The National Science Foundation has posted a revision to the NSF Agency Specific Requirements to the Research Terms and Conditions on the Research Terms and Conditions web page.
The updated Requirements will go into effect on January 5, 2009, and will be applied to all new NSF grants and funding increments on existing NSF grants to organizations subject to 2 CFR Part 215. The Research Terms and Conditions will not be applied to NSF cooperative agreements and NSF fellowship awards made to individuals. NSF has posted a summary of significant changes to accompany the revised Requirements.
One significant change will provide investigators some flexibility (in certain circumstances) for use of non-US flag air carriers. NSF has updated Article 13, Travel, to incorporate revised circumstances under which use of a foreign-flag air carrier is permissible. Article 13 now addresses Airline “Open Skies” Agreements between the US and a foreign government, which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the requirements of the Fly America Act. Article 13 provides information on the Open Skies Agreement with the European Union, and includes a link to the General Services Administration web site for additional information on other Open Skies Agreements.
February 2013 Update: