The May 2013 Update provides a comprehensive overview of recent policy developments, legislative updates, and institutional responses in the realm of government-funded research. Notably, the National Science Board is actively addressing the administrative burdens on principal investigators (PIs), with COGR urging its members to participate in the consultation process. Legislative attention centers on the revised Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), which aims to increase government-wide data transparency while reducing unnecessary reporting requirements on grant recipients. COGR, along with other higher education associations, supports the Act's objectives, particularly its pilot program evaluating consolidated financial reporting. Substantial focus is given to ongoing grants reform, emphasizing the consolidation of key OMB circulars into a single guidance and encouraging coordinated institutional responses to proposed changes before the extended June deadline. Further, the document highlights COGR’s collaborative efforts with NIH regarding the costing of core facilities, expressing mixed views on the recently released FAQs, particularly concerning working capital reserves and equipment replacement factors. Other sections address important costing and compliance developments, such as a new GAO study on NIH indirect costs, developments in the Department of Justice’s F&A rate policies, and NSF’s implementation of the Award Cash Management System. Additional discussion includes COGR’s engagement with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) on contract terms, analysis of major legal decisions influencing research—such as the Supreme Court ruling on Monsanto’s soybean patent and the Federal Circuit’s complex stance on software and business method patents—and updates on patent legislation and the eligibility for micro entity status. The Update concludes by referencing the American Academy’s ARISE 2 report, which advocates for stronger university-industry-government collaboration and streamlined knowledge transfer processes, aligning with broader trends toward enhancing the innovation ecosystem in U.S. research enterprises.
COGR Update
