FDP News

Updates from the FDP Meeting - January , 2013

Topics at the most recent Federal Demonstration Partnership meeting included:

NSF (National Science Foundation) updates to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide are effective in January including new 3-part Project Summary format, clearer instruction on Broader Impacts criterion, and new automated proposal checks in Fastlane.
NSF is changing both the format and submission portal of progress and final reports. From March 2013 onward the new RPPR reports will be submitted through Research.gov. PDF upload of reports will not be accepted in the new system which utilizes a rich-text format for report data entry.
NIH is rolling-out new functionality with its ASSIST pilot launched for select complex/multi-site proposal applications, and the new RPPR progress reports are set to replace the previous report formats for eSNAP and Fellowship awards with budget start-dates on or after 7/1/13.
NIH has recently announced new tools: My NCBI and PACM available to investigators and institutions for generating lists of publications and ensuring compliance with public access requirements.
Speakers from OMB provided updates on COFAR priorities and the proposed grant reform guidance released in February 2013 with suggestions to combine OMB circulars, refine the F&A rate application process, and standardize grant processes and data collection.
Open Government committee discussed the ongoing emphasis on increased transparency in government and research through creation of better tools that can increase reporting efficiency.
Detailed preliminary results from the Faculty Burden Survey were presented providing a synopsis of data reported from over 12,000 Investigators representing nearly 100 institutions on administrative burden associated with federal research. Investigators report at least 35% of time spent on federal research activities is related to administrative tasks. More detailed report findings are available in the presentation on the FDP site along with the slideshows of many other presenters.

FDP Meeting Update - August 28-30, 2012

The most recent meeting of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) was held August 28-30, 2012 in Washington, DC. The FDP is comprised of 10 federal agencies and 119 institutional recipients of federal funds working together to reduce the administrative burdens associated with research grants and contracts. The FDP is a unique forum for individuals from universities and nonprofits to work collaboratively with federal agency officials to improve the national research enterprise.Kent State University is a participating member.During the meeting, Amanda Lindsey conducted a workshop on Twitter registration for FDP members.

FDP conducted its second national workload survey earlier this year. Kent research faculty members who received federal funding during fiscal year 2010 were contacted directly by the FDP regarding participating. The response rate was 26%. The survey results will be used to explore the impact of federal regulations on the time faculty members spend pursuing active research. The information gathered will be used for the FDP to work effectively with the Office of Management and Budget and the federal agencies to increase the efficiency of research administration and reduce the workload of investigators. Preliminary results were presented at the meeting which showed that the results were very similar to the 2005 survey in spite of streamlining initiatives at institutions and between institutions and agencies.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) federal update included announcement of a new Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) effective January 2013. The updated PAPPG will include a new process for reporting conflicts of interest that cannot be managed.

The National Institutes of Health provided details on their new Financial Conflict of Interest regulations.

Speakers Brad Fenwick and Alan Leshner spoke about the Current Health and Future Wellbeing of American Research Universities and Science in Turbulent Times respectively. Related publications can be found electronically at:

http://www.researchuniversitiesfutures.org/

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/bhew/researchuniversities/index.htm

FDP Meeting Update-January 11-13, 2012

The most recent meeting of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) was held January 11-13, 2012 in Washington, DC. The FDP is comprised of 10 federal agencies and 119 institutional recipients of federal funds working together to reduce the administrative burdens associated with research grants and contracts. The FDP is a unique forum for individuals from universities and nonprofits to work collaboratively with federal agency officials to improve the national research enterprise. Kent State University is a participating member. During the meeting, Amanda Lindsay conducted a workshop on Twitter registration for FDP members.

FDP is conducting its second national workload survey later this month. The survey is being conducted to explore the impact of federal regulations on the time faculty members spend pursuing active research. The information gathered will be used for the FDP to work effectively with the Office of Management and Budget and the federal agencies to increase the efficiency of research administration and reduce the workload of investigators. Principal investigators who received federal funding during fiscal year 2010 will be receiving a survey directly from the FDP in late January. We encourage you to complete the survey to assist in the endeavor.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) federal update included background on the National Science Board review and clarification of their merit review criteria. The review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts will remain with consideration of five review elements (see http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2011/meritreviewcriteria.pdf). NSF will develop an implementation plan.

OMB Memo M-11-34 requires the acceleration of expenditures of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to be completed by 9/30/13. Because federal agencies had originally awarded funds in projects that go beyond that date, they are working in coordination with the OMB to reach a compromise on the newly established end dates. In the event that a compromise cannot be reached, agencies are modifying awards and No Cost Extension policies and encouraging aggressive stratification for responsible acceleration of expenditure of ARRA funds.

All Health and Human Services projects with and initial issue date of 12/23/11 or later must use the Executive Level II annual salary cap of $179,700 as found in Part F section 203 of PL 112-74.

The proposed Grant Reform and Transparency Act (HB 3433) has some new requirements. A non-exhaustive number of these include: the following information will be posted electronically â€“ a copy of the grant agreement, copy of proposals, award decision documentation and rankings, justification for deviation from rankings, and disclosure of reviewers. If you have concerns, you may forward them directly to your congressman using the link available at the website above