Common Form Disclosures

Common Form Disclosures

Common Form Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents provide a common framework for proposal disclosures.

Contact [email protected] with compliance support questions.

National Security Presidential Memo-33 (NSPM-33) tasked the Office of Science and Technology Policy with creating a nationwide framework for Research Security.

In part, these efforts resulted in the Common Forms: a standardized Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for federal funding agencies.

They are intended to simplify and standardize proposal disclosure requirements.

Common Form requirements currently apply to:

Key requirements:

Current and Pending (Other) Support

Common Form Key Requirements (All Senior/Key Personnel)

  • Consulting agreements/contracts/awards (including EPAP) must be reported in Active and Pending Support, not In-Kind, and now count toward conflict of commitment.
  • Consulting must be disclosed if it meets any of the following:
    • involves research;
    • is related to the individual’s research portfolio and may affect funding, effort, or scientific integrity; or
    • includes confidentiality provisions requiring concealment of financial or other ties.
  • Foreign disclosures required, including:
    • participation in foreign government-sponsored programs (including talent programs);
    • direct or indirect support funded by foreign talent programs (even via intermediaries);
    • all other foreign government-sponsored or affiliated activities.
  • Participation in malign foreign talent programs (PDF) is prohibited.
  • In-Kind resources must be disclosed only if valued over $5,000, not intended for the proposed project, and require a time commitment.
  • Senior/Key personnel must certify that disclosures are current, accurate, complete, and that they do not participate in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

Guidance for NIH Implementation

On or after January 25, 2026, submissions are required to use the NIH Current and Pending Other Support Common Form. This includes applications, Research Performance Project Reports (RPPR), Just-In-Time requests (JIT), and prior approval submissions.

Due to technical challenges reported by the community, NIH will allow a temporary leniency period through May 2026, after which NIH will issue a Guide Notice and enforce the requirement as a system error.

Key Changes in Current and Pending (Other) Support

Notable changes in the new NIH Biographical Sketch, derived from NOT-OD-26-018.
On or Before 1/24/26: Current NIH Other SupportOn or After 1/25/26: Current and Pending (Other) Support, Common Form

Person Months:

Effort is classified as either calendar or academic/summer months.

Person-Month(s) (or Partial Person-Months):

Effort is classified only in person months, not calendar or academic/summer. For example, an individual’s effort currently expressed as 1.2 calendar months, or 0.9 academic and 0.3 summer, would be expressed as 1.2 person months on the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form.

Major Goals:

Overall Objectives:

The field label changed, and the field is limited to 1,500 characters.

Estimated Dollar Value of In-Kind Contribution:

An estimate always needed to be reported, regardless of time commitment or dollar value.

US Dollar Value of In-Kind Contribution:

The field label changed, and an In-Kind Contribution should only be reported if estimated at $5000 or more and requires a commitment of the individual’s time.

Overlap Section:

Currently, Overlap is summarized at the end of the document rather than for each Other Support Entry.

Statement of Potential Overlap:

Each Proposal, Active Project, or In-Kind Contribution entry will have its own Statement of Potential Overlap rather than being summarized at the end.

Supporting Documentation:

Currently, provided/appended as a PDF following the Other Support form.

Supporting Documentation:

This document will not be attached to the Current and Pending (Other) Support document produced in SciENcv. It will be attached in a separate field alongside the Current and Pending (Other) Support document when submitting via the Just-In-Time, RPPR, or Prior Approval modules.

Other Support FAQs

Use of the Common Forms (Biosketch, Current and Pending Support, and NIH Biosketch Supplement) is required for applications and all JIT, RPPR, and Prior Approval submissions due on or after January 25, 2026.

However, due to technical challenges reported by the community, NIH will allow a temporary leniency period: applications that do not use the Common Forms will receive a warning but will not be withdrawn. This leniency is expected to continue through May 2026, after which NIH will issue a Guide Notice and enforce the requirement as a system error.

They must be disclosed in Active and Pending if any of the following apply:

  • The activity involves performing research;
  • The activity is related to the individual’s research portfolio and could affect funding, time/effort, or scientific integrity; or
  • The agreement requires concealment of financial ties or relationships, regardless of duration.

Yes—if the EPAP activity meets any part of the consulting definition above.

It must still be disclosed. Summary-level information is acceptable; agencies will request details if needed.

A program organized, managed, or funded by a foreign government to recruit science and technology professionals or students. These programs may seek access to proprietary technology, data, or intellectual property and may offer compensation (e.g., cash, research funding, travel, titles, or in-kind benefits). Some allow continued U.S. employment and may discourage disclosure.

Funding from any foreign government talent program must be disclosed, even if you are no longer an active participant. Participation in malign foreign talent programs is prohibited.

In-kind resources must be disclosed if:

  • They require a time commitment.
  • Their estimated value exceeds $5,000,
  • They are not intended for the proposed project, and

Report in-kind resources over $5,000 that support the project in Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources (or equivalent section).

Completed support, honoraria, gifts, mentoring as part of an appointment, institutional teaching commitments, and institutional academic or calendar-year salary.

