How to Manage Your Award

The Award and Administration Guide(AAG) (Part II of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide) sets forth NSF policies regarding the award and administration of grants and cooperative agreements and implements Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations (2 CFR Part 215), and 45 CFR Part 602 (the Common Rule implementing OMB Circular A-102), Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.  The AAG is applicable to NSF grants and cooperative agreements, unless noted otherwise in the award instrument.  This Guide does not apply to NSF contracts.

The Grant General Conditions, Research Terms and Conditions, Cooperative Agreement Conditions and Special Conditions pages provide the full text of the terms and conditions used to manage NSF grants and cooperative agreements. Topics covered include awardee responsibilities, Federal requirements, pre-award costs, no-cost extensions, significant project changes, travel, allowable costs, project reports, final report requirements, and more.

The Policy Office, in the Division of Institution and Award Support, provides general proposal & award policy guidance for use by the NSF proposer and awardee community. The Policy Office page includes NSF-specific regulations, policies and procedures, other Federal regulations, information regarding important NSF policies, award conditions, as well as other valuable information. 

The NSF conducts outreach on proposal preparation and award administration, through Regional Grant Conferences, other targeted outreach programs, as well as FastLane outreach activities.