The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that promotes scientific research to improve public health and welfare and protect the country. ^[1]

In 2017, the NSF’s Inspector General released a report detailing the risk of the NSF hiring IPAs due to their conflicts of interest. The name refers to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, which allows for temporary hires to positions within the Executive Branch of the Federal Government whilst other groups like nonprofits or universities can help fund said positions. According to the report, the Inspector General urges the NSF to “take corrective actions to strengthen controls over IPA conflicts of interests, including reassess controls to ensure staff do not have access to awards and proposals for which they are conflicted.” ^[2]