The document is a formal letter dated May 27, 2020, addressed to Margaret Weichert, Deputy Director of Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), from four prominent organizations representing research institutions: the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). These organizations commend the flexibilities provided by OMB Memo M-20-17, which offered administrative relief to recipients of federal financial assistance due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They note that the provisions in M-20-17 have enabled federal agencies to effectively guide research institutions during the crisis and have been instrumental in facilitating institutions' responses to rapidly evolving challenges.
Recognizing that the exceptions granted by M-20-17 are time-limited and subject to reassessment by June 17, the organizations advocate for an extension of these flexibilities until September 30, 2020, aligning with the end of the federal fiscal year. They cite ongoing uncertainties and varying stages of re-opening and research resumption across states as reasons for the continued need for flexibility. The letter emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the challenges faced, the importance of consistent federal guidance, and the willingness of these organizations to collaborate further with OMB and federal agencies. The letter closes with expressions of gratitude and an offer to engage in ongoing communication to support effective management of research activities during and beyond the immediate public health emergency. Supporting information on the missions and memberships of the four organizations is provided as context for their collective role in shaping research and higher education policy.
