Transparency in Research: Federal Agency Disclosure Requirements
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Updated June 2026
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) published Common Disclosure Forms in 2024, including Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support. At that time they also issued a chart for detailing additional requirements through the NSTC Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support
Since the issuance of the Common Forms, agencies have been implementing their version of the forms to be completed with research proposals.
A Biographical Sketch is used to assess how well qualified the individual, team, or organization is to conduct the proposed activities. A biographical sketch must be provided separately for each individual designated as a senior/key person, typically through use of SciENcv.
The general requirements for the Biographical Sketch are found here:
General Requirements (Updated June 2026)
Common Form for Biographical Sketch
Consistent with NSPM-33, individuals are required to disclose contracts associated with participation in programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs. Further, if individuals receive direct or indirect support that is funded by a foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, even where the support is provided through an intermediary and does not require membership in the foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, that support must be disclosed. Individuals must also report other foreign government sponsored or affiliated activities. In accordance with 42 USC § 19232, individuals are prohibited from being a party in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
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. Current and Pending (Other) Support information must be provided separately for each individual designated as a senior/key person, typically through use of SciENcv.
Senior/key personnel must prepare, save, certify, and submit these documents as part of their proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov.
General Requirements (Updated June 2026)
Common Form for Current and Pending (Other) Support
Senior/key personnel are required to disclose contracts associated with participation in programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs. Further, if an individual receives direct or indirect support that is funded by a foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, even where the support is provided through an intermediary and does not require membership in the foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment program, that support must be disclosed. Senior/key personnel must also report other foreign government-sponsored or affiliated activities. In accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 19232, individuals are prohibited from being a party in a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
Facilities and Other Resources, including but not limited to, in kind contributions valued at $5,000 or more that support the research activity for use on the project/proposal being proposed and 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. This can include foreign agreements or contracts where some resource is being committed.
There may be instances where specific award terms require disclosure post award or when a recipient may need to report something previously not reported.
New Disclosures and Updates to the Disclosures listed above, due on an annual basis.
The menu below contains links to various resources and agency communications related to international collaboration/foreign components.
POLICY:
It is Caltech policy that all Senior/Key Personnel on Caltech grants or contracts must provide accurate current and pending or other support (Other Support) information to federal funding agencies, in accordance with each specific agency requirement. Other Support includes disclosing all resources made available to the Senior/Key Personnel 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 Caltech.
All Senior/Key Personnel will attest and certify to the accuracy of this information annually, at the time of submission of their annual Disclosure of Financial Interests and Commitments (DFIC) and at the time of each proposal submission.
If the agency has a requirement to receive training on this policy, researchers must complete the Institution's Research Security Training.
Caltech Other Support Resources:
· Caltech BSOS found on access.caltech.edu: This resource collects data from many sources that may be useful in compiling one's Other Support documentation. You can learn more about it at: /compliance/conflicts-interest/biosketch-and-other-support
- NIH FAQs Regarding Other Support and Foreign Components (updated continuously)
- November 3, 2021: Request for NIH investigator foreign agreements
- August 2, 2021: NIH issues Additional Clarifications to Biosketch and Other Support Policies
- July 18, 2021: NIH issues new and updated FAQs - Other Support and Foreign Components
- NIH Grants Policy Statement: 16 Grants to Foreign Organizations, International Organizations, and Domestic Grants with Foreign Components
- April 28, 2021: Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page (NOT-OD-21-110)
- March 12, 2021: Upcoming Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page for Due Dates on or after May 25, 2021 (NOT-OD-21-073)
- July 16, 2020: NIH issued statement to follow principles aligned with those announced by the White House's Office, Science and Technology Policy in June 2020
- July 8, 2020: NIH Open Mike Blog: Addressing Foreign Interference and Associated Risks to the Integrity of Biomedical Research, and How You Can Help
- June 12, 2020: Advisory Committee to the NIH Director issued report on Foreign Influences on Research Integrity
- July 10, 2019: Reminders of NIH Policies on Other Support and on Policies related to Financial Conflicts of Interest and Foreign Components (NOT-OD-19-114)
- June 28, 2021: NSF issues new FAQs Regarding Current & Pending Support
- Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
- Protecting Research and Facilitating Collaboration describes how to safeguard research in collaborations.
