Award Terms and Conditions

This page contains the U.S. National Science Foundation's Award Terms and Conditions for its grants and cooperative agreements. When you receive an award notice from NSF, it will identify which conditions are applicable to your award.

Topics covered in these documents include awardee responsibilities, federal requirements, pre-award costs, no-cost extensions, significant project changes, travel, allowable costs, project reports, final report requirements and more.

Grant General Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to NSF awards made to for-profit organizations (other than Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer awardees) and state, local or tribal governments.

Grant General Conditions (Oct. 1, 2024) 

Applies to new grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024. The document includes the summary of changes.

Grant General Conditions (May 20, 2024) 

Applies to new grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

Cooperative Agreement Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to NSF cooperative agreements.

Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new cooperative agreements and funding amendments to existing cooperative agreements dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024. Document includes the summary of changes.

Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new cooperative agreements and funding amendments to existing cooperative agreements dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

SBIR/STTR Terms and Conditions

General terms and conditions for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

SBIR/STTR Phase I General Terms and Conditions (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new Phase I grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024.

SBIR/STTR Phase I General Terms and Conditions (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new Phase I grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes

SBIR/STTR Phase II General Terms and Conditions (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new Phase II grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024.

SBIR/STTR Phase II General Terms and Conditions (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new Phase II grants and funding amendments to existing grants dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

Special Conditions

Administration of NSF Conference or Group Travel Award Grant Conditions (FL 26) (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new conference or group travel grants and funding amendments to existing conference/group travel grants dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024. Document includes the summary of changes.

Administration of NSF Conference or Group Travel Award Grant Conditions (FL 26) (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new conference or group travel grants and funding amendments to existing conference/group travel grants dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

Awards Made to International Organizations (FL 26) (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new conference or group travel grants and funding amendments to existing conference/group travel grants made to international organizations that are dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024. Document includes the summary of changes.

Awards Made to International Organizations (FL 26) (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new conference or group travel grants and funding amendments to existing conference/group travel grants made to international organizations that are dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

International Research Terms and Conditions (Oct. 1, 2024)

Applies to new international research awards and funding amendments to existing international research awards that are dated on or after Oct. 1, 2024. Document includes the summary of changes.

International Research Terms and Conditions (May 20, 2024)

Applies to new international research awards and funding amendments to existing international research awards that are dated on or after May 20, 2024. View the summary of changes.

Research Terms and Conditions

The Research Terms and Conditions apply to research and research-related grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations. They implement the requirements of the Uniform Guidance, issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

View the Research Terms and Conditions webpage to view supplemental appendices, agency-specific requirements for specific federal awarding agencies, and more.