IMPORTANT: Interim Guidance on NIH Salary Cap | New Format Effective for Advance and Pre-Award Account Grant Award Summary (GAS)

MU Grants Community,

Two Important notices picked up from the March 17, 2017 NIH Table of Contents (TOC): 

• NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution (NOT-OD-17-048) National Institutes of Health 

NIH, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continues to operate under the “Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017,” (Public Law 114-254) signed by President Obama on December 10, 2016. In short, NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent notice of award. When FY 2017 appropriations are enacted, upward adjustments may be considered by NIH.

• Interim Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (NOT-OD-17-049) National Institutes of Health 

NIH has released Interim Guidance on Salary Limitations (Salary Cap) in NOT-OD-17-049.

Grants Training Reminder | eRA Commons downtime and ASSIST update planned | NIH Closed January 20 - Inauguration Day

MU Grants Community,
Please see below for important information and share as applicable.

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Seats remain available for the first Certificate Series session of 2017! Join us for Fundamentals of Sponsored Programs tomorrow Wednesday, January 18, from 8:30 to 10:30am in Memorial Union. Register here: https://apps.orcs.missouri.edu/ospa_training/.

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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Inauguration Day (January 20, 2017) Impact on NIH Grant Application Due Dates and Support
(NOT-OD-17-033) National Institutes of Health

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eRA Enhancements: eRA Commons Upcoming Release and Scheduled Downtime for Wednesday, January 18
Friday, January 13, 2017

Scheduled Downtime for the January Release:
eRA Commons and ASSIST will be unavailable beginning at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, January 18 and will return to service by 7 a.m. ET Thursday, January 19, 2017. When the system is available again, you will see new features and functionality have been added to the system.

Highlights of ASSIST’s January Software Release

Grant Connections | December 2016 Notes

Notes from the December Grant Connections meeting are included below for your reference.  We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, January 25th.

 

NIH Publishes New GPS 11/17/16

Please share as applicable.

Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. November 2016) for FY 2017

Notice Number: NOT-OD-17-021

Key Dates
Release Date: November 17, 2016

Related Announcements
None  

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the publication of the revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS, rev. November 2016).  This revision is applicable to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements with budget periods beginning on or after October 1, 2016. This revision supersedes, in its entirety, the NIH Grants Policy Statement (October/November 2015) as a standard term and condition of award.  Previous versions of the NIHGPS remain applicable as a standard term and condition for all NIH grants and cooperative agreements with budget periods that began prior to October 1, 2016.

The NIHGPS provides both up-to-date policy guidance that serves as NIH standard terms and conditions of awards for grants and cooperative agreements, and extensive guidance to those who are interested in pursuing NIH grants.

While this revision does not introduce any new material for the first time, it incorporates new and modified requirements, clarifies certain policies, and implements changes in statutes, regulations, and policies that have been implemented through appropriate legal and/or policy processes since the previous version of the NIHGPS dated October/November 2015. The document is available in the following electronic formats: HTML and PDF (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/index.htm).  Prior versions of the NIHGPS are accessible at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm#gps.

NIH will continue to publish interim grants policy changes through the issuance of NIH Guide Notices found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html.   Each change will be described, including its applicability and effective date; and the necessary language to implement it as a term or condition of award provided.

A document is available that summarizes the significant changes that are implemented with the November 2016 NIHGPS: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/Significant_Changes_NIHGPS_Oct2016.pdf.

Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Division of Grants Policy
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA)
Telephone: 301-435-0949
Email: GrantsPolicy@od.nih.gov

eRA Reminder: Please Update Your Browsers by Nov. 30 to Continue Using eRA Modules

eRA Reminder: Please Update Your Browsers by Nov. 30 
Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Just a reminder that on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, eRA is updating access to all its publicly-accessible websites to use ‘https only’ secure connections per federal mandate (OMB M-15-13, dated June 8, 2015). Please update your browsers to continue using eRA Commons, ASSIST, IAR and iEdison.

NOTE: This update will not impact System-to-System connections or security certificates. 

Original message below sent Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 8:26 a.m. ET. 

