The September 2017 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a detailed overview of developments impacting federally funded research administration and compliance in the United States. Key highlights include the appointment of new leadership at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), extensive advocacy efforts by COGR and allied organizations to prevent reductions in Facilities & Administrative (F&A) cost reimbursements, and ongoing responses to federal proposals that could significantly affect research funding and regulatory requirements. The Association F&A Working Group successfully secured legislative language to block cuts to F&A payments in both the NIH appropriations bill and a three-month Continuing Resolution, signaling bipartisan recognition of the importance of adequate support for research infrastructure. COGR also reports continued engagement with private foundations and disease organizations to address administrative burden and clarify misunderstandings about F&A costs.
In addition to budget issues, the update outlines recent regulatory and policy shifts, such as OMB’s extension of the procurement standards implementation grace period, updates to Federal Uniform Guidance FAQs, and the latest compliance supplement for single audits. Key regulatory developments include debates over march-in rights and drug pricing, with ongoing legislative proposals and federal directives prompting engagement from universities and research organizations to safeguard university technology transfer and innovation. Ongoing reform initiatives are highlighted, including efforts to reduce administrative burden across federal agencies in line with recent executive orders, as well as new data sharing policy considerations, confidentiality protocols in research misconduct investigations, and federal compliance with human subjects research protections. The Update also summarizes audit findings related to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training, labor regulations, and patent law developments, while announcing upcoming events and opportunities for institutional and stakeholder engagement in shaping policy and regulatory frameworks in the academic research community.
