The August 2021 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a detailed overview of recent developments and forthcoming activities affecting research administration, compliance, and policy in the U.S. higher education and research sectors. Key highlights include the announcement of COGR’s upcoming virtual meeting in October 2021 and extensive updates on federal research security initiatives, particularly focusing on Department of Energy (DOE) changes to intellectual property and manufacturing requirements, heightened federal attention to research security and foreign influence, and ongoing legislative and executive actions in this realm. The report reviews the DOE’s Determination of Exceptional Circumstances, which aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing provisions for DOE-funded inventions, and discusses the operational challenges and institutional concerns these new compliance burdens generate. Further, updates are shared on DOE’s foreign national screening policies, ongoing research security legislative efforts, including provisions in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) "NSF for the Future Act," and cybersecurity requirements under evolving federal frameworks.
The document also covers developments in research ethics and compliance, detailing NIH strategic initiatives to mitigate inappropriate foreign influence, changes in NIH disclosure and reporting requirements, and regulatory issues related to animal research. It addresses contingency planning requirements from USDA and engagement with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding standardized disclosure processes and scientific integrity policies. On financial and administrative matters, the update outlines COGR’s actions and communications regarding the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the new 2021 Compliance Supplement, feedback on cost rate applications and reimbursement procedures, and challenges with federal grant payment systems. Additional discussion covers topics such as NIH’s modular grant policies, diversity and inclusion initiatives (e.g., the NIH UNITE Initiative), ongoing difficulties around cannabis research legislation, and COGR’s ongoing collaborations and advocacy in all these areas. The update closes with acknowledgments of committee members and an overview of organizational structure, underscoring COGR’s role as an advocate and resource for research institutions navigating an evolving landscape of federal policy, compliance, and research security.
