Other Support

Other support includes all resources made available to researchers or 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 the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant. 

Includes (but not limited to):

1. All foreign and domestic entities
2. Financial support for laboratory personnel
3. Provision of high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemical, model systems, technology, etc.)
4. Does not include Training awards, prizes and gifts

If the PI's level of effort changes more than 25% from proposal, Prior Approval from NIH is required. 

Include the following information:

1. All resources, irrespective of whether such support is provided through the applicant organization, through another domestic or foreign organization, or is provided directly to an individual that supports the senior/key personnel’s research efforts
2. In-kind (only) support
   • Visiting scholars/students working in lab who are supported by a domestic or foreign entity either through salary, stipend or receipt of living or travel expenses
   • Examples: Office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees
3. Overlap Statement 
   • Overlaps in science, budget, or commitment are disclosed and addressed in the Overlap Statement of the Other Support for each Senior/Key Person. The statement should identify affected projects, describe the overlap and how it will be remedied (Other Support Sample, Examples of Overlap Statements). For example:
     1. Relinquishment of duplicate award(s) if one application is submitted to two or more funding sources
     2. Adjustment of budget in conjunction with OSR and agency staff, for substantial duplication of research proposed in two applications
     3. Adjustment of effort in conjunction with OSR and agency staff, when total time commitment exceeds 100%
   • Scientific overlap occurs when (1) substantially the same research is proposed in more than one application or is submitted to two or more funding sources for review and funding consideration, or (2) a specific research objective and the research design for accomplishing the objective are the same or closely related in two or more applications or awards, regardless of the funding source

NIH does not require disclosure of recently completed support in Other Support submissions, only current and pending resources.

NIH Other Support is required for all Senior/Key Personnel at Just-in-Time (JIT) and changes are reported in each annual research performance progress report (RPPR).

Other Support submissions must be submitted as a flattened PDF, after all signatures are obtained. NIH requires a certified signature through the use of electronic signature software.  A typed name or scanned inked signature are not acceptable.   UCSF electronic signature software include Adobe Acrobat Professional and Docusign. 

UCSF Resources

1. OSR Prepared NIH Other Support FAQs
2. Overview of NIH Notice and Key Changes 
3. Town Hall and Q&A Sessions (April 28, 2021)
   • PowerPoint Presentation
   • Q&A 
   • UPDATE - Since the recording of this training session, NIH has updated their instructions and samples for Other Support and Biosketch.
   • Notable Changes to the Other Support FAQs and Instructions:
     • NIH does not require disclosure of recently completed support in Other Support submissions, only current and pending resources.
     • Other Support submissions must be submitted as a flattened PDF, after all signatures are obtained. A typed name is not an electronic signature and is not acceptable.  
       • Docusign signature is acceptable 
4. RA Town Hall Presentsation (Other Support Slides Only) - 06/24/2021,09/23/2021,03/24/2022,12/13/2023, 6/20/2024
5. Complemenatry Effort and Concurrent Support on K Awards
6. Summary of NIH Policy Regarding Senior/Key Personnel and Investigator
7. Summary of NIH Policy regarding Other Support vs. Biosketch

NIH Resources

1. Due Dates on/after May 25, 2021
   • NIH Other Support webpage with format page, instructions, and sample
2. NOT-OD-21-073 - Upcoming Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page for Due Dates on or after May 25, 2021
3. NOT-OD-19-114 - Reminders of NIH Policies on Other Support and on Policies related to Financial Conflicts of Interest and Foreign Components
4. NOT-OD-21-110 - Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page
5. NIH Other Support FAQs
6. NIH Other Support Grants.gov Page
7. NIH Pre-award and Post-Award Disclosures Relating to Biosketch and Other Support

Foreign Component is existence of any “significant scientific element or segment of a project” outside of the United States, in other words

1. Performance of work by a researcher or recipient in a foreign location, whether or not NIH grant funds are expended and/or
2. Performance of work by a researcher in a foreign location employed or paid for by a foreign organization, whether or not NIH grant funds are expended.