Grant Connections | September 2016 Notes

Notes from the September Grant Connections meeting are included below. Thank you to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, October 26th.

 

Keeping up with the FLSA Final Rule - Impact on Grants - Update as of 09/17/2016

MU Grants Community,

As we are nearing the effective date (December 1) for the FLSA final overtime rule, below is a summary of what we know at this time:

How NSF will handle new regulations (please see NSF FLSA FAQs):

• NSF released a FAQ on 8/10 describing the rules and how they would impact current and future awards. NSF awards typically allow for rebudgeting without sponsor approval, provided the rebudgeting action does not change the scope of the project.
• NSF will not be unilaterally supplementing awards with additional funds; however, if you determine rebudgeting would result in a change of scope or that supplemental funding is needed to comply with the new regulations, we are encouraged to contact your NSF Program Officer to discuss the issue. We cannot guarantee there will be funds available, but there are specific policies that address requesting supplemental funding, and we would be happy to walk you through this process should you desire to do so.

How NIH will handle new regulations:

• Released on 8/10, NIH has provided us with updated FY2017 stipend levels for postdoctoral trainees and fellows on NRSA awards. These stipend levels are in line with the new FLSA regulations. This guidance does not address how NIH will handle postdocs working on non-NRSA awards, particularly as it relates to supplemental funding to cover this extra expense for institutions. In a blog posted 8/30, the NIH’s Deputy Director indicated the NIH would be releasing more guidance and FAQs in the coming months. Please note that the typical rules for rebudgeting NIH awards are similar to those of the NSF; we would typically be able to rebudget to account for the new FLSA guidelines without sponsor approval, provided it did not change the scope of work. We have not received any indication that additional funds would be available to NIH awardees.

How the University is handling new regulations:

• The University’s overview, FAQs and timelines as it relates to the new FLSA regulations can be found here. Although there is no official guidance online that we are aware of, we have been told there is no fund at MU to cover the salary increases, and those increases will need to come from grant, department or divisional funds. Postdocs and other salaried employees who were under the new FLSA salary floor will receive their salary increases on 12/1/16.

Guidance from OSPA on how to handle the regulations moving forward:

• Effective immediately when filling out proposals, OSPA would encourage PIs to budget postdocs at the new floor of $47,476 plus the correct fringe rate regardless of their current salary. If you have concerns about current awards and how to make up the budget shortfall caused by the new regulations, please don’t hesitate to contact your OSPA pre-award/post-award liaison directly and we can discuss your options for potentially requesting additional funds from the sponsor, if available.

Grant Connections | June 2016 Notes

Notes from the June Grant Connections meeting are included below. Thank you to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, July 27.

NIH Authentication of Key Resources Flow Chart

This flow chart from NIH is very helpful, particularly with regards to how to comply with the new Rigor and Transparency requirements for grant proposals. Please contact the Pre-Award Team with any questions. 

Grant Connections | May 2016 Notes

Notes from the May Grant Connections meeting are included below. Thank you to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, June 22nd.

 

Grant Connections | April 2016 Meeting Notes

Notes from the April Grant Connections meeting are included below. Information about the updated NIH Application Forms can be found on pages 3-5.

Thank you to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, May 25th.

OSPA Updates: Grant Fact Sheet updated 4/8/16 | NIH FORMS-C and D | Upcoming grants training

A new version of the Grant Fact Sheet, dated 04/08/2016, is available on the OSPA website. Please access the current version here, which includes the following update:

Institutional Minimum Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant Stipends (p. 4)
The Office of Graduate Studies confirmed tentative AY 2016-2017 rates as final. Per Interim Chancellor Foley’s announcement in his State of the University of Missouri address in January, rates reflect a 25% increase in minimum stipend levels.


National Institutes of Health

REMINDER: NIH and AHRQ Grant Application Changes: FORMS-C for due dates on or before May 24, 2016; FORMS-D for due dates on or after May 25, 2016 (NOT-OD-16-081)

Not sure how to tell the difference between FORMS-C and D? NIH offers a resource: Do I Have the Right Electronic Forms for My Application?

