COGR submitted formal comments in response to NASA's proposed requirement for recipients of financial assistance awards to obtain quotations from small and/or...
Contracting Issues
Contracting Issues addresses federal contracting terms and conditions, including issues arising under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).
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Troublesome Clauses in Research Awards
The document outlines several problematic contractual clauses related to information release and the employment of foreign nationals in federally funded research...
COGR. APLU, and AAU Submit Joint Comments on DFARS Case 2020-D028 [Docket DARS-2024-0027]
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR)...
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COGR’s September 2025 Update
The September 2025 COGR Update provides an overview of recent federal developments affecting U.S. research institutions, including proposed regulatory changes, executive orders, litigation updates, and agency-specific policy shifts impacting research funding, compliance, security, and administration.
COGR. APLU, and AAU Submit Joint Comments on DFARS Case 2020-D028 [Docket DARS-2024-0027]
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) submitted comments to the Department of Defense regarding proposed amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) on public access to DOD-funded fundamental research. The organizations express strong support for
COGR Submits Comments to NASA on T&C's Affecting Procurement
COGR submitted formal comments in response to NASA's proposed requirement for recipients of financial assistance awards to obtain quotations from small and/or minority businesses, women's business enterprises, or labor surplus area firms for acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. While COGR expresses strong support for President Biden’s Executive Order 13985 on advancing raci
Class Deviation (2021-03) from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Regarding Implementation of Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors
The memorandum from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), issued on October 7, 2021, outlines a class deviation from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Executive Order 14042, which mandates adequate COVID-19 safety protocols for federal contractors. The deviation authorizes and instructs HHS contracting officers to incorporate a specific clause—FAR 52.223-99—into
COGR Submits Joint Letter with AAU to DOD on DFARS Streamlining Measures
The Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) submitted comments to the Department of Defense regarding proposed changes to regulations governing defense contracts, specifically focusing on the definition and treatment of fundamental research under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses. The organizations express appr
COGR and AAU Submit Joint Letter to DOD on DFARS Case 2013-D-018
The letter, jointly submitted by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of American Universities (AAU), addresses the Department of Defense’s (DoD) proposed updates to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) (Case 2013-D-018), specifically regarding new requirements for safeguarding covered defense information in contracts. While COGR and AAU acknowl
October 30, 2015- COGR/AAU Joint Letter on DFARS Case 2013-D018
The joint letter from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of American Universities (AAU) addresses concerns regarding the interim DFARS rule (Case 2013-D018), which introduces new safeguarding and reporting requirements for institutions handling controlled defense information. COGR and AAU, representing leading research universities, highlight significant compliance bu
