The October 22-23, 2015 meeting report from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory, policy, and administrative developments affecting research universities and affiliated organizations. Central topics included ongoing federal regulatory reform such as the Common Rule NPRM, in which COGR and its members advocate for comment period extensions and clarifications on consent and biospecimen usage, aligning with recent FDA and NIH proposals. Additionally, updates were given on federal grants policy changes, audit activities, and pilot programs under the DATA Act to streamline financial reporting burdens.
On the operational front, COGR reviewed the results of Federally Demonstrated Projects (FDP) payroll certification pilots, affirming their validity as alternatives to traditional effort reporting, and highlighted ongoing challenges with NIH subaccounting, grant closeouts, and the reconciliation of financial reports. Engagement with OMB and federal agencies is ongoing to address procurement standards delays, F&A rate negotiations, and Uniform Guidance clarifications. The report also detailed COGR’s advocacy around new Department of Defense information security requirements, DOE export control clauses, and open access mandates, noting the significant compliance burdens and need for clear exemptions for fundamental research. Lastly, the committee addressed pressing administrative topics including laboratory safety culture, Department of Labor exemption changes affecting postdocs, and evolving requirements for research terms and conditions. Overall, the report underscores COGR’s active role in shaping federal research policy, fostering compliance, and supporting member institutions through regulatory change and institutional feedback.
