Grant Management Community News: February 2017

Research Costing Compliance (RCC) will soon reach out to listserv subscribers on both a consistent schedule and on an as needed basis. RCC listserv subscribers will continue to receive the bi-monthly newsletter, to be renamed Compliance Digest. On months when you do not receive the newsletter, you will receive a training update, which will be named Training Digest. You can expect to also start receiving e-mails containing important information, called RCC Alert, which needs to be communicated to the grant management community quickly and succinctly. An RCC Alert may provide information about compliance issues, deadlines, important certificate program information, policy and/or procedure updates, etc. These e-mails are high-priority and may impact our constituents on varying levels. As a reminder, any questions or concerns should be directed to rcc-cert@duke.edu

The Uniform Guidance lists several situations in which Duke must obtain prior approval from the Federal awarding agencies, including PI disengagement for more than three months or a 25 percent reduction in time devoted to the project. Disengagement may come in many forms such as withdrawal from the project, complete absence for 3 or months continuously, time reduction of 25% or more to the project, or relinquishment of actively directing the project. UGC 5.0 – PI Disengagement provides further detail and explanation of Duke’s interpretation of this guidance and recommended departmental best practices at Duke. 

View the full Uniform Guidance Communication 5.0 – PI Disengagement (pdf)

Preliminary FY 17/18 fringe benefit rates have been released and posted to the Financial Services website. Although these rates have not yet been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the posted fringe benefit rates should be used for budgeting and planning purposes. The approval of these fringe benefit rates will be communicated in the future.

Fringe Benefit Rates

RCC’s new online QuickStart program will be available in Spring 2017 for self-registration in the LMS. This comprehensive overview of research management is recommended for employees new to the profession, as well as those who perform some research management functions but are not in a RACI HR classified position.  During a new employee’s first 90 day of hire, the QuickStart program can be completed in advance of entering the Research Administration Academy (RAA). This self-paced program includes four interactive modules, followed by a live class to allow for questions, discussion, and hands-on grant activities. 

A new policy for allowable Appendix materials has been implemented by the NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH for applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2017. All applicable NIH, AHRQ, and NIOSH applications are allowed to include the following appendices: blank informed consent/assent forms, blank surveys, questionnaires, and/or data collection instruments, and other items only if specified in the FOA as allowable. Other items are not allowed in the Appendix and should not be included elsewhere in the applications. Placing disallowed materials in other parts of the application will result in a noncompliant application.

Notice Number:  NOT-OD-17-035

As of January 30, 2017, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will implement changes in FastLane to coordinate with policy updates made to the PAPPG (NSF 17-1). Two new types of proposals were incorporated into the PAPPG, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) and Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE). All of the automated compliance checks applicable to Research proposals in FastLane will also apply to both of these new types of proposals. Another type of proposal, Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED), will be included in the FastLane dropdown menu, and automated compliance checks applicable to Research proposals apply to FASED proposals. 

Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 17-1)
Complete List of FastLane Automated Compliance Checks (pdf)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released their new application guide to provide information on the application process that is easier to find and understand. Some of the changes include more clearly written form instructions, new headings and labels to differentiate instructions from supporting information, increased clarity of what is required versus optional, and icons in the web version to notate where instructions were updated with an explanation of the change. 

Extramural Nexus: Take A Look at Our New Application Instructions
New NIH Application Guide