The May 2018 Update from COGR provides an extensive overview of federal policy developments and their implications for research institutions. The update addresses the Administration’s President’s Management Agenda (PMA), which emphasizes modernization of federal operations through improved information technology, data transparency, and workforce capabilities, and highlights opportunities for engagement with OMB on grants administration reforms. It covers the status and implementation challenges of the new Micropurchase Threshold under Uniform Guidance Procurement Standards, as well as key regulatory and compliance topics such as changes in NIH salary caps, updates in financial reporting requirements for HHS/NIH, adjustments in the Payment Management System, and the introduction of a “skinny” 2018 Compliance Supplement. Further, the report notes COGR’s ongoing work on F&A policies and institutional responses to major regulatory changes.
The document also details significant legislative and judicial actions affecting research administration, such as revised Bayh-Dole regulations from NIST (notably requiring written invention assignments) and the Supreme Court’s decisions upholding the constitutionality of inter partes reviews and refining PTAB procedures. Recent and pending legislation in areas including patent reform, foreign threats to higher education, and export controls are reviewed, as is evolving guidance on human subjects research (especially the proposed delay of the Common Rule update), research transparency, harassment policies, and regulatory reforms for animal research and overtime exemptions. The update summarizes key Congressional hearings, highlights notable federal agency initiatives, and invites member input on policy advocacy, emphasizing collaborative efforts to reduce administrative burden and effectively address new federal requirements impacting research operations.
