Working with Federal Agencies

Disclosing Activities to NASA

Biosketch

What to Disclose

Each senior/key person shall submit a biosketch that includes:

  • professional preparation (e.g., education and training)
  • academic, professional , or institutional appointments and positions, paid or unpaid, full time, part time, or voluntary
  • a list of products that demonstrate the individual’s qualifications to carry out the project as proposed

Refer to individual funding notices for any additional requirements.

When to Disclose

Biosketch information is generally required at the time of proposal but updates may be requested as part of interim reports or when a significant change occurs. Refer to the funding notice and award terms for specific requirements.

Current and Pending Support

What to Disclose

Senior and key personnel shall disclose:

  • all resources made available, or expected to be made available, to an individual in support of the individual’s research and development efforts, regardless of whether i) the source is foreign and or domestic, ii) the resource is made available through Ohio State or directly to the individual, or iii) the resource has monetary value
  • in-kind contributions with an estimated dollar value of $5,000 or more not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed that have an associated time commitment
  • current or pending participation in, or applications to, programs sponsored by foreign governments, instrumentalities, or entities, including foreign talent recruitment programs
  • consulting activities, if i) the activity will require the senior/key person to perform research as part of the consulting activity, ii) the consulting activity does not involve performing research, but is related to the senior/key person’s research portfolio and may have the ability to impact funding, alter time or effort commitments, or otherwise impact scientific integrity, or iii) the activity involves a contract that requires the senior/key person to conceal or withhold confidential financial or other ties between the senior/key person and the entity
  • postdoctoral scholars, students, or visiting scholars who are supported by an external entity, whose research activities are not intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed and have an associated time commitment
  • travel supported/paid by an external entity to perform research activities with an associated time commitment
  • startup company based on non-Ohio State licensed IP
  • startup packages (other than startup packages provided by Ohio State)

Refer to individual funding notices for any additional requirements.

When to Disclose

Current and pending support information is required at the time of proposal and updated on annual and final progress reports.

PRC Funding Restrictions

Since 2011, federal law has prohibited NASA from using NASA funds to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or any PRC-owned company – including PRC universities and research institutions (Public Law 117-103, sec. 526). NASA does not consider this restriction a prohibition on the participation of Chinese nationals. In 2012, NASA published Grant Information Circular 12-01A implementing restrictions on funding activities with the PRC.

The university must certify compliance with this restriction for each NASA proposal and/or award. Therefore, any Ohio State employee seeking or receiving funding from NASA must annually complete the NASA Certification Form.

Guidance for Ohio State Researchers

Researchers may not be eligible for NASA funding if their ongoing or proposed work involves bilateral activity with the PRC or PRC-owned companies or entities, including PRC universities and research institutions. See NASA funding FAQs for more information. 

Allowed Participants on NASA Grants

  • Graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, or other investigators who are PRC citizens may participate on a NASA grant if they do not have an affiliation with a PRC institution or entity. The statute does not restrict involvement based on citizenship or nationality. 

Prohibited Bilateral Activities Involving NASA Funds 

  • Spending any NASA grant money on any part of a bilateral project with the PRC, even if no funds are sent to the PRC or to a PRC-owned company
  • Attending bilateral conferences in the PRC
  • Using NASA funds for papers that include authors only from the U.S. and PRC
  • Entering into a contract or agreement with a PRC organization to obtain access to data
  • Reviewing manuscripts from journals in the PRC if serving as a reviewer is funded by NASA 

Allowed Activities Involving NASA Funds

  • Attending multilateral, widely attended conferences held in the PRC
  • Using PRC data that is publicly available to perform scientific research
  • Conducting general scientific discussions with PRC researchers
  • Using NASA funds for papers that include authors from other countries in addition to authors from the U.S. and PRC
  • Reviewing a manuscript submitted to a science journal by authors affiliated with a PRC institution (as long as serving as a journal reviewer is not part of a NASA project or otherwise funded by NASA) 

Resources