October 07, 2009

NIFA Replaces CSREES at USDA

On October 1, 2009, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture was replaced by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Congress created NIFA through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. All CSREES authorities, duties, and obligations are transferred to NIFA as stated in the 2008 Farm Bill.

NIFA’s mission is to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations.

President Obama has appointed Dr. Roger Beachy, founding president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, to serve as the first director of the new agency.

October 05, 2009

SPO Provides Guidance for Furlough Exchange Program (FEP) Charges to Grants and Contracts

The Sponsored Projects Office has provided guidance for the Berkeley campus on Furlough Exchange Program (FEP) charges to grants and contracts.

Full-time faculty in a Professorial or Lecturer Security of Employment title series who are Principal Investigators and are subject to the Furlough/Salary Reduction Program may choose to participate in the FEP. Under the FEP, a PI may charge one or more externally funded projects for time and effort equivalent to the percent of their furloughed time if this will contribute to the success of the project/s.

See the the SPO guidance for detailed information, links to UCOP memoranda and the UCOP Q&A for contract and grant officers, and additional clarification from NSF.

UC Santa Cruz Hosts NSF Day on November 20

The National Science Foundation and UC Santa Cruz will be holding a one-day “NSF Day” workshop on Friday, November 20, 2009, on the UCSC campus.

The workshop is primarily designed for researchers and educators less experienced in proposing to the NSF; however, more experienced proposers and NSF grantees may find the workshop useful and informative.

The workshop will provide an overview of NSF, its mission, priorities, and budget. It will cover the NSF proposal and merit review process and NSF programs that cut across disciplines. Additionally, representatives from the seven NSF directorates and the Office of International Science and Engineering will make presentations on their programs and will also be available informally and in breakout sessions for discussions of potential research proposals.

The agenda, registration form, and directions are provided by NSF. NSF is not charging a registration fee for the workshop; however, preregistration is required. Submit the registration form to NSF by Friday, November 13, 2009.

NSF Revises Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Effective January 4

The National Science Foundation has published a revised version of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPP), NSF 10-1, which will become effective for proposals submitted on or after January 4, 2010. The guidelines in NSF 09-29 remain effective through January 3, 2010.

Significant changes made to the PAPP include:
  • Addition of a completely new proposal certification by the Authorized Organizational Representative that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF, to address the responsible conduct of research requirement of the America COMPETES Act; and

  • An entirely new requirement for PIs to provide a project outcomes report, submitted electronically via Research.gov, for the general public within 90 days following the expiration of the grant, to comply with the America COMPETES Act.
NSF provides a by-Chapter summary of significant changes at the beginning of the Grant Proposal Guide and the Award and Administration Guide.