You must certify that disclosures are accurate, current, and complete, and that you do not participate in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

Any item or service of monetary value, including gratuities, discounts, hospitality, travel, lodging, meals, services, data, equipment time, or in-kind support.

Payment or anything of value for an appearance, speech, article, or similar activity.

No. The tool has been decommissioned. Use SciENcv for NSF Current and Pending (Other) Support and Biosketches; non-federal support may be entered manually in SSCN.

Biographical Sketch (Biosketch)

Common Form Key Requirements (All Senior/Key Personnel)

  • Include all domestic and foreign appointments and positions, including honorary roles.
  • List non-UNC appointments from the past three years.
  • Report approved products demonstrating qualifications; agencies may allow additional products.
  • Certification required to confirm accuracy, completeness, and non-participation in a malign foreign talent program.
  • A Persistent Identifier (PID) is required; ORCID iD is required (Remember to associate ORCID iD and eRA Commons account with SciENcv.)
  • No page or character limits apply.
    • For NIH applications, see the chart below for character limits specific to the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement.

Guidance for NIH Implementation

On or after January 25, 2026, submissions are required to use the NIH Current and Pending Other Support Common Form. This includes applications, Research Performance Project Reports (RPPR), Just-In-Time requests (JIT), and prior approval submissions.

Due to technical challenges reported by the community, NIH will allow a temporary leniency period through May 2026, after which NIH will issue a Guide Notice and enforce the requirement as a system error.

Key Changes in Biographical Sketch

Previous NIH Biosketch(Current) NIH Biographical Sketch: Common Form(Current) NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement Form
Education/TrainingProfessional PreparationNot Applicable

A. Personal Statement: Narrative and 4 product citations.

Products: Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project, limit 5 citations.

Personal Statement:

No citations allowed. Can provide narrative for Personal Statement, including information on the Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project, cited in the Products section of the Biographical Sketch Common Form. Field is limited to 3,500 characters.

B. Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors

Appointments and Positions: Must only identify all domestic and foreign professional appointments and positions outside of the primary organization for a period up to three years from the date the applicant submits the application to the agency for funding consideration.

Honors:


Limited to no more than 15 entries.

C. Contributions to Science: Up to 5 narrative contribution descriptions, each allowed to include citations for up to 4 products.

Products: Can provide up to 5 other significant products that highlight the senior/key person’s Contributions to Science. The NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement will provide the opportunity to describe these contributions in more depth.

Contributions to Science:


No citations allowed. Can provide up to 5 narrative contributions to science. Each entry is limited to 2,000 characters.

You may refer to products listed in the Other Significant Products section of your Biographical Sketch Common Form that are relevant to the contributions described in this section.
Notable changes in the new NIH Biographical Sketch, derived from NOT-OD-26-018.

Biosketch FAQs

Use of the Common Forms (Biosketch, Current and Pending Support, and NIH Biosketch Supplement) is required for applications and all JIT, RPPR, and Prior Approval submissions due on or after January 25, 2026.

However, due to technical challenges reported by the community, NIH will allow a temporary leniency period: applications that do not use the Common Forms will receive a warning but will not be withdrawn. This leniency is expected to continue through May 2026, after which NIH will issue a Guide Notice and enforce the requirement as a system error.

If a Federal agency allows you to include a biosketch for a non-senior/key personnel member, it is strongly recommended that you complete it using the same requirements for consistency’s sake.

Yes, SciENcv is required for NSF and NIH and may be required for other Federal agencies moving forward.

Yes, it’s required for all senior/key personnel – but as a separate document in the application.

No. There is no longer a page limit.

You can find more information from NSF on their 2024 PAPPG Summary Changes and the NSF page for NSTC.

Yes, it is required that you have an ORCID ID. You can register for an account here and link it to your UNC ID.

Provide a list of the senior/key person’s professional preparation (e.g., education and training), listed in reverse chronological order by start date. Include all postdoctoral and fellowship training, as applicable, listing each separately. Also include the baccalaureate degree or other initial professional education.

Yes.

Three years back from the date of submission must be listed.

Yes.

Yes, you should list your consulting title under the Biosketch. However, details about the consulting activity (duties, amount, etc.) should be placed on your Current and Pending (Other) Support.

Yes. For Products, publications, conference papers, and presentations; website(s) or other Internet site(s); technologies or techniques; inventions, patents, patent applications, and/or licenses; and other products, such as data, databases, or datasets, physical collections, audio or video products, software, models, educational aids or curricula, instruments or equipment, research material, interventions (e.g., clinical or educational), or new business creation.

Use SciENcv for NSF Biosketch to generate this information.

SciENcv

About SciENcv

Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) is an electronic system that helps researchers assemble the professional information needed for participation in federally funded research. SciENcv gathers and compiles information on expertise, employment, education, and professional accomplishments. Researchers can use SciENcv to create and maintain biosketches for submission with grant applications and annual reports. SciENcv allows researchers to describe and highlight their scientific contributions in their own words.

Researchers must use SciEnCV to develop their Biosketch for agencies requiring the Common Form, such as DOE, NSF, and NIH, on or after January 25, 2026. Remember to associate ORCID iD and eRA Commons account with SciENcv.

