May 20: Grant development support; F&A updates

This email is being sent to PIs with open federal awards, deans, research associate deans, and unit heads whose units have federal sponsored projects.

Dear Colleagues: 

With the commencement activities marking the transition from spring to summer, I hope you all were able to take some time to celebrate. I so enjoyed participating in Friday’s university wide commencement, celebrating students’ huge accomplishments and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.  

In addition to summer being a time for vacation and recharge, for many of us, it is also a time to focus on our research. This includes writing new proposals to support our research and other externally funded activities. Knowing that we in a new funding landscape, we have aggregated resources to support researchers onto a new landing page – new trainings, resources, funding opportunities, and more. Keep checking the page; we will keep adding to it. In addition, the Research Acceleration Office is available for one-on-one coaching and guidance; please reach out to RAO to schedule a conversation. 

I also wanted to provide you with an update on the facilities and administration (F&A/indirect cost) cap proposals. Last week, we saw the preliminary injunction halting the Department of Energy from instituting their F&A cap. The court has created a hearing schedule in the Association of American Universities vs. National Science Foundation case and, as part of that process, the government has agreed to temporary stay the cap at NSF. Please continue to budget NSF proposals using the full indirect cost rate. Also last week, the Secretary of Defense issued an internal memo directing his staff to impose a 15% cap over the coming weeks. I would expect litigation here as well, although it may take some time to play out.   

Finally, please keep sending any information about proposed federal impacts to [email protected]. It is helpful to us to learn about what you are hearing. 

Thanks for all you do and enjoy your summer!   

Best, 

Cass 

 

Cassandra Moseley, Ph.D. (she/hers)
Vice President for Research

Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Office of the Vice President for Research