If project staff (including visiting faculty, scientists, etc.) leave the country to return home due to COVID-19 and continue to work on the project, whether paid by the project or not, this could qualify as a foreign component and would require prior approval from the NIH IC.

For Postdoctoral scholars that are required to work on their originally approved work remotely from a foreign country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, where no grant funds are going to a foreign entity, NIH has determined this scenario does not constitute the performance of a significant element or segment of the project outside the US.  Therefore, this is not considered a foreign component and does not require prior approval. 

SOURCE: NIH NOT-OD-19-114, NIH COVID-19 FAQ

• Examples of "Significant Elements"
• Inclusion of Foreign Components

What are some examples of a “significant element of a project” when making determinations regarding a foreign component?

The recipient institution should evaluate the element of the project that is being conducted outside of the United States within the context of the project as a whole when making determinations about significance. Some examples of activities that may be considered a significant element of the project include, but are not limited to:

1. Collaborations with investigators at a foreign site anticipated to result in co-authorship
2. Use of facilities or instrumentation at a foreign site
3. Receipt of financial support or resources from a foreign entity

SOURCE: NIH FAQs

Does a Foreign Component need to be included on Other Support?

The Foreign component should be part of the proposal, R&R Other Project Information Form,  not the Other Support document. The addition of a foreign component to an ongoing NIH grant continues to require NIH prior approval, as outlined in the NIHGPS, Section 8.1.2, Prior Approval Requirements.  Principal Investigator’s should work with Grants Officer/Specialist to submit the prior approval request.

If an activity does not meet the definition of foreign component because all research is being conducted within the United States, but there is a non-U.S. resource that supports the research of an investigator and/or researcher, it must be reported as other support.

For example, if a PD/PI of an NIH-funded grant has a collaborator outside of the U.S. who performs experiments in support of the PD/PI’s NIH-funded project, this would constitute a foreign component, regardless of whether the foreign collaborator receives funding from the PD/PI’s grant. Additional funding from a foreign source for the NIH-supported research of a PD/PI at a U.S. institution would not constitute a foreign component but would necessitate reporting as other support.

 SOURCE: NIH NOT-OD-19-114

1. All resources made available to an individual in support of and/or related to their research efforts, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value
2. All in-kind contributions (e.g. office/laboratory space, equipment, supplies, employees, students) or items or services, whether intended/not intended for use on the project/proposal, and with the expectation of an associated time commitment
   • If the time commitment or dollar value is not readily ascertainable, reasonable estimates should be provided
     1. In-kind contributions intended for use on the project with no associated time commitment are included in the Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources section of the proposal and are not replicated in the current and pending support
     2. In-kind contributions not intended for use on the project with no associated time commitment are not reported
     3. Startup packages from any organization other than the proposing organization
     4. If the project or any part of the project was funded previously by a source other than NSF, information must be provided regarding the last period of funding

If it is discovered that a PI or co-PI on an active NSF grant failed to disclose current support or in-kind contribution information as part of the proposal submission process (see PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.h), the AOR must submit the Current Support information within 30 calendar days of the identification of the undisclosed current support or in-kind contribution through use of the “Other Request” category in the Notification and Request Module in Research.gov.  Please work with your OSR Staff member to follow the instructions in the NSF Award Terms and Conditions - Arctilcle 38. Post-Award Disclosure of Current Support and In-Kind Contribution Information. 

• NSF PAPPG NSF 23-1 Current and Pending Support
• NSF Disclosure Tables
• NSF PAPPG (NSF 20-1) webinar (recorded February 6, 2020)
• NSF FAQsL Current and Pending (Other) Support
• NSF website on Current and Pending (Other) Support 
• SciENcv Guidance on Creating an NSF Current and Pending Support document, including step-by-step instructions and screenshots for the two required sections (This is a subsection of the guidance at SciENcv Help.)

• DOD Funding Opportunites and Forms - Link to current General Application can be found with each funding opportunity
• DOD Memo - Actions for Protection of Intellectual Property, Controlled Information, Key Personnel and Critical Technologies