NSF regulations require an institution that receives an allegation to complete an inquiry within 90 days. If the inquiry finds insufficient basis for the allegation, the matter is closed. In such cases the institution does not have any obligation to inform us. If the inquiry finds there is a substantive possibility that misconduct has occurred involving an NSF proposal or award, the institution must notify us and promptly begin an investigation. The appropriate university official may then take disciplinary action on behalf of the institution.
Institutions conduct investigations according to their established procedures.
If you have a question about how an investigation is being conducted, you should contact the responsible academic official. While we do not establish specific procedures that institutions must follow, we are concerned that subjects, informants, and witnesses affected by investigations be accorded fundamental fairness and due process. We review all investigations undertaken by institutions with these concerns in mind. The institution is expected to complete an investigation, reach a disposition within 180 days, and provide a report to us. We evaluate these investigative reports and sometimes ask the institution for clarification or additional information.