforts, such as the provision of office or laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, or students. 

For researchers, Other Support includes: 

• all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their professional R&D efforts, 
• including resources provided directly to the individual rather than through the research organization, 
• resource and/or financial support from all foreign and domestic entities, including but not limited to, financial support for laboratory personnel, and participation of student and visiting researchers supported by other sources of funding, 
• regardless of whether or not they have monetary value (e.g., even if the support received is only in-kind, such as office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, or employees). 

The table NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance Pre- and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support provides helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosures. The table includes the types of activities to be reported, where such activities must be reported in the application, as well as when updates are required in the application and award lifecycle. A final column identifies activities that are not required to be reported.

Federal Agency Disclosure Requirements

Please note that there may be additional information beyond what is outlined in NSPM-33 that requires disclosure. Critical information on disclosures mandated by specific federal agencies is outlined in the linked pages. Researchers are strongly encouraged to review grant proposal instructions for disclosure requirements when submitting proposals for federal funding. 

National Institutes of Health

National Science Foundation

Department of Defense

Department of Energy