Also, per NOT-OD-16-084, NIH has updated its application guide and supplemental instructions for use with grant application due dates on or after May 25, 2016.

Grant Connections | February 2016 Meeting Notes

Notes from the February Grant Connections meeting are below for your review and reference. Thanks to all who attended. We hope to see you at the next meeting on Wednesday, March 23.

 

OSPA Updates | Certificate Series: additional sessions open for registration | NIH Notice: FORMS-D and Late and Continuous Submission Applications

Certificate Series for Specialized Grants Training
OSPA Certificate Series sessions through August are now open for registration! Topics include the following:

• Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Rate *Next Thursday, March 10. Seats remain! 
• Budget Development 
• Notice of Grant Award (NGA), Acceptance, and Establishment of an Award
• PeopleSoft Grants Module Financial Reports and Queries
• Allowability
• Management of Award
• Effort Verification Reporting (EVR), Cost Transfers, and Payroll Correcting Entries (PCE)
• Subawards and Consulting Agreements

View full details (including course descriptions, day/time, and location) and register here: https://apps.orcs.missouri.edu/ospa_training/

Congratulations to the following recent Certificate of Completion recipients!

• Pre-Award - Eli Marchbanks 
• Post-Award - Shelly DeJaynes, Wendy Loerzel, Dustin Oehl 

National Institutes of Health

Impact of Grant Application Form Update (FORMS-D) on Late and Continuous Submission Applications (NOT-OD-16-064) As stated in NOT-OD-16-004, all NIH applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2016 must use updated (FORMS-D) application packages. FORMS-C application packages must be used for due dates before May 25, 2016.

Due to the content and policy changes implemented in FORMS-D application packages, NIH plans to make a clean transition from FORMS-C to FORMS-D to ensure applications reviewed together follow the same instructions. If you are eligible for submission under NIH’s late, continuous submission, and system issue policies, you will need to pay special attention to the cutover dates to the new forms. Use the forms and instructions for the intended due date (not actual submission date). The intended due date is the date listed in the Application Due Date or AIDS Application Due Date row of the Key Dates table in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

Grant Connections | January 2016 Meeting Notes

Notes from the January Grant Connections meeting are included below for your review and reference.

OSPA Updates: New NIH and NSF application guidelines for 1/25/16 due dates | New DHHS salary cap | Proposal submission deadlines policy | Grants training

National Institutes of Health
REMINDER: For 1/25/16 due dates and after, revised SF424 Application Guides
Refer here for the prior notice with full details. Significant changes include updated application requirements and review language to enhance reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency. Note that the new “Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources” attachment is required only for applications that propose to use biological and/or chemical resources.

New DHHS Salary Cap, Effective 1/10/2016
Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale, which sets the cap limit for salaries on DHHS awards, has increased from $183,300 to $185,100 effective January 10, 2016. The Sponsored Programs Procedure Guide (SPPG) is updated here, including links to relevant NIH Notices and salary cap history (FY 1990 to present).

National Science Foundation

REMINDER: For 1/25/16 due dates and after, revised Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 16-1)
Refer here for the prior notice with full details. Significant changes include a new single-copy document required for each senior project personnel regarding collaborators and other affiliations and new submission instructions for biosketches and current and pending support.

Grant Connections - January 2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016
11:00 a.m. – noon
Room 572 of the Bond Life Sciences Center

Agenda

• Hot Topics
• Preparing and Submitting your NIH Grant Application. Up first in a new Grant Connections discussion series on common proposal submission issues, Brenda Leuenberger from OSPA will share "Questions, Quirks, and reQuests: AKA Errors and Warnings and Calls from your SGCA” for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications through Grants.gov and the eRA Commons. 
• Rigor and Transparency. NIH has implemented changes relating to rigor and transparency “to enhance the reproducibility of research findings,” effective for most applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2016 (NOT-OD-16-11). We will review the new requirements for proposals and post-award administration related to compliance with this policy. 

Mark your calendars! Meetings are scheduled for the following dates.

