Office of the General Counsel (OD/OGC)

OGC supports NSF as legal issues arise in connection with NSF assistance awards and other agency support agreements.

OGC assists NSF with a variety of domestic and international environmental law issues, including:

• Compliance with the "National Environmental Policy Act." In this role, OGC chairs the Committee on Environmental Matters (See 45 CFR Part 640).
• Compliance with the "Antarctic Conservation Act."

OGC provides legal advice to NSF's managers and supervisors and defends the agency's personnel, labor and staffing decisions in both administrative and judicial forums. Examples of matters handled by the office include:

• Adverse actions.
• Alternative dispute resolution.
• Clarification of unit petitions.
• Employee discipline.
• Employment discrimination.
• Negotiability appeals.
• Performance-based actions.
• Reasonable accommodation.
• Reorganizations.
• Staffing issues.
• Union grievances.
• Union negotiations.
• Unfair labor practices.
• Violence/threats in the workplace.

OGC guides NSF as it responds at all levels to the mandate of the "Science and Engineering Equal Opportunity Act" to assist the United States in the "full development and use of the science and engineering talents of men and women, equally, of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds," as well as those talents of persons with disabilities (42 U.S.C. § 1885, et seq.)

OGC supports NSF in the areas of litigation support and adjudication of claims. The office has authority to represent the agency before arbitration tribunals in various employment and labor relations matters and in other administrative forums.

OGC also represents NSF, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, in judicial and administrative forums providing coordination, fact-finding, discovery support for DOJ, as well as drafting and reviewing legal briefs and other pleadings for each phase of litigation arising from an NSF activity.

Research misconduct: 

OGC handles the adjudication of misconduct recommendations by the Office of the Inspector General, advising NSF's director and deputy director regarding a final disposition of the matter. OGC also works with the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council to coordinate the diverse parts of the federal research and development enterprise to help establish a government-wide policy addressing research misconduct. Learn more on the Scientific Integrity at NSF webpage. 

Research involving human participants:

NSF is a signatory to the common rule assuring the protection of human subjects involved in federally supported research. OGC handles all legal issues resulting from the application of this policy to NSF supported research and participates in government-wide policy initiatives concerning this subject. Learn more on the Research Involving Human Subjects webpage.

Animal welfare requirements:

OGC handles all legal issues relating to animal welfare requirements that must be adhered to by NSF awardees. Learn more on the Research Involving Vertebrate Animals webpage.

OGC provides advice to NSF on a variety of intellectual property issues that arise. Visit the Intellectual Property webpage to learn more.

OGC oversees NSF's implementation of the "Freedom of Information Act," (5 USC 552) and the "Privacy Act" (5 USC 552a). OGC also provides advice to agency employees about the requirements of the "Federal Advisory Committee Act."