January 25, 2018

Important NIH Application Changes Effective January 25, 2018

Three important changes affect National Institutes of Health applications as of today, January 25, 2018:
  1. For NIH applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2018, and contract solicitations published on or after January 25, 2018, NIH expects that all sites participating in multi-site studies, which involve non-exempt human subjects research funded by the NIH, will use a single Institutional Review Board (sIRB) to conduct the ethical review required for the protection of human subjects.

    This policy applies to the domestic sites of NIH-funded multi-site studies where each site will conduct the same protocol involving non-exempt human subjects research. The requirement does not apply to career development, research training or fellowship awards.

    Applicants will be expected to include a plan for the use of a sIRB in the grant applications and contract proposals they submit to the NIH (for due dates on or after January 25, 2018).

    For more information: Single IRB Policy for Multi-site Research

  2. Also effective for NIH due dates on or after January 25, 2018, NIH will require all applications involving one or more clinical trials be submitted through a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) specifically designed and designated for clinical trials.

    For more information: Reminder: Policy on Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) for Clinical Trials Takes Effect January 25, 2018 (NOT-OD-18-106)

  3. NIH applicants must use FORMS-E application packages for due dates on or after January 25, 2018.

    For more information: Reminder: FORMS-E Grant Application Forms & Instructions Must be Used for Due Dates On or After January 25, 2018 (NOT-OD-18-009)

January 24, 2018

Reminder: NIH and NSF Delinquent Reports

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are becoming increasingly concerned about delinquent progress/annual reports. Please review the requirements of each of the federal agencies below to avoid problems with continuation funding and other post award transactions.

NIH 

NIH requires grantees to submit Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) through the eRA Commons at least annually as part of the non-competing continuation award process. The progress report must be approved by NIH to non-competitively fund each budget period within an approved project period. UC Berkeley permits Principal Investigators (PIs) to submit RPPRS directly to NIH without going through SPO. However, this is a privilege that can be revoked if a PI fails to follow proper procedures. PIs with delinquent RPPRs will be notified that this privilege can and shall be revoked by the University, when the University learns of a delinquent RPPR.

Annual RPPR Due Dates
  • Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process (SNAP) RPPRs are due approximately 45 days before the next budget period start date.
  • Non-SNAP RPPRs are due approximately 60 days before the next budget period start date.
  • Multi-year funded (MYF) RPPRs are due annually on or before the anniversary of the budget/project period start date of the award.
See the NIH Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) page for more information.

NSF

NSF requires that all Principal Investigators (PIs) submit annual reports no later than 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. Note: NSF has transferred its existing project reporting functionality from FastLane to Research.gov. This means that Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs will use Research.gov to meet all NSF project reporting requirements, including submission of the annual report. The report becomes overdue the day after the 90 day period ends. Failure to submit timely reports will delay processing of additional funding and administrative actions, including, but not limited to, no cost extensions. In the case of continuing grants, failure to submit timely reports may delay processing of funding increments. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for more information.

January 19, 2018

What Happens If the Federal Government Shuts Down?

What a federal shutdown will mean to federal grants and contracts at UC Berkeley depends on how long the shutdown lasts.

In October of 2013, the last time a federal government shutdown occurred, the federal government was shut down for 16 days.

Based on what occurred in 2013, government agencies that are deemed less essential for protecting life and property, such as the U.S. Department of Education and research agencies like the National Science Foundation, will order agency employees to stay home, i.e., they will be furloughed. The military and government agencies such as the postal service that are viewed as necessary to the security of the country will continue to operate.

With agency personnel furloughed, it will not be possible to communicate with federal sponsors by email or phone. It is likely that NSF FastLane and Reserch.gov as well as other federal agency portals will not be available. Based on past experience, proposals will not be accepted or reviewed and no new awards will be made during the shutdown. However, existing federal projects, in most cases, will continue to operate, and already authorized funding will not be impacted.

However, in 2013, NASA issued guidance that grants and cooperative agreements that involved active participation of agency personnel or access to agency installations funded by NASA would suspend work during a shutdown. Therefore it is important to stay tuned in to specific agency plans if a shutdown does occur.

SPO will make this information available on our website as we receive it. Please see the see Agency Contingency Plans on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website. The page includes plans for agencies across the federal government and last date of revision, many current as of today.

January 02, 2018

Statement of Economic Interests (700-U) Form Revised for 2018

The State of California has issued a revised 700-U Statement of Economic Interests for Principal Investigators for immediate use. The revised form, dated 2017/2018, is available on the Conflict of Interest Committee website and is the only version that will now be accepted. The form and requirements are the same as the previous 2017 version. If you have any questions please contact Jyl Baldwin (jbaldwin@berkeley.edu, 2-8110).

State of California law requires disclosure of financial interest in the sponsor of a research project; the donor of a research gift; and, under certain circumstances, the provider of materials under a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) when that sponsor, donor, or provider is a non-governmental source. Please see State of California Financial Disclosure for more information.