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.
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. 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
Restrictions on Research Awards: Troublesome Clauses. A Report of the AAU/COGR Task Force
The AAU/COGR Task Force report examines the growing prevalence and impact of restrictive clauses—termed “troublesome clauses”—in U.S. research awards, particularly those that limit the dissemination of research findings or the participation of foreign nationals without prior approval. Despite the long-standing federal policy articulated in National Security Decision Directive 189 (NSDD 189)—which
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
