fed-internal

CU Summary of President's FY20 Budget Request to Congress

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:36:31 +0000

CU Summary of President's FY20 Budget Request to Congress Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/18/2019 - 15:36

Additional budget details are expected to be released over the next week. The initial draft will be replaced as soon as a more detailed version is available.

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Partial Federal Government Shutdown Ending: From the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 23:50:26 +0000

Partial Federal Government Shutdown Ending: From the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/25/2019 - 16:50

Terri Fiez, Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

University of Colorado Boulder Community,

We are pleased that the federal government has announced it will reopen fully as soon as the necessary processes are completed in Washington, D.C.

We are especially pleased that our federal colleagues and the rest of our tight-knit community can begin to move beyond the many challenges the shutdown has caused. Just as importantly, our entire community can return to work and to the significant impact their efforts represent for our nation.

Although we expect some lingering delays and impacts, we will continue to monitor, and mitigate whenever possible, residual effects of this shutdown on our students, faculty, staff and partners in an effort to return to fully normalized operations.

Thank you for maintaining your focus on our important work during such a challenging time.

Terri Fiez
Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation Office
University of Colorado Boulder

We are pleased that the federal government has announced it will reopen fully as soon as the necessary processes are completed in Washington, D.C. We are especially pleased that our federal colleagues and the rest of our tight-knit community can begin to move beyond the many challenges the shutdown has caused.

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Notice to PIs: Impact of Government Shutdown on Researchers

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:21:35 +0000

Notice to PIs: Impact of Government Shutdown on Researchers Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/18/2019 - 07:21

Aside from a few exceptions (e.g., National Institutes of Health and U.S. Departments of Energy and Education), most federal funding agencies remain closed due to the partial government shutdown. As we move into the fourth week of the government shutdown, we do not want to impact budgets through short-term practices that could have longer term negative impacts. Federally funded researchers need to take measures to assure that the deliverables of grants and the scope of the approved work are met. This also applies to subawards that are federal flow-through. Please also pay attention to spending and steward authorized funding with extra care.

Below are the latest research updates:

Financial Impacts to Active Awards

Extending Expiring Period of Performance on an Award

If a department or PI wishes to extend an award that is ending during the shutdown, the Campus Controller's Office (CCO) is continuing to process those requests. If time with no additional funding is intended, a No Cost Extension is the appropriate request. CCO will process the unofficial extension and OCG will submit the official request to the sponsor once the government re-opens.

When the PI expects time with additional funding (incrementally funded awards), the At-Risk Extension is the appropriate form. CCO will extend the date in the campus finance system only.

Both types of extensions granted by CCO are unofficial until we receive the official award action from the sponsor. These are intended to allow continued spending after the current end date. If no extension is processed, spending will be stopped by the system at the end date. This is a relatively new procedure and more information is available on CCO's Project Status Automation webpage.

These extensions are granted with the understanding that the department carries the financial risk if the sponsor does not authorize the additional time or funding. CCO has recommended that departments consider the additional risk the shutdown poses when submitting an extension during this time.

Spending on Grants

Many reports are available to help departments and PIs manage the spending on their awards. As an award reaches 90/60/30 days prior to its end date, an email is automatically sent at the beginning of each month to affected PIs and departmental administrators. This report includes the awards ending as well as the current balance on those awards. All other reports are available on demand through the CU-Data application. The CCO Area Accountants are available to guide users who may be unsure which reports are best to monitor balances.

Though the ability to spend on grants continues, PIs should be aware that non-vital expenditures should be postponed, if possible. Additionally, costs that require sponsor pre-approval, such as travel costs and equipment purchases requiring agency pre-approvals, may not be reimbursed unless the agency, in its discretion, provides retroactive approval. The same applies for costs outside the period of performance or in excess of current budget authorization. Most funding supplements from affected agencies are not being issued and new monies from those federal agencies cannot be awarded until the federal shutdown has been resolved.

