OMB & NSF Proposed Federal Grantmaking Rules: SPR Updates and Resources

SPR Organizational Response to NSF Request for Public Comment Now Available

On June 24, 2026, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a Request for Public Comment on its proposed Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA), which would replace NSF’s current Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide.

NSF-2026-OTR-0001

The proposed GFA is intended, in part, to align NSF policies with the White House Office of Management and Budget’s proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule.

Docket OMB-2026-0034

SPR’s response to the NSF Request for Public Comment draws heavily from positions previously reviewed and approved by SPR in its response to the OMB rule.

Read SPR’s Organizational Response to NSF

How to Contact Your Members of Congress

Perspectives Members May Wish to Share

  • How prevention science improves health, well-being, opportunity, and equity
  • The importance of scientific merit review and peer review in advancing rigorous research
  • The role of research infrastructure, training, dissemination, and collaboration in generating and applying scientific knowledge
  • How grantmaking policies influence the communication, accessibility, and use of prevention science evidence
  • How changes affecting research systems can ultimately influence whether evidence reaches the communities, practitioners, organizations, and decision-makers positioned to act upon it

Find and Contact Your Members of Congress

Communications can be as simple as a brief email, phone call, or meeting request describing your role, your research, and any potential implications these proposals may have for your work, trainees, collaborators, institution, or the communities you serve.

Thank you for helping communicate the value of prevention science and the importance of maintaining the systems that enable scientific evidence to inform policy, practice, and public decision-making.

SPR Organizational Response to OMB Now Available

SPR’s organizational response to the Office of Management and Budget proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule is now available.

The response outlines SPR’s concerns regarding provisions that could affect how prevention research is funded, reviewed, conducted, disseminated, and applied.

Read SPR’s Organizational Response to OMB

SPR continues to encourage members to submit individual comments reflecting their own experiences and perspectives. Comments do not need to address every provision of the proposed rule. Comments that explain practical effects on research, training, collaborations, publication, dissemination, or community impact can be especially valuable.

Additional Congressional Developments

Bipartisan concerns have also been raised regarding the proposed rule. All 47 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus voiced opposition to the proposal, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on OMB to extend the comment period and withdraw portions of the rule that could negatively affect scientific and biomedical research.

Guidance for Submitting an Individual Comment

SPR strongly encourages members to consider submitting an individual public comment on their own behalf. The volume and substance of public comments can help inform the final rule. Individual comments are often most effective when they are specific, practical, and grounded in personal or professional experience.

Tips for Preparing Your Comment

  • Identify yourself, if comfortable. Your role as a researcher, principal investigator, trainee, administrator, practitioner, or stakeholder helps provide context. Anonymous comments are also permitted.
  • Focus on the provisions most relevant to your work. You do not need to address every section of the proposed rule.
  • Describe practical impacts. Explain how the proposed changes could affect your research, funding, collaborations, training, publication activities, dissemination efforts, or ability to conduct science.
  • Be specific. Examples drawn from your own experience are often the most compelling.
  • Explain adverse consequences. Describe who could be affected, what work could be delayed or discontinued, and how communities, institutions, trainees, or research participants could be harmed.
  • Submit early. Website traffic may increase as the July 13 deadline approaches.

COSSA Webinar and Comment Preparation Resources

The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), of which SPR is a member, hosted a webinar that explained the proposed rule and offered guidance on preparing individual comments.

The webinar was designed to help researchers and stakeholders understand the proposed changes and prepare informed, substantive comments.