The February 2020 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a thorough overview of current issues, regulatory developments, and policy updates affecting research institutions, particularly those related to federal funding, compliance, science security, and grants administration. Key highlights include announcements regarding COGR’s upcoming meeting, the introduction of innovative features such as live polling, and the release of a new framework for assessing global research engagements in response to increasing scrutiny over international collaborations and research security. Updates on disclosure requirements for NIH and NSF proposals show more alignment between agencies on reporting expectations for financial and material support, while recent changes to Department of Education Section 117 reporting requirements signal an evolving regulatory landscape concerning foreign gifts and contracts.
The document also addresses intensified oversight related to potential foreign threats in U.S. research, especially concerning collaborations with China, and notes increased law enforcement scrutiny of materials transported abroad by researchers. In the realm of research security and intellectual property, developments such as the DOD’s release of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and legislative proposals like the SALSTA bill reflect a growing emphasis on safeguarding research and critical technologies. Meanwhile, costing and financial compliance topics discuss OMB’s proposed updates to the Uniform Guidance, ongoing challenges in NIFA grants management, and institutional concerns over indirect cost rate negotiations. In research ethics and compliance, the update covers the implementation of the revised Common Rule for human subjects, new requirements for clinical trial reporting, efforts to reduce administrative burdens in research grant management, and environmental health and safety programs. Administrative developments include clarifications to NSF and NIH data sharing policies, initiatives to streamline partnerships with nonprofit funders, and significant changes in USDA hemp regulations and SAMHSA attestation requirements. The document concludes with committee member acknowledgments and outlines COGR's ongoing commitment to advocacy, member engagement, and policy development in support of the research community.