Invoicing for Awards

To the extent any federal systems are available, CCO will continue to bill as required.

Other Impacts to Current Existing Awards

Reporting Obligations

CCO is submitting financial reports and invoices to the extent possible. If a sponsor’s system is unavailable, CCO will email the appropriate contacts to maintain an audit trail for timely submission.

Grant reporting obligations for technical reports, including annual and final technical reports, are still in effect and the original deadlines apply. While there may be no one at the affected agencies to review these reports, PIs must adhere to the reporting schedule according to their grant award terms and submit reports on time. Again, care should be taken to adhere to award terms and not compromise the deliverables of the grants.

Agency Pre-Approvals Unavailable

Requests for approval to re-budget, pre-authorize travel or pre-authorize equipment purchases or repairs should be submitted to your department's assigned grant officer in the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) and will be submitted when the funding agency reopens.

Impacts to Proposals

New Grant Submissions

Opportunities through Research.gov, NSF Fastlane and Grants.gov with posted deadlines are still in effect although submissions will not be processed until agency operations resume. Agency personnel are not available to answer questions about grant submissions.

Review Panels

Faculty and staff serving on a review panel for an agency that is currently shut down should consider cancelling their travel plans. Review panels are cancelled until further notice. Note: We do not anticipate that affected agencies will reimburse lost deposits or airfare.

Request for All Official Notices

Faculty and staff who receive official notices directly from any federal agencies should forward the notice to OCG at ocg@colorado.edu.

Please direct specific questions about your award to your Department's assigned Area Accountant (financial inquiries) or Grant Officer (non-financial inquiries).

Laura Ragin
Assistant Vice Chancellor & Controller

Denitta Ward
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation; Director, Office of Contracts and Grants

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An Update on the Partial Federal Government Shutdown From the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:09:42 +0000

An Update on the Partial Federal Government Shutdown From the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/18/2019 - 06:09

Terri Fiez, Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Shutdown News & Resources

Notice & Guidance for Principal Investigators Breaking Updates Regarding Shutdown Research & Federal Funding News Homepage CU Boulder Shutdown Information Page

University of Colorado Boulder Community,

The partial federal government shutdown initiated on December 21 is now the longest such shutdown in U.S. history. While labeled a “partial” shutdown, its effects are real and growing.

In spite of the many real challenges posed by the shutdown, the vast majority of the university’s work is continuing without interruption, even as we monitor and respond to specific impacts to our community.

CU Boulder stands with those individuals coping with challenges caused by the shutdown. We continue to monitor specific impacts on faculty, students, staff and operations, and we are actively working to mitigate impacts where possible.

We also stand with our partners at federal agencies and laboratories, in higher education and in private industry, all of which are affected by the shutdown. We continue to advocate through alliances like the AAU, APLU and AAAS, which are calling for an end to the shutdown. Our government relations team is in regular contact with our congressional delegation to communicate concerns, seek solutions and advocate for an immediate end to the shutdown.

We will continue to monitor, and mitigate whenever possible, effects on our students, faculty, staff and partners. We will also continue to advocate for the restarting of government through every means available.

Thank you for continuing to focus on the important work that each of us has before us.

Terri Fiez
Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation Office
University of Colorado Boulder

The partial federal government shutdown initiated on December 21 is now the longest such shutdown in U.S. history. While labeled a “partial” shutdown, its effects are real and growing. In spite of the many real challenges posed by the shutdown, the vast majority of the university’s work is continuing without interruption, even as we monitor and respond to specific impacts to our community.

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Federal Shutdown Notice for Principal Investigators

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 16:50:50 +0000

Federal Shutdown Notice for Principal Investigators Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/21/2018 - 09:50

Denitta D. Ward, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation; Director, Office of Contracts and Grants

As you may be aware, the United States Congress has failed to pass a temporary or permanent federal budget measure affecting a number of federal agencies. As a result, pursuant to the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341 et seq., as of midnight December 21, 2018, some federal government “nonessential” operations have halted until passage of a funding measure. Though we do not know how long the shutdown may last, historically they have lasted less than a week and some have lasted less than a day.

