Volume 12, number 1: July 8, 2005
FEDERAL NEWS
Changes to NSF General Grant Conditions
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has posted the new version of its Grant General Conditions, which provides researchers with the information needed to ensure compliance with NSF funding guidelines. NSF has also released Significant Changes in Grant General Conditions, June 2005, which highlights the primary areas that have been modified from the last publication of the NSF grant conditions. Major changes include:
- FastLane submission of prior approval requests;
- equipment inventory requirements;
- documentation on sub-awards;
- patent rights;
- publications; and
- national security requirements.
HHS Releases Rules Governing