This page is updated monthly to include critical updates associated with federal funding.
Institutional Updates
Updated Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Rate
The University of Oregon’s fringe benefit rates have been finalized for FY25 and we have received an updated F&A rate agreement to reflect these rates. Once this is signed by UO and the US Department of Health and Human Services, the updated rate will be posted on the F&A rates webpage.
Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Compliance
UO researchers who receive federal funding may not participate in a malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP) pursuant to 42 USC 19232: Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Prohibition and federal sponsor agency regulations. Beginning July 1, PIs will need to attest in the compliance tab of EPCS that they are aware of this prohibition and that they nor any senior/key personnel on the sponsored project are party to any MFTRP. MFTRPs are defined as a recruitment program sponsored by or located within a country of concern that offers an employee compensation for performing problematic obligations or activities. More information about MFTRPs, including a list of problematic activities, can be found on the export control website.
Uniform Guidance Updates
The revised Uniform Guidance will take effect on October 1, 2024, which is a critical update for grant management procedures. The NSF strongly encourages using Research.gov for submissions due to its superior compliance checks. Additionally, the NSF’s advice to submit CAREER proposals ahead of the deadline underscores the importance of allowing time for troubleshooting, which aligns with both NIH and NSF’s commitment to reducing administrative burdens for researchers. These efforts reflect a proactive approach to grant management, ensuring that the community remains well-informed and prepared for upcoming changes.
Changes are coming to Uniform Guidance (Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). Currently, the revised guidance is in pre-publication stages which the US Office of Budget Management released on April 4 along with a White House implementation memo outlining the changes. Of note is that the federal threshold for equipment will increase from $5,000 to $10,000. Also, the UO will be able to collect facilities and administrative costs (F&A) on the first $50,000 of subaward expenses as opposed to the previous amount of $25,000. SPS will provide further updates at the upcoming departmental grant administrator (DGA) meeting and on the OVPRI’s Federal Updates webpage.
Coming soon: Updated internal budget templates that reflect the new Uniform Guidance changes.
The National Science Foundation (NSF)
Biosketches and Other Support
- NIH has been working closely with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies on the Common Forms for the Biosketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support, as part of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Research Security Subcommittee.
- New forms are posted on the NSF website.
- Estimated timeline for implementation:
- January 2025: Common Forms (Biosketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support)
- May 2025: SciENcv templates available
- Reminder: Until the Common Forms are fully adopted by NIH, NIH requires applicants and recipients to use the current NIH Biosketch and Other Support formats for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs).
- Just-in-Time Current and Pending (Other) Support Documents must be signed with an electronic signature. The UO uses Adobe Certificate for digital signatures.
Proposals with research off site (travel or conference grants) or off campus
For all proposals which conduct research off site (travel or conference grants) or off campus, the UO must certify that the offsite location has a plan in place for that proposal regarding safe and inclusive working environments. Please work with your pre-award sponsored project administrator (SPA) if you have any questions.
The NSF draft revised Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), expected to go into effect in early 2024, includes the definition of Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP). Proposals will require new certifications regarding MFTRP by the UO and for senior/key persons. If awarded, PIs and co-PIs will be required to certify annually during the life of the award.
NSF will require ORCID iDs for all Senior Key Personnel on proposals beginning on October 23, 2023.
NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as an NSF/NIH-approved format for use in preparation of the biographical sketch. Adoption of a single, common researcher profile system for federal grants reduces the administrative burden for researchers.
SciENcv will produce an NSF- or NIH-compliant PDF version of the biographical sketch. Proposers must save this document and submit it as part of their proposal via Research.gov for NSF and eRA Commons/ASSIST for NIH.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NRSA Fellows Stipend Increase
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced in April an increase in the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipend amounts of about 8%. For those postdoctoral fellows (note, not employees) funded on NRSA fellowships, NIH is beginning to adjust fellowship notices of award so that stipend increases are backdated to October 1, 2023. NIH is modifying appropriate awards. Please contact your post-award team at SPS if you expect an increase and have not yet. Please note that this is only applicable to NRSA fellows.
NIH Open Mike Blog and Notice of NIH Policy Changes
- In case you missed the 2024 Updates Webinar from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) here are the resources, check out the PowerPoint slides and the webinar transcript.
- The NIH has issued updated policy guidance for consortium/subaward agreements, effective October 1, 2023. This includes a provision for foreign subawardees related to access to lab notebooks, data, and documentation. Please reach out to your Pre-Award SPA if you have any questions.
- Publications Describing Animal Research: NIH encourages the use of the ARRIVE Essential 10 Checklist in all publications reporting on the results of vertebrate animal and cephalopod research.
- The Council on Government Relations developed helpful resources for faculty and administrators in understanding and navigating the new NIH guidelines related to Data Sharing and Management. You can review their resources page and readiness guide.
Foreign disclosures
A reminder that if you partner or publish with a foreign collaborator, or conduct research on a foreign project, either funded or not funded, please be sure that your Other Support, Current and Pending Support, and Biosketch documents properly disclose the collaboration. New common forms are now available that guide how to disclose and provide further definitions. If you have any questions about what requires disclosure, please reach out to your post-award team.