The February 2016 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides an extensive overview of current issues, policy updates, and regulatory developments affecting research institutions, particularly in the context of federal grant management. Major topics include ongoing challenges with National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant closeouts, specifically the new 120-day reporting deadline and the reconciliation between Federal Financial Reports (FFR) and Federal Cash Transaction Reports (FCTR). The report details the implications of the NIH’s unilateral closeout policy, the intersection with the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act, and the expansion of Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements to grants. Additional sections discuss updates to the NIH salary limitation policy, fiscal policy notices, and compliance topics, as well as efforts to standardize Uniform Guidance procurement standards and indirect cost (F&A) methodologies.
The update reflects broader federal regulatory trends in research administration, including the Affordable Care Act’s impact on graduate research assistants, new labor and cybersecurity requirements from the Department of Defense, service contract reporting challenges, and continuing efforts to reduce administrative burden through the implementation and review of Uniform Guidance. COGR also comments on key legislative and policy developments, such as efforts to address drug pricing using Bayh-Dole march-in rights, regulatory reform initiatives at the USDA, and proposed updates to conflict of interest requirements. Throughout, the document notes COGR’s ongoing advocacy with federal agencies to clarify and improve policies, its engagement with member institutions, and its efforts to track significant data trends, as evidenced by analysis of the NSF Higher Education R&D Survey and engagement in federal audits. The newsletter also highlights upcoming events, regulatory comment opportunities, and resource releases intended to support effective management of externally funded research programs.
