Research & Sponsored Programs News

National Institutes of Health (NIH) released NOT-OD-24-057 – Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY2024. 

Pursuant to the aforementioned notice, the NIH 2024 salary limitation for Executive Level II is $221,900.

NSF Plan for Safe and Inclusive Working Environment (Safety Plan) for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research

Pursuant to  NSF PAPPG, II.E.9, each NSF proposal submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023, that proposes to conduct research off-campus or off-site, will require certification by the Authorized Official Representative (AOR) that the Organization (Rutgers) has a Safety Plan in place for that particular NSF project which describes how the following types of behavior will be addressed:

•  abuse of any person, including, but not limited to, harassment, stalking, bullying, or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form; or
•  conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent, obscene, or disorderly.

Please refer to NSF: Biosketch, Current & Pending and Safe & Inclusive Working Environments Safety Plan Guidance for further information and the template that can be used for the creation of this Safety Plan document.

NSF Biosketch and Current & Pending Guidance Updates

Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) has updated the NSF: Biosketch, Current & Pending and Safe & Inclusive Working Environments Safety Plan Guidance webpage to reflect the instructions / guidelines regarding the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support forms for all proposals submitted or due on or after January 30, 2023 to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Please visit the aforementioned link for further information and for access to the correct NSF forms.

Although, for the time being, NSF will allow the use of either the SciENcv or the NSF PDF fillable format for these documents, starting October 25, 2023 ONLY the SciENcv Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending Support format will be allowed.  Hence, RSP is strongly encouraging all PIs and other Senior Key personnel to create these two documents in SciENcv to ensure compliance with the upcoming NSF mandate.

New NIH Forms H Application Package

FORMS - H Grant Application Forms & Instructions must be used for due dates on or after January 25, 2023. Pursuant to NOT-OD-22-195 (issued 08/08/2022) and NOT-OD-23-012 (issued 10/26/2022), all proposals submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on or after January 25th, 2023, must use the new Forms H application package. As part of the implementation of the 2023 NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy, a new “Other Plan(s)” attachment field has been added.

Executive Level II Salary Cap

The NIH has released NOT-OD-23-056 Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2023. Effective January 1, 2023, the Executive Level II salary cap level is $212,100.

NSF Fastlane / Research.gov Important Updates

Effective November 21, 2022

Award Documents, Organizational Reports and Grants.gov integration in Fastlane were retired and decommissioned.

Going forward:

     • Historical award documents are now accessible via the NEW  “Award Documents” link on the 'Research.gov My Desktop' page under “Awards & Reporting”.
     • Continuing Grant Increments Report can now be accessed using the NEW  “Continuing Grant Increments Reports” link on the 'Research.gov My Desktop Page' under “Awards & Reporting”.

Effective January 30, 2023

The preparation and submission of ALL NEW NSF proposals will be via Research.gov. Please visit the NEW FastLane Decommissioning webpage for a comprehensive list of FastLane transition deadlines.

Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF 23-1 becomes effective on January 30, 2023.

FastLane proposals and supplemental funding requests will be available to access until September 29, 2023. FastLane submitted and in-progress proposals and supplemental funding requests will not be transferred to Research.gov; however, the reviews and summaries for proposals submitted in FastLane will remain available in Research.gov. Refer to the Instructions to Access and Download/Print FastLane Proposals and Supplemental Funding Requests for additional information.

New NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan Policy Effective January 25, 2023

NIH has issued the Data Management and Sharing Policy (DMSP) to promote the sharing of scientific data. This policy will be effective for all proposals due on or after January 25, 2023. The policy does not apply to research and other activities that DO NOT generate scientific data. Read full announcement

For instructions and guidance on this policy please visit NIH: Data Management and Sharing Plan.

