The document is a joint letter from four major academic and research organizations—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)—to Margaret Weichert, Deputy Director of Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), dated March 18, 2020. The letter expresses appreciation for the OMB’s memorandum M-20-11, which provides administrative relief and flexibility for recipients and applicants of federal financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors strongly urge the OMB to expand these flexibilities to all federally funded research awards without delay, citing the rapidly evolving crisis and the need for consistent, uniform guidance across all federal agencies to avoid exacerbating administrative and compliance burdens.
Additionally, the organizations request clarification regarding notification requirements under federal regulations, specifically recommending that institutions be permitted to defer notifications about delays or adverse impacts on federally sponsored research projects until after the emergency, proposing a 90-day notification window post-crisis. They also seek affirmation that institutional emergency policies are recognized as official policies during national emergencies. Finally, the letter proposes regular communications with OMB to collaboratively monitor and address ongoing issues, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the situation and the readiness of the signatory organizations to partner with federal agencies in managing research-related challenges presented by COVID-19. The closing section provides brief descriptions of the missions and member institutions of each organization involved.
