National Science Foundation Guidance on Financial Assistance

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form NSF-428A Reviewer Background Information	Form	Unchanged	Available
Form NSF Form 1 Proposal Review Form	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
GFA Summary of Changes.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-10-27	Available
GFA 60-day Public Comment Summaries and Responses.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-10-27	Available
0058supportingstatement_2024 Final 10-23-2024.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2023-10-23	Available
NSF Act.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-08-14	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
45997	Proposal Reviewer Form	Form	Unchanged	Reviewer Background Information
45996	NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance	Instruction	Modified
45994	Proposal Review Form	Form and Instruction	Modified	Proposal Review Form

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3145-0058	ICR Reference No: 202610-3145-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202310-3145-001
Agency/Subagency: NSF	Agency Tracking No:
Title: National Science Foundation Guidance on Financial Assistance
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/28/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2027
Responses	182,000	196,000
Time Burden (Hours)	5,805,833	6,278,333
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: NSF receives more than 45,000 proposals annually for new or renewal support for research in math/science/engineering education projects and makes approximately 13,500 new awards. The Foundation exercises its authority primarily by making merit-based grants and cooperative agreements and providing other forms of assistance to individual researchers and groups, in partnership with over 2800 colleges, universities and other institutions, public and private, state, local and federal throughout the United States.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 1861 Name of Law: The National Science Foundation
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 38030	06/24/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 67875	10/28/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance
Proposal Review Form	NSF Form 1	Proposal Review Form
Proposal Reviewer Form	NSF-428A	Reviewer Background Information

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	182,000	196,000	0	-14,000	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,805,833	6,278,333	0	-472,500	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Changes in the total burden associated with NSF's information collections may result from variations in proposal volume, changes in the types and complexity of proposals submitted, revisions to information requirements, or improvements in electronic systems and administrative processes. The number of proposals submitted to NSF may fluctuate annually based on available funding opportunities, research community participation, and other factors outside the agency's direct control.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $9,000,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 10/28/2026

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