Common Form Disclosure FAQs
Federal funding agencies are implementing common forms to be used for current and pending (other) support and biographical sketches (collectively, “Common Forms”). The following FAQs address common questions from researchers and research administrators about the Common Forms. They are subject to change as guidance from federal agencies evolves. Always check the agency website for the most up-to-date information.
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SciENcv and ORCID
- I understand the Common Forms must be submitted in SciENcv. What is SciENcv?
- I understand the Common Forms require an ORCID. How do I get one?
- What is the relationship between ORCID and SciENcv?
- How do I access SciENcv?
- Is use of SciENcv required?
- Is there still a page limit in SciENcv?
Research Administrator Roles and Procedures
- Can research administrators assist principal investigators with completing the Common Forms in SciENcv?
- How do research administrators get access to SciENcv in order to support a principal investigator?
- Do research administrators need to have an ORCID in order to be a PI’s delegate in SciENcv?
- Can research administrators certify the Common Forms on the PI’s behalf?
Current and Pending (Other) Support
- For in-kind contributions, what if a required time commitment or dollar amount is not documented?
- For consulting that needs to be disclosed as Other Support, what if there is no specific time commitment? What information should be entered into SciENcv?
- Do the time commitments included for in-kind contributions count toward the 12 calendar months of Total University Effort?
- Do gifts have to be included in Current and Pending (Other) Support?
1. I understand the Common Forms must be submitted in SciENcv. What is SciENcv?
SciENcv is a web-based researcher profile system for individuals who apply for, receive or are associated with research funding from federal funding agencies. Some federal funding agencies require covered individuals to use SciENcv to submit Current and Pending (Other) Support and Biographical Sketch forms as part of the funding application.
2. I understand the Common Forms require an ORCID. How do I get one?
ORCID is a free, unique, digital persistent identifier (DPI) for individuals to use as they engage in research, scholarship, and innovation activities. Any researcher or scholar can sign up for a free ORCID ID and keep their ORCID ID and its associated record throughout their research career.
To obtain an ORCID ID, go to https://orcid.org/register. You will provide your name and an email address and create a password. You will also be asked to choose the visibility of your ORCID record, though you can change the visibility of your ORCID record at any time.
For more information on obtaining an ORCID, you can visit Columbia University Library’s website at https://library.columbia.edu/services/researcherIDs-orcid.html.
3. What is the relationship between ORCID and SciENcv?
ORCID establishes a digital persistent identifier (DPI) for the individual researcher. SciENcv requires this DPI as part of the identification information for the individual submitting Common Forms.
In addition, ORCID offers an opportunity for a researcher to document biographical information, publications and funding in one place. SciENcv interfaces with ORCID to enable easy transfer of information from ORCID to SciENcv. Maintaining such information in the ORCID profile thus avoids having to re-enter data into SciENcv for multiple funding agencies.
4. How do I access SciENcv?
There are multiple options to log into SciENcv. All available options should allow you to access SciENcv.
Researchers
If you currently use My Bibliography of MyNCBI (typically to manage publications resulting from NIH awards), you can access SciENcv using the same login credentials. In most cases, this would be your Login.gov credentials.
If you have never used My Bibliography, or have never applied for NIH funding, you can access SciENcv using your Columbia UNI and password using this direct link: Columbia SciENcv login.
Administrators/Delegates
If you currently use My Bibliography of MyNCBI (to assist researchers with managing citations resulting from NIH awards), you can access SciENcv using the same login credentials.
If you have never used My Bibliography, or the eRA Commons, you can access SciENcv using your Columbia UNI and password using this direct link: Columbia SciENcv login.
More information for Delegates is below.
5. Is use of SciENcv required?
It is currently required for some federal agencies. NSF, USDA and Department of Energy currently require use of SciENcv to generate current and pending (other) support and biographical sketch forms. As of January 25, 2026, NIH will also require use of SciENcv.
Some sponsors, such as the CDMRP program of DoD, require the Common Forms and will allow applicants to use a pdf form created in SciENcv for NIH or NSF. It is important to check in the NOFO each sponsor’s requirements.
NASA does not utilize SciENcv. NASA will only accept biosketch and current and pending support forms found here (see the “Grant Forms” section).
6. Is there still a page limit in SciENcv?
No, there are no longer any page limits for the Biographical Sketch or Current and Pending (Other) Support.
1. Can research administrators assist principal investigators with completing the Common Forms in SciENcv?
Yes, research administrators may assist principal investigators with gathering relevant data and entering it into SciENcv.
2. How do research administrators get access to SciENcv in order to support a principal investigator?
The PI must add the administrator as a delegate in SciENcv. See step-by-step instructions on adding a delegate at Adding Delegates to SciENcv. For more information about Delegates, see NIH’s Common Forms FAQs.
3. Do research administrators need to have an ORCID in order to be a PI’s delegate in SciENcv?
No, research administrators do not need to obtain an ORCID in order to become a PI’s delegate in SciENcv.
4. Can research administrators certify the Common Forms on the PI’s behalf?
No. PIs themselves must certify both Current and Pending (Other) Support and Biosketch forms in SciENcv, pursuant to funding agency requirements and federal law. It is a policy and regulatory violation for the PI to give log-in credentials to someone else to complete the certification.
1. For in-kind contributions, what if a required time commitment or dollar amount is not documented?
Researchers must use their best efforts to provide a reasonable estimate for required time commitments and dollar amounts. SciENcv requires both dollar amounts and time commitments to be input into the form. If the in-kind contribution does not require a time commitment, it does not need to be included. However, note that relevant time commitments need not be formalized. For example, hosting a visiting student who supports research in the lab but is funded by their home institution would implicitly require some PI time for supervision and oversight, and should be disclosed.
2. For consulting that needs to be disclosed as Other Support, what if there is no specific time commitment? What information should be entered into SciENcv?
Under “Potential Overlap,” researchers should include the following statement:
“This consulting activity is outside the scope of my institutional employment and thus is an outside activity. The effort described for this activity is separate and apart from my institutional effort commitments. [If applicable: I have disclosed this consulting activity to my institution in accordance with institutional policy.]” Researchers should also address potential overlap if any.
3. Do the time commitments included for in-kind contributions count toward the 12 calendar months of Total University Effort?
Yes, these time commitments count toward the individual’s Total University Effort. They are part of the individual’s nonsponsored effort, which also includes teaching, service, proposal writing, etc., and must be funded by a nonsponsored funding source.
4. Do gifts have to be included in Current and Pending (Other) Support?
It depends. Gifts are resources provided where there is no expectation of anything (e.g., time, services, specific research activities, money, etc.) in return. If the terms of a gift include, for example, specific research aims and objectives, require a time commitment or activity, or require reporting progress to the donor, then the gift must be disclosed in Current and Pending (Other) Support. This includes even small gifts where there is no formal gift agreement but the parties have an informal understanding that the donor will receive something specific in exchange for the gift. If a researcher is not sure whether to include a particular gift, we strongly recommend erring on the side of disclosure and including it.