The Office of Management and Budget has issued agency operations guidance regarding grants and contracts in addition to posting various agency-specific contingency plans. Researchers are requested to review the guidance provided by the funding agency/agencies supporting their active research projects. Should assistance be needed, please contact OCG Director Denitta Ward at denitta.ward@colorado.edu.

During previous shutdowns, the United States Government honored its commitments to ongoing sponsored projects and reimbursed expenses incurred during the shutdown, but there is no blanket guarantee that such expenses will be reimbursed this time.

Nonetheless, we have chosen NOT to suspend essential work on our federally funded sponsored projects. The campus supports the continued success of ongoing research and the protection and well-being of research subjects. We request, however, that you limit project expenses to personnel and essential supplies and services during the shutdown. To be clear, in no event should the University’s animal or human subjects be negatively impacted by the government shutdown.

It is likely that federal program, grant and contract officers on your award or contract may not be deemed “essential personnel.” They would, therefore, be unavailable to provide reviews and approvals for actions requiring preapproval, such as travel.

Please also be aware:

Should CU Boulder receive stop-work or termination for convenience notices on specific contracts or awards, we will be in contact with the PI and the assigned department administrator individually.
We will review the status of the shutdown and, if and as necessary, commence official notifications to affected subcontractors and subrecipients under CU’s federally funded projects.
To the extent federal electronic systems are functioning, the Office of Contracts and Grants will continue to submit federal proposals. There is a strong likelihood that federal submission systems will be shutdown, as happened in prior shutdowns.
We will continue to share general updates on this situation with our community through our federal funding website and CU Boulder Today, as well as the RIO Bulletin.
In the event that the shutdown becomes prolonged, please see the Office of Contracts & Grants homepage for specific information about federal contracts and grants.

If you have any questions about the government shutdown and its potential effect on sponsored projects at CU Boulder, please contact Denitta Ward at 303-735-6624 or denitta.ward@colorado.edu.

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On the Partial Federal Government Shutdown: A Letter from the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 16:49:56 +0000

On the Partial Federal Government Shutdown: A Letter from the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/21/2018 - 09:49

Terri Fiez, Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation

Shutdown News & Resources

Notice & Guidance for Principal Investigators Breaking Updates Regarding Shutdown Research & Federal Funding News Homepage

University of Colorado Boulder Community,

As you may know, ongoing budget negotiations have failed to produce a stopgap funding agreement in Congress. The immediate consequence is that portions of the federal government were shut down at midnight on Friday, December 21.

CU Boulder received nearly $369 million, or 72 percent of last year’s total research funding, from the federal government. Far more important than just dollars, this funding drives discovery and innovation of global importance in areas such as biosciences, energy, aerospace, fundamental sciences, and earth and environmental sciences, impacting the lives of people across the world.

In addition to ramifications related to research funding, a partial shutdown may impact a range of important operations and services, including our staffing through partnerships with local federal labs and a variety of resources that our community depends on.

Given this close association with the federal government, we are tracking this issue carefully and monitoring potential impacts on our students, faculty, staff and research programs. We remain hopeful Congress will reach an agreement very soon.

In the case of a short-term stoppage, we expect impacts to be manageable. However, should the stoppage last more than a few weeks, those impacts may expand. We are continuing to develop strategies to minimize impacts should the partial shutdown remain unresolved.

We are not alone. Research universities, businesses and individuals around the country will experience a range of negative impacts from a prolonged shutdown. Consequently, we are partnering with universities across the nation, lawmakers and others to advocate aggressively for a speedy resolution that will mitigate impacts to our community and those who benefit from our research programs.

We will continue to share updates on this situation through our federal funding webpage and CU Boulder Today, as well as direct communications with groups who may be directly affected.