Published: Jan. 18, 2017

The Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) has issued a new procedural statement for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Two-Month Salary Rule for Project Senior Personnel. Specifically, this statement provides guidance in how to request exceptions to the limitations and stay in compliance with NSF’s policy.  NSF has permitted exceptions to this limitation since the agency amended its policy in January 2009 when they applied the salary limit to all NSF salary support taken in summer and during the academic year during a CU fiscal year.  

Initially, exceptions were through case-by-case situations and using NSF FAQs for guidance, but since December 2014, allowable exceptions were formalized by incorporation into the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).  Therefore, only senior personnel salary earned on awards receiving new funding after December 26, 2014 is governed by CU Boulder’s procedural statement, NSF Two-Month Salary Rule for Project Senior Personnel.

If you have any questions, please contact your OCG Proposal Analyst or email Pat Dodson, Assistant Director, Compliance.

NSF Two-Month Salary Rule Project Senior Personnel Procedural Statement
Guideline Tool for NSF Two-Month Salary Rule