The National Science Foundation (NSF) now requires annual certification for all Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) named on NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024.
As of Saturday, June 7, 2025, and in accordance with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter II.D.1.e(ii), affected individuals must certify each year in Research.gov that they are not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP).
What You Need to Know:
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NSF is notifying impacted PIs and co-PIs directly.
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The certification requirement applies only to PIs and co-PIs, not to institutions.
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After logging in to Research.gov, impacted individuals will be prompted to complete the MFTRP certification.
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PIs and co-PIs with multiple active awards only need to certify once per year.
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Completed certifications are viewable under the Academic/Professional Information section of the user's Research.gov profile.
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Individuals currently involved in an MFTRP are not eligible to serve as senior and key personnel on NSF proposals or any NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024.
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NSF plans to expand this certification requirement to all senior and key personnel in the future.
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Guidance for Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs) is available in PAPPG Chapter II.D.1.d(ix).
NSF Resources and Support:
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FAQs and MFTRP contract examples will be available soon on the MFTRP section of the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy website.
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For questions about this requirement, email researchsecurity@nsf.gov.
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For technical or system issues, contact the NSF IT Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. ET) or email rgov@nsf.gov.
ORTM Resources and Support:
- CWRU Research Security Programs webpage.
- For questions, email researchsecurity@case.edu.