COGR has recently updated its "Framework for Navigating the 2025 Administration Transition" to include a Summary of Emerging Federal Terms and Conditions.
Other Proposal & Award Issues
Covers additional and emerging issues related to policies, regulations, and practices for the administration of federal research proposals and awards.
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COGR Joins AAMC-Led Amicus Brief Opposing Federal Stay in NIH Grant Restoration Cases
This document is an amicus curiae brief submitted by major academic and research organizations in support of respondents opposing the U.S. government’s blanket...
COGR Advocates for Full Reinstatement of NIH Grants in Joint Association Letter to Director, Dr. Bhattacharya
The letter, signed by leading higher education associations representing the majority of U.S. biomedical research institutions, urges NIH Director Dr. Jay...
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Krystal Toups
Director, Contracts & Grants Administration
All Other Proposal & Award Issues Articles
COGR, NACUBO, and 7 Other Organizations File Amicus Brief Supporting Community Appeal of Indirect Cost Cap
This document is an amicus curiae brief filed in the First Circuit Court by COGR, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and 7 other higher education associations in support of university plaintiffs challenging the U.S. Department of Energy’s policy imposing a uniform 15% cap on indirect cost rates for federally funded research at academic institutions. The brief arg
COGR's Response to OSTP's RFI on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
COGR submitted a response to OSTP’s request for information (RFI) on “Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise,” reaffirming its support for OSTP’s goal of enhancing national scientific competitiveness while reducing unnecessary administrative burden. Responding to a subset of questions posed in the RFI, the comments offered recommendations focused on improving the effectiveness and predict
The Administrative Burden of "Defend the Spend" - NCURA Magazine December 2025
The December 2025 NCURA Magazine article discusses the federal “Defend the Spend” initiative, which, through recent executive orders, imposes extensive new reporting and justification requirements on recipients of federal research funding. The authors argue that these mandates significantly increase administrative burden without improving oversight or efficiency, duplicating established risk-based
Updated: Considerations for a Federal Government Shutdown
COGR has prepared a list of items research institutions should consider in the event of a federal government shutdown to manage federally sponsored projects. This is not official guidance but rather an accumulation of past shutdown experiences with information and guidance that has been received to date. This list will be updated as more information is available.
COGR Joins AAMC-Led Amicus Brief Opposing Federal Stay in NIH Grant Restoration Cases
This document is an amicus curiae brief submitted by major academic and research organizations in support of respondents opposing the U.S. government’s blanket termination of NIH grants, arguing that such mass cancellations depart from long-standing, science-based funding principles vital to the nation’s research enterprise. The brief details how the abrupt, non-scientific cancellation of grants h
COGR Advocates for Full Reinstatement of NIH Grants in Joint Association Letter to Director, Dr. Bhattacharya
The letter, signed by leading higher education associations representing the majority of U.S. biomedical research institutions, urges NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to reinstate all NIH grants terminated under directives recently found unlawful by a federal court. While some grants are being reinstated due to court orders, the associations highlight that many others, terminated under the same d
Fact Sheet: Defend the Spend
Executive Order 14222, intended to enhance efficiency and transparency and reduce costs in federally funded research, has instead imposed significant new administrative burdens and redundancies, notably through the “Defend the Spend” initiative. These new requirements force recipients to repeatedly justify pre-approved expenses, leading to payment delays, increased costs, and wasted effort, while
COGR, NACUBO, and 16 Other Organizations File Amicus Brief Supporting Community Appeal of Indirect Cost Reimbursement Rate Cap
The document is an amicus curiae brief filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit by COGR, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and 16 other higher education associations, supporting the plaintiffs-appellees—various states, academic institutions, and medical associations—against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department
CGA Virtual Open House: Slide Presentation
The document details the agenda and structure of the upcoming Contracts & Grants Administration (CGA) Virtual Open House hosted by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) on May 21, 2025. Moderated by Lisa Mosley, Executive Director of Sponsored Projects at Yale, and Krystal Toups, Director for CGA at COGR, the event is designed as an interactive platform where participants can engage wit
