About the PAPPG
The National Science Foundation’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) outlines the Foundation’s proposal and award process.
The PAPPG, in conjunction with the applicable standard award conditions referenced in the award notice, serves as NSF’s implementation of the federal-wide Uniform Guidance (2 CFR §200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). If the PAPPG and NSF Grant Conditions are silent on a specific area covered by 2 CFR §200, the requirements specified in 2 CFR §200 must be followed.
The PAPPG contains two parts:
Part I: proposal preparation and submission guidelines
Part II: policies and procedures regarding the award, administration, and monitoring of grants and cooperative agreements.
The PAPPG does not apply to NSF contracts. For information relating to NSF contracts, consult the Guide to the NSF Contracting Process.
Updates to the PAPPG
Annual updates to the PAPPG are generally published in summer with effective dates at the start of the federal fiscal year (October).
NSF 22-001, effective date Oct. 4, 2021
NSF 20-001, eff. Jan. 24, 2020 – Oct. 3, 2021
NSF 19-001, eff. Feb. 25, 2019 – Jan. 23, 2020