The April 2017 Current Developments report from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides an extensive overview of key policy, regulatory, and administrative issues affecting research institutions in the United States. Central to this edition is the ongoing challenge to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Facilities and Administrative (F&A) cost reimbursement, in light of both legislative and executive discussions proposing significant budget cuts and efforts to reduce indirect cost payments. COGR has mobilized resources—including primers and briefing documents—to support universities in advocating for the essential role of F&A reimbursements in sustaining the research enterprise. Additional costing policy matters addressed include updates to federal procurement standards, a proposed special F&A rate for off-campus NIH research centers, and evolving single audit compliance issues, notably changes that could complicate audit testing for student financial aid systems.
The report also details significant administrative and regulatory developments such as the finalization of Government-Wide Research Terms and Conditions, engagement with the Department of Defense regarding award administration, and COGR’s comments on NIH’s Single Institutional Review Board FAQs. Legislative hearings on appropriations and research oversight, especially those related to NSF and HHS/NIH, revealed widespread concern about proposed funding reductions but also underscored bipartisan support for science funding. The document discusses the implications of delayed Department of Education open licensing requirements, heightened compliance expectations for invention reporting under the Bayh-Dole Act, and COGR's engagement with federal agencies on issues such as safeguarding controlled unclassified information and export control reforms. Finally, the report notes congressional advocacy urging stronger use of march-in rights to address drug pricing, highlighting the potential policy impacts on research commercialization and innovation. Overall, the document underscores COGR’s active role in monitoring, advising, and advocating on a spectrum of federal research administration and policy issues crucial to academic and research institutions.
