The October 2013 Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) Meeting Report provides a detailed overview of ongoing developments and issues affecting research administration, university-industry relations, and federal grants management within higher education. Key discussions focused on grants reform, particularly the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) anticipated "Omni-Circular" guidance, which seeks to streamline and harmonize federal grants policies to reduce administrative burden. COGR highlighted its leadership role in advocating for clear and practical guidance, effective training, and ongoing engagement with federal entities such as OMB and the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR). The report emphasizes the importance of collaboration with state governments, nonprofits, and research organizations, especially regarding equitable indirect cost (F&A) rates and subrecipient monitoring.
Significant attention was given to evolving NIH subaccounting and grants closeout policies, where COGR and the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) successfully influenced policy timelines and highlighted the need for practical solutions to avoid undue administrative challenges for recipient institutions. The report also addresses the first of two Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies on indirect costs, raising concerns about methodological weaknesses and reaffirming the importance of rigorous university stewardship of funds. Further, the document covers pressing matters in contracts and intellectual property, such as Department of Defense contract clauses, foreign national participation requirements, the impact of emerging anti-patent troll legislation, and clarifications regarding Bayh-Dole Act obligations in light of recent court decisions. In research compliance and administration, COGR reported on efforts to reduce investigator burden, respond to proposed legislative changes like the GRANT Act and DATA Act, and adapt to new policies from NIH and NSF, while underscoring the need for harmonized federal regulations, effective management practices, and continued advocacy for the research community’s interests.
