NIH Implementation of the Interim-Research Performance Progress Report

Effective February 9, 2017, if the recipient organization has submitted a renewal application on or before the date by which a Final Research Performance Progress Report (Final-RPPR) would be required for the current competitive segment, then submission of an "Interim-RPPR" via eRA Commons is now required. Based on this requirement, the NIH will discontinue the policy for renewal applications whereby, “whether funded or not,” the progress report contained in the renewal application may serve in lieu of a separate final progress report.

For more information on this policy, see NIH Implementation of the Interim-RPPR while a Renewal Application is Under Consideration (NOT-OD-17-037).

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November 28, 2016 Research Advocate: NIH Implementation of Final Research Performance Progress Reports (Final RPPR)

What Errors Will Impact Your NSF Proposal?

NSF has implemented an automated process to help PIs identify proposal errors prior to submission in Fastlane. The next release of auto-compliance checks will support additional standard proposal type requirements and include checks for new types of proposals. NSF plans to implement FastLane changes effective January 30, 2017 that include the new compliance checks.

See the NSF website for a complete listing of current automated proposal compliance checks performed by FastLane as of August 1, 2016.

NSF will be publishing the list of FastLane automated compliance checks effective January 30, 2017, and updating the advisory accordingly. For more information, see Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals.

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September 20, 2016 Research Advocate: NSF Proposals: New FastLane Compliance Checks Effective September 26

NIH and AHRQ Font Requirements

For applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health or the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for due dates on or after January 25, 2017, text in PDF attachments must follow these minimum requirements:

• Text Color: No restriction. Though not required, black or other high-contrast text colors are recommended since they print well and are legible to the largest audience.
• Font size: Must be 11 points or larger. Smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams and charts is acceptable, as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%.
• Type density: Must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces).
• Line spacing: Must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.

 For additional information, see the NIH Guide notice NIH & AHRQ Update Font Guidelines for Applications to Due Dates On or After January 25, 2017 (NOT-OD-17-030).

Statement of Economic Interests (700-U) Form Revised for 2017

The State of California has issued a revised 700-U Statement of Economic Interests for Principal Investigators for immediate use. The revised form, dated 2016/2017, 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 2016 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.

New Law Prohibits State Funding of Travel to Certain States

Effective January 1, 2017, State of California law AB 1887 prohibits state-funded travel to a state that has passed a law after June 26, 2015 that (1) authorizes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, or (2) voids or repeals existing state or local protections against such discrimination. The law expressly identifies the University of California and the California State University as entities covered by the law.

The State Attorney General must develop, maintain, and post online the current list of states where travel restrictions would apply. As of January 3, 2017, the list includes four states: Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

AB 1887 provides a number of exceptions where state-funded travel will be allowed to states that are otherwise on the Attorney General's list. For more information, including a link to Frequently Asked Questions, see the Berkeley Travel notice: Law Prohibiting State-Funded Travel to States Discriminating on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression.