NSF Certification – Non-participation in a MFTRP
The National Science Foundation announced a new annual certification requirement for Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) who have or will receive NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024. As of June 7, 2025, any individual serving as a PI or co-PI on a qualifying NSF award must certify via Research.gov that they are not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program – (MFTRP). (See NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter II.D.1.e(ii) for more information).
Georgia Southern University policy prohibits participation in MFTRPs.
Key information for researchers on the new certification requirements:
- Who Must Certify: The requirement applies only to PIs and co-PIs named on NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024. (NSF has indicated that it may expand this to all senior/key personnel in the future.)
- How to Certify: Impacted individuals will be prompted to complete the certification after signing into Research.gov. Individuals will not be prompted or reminded to sign in for this purpose.
- Frequency: Certification is required once per year, regardless of the number of qualifying NSF awards an individual may hold.
- Verification: Once completed, the certification response is available under the “Academic/Professional Information” section of the individual’s Research.gov profile.
- Eligibility: Individuals currently participating in any MFTRP are not eligible to serve as senior/key personnel on proposals or awards issued after May 20, 2024.
NSF will provide institutions with access to submitted certifications for administrative awareness and compliance monitoring.
Questions about the certification requirement may be directed to researchsecurity@nsf.gov
Technical issues related to Research.gov can be addressed by contacting the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or emailing rgov@nsf.gov.
NSF enforcement actions are explained here. More at https://www.nsf.gov/research-security
Last updated: 6/10/2025