The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires principal investigators (PIs) to certify at the time of proposal submission that they have a plan for a safe and inclusive working environment for any off-campus or off-site research. For purposes of the plan requirements, NSF has defined off-campus or off-site research as data/information/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, such as fieldwork and research activities on vessels and aircraft. The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) further clarifies off-campus or off-site locations as any location not considered a part of UH’s on-campus Clery geography.
For all grant applications where NSF is the prime sponsor, the PI is responsible for determining whether any “off-campus or off-site research” will occur in their project. UH’s plan, which is attached here and also available at https://go.hawaii.edu/H5X, includes a questionnaire that must be completed and uploaded to the myGRANT proposal development document as an internal attachment prior to proposal submission. If an award is received, the PI must ensure that this plan is distributed to each individual conducting the off-campus or off-site research prior to commencement of such activity.
This requirement became effective on January 30, 2023. PIs that have submitted proposals to NSF since the effective date will be receiving a separate email on how to submit such plans if it applies to any of their NSF projects.
For additional information, please refer to the plan posted https://go.hawaii.edu/H5X, or contact Dawn Kim, ORS Financial Compliance Manager at dawnkim@hawaii.edu.