SciENcv FAQs

  • SciENcv: Downloading the PDF automatically creates a time-stamped certification.
  • NSF Fillable PDF: Senior personnel type their name and date; no additional steps required.

No. Only the PI/senior personnel may certify biosketches and Current & Pending Support.

Use SciENcv. You may shorten author lists and add “et al.”; full authors remain embedded in the PDF metadata.

No for agencies requiring the common form – system checks will reject it due to missing metadata.

Both are approved, but SciENcv saves documents, supports reuse, and avoids space limitations of the fillable PDF.

Download and save locally before editing; avoid in-browser editing and Apple Preview auto-resizing.

No.

Creating a new account will not carry over prior documents.

Use clear naming (e.g., LastName Year Biosketch Program or LastName Year CP Grant).

Pre-/post-award administrators or department staff. Delegates may edit assigned sections but cannot certify.

Yes, drafts only. Certified PDFs must be downloaded by faculty.

  • Person Months ≤ 12, up to two decimals
  • System may time out with inactivity
  • Use the most complete data source available

  • Create a new document for each proposal/report
  • Do not reuse old documents without updating
  • Update overlap statements each time
  • Faculty should delete documents older than ~3 months to reduce clutter

ORCID

About ORCID

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID iD) is a persistent digital identifier unique to each researcher, distinguishing them from all other researchers. ORCID is the most widely used persistent digital identifier, and it has been integrated with many major publishers, including Thomson Reuters and Elsevier, as well as NIH’s SciENcv biosketch tool. ORCID iDs are used in research workflows, such as manuscript and grant submissions, to create links between people and their professional activities in an open, publicly visible way. Remember to associate ORCID iD and eRA Commons account with SciENcv.

Key Actions

Resources

General

Biosketch

Other Support

SciENcv

ORCID

NSPM-33 Disclosure Chart

About

National Security Presidential Memo-33 (NSPM-33) released the following chart, maintained as by the NSF, to help researcher and research administrators understand which document is best equipped for different information.

A copy of this table is available below. Contact Science and Security if you have any questions on the table or contact your research administrator for specific guidance on your disclosure.

NSPM-33 Common Form Disclosure Table

National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-33) guidance on Common Form disclosures, as maintained by the National Science Foundation.


  • * = for new support only

  • ^ = if undisclosed at the time of application submission
Type of ActivityBiographical SketchCurrent & Pending (Other) SupportFacilities, Equipment & Other ResourcesProject ReportsPost Award-Information Term & ConditionDisclosure Not Required
Professional Preparation (e.g., education and training)✔
Academic, professional, or institutional appointments and positions, whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary✔
A list of products that demonstrate the individual’s qualifications to carry out the project as proposed ✔
Current and pending (other) support–
  1. 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
    resource has monetary value;
    and
  2. 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.
✔✔*✔^
In-kind contributions with an estimated dollar value of $5000 or more that support the research activity for use on the project/proposal being proposed✔
In-kind contributions
  1. with an estimated dollar value of $5000 or more,
  2. not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed, and
  3. have an associated time commitment
✔✔*✔^
Current or pending participation in, or applications to, programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs ✔ (Appropriate placement may be contract dependent)✔ (Appropriate placement may be contract dependent)✔ (Appropriate placement may be contract dependent)✔✔
Consulting activities under the
proposals and active projects section of the form when any of the
following scenarios apply:
  1. the consulting activity will require the
    senior/key person to perform
    research as part of the consulting
    activity;
  2. the consulting activity does not involve performing
    research, but is related to the senior/key person’s research
    portfolio and may have the ability to
    impact funding, alter time or effort
    commitments, or otherwise impact
    scientific integrity; or
  3. the consulting entity has provided a contract that requires the senior/key person to conceal or withhold confidential financial or other ties between the senior/key person and the entity, irrespective of the duration of the engagement
✔
Postdoctoral scholars, students, or visiting scholars who are supported by an external entity, and whose research activities are intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed ✔
Postdoctoral scholars, students, or visiting scholars who are supported by an external entity, whose research activities are not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed and have an associated time commitment ✔✔*✔^
Travel supported/paid by an external entity to perform research activities with an associated time commitment✔✔*✔^
Startup company based on non-organization-licensed IP ✔✔*✔^
Startup packages from other than the proposing organization✔✔*✔^
Recently completed support or support that has ended✔
Travel supported/paid by an external entity to attend a conference or workshop✔
Teaching commitments✔
Startup company based on organization-licensed Intellectual Property (IP) ✔
Organizational startup packages provided to the individual from the proposing organization✔
Honoraria or other given for the purpose of conferring distinction or to symbolize respect, esteem, or admiration unrelated to research oversight, supervision, or co-authorship✔
Unrestricted Gifts ✔
Training awards and prizes ✔
Mentoring as part of appointment or agreement, or mentor/mentee arrangements that do not involve the individual’s research activities✔
Academic Year Salary or salary provided to the individual by the home organization✔
Core facilities and/or shared equipment that is broadly available✔
F&A Reimbursement provided to the proposing/home organization✔

Science and Security Program:

[email protected]

Office of Sponsored Programs:

[email protected]