DOD Researcher Disclosure Requirements

On March 9th, 2026, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued 2026 Department of War (DoW) Component Decision Matrix to Inform Fundamental Research Proposal Mitigation Decisions ("2026 DOD Risk Matrix"). The document is an update to the 2025 decision matrix.

The document is a guide to assist DoD Components and program managers in reviewing fundamental research proposals for potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment. This decision matrix identifies actions prohibited by law that would preclude and investigator or institution from received funding from the Department of Defense. The document also describes conditions under which mitigation is required or suggested prior to receiving funding from the Department, depending on the type of conflict. The Department is making this document public to be transparent about the types for behaviors the Department finds problematic and to provide DoD-funded institutions and researchers a full understanding about how their proposals may be received and reviewed. 

The goals of such reviews are:

• To ensure the security of DoD-funded fundamental research;
• To ensure that covered individuals fully disclose information that can reveal potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment; and
• To provide clear messaging to those conducting fundamental research on acceptable and encouraged behaviors as well as activities that may lead to challenges in securing DoD research funding.

The Decision Matrix on pages 3-4 describes how the DoD will consider certain factors in determining whether risk mitigation is needed for a particular project. Download the complete DoD 2026 Risk Matrix report, including preface, Prohibited Entity Lists, and definitions. For more information about these risks, visit Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (FTRPs) and Malign FTRPs.

An updated list of Foreign Institutions Engaging in Problematic Activities to Counter Unauthorized Technology Transfer was released on July 19th, 2024 and can be accessed here. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering has also published a webpage for Academic Research Security with resources for the actions that the Department and the interagency are taking to ensure the integrity of fundamental research in academia.

• CDMRP Biographical Sketch fillable Word form
• CDMRP Biographical Sketch Instructions

NOTE: You can use SciENcv or the Biographical Sketch fillable Word form above for a CDMRP proposal. However, only the NSF version of the Common Forms are available in SciENcv at this time. You cannot use the NIH versions in SciENcv.

For more information and training materials on SciENcv, see the Columbia SciENcv webpage.

• CDMRP Current & Pending (Other) Support fillable Word form
• CDMRP Current & Pending (Other) Support Instructions

NOTE: You can use SciENcv or the Current & Pending (Other) Support fillable Word form above for a CDMRP proposal. However, only the NSF version of the Common Forms are available in SciENcv at this time.

For more information and training materials on SciENcv, see the Columbia SciENcv webpage.

Resources to assist in completing Current & Pending:

• Columbia's Guidance for consulting disclosure in Current and Pending (Other) Support

• Have I Included...? - a questionnaire and guide for preparing the Current & Pending Support Common Forms

• The Rascal Other Support Tool -  a starting point to assist researchers in identifying current and pending sponsored projects required to be disclosed in Other Support/Current and Pending Support forms for federal agencies. Researchers can download an Excel report to send to administrators assisting with C&P Support. The Other Support Tool contains only proposals from and awards to Columbia.  It does not include other information required in C&P Support, such as in-kind contributions. The researcher is responsible for including all required information.