• February 24, 2016
• March 23, 2016
• April 27, 2016
• May 25, 2016

Grant Connections Organizational Crew (send your suggestions for future topics to these people)

• Liz Bent, Grants & Contracts Administrator, CAFNR 
• Marty Carter, Senior Business Operations Associate, School of Medicine 
• Brandi Clements, Grants & Contracts Administrator, College of Education 
• Craig David, Director, OSPA 
• Jill Ferguson, Senior Compliance Manager, OSPA 
• Sheryl Koenig, Grant Proposal Manager, Bond Life Sciences Center 
• Julia Rodriguez, Grants & Contracts Administrator, Bond Life Sciences Center 
• Jamie Szabo, Senior Compliance Manager, OSPA 

Please share this information anyone else associated with research who you think might be interested in attending.

NIH Notices: For 1/25/16 due dates, revised SF424 Application Guides including new REQUIRED attachment | Revised FY16 Grants Policy Statement

MU Grants Community,

Please take note of the following NIH announcements. Should you have questions about the applicability of this guidance to current or anticipated projects, please contact your OSPA Pre-Award or Post-Award staff.

Effective for proposal with due dates on or after January 25, 2016:
Revised SF424 (R&R) Application Guides and Supplemental Instructions (NOT-OD-16-029)

Rigor and Transparency*
Change: Updated application requirements and review language to enhance reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency. These changes will take effect for most research grant applications (including small business and complex research grant applications), but will not impact institutional training and individual fellowship applications until a later date. Changes include:

• Updates to application guide instructions for preparing your research strategy attachment 
• Use of a new required attachment: "Authentication of Key Resources Plan” (uploaded in Other Attachments section of R&R Other Project Information form) 
• Additional rigor and transparency questions reviewers will be asked to consider when reviewing applications

See the attached summary and NOT-OD-16-011 and NOT-OD-16-012.

OSPA Updates 10/23/2015

New Links on the OSPA website for quick reference to data management and public access resources

• Many funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have requirements for data sharing and data management plans. Under Proposal Development Resources on the OSPA main page, you can now find a link to an MU Libraries resource page on Data Management Plans. 
• The NIH public access policy requires scientists to submit final peer-reviewed journal manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to PubMed Central immediately upon acceptance for publication. NIH will delay processing of non-competing continuation grant awards if publications arising from that award are not in compliance with the public access mandate. Under Federal Guidance and Regulations on the OSPA main page, you can now find a link to an MU Libraries resource page on the NIH Public Access Policy.
  
  Note that NSF recently released its own public access policy. The library resource page will be updated soon to incorporate NSF and other funder policies. In the meantime, frequently asked questions about the NSF policy can be found here. 

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An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the ever-stricter administrative requirements for submitting grant proposals:

Application guidelines are nothing new, but the ferocity with which they are being enforced is. The wrong font size on a proposal could lead to its rejection, forcing the applicant to wait months until the next grant cycle to resubmit. The delay can prove damaging with the tenure and promotion clock ticking.

Grant Programs Get Persnickety

Sponsor Notices: NSF PAPPG (NSF 16-1) effective 1/25/16 | NIH Webinars; 2016 Policy, Instructions, and Form Changes

MU Grants Community,
Please take note of the following federal agency announcements. Should you have questions about the applicability of this guidance to current or anticipated projects, please contact your OSPA Pre-Award or Post-Award staff.

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National Science Foundation (NSF)

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), (NSF 16-1) has been issued. The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 25, 2016. Significant changes include:

• Enforcement of 5 p.m. submitter’s local time across all NSF funding opportunities 
• Implementation of NSF’s Public Access Policy 
• NSF’s implementation of the US Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences on Dual Use Research of Concern 
• Provision of Collaborators and Other Affiliations information as a new single-copy document, instead of as part of the Biographical Sketch 
• Submission of Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support separately for each senior personnel 
• Revision of timeframe for submission of final project reports, project outcomes reports and financial closure of awards to 120 days after the award end date 

Given the number of important revisions, the community is strongly encouraged to review the by-chapter summary of changes provided in the Introduction section of the PAPPG.