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Stay informed about the latest updates from the Director, new staff additions, and proposed grants reform via OMB Circulars. Learn about the important role of OMB Circulars in grants management and the implications for universities. Find out about Northwestern's response to the proposed "Omni Circular" and partnerships with organizations like Argonne National Laboratory.
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OSR-Evanston Quarterly NetworkMay 7, 2013 Elizabeth Adams Executive Director
Updates from the Director • New Staff • Grants Assistant Brandon Greene • Grants Assistant Ted Smith • Office of Management and Budget (OMB) “Omni Circular” that proposes grants reform via consolidation and modification of several circulars • Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), a strategic partner in Northwestern’s research
What are the OMB Circulars Again? • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is not a sponsor • Its main job is to assist the President to prepare the budget • It also measures the quality of agency programs, policies, and procedures • OMB issues instructions to federal agencies in the form of “circulars”
What are the OMB Circulars Again? • The circulars that currently govern universities in the area of grants management are: • A-21, Cost Principles • A-110, Administrative Requirements • A-133, Audits • Important to note that universities are not the only recipients of federal grants (e.g., state, local, tribal governments; nonprofit research institutions; hospitals)
Proposed “Omni Circular” • Much-anticipated “Proposed OMB Uniform Guidance: Cost Principles, Audit, and Administrative Requirements for Federal Awards” • Published in the February 1, 2013 Federal Register • 244 pages • Comments due on June 2 via www.regulations.gov (extended from May 2) • This is about grants reform, for agencies and for awardees • Northwestern’s institutional response being drafted • Involves OSR, ASRSP, Cost Studies, Financial Operations, VPR • NU working with other universities around the country in developing a response
Areas of Emphasis in NU’s Institutional Response • Accountability and transparency…on both sides • Agency inconsistency in award forms, terms, reporting, F&A rates, audit standards • RFP standardization: provide 90 day advance notice for application submission deadlines; deadline hours should be based on local, normal business hours (no 11:59pm Eastern) • Streamline subrecipient monitoring • Cost sharing
Our Neighbor to the Southwest • Argonne National Laboratory • Northwestern-Argonne Institute for Science and Engineering (NAISE) http://naise.northwestern.edu/ • Terms finalized for renewed Basic Ordering Agreement beginning ~5/1/13 (five year life) • Collaborative proposals and awards • Joint appointments (paid and unpaid) • LS-CAT • DND-CAT