- Dear Colleagues memo details NSF efforts to protect research from foreign threats.
- DoD memo issued on March 20, 2019, outlines disclosure requirements for all key personnel listed on DoD-funded financial assistance agreements.
- DoD memorandum for immediate prohibition on Procurement of Foreign-Made Unmanned Aircraft Systems
DoE employees and contract workers are prohibited from participating in foreign government talent recruitment programs of countries designated by DoE as a foreign country of risk.
"Although Co-Is or collaborators employed by non-U.S. organizations may be identified as part of a proposal submitted by a U.S. organization, NASA funding may not support research efforts by non-U.S. organizations, collaborators or subcontracts at any level, including travel by foreign investigators. The direct purchase of supplies and/or services, which do not constitute research, from non-U.S. sources by U.S. award recipients is permitted."
NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science FAQs
In 1976, Congress established the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to provide the President and others within the Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, and the environment
NSPM-33 Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures - May 2024 https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/may2024-r.pdf?VersionId=nLaNQo1s8DbqxYhbCJrTEHFV5vqnZvaMNIH Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Matrix - September 2025 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/NIH-Disclosures-Table.pdfNASA Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Matrix - October 2024 https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/nasa-pre-award-and-post-award-disclosure-requirements-2.pdf?emrc=888cb6Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form Usage Requirements in Financial Assistance - December 2025 https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/FAL%202026-02%20Common%20Forms.pdfDepartment of Energy FAL 2022-04 directive to program officers https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/FAL%202022-04%20Current%20and%20Pending%20Support%20Disclosures.pdfDepartment of Energy Office of Science Open Solicitation DE-FOA-0003600 https://science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/FOAs/2026/-/media/grants/pdf/foas/2026/DE-FOA-0003600-000001.pdfDOD R&D General Terms and Conditions (for post award terms and conditions)- March 2025 https://www.onr.navy.mil/media/document/dod-research-and-development-rd-general-terms-and-conditions-march-2025DARPA Proposers Instructions Website https://www.darpa.mil/about/offices/contracts-management/proposer-transactionsEPA Current and Pending Support Form- June 2024 https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/ncer_form_5.pdfNIST Current and Pending Support Form- March 2024 https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2024/10/11/NIST%20Current%20and%20Pending%20Support%20Form%20-%208.1.24_FINAL.pdfUSDA Application Support Templates Website https://www.nifa.usda.gov/application-support-templatesU.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE General Terms and Conditions for Federal Awards - December 2025 (effective February 2026) https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-general-terms-conditions-2025.pdf#page=31USDA Application Guide instructions (p. 47) - March 2025 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/NIFA-5-2b-NIFA%20Grants.gov%20Application%20Guide%20March2025_remediated.pdf#page=47
NSPM-33 Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures - May 2024 https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/may2024-r.pdf?VersionId=nLaNQo1s8DbqxYhbCJrTEHFV5vqnZvaM
NIH Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures - September 2025 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/NIH-Disclosures-Table.pdf
NASA Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures - October 2024 https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/nasa-pre-award-and-post-award-disclosure-requirements-2.pdf?emrc=888cb6
Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form Usage Requirements in Financial Assistance - December 2025 https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/FAL%202026-02%20Common%20Forms.pdf
Department of Energy Office of Science Open Solicitation DE-FOA-0003600 https://science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/FOAs/2026/-/media/grants/pdf/foas/2026/DE-FOA-0003600-000001.pdf
DOD Basic Research / Academic Research Security website https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Programs/Academic-Research-Security/
DARPA Proposers Instructions Website https://www.darpa.mil/about/offices/contracts-management/proposer-transactions
EPA Current and Pending Support https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/documents/biosketchform.pdf
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE General Terms and Conditions for Federal Awards - December 2025 (effective February 2026) https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-general-terms-conditions-2025.pdf#page=31
USDA Application Guide (p. 46)- March 2025 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/NIFA-5-2b-NIFA%20Grants.gov%20Application%20Guide%20March2025_remediated.pdf#page=4
Thank you to Michelle Christy for assistance with this site.