New Sponsored Programs Facilities and Administrative Costs Policy

The Office for Research is pleased to announce the implementation of a new Sponsored Programs Facilities and Administrative Costs Policy (section 90.1.1 in the Rutgers Policy Library). Read full announcement

Follow-up on Important Change to RBHS Unique Entity Identifier

As of July 1, 2022, all RBHS sponsored research and program activity must be submitted under a new RBHS consolidated UEI number. Read full announcement

NJ Fringe Benefit Rates Delay

The delay in establishing the FY22 Fringe Benefit Rates has extended much further into the year than anticipated. The unprecedented delay is a result of the State of NJ not yet having had its rate approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Cost Allocation Services (DHHSCAS). The Rutgers rate is a composite that is largely comprised of cost-drivers from State benefit programs, and thus we cannot implement FY22 rates until the State receives its approval from the federal agency. Read full announcement

Important Change to RBHS Sponsored Research and Programs Submissions and Awards

As of July 1, 2022, all RBHS sponsored research and program activity must be submitted under a new RBHS consolidated UEI number, YVVTQD8CJC79 (associated with DUNS# 0902998300000 and Rutgers University EIN# 1226001086-A1). Read full announcement

NSF has issued an updated version of the table entitled NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support. The table dated April 20, 2022 updates information on postdoctoral scholars, students, or visiting scholars and differentiates between research activities that are intended for use on the project/proposal being proposed and those that are not. A definition of honorarium also has been added to the table. In addition, the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Current and Pending Support have been updated and new questions have been added.

In accordance with Important Notice No. 147, many National Science Foundation (NSF) program solicitations now require the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals. Please be advised that NSF will now start requiring the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals in response to program descriptions. As a reminder, FastLane is targeted to be removed as a submission option from all funding opportunities when the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) goes into effect in January 2023. Grants.gov will remain a submission option for most NSF proposals.

To offset the impact of the latest annual increase in the State’s fringe rate, and in an effort to support Rutgers University’s commitment to advancing our mission to deliver ground-breaking and life-changing research, the University has secured $7.3M of the $10M in funding appropriated by the Legislature for fringe relief within the current state budget. Read full announcement

Research and Sponsored Programs issued a memo on the importance of timely submission of sponsored program project reports in accordance with Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR§200.344 and how to avoid sanctions from sponsors and the university for late reporting. Read the memo

Pursuant to NOT-OD-21-073 (issued 03/12/2021) and NOT-OD-21-169 (issued 08/05/2021), all proposals submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on or after January 25^th, 2022, must use the new Forms G application package and include the newly revised NIH Biographical Sketch forms.  The updated biosketch forms, as well as additional instructions and samples, can be found in the NIH Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions and Samples. 

New NIH Guidelines going into effect on Tuesday, January 25, 2022!

NIH will be implementing the new FORMS G for proposal submissions (NOT-OD-21-169) and will expect applicants and recipients to use the updated biosketch and other Support format for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR’s) as applicable (NOT-OD-21-073, NOT-OD-21-110, and NOT-OD-20-122). Failure to follow the appropriate formats on or after January 25, 2022, may cause NIH to withdraw applications from or delay consideration of funding.

Two important points to note:

     1. The NIH requires senior/key personnel to certify the accuracy of their other support disclosures by electronically signing their other support form. Researchers can do this by visiting PHS Other Support - DocSign to sign their other support form and create a single combined PDF document for submission to NIH.

     2. Translated copies of supporting documentation, such as contracts, agreements, appointment letters, etc., for all activities reported in the other support form involving a foreign entity must be attached to the other support form and submitted as a single file.  For more information, please visit International Research | University Ethics and Compliance. 

Other support documentation if generally requested at Just-in-Time (JIT) or during the Research Performance Progress Report period for new Senior Key Personnel or existing Senior Key personnel with updates to other support. Other Support should not be included with proposal submission unless it is listed as a requirement within the program announcement. Just-in-Time requests and Research Performance Programs Reports will continue to be submitted to NIH via your Grants Specialist in Research and Sponsored Programs.

Pursuant to PAPPG 21-1, all NSF proposals submitted or due on or after October 4, 2021 must include the newly revised NSF approved Biosketch and Current and Pending Support forms, or the respective documents generated by SciENcv. FAQs on using NSF Fillable PDF Biosketch and Current and Pending Support forms are also available for further guidance. Additional information may be found on the NSF Biosketch and the Current & Pending Support pages.

The guidance for the determination of on/off campus Facilities and Administrative Costs has been updated.

NIH has delayed the Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page (NOT-OD-21-110). NIH will require the use of the updated format pages for the previously mentioned submissions for anything on and after January 25, 2022.

New NIH Biosketch and Other Support forms for all proposal applications, RPPR, and JIT due on/after May 25, 2021. NIH has implemented new biosketch and other support documentation with different requested information for each. The new biosketch and other support format page will be required for all proposal applications, RPPR, and JIT due on/after May 25, 2021. More information is available at:

Biosketch

Biosketch Examples

Current and Pending Support

Current and Pending Support Examples

Implementation of FY21 Fringe benefit Rates. This revised memo provides updated advice on managing increases to fringe benefits for sponsored programs based on feedback from Rutgers researchers and our experience.  According to Circular 21-07-OMB the State of New Jersey proposed fringe benefits rates for FY2021 are expected to increase significantly in comparison to recent years. A breakdown of the preliminary rates is also available. Updated versions of the budget templates using the projected fringe rates are available.

The NIH has released NOT-OD-21-057 Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2021. The Executive Level II salary level is $199,300 and is effective January 3rd.

The NIH has released NOT-OD-21-029 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2021.

The AHRQ has released NOT-HS-21-007 Salary Limitation on AHRQ FY2021 Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts. The Executive Level II salary level is $199,300 and is effective January 3rd.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandated awarding agencies adopt recent revisions to 2 CFR 200: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Agency implementation statements provide specific details on how participating agencies are implementing the revised Research Terms and Conditions (RTCs). In accordance with this requirement, the updated RTCs, which implement the changes to 2 CFR 200, will be fully effective beginning November 12, 2020. More information may be found here.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government released a number of memoranda from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that allowed federal agencies to offer award recipients certain flexibilities to alleviate the impact of the pandemic on research operations. For additional information, please see attached document.

"Mandatory NSF approved forms for Biographical Sketches and Current & Pending Support” must be used for all NSF proposals submitted on or after 10/05/2020.  For additional information please see attached presentation.

New Resource for International Collaborations.

Please visit the International Collaboration in Research and Other Activities portal that provides a range of tools and information to help our faculty and staff navigate the challenges of working internationally.

Maintaining Integrity and Confidentiality in Peer Review Process

All applicants for funding must maintain the integrity of the peer review process. This includes not contacting reviewers to request or provide information or to otherwise influence the outcome of the review, not sending unsolicited information directly to a reviewer, and not accessing information related to the review of an application. Such actions go against our guiding principles of research integrity and can result in such consequences as loss of funding and suspension or debarment from the sponsor. 

The NSF has revised the following sets of Award Terms and Conditions

- NSF Agency Specific Requirements to the Research Terms and Conditions (ASR)

- Cooperative Agreement Financial & Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC)

- Cooperative Agreement Modifications and Supplemental Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions for Major Multi-User Research Facility Projects and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers

- Grant General Conditions (GC-1)

- Special Terms and Conditions (FL 26) for Administration of NSF Conference or Travel Grants

- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Grant General Conditions (SBIR/STTR-I)

- SBIR/STTR Phase II Cooperative Agreement Financial & Administrative Terms and Conditions (SBIR/STTR-II CA-FATC)

All of the terms and conditions have been updated to include a new article which establishes a post-award disclosure requirement for undisclosed current support and in-kind contribution information.  Each set of terms and conditions is accompanied by a summary of changes made to that document. The revised terms and conditions will apply to all new NSF awards and funding amendments to existing NSF awards made on or after October 5, 2020, except for the SBIR/STTR-I and SBIR/STTR-II CA-FATC which will become effective July 6, 2020.

Questions regarding NSF terms and conditions may be sent to the DIAS Policy Office at: policy@nsf.gov

On June 1, 2020, NSF will implement the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) for proposals submitted or due on or after this date. The revised PAPPG implements a variety of changes and clarifications, the highest profile of which requires use of an NSF-approved format for the preparation of the biographical sketch and current and pending support.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing stress on proposers, the research community has not been able to adequately prepare and train their staff for the implementation of the new requirements. NSF has therefore made the decision to delay the requirement to use NSF-approved formats for the biographical sketch and current and pending support sections of NSF proposals until October 1, 2020. Proposers must continue to format these documents in accordance with PAPPG requirements (see PAPPG sections II.C.2.f and II.C.2.h). NSF encourages the community to use these formats and continue to provide valuable feedback as we enhance them for future implementation.”

This message is to remind you that eRA is planning to migrate its modules and data to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud from 8 a.m. ET on Friday, April 17 to 8 p.m. ET on Monday, April 20. (See Guide Notice NOT-OD-20-096).