The document summarizes the latest activities and key topics addressed by committees within the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) as of June 7, 2024. The Research, Ethics & Compliance (REC) Committee discussed findings from a survey regarding Department of Defense (DoD)-related risk mitigation programs, noting challenges in agency guidance, delays in plan development, and the diverse risk tolerance among agencies. Additional updates included the imminent implementation of broad OSTP policies on dual-use research and pandemic pathogens, changes in CMS research data access policies, revised research misconduct regulations, evolving federal stances on the transfer of sensitive data, and the rescheduling of marijuana’s controlled substance status—all requiring institutional attention, continued advocacy, and policy input.
The Contracts & Grants Administration (CGA) Committee focused on updates to Uniform Guidance, NIH policies (including data management and research security), NSF research security requirements, and institutional compliance with federal systems like SAM.gov. Anticipated projects address the monitoring of flexible research funding mechanisms and updating guidance on managing externally funded research. The Costing and Financial Compliance (CFC) Committee reported on ongoing uniform guidance advocacy, financial developments at agencies such as NASA, indirect cost pool adjustments, and negotiations tied to F&A rates. The Research Security & Intellectual Property (RSIP) Committee highlighted continued interactions with federal agencies regarding risk-based security reviews, the recently finalized NIST guidelines for securing controlled unclassified information, and pending comment letters on issues such as cyber incident reporting and NIH patient access plans. The document demonstrates COGR’s proactive engagement in shaping and responding to the evolving federal research policy landscape, as well as its commitment to supporting member institutions through guidance, advocacy, and collaborative problem solving.
