On July 8, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) announcing a forthcoming policy that will bar NSF funds from supporting collaborations with entities on select U.S. restricted party lists.
Senior/key personnel will be prohibited from collaborating with restricted entities on NSF-funded projects and will also be prohibited from holding an appointment or position with, or receiving research support from, listed entities for the duration of the NSF award.
In Appendix A of the DCL, NSF provides 12 restricted party lists that are now in scope and notes that this change aligns with the Department of War’s approach to restricted-party collaborations. This work is intended to safeguard NSF-funded research while promoting consistency and reducing administrative burden. NSF intends to implement the prohibition in Fiscal Year 2027.
To comply, Authorized Organizational Representatives and senior/key personnel will need to certify to this effect at proposal submission, and organizations will be responsible for ensuring awareness of and compliance with the prohibition. As final implementation details are released, additional information about this new restriction will be provided.