The National Science Foundation (NSF) now requires annual certification for all Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) named on NSF awards made on or after May 20, 2024.
As of Saturday, June 7, 2025, and in accordance with the , affected individuals must certify each year in that they are not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP).
What You Need to Know:
-
NSF is notifying impacted PIs and co-PIs directly.
-
The certification requirement applies only to PIs and co-PIs, not to institutions.
-
After logging in to , impacted individuals will be prompted to complete the MFTRP certification.
-
PIs and co-PIs with multiple active awards only need to certify once per year.
-
Completed certifications are viewable under the Academic/Professional Information section of the user's profile.
-
Individuals currently involved in an MFTRP are not eligible to serve as senior and key personnel on NSF proposals or any NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024.
-
NSF plans to expand this certification requirement to all senior and key personnel in the future.
-
Guidance for Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs) is available in .
NSF Resources and Support:
-
FAQs and MFTRP contract examples will be available soon on the .
-
For questions about this requirement, email researchsecurity@nsf.gov.
-
For technical or system issues, contact the NSF IT Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. ET) or email rgov@nsf.gov.