The February 2018 Update from COGR provides an extensive overview of significant developments affecting research institutions, particularly in relation to federal funding, compliance, and regulatory changes emanating from Washington, DC. The report highlights the continuing uncertainty in the federal policy environment, touching on the administration's previous efforts to cap Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs, which were not specifically targeted in the 2019 budget proposal. Nevertheless, COGR remains vigilant through coordination with peer associations and is developing a white paper to advocate for transparent and fair F&A reimbursement policies. The report also addresses procurement changes related to the micropurchase threshold, clarifying that while some auditor concerns have been resolved, uncertainties remain about approval processes for thresholds above $10,000.
Further, the update covers operational challenges and resolutions, such as the NIH’s enforcement of closeout policies and the treatment of lease costs for off-campus research centers, outlining negotiated solutions to address perceived inequities. COGR continues to engage on payment and reimbursement practices under federal rules, data security audit standards, and is monitoring new compliance supplements. The document also discusses emergent policy topics including the NSF’s forthcoming requirement to report sexual harassment, ongoing institutional challenges in cannabis and industrial hemp research, public access to federally funded research, and evolving university-industry partnership agreements such as those under SRC’s JUMP initiative, which raise concerns about intellectual property provisions.
On the federal regulatory front, the report notes a delay in the implementation of revisions to the Common Rule for human subjects research, as well as ongoing dialogue with NIH about the expanding definition of clinical trials, which impacts basic research. Other focal areas include NIST’s new “Return on Investment” initiative to improve technology transfer, COGR’s support for the expansion of the I-Corps program, evolving issues around sovereign immunity in patent cases, updates on Bayh-Dole Act critiques, and legislative actions like the GREAT Act aimed at streamlining federal grant reporting. Overall, the report conveys a landscape characterized by regulatory flux, active advocacy, emerging compliance demands, and a sustained commitment within the research compliance community to address new federal requirements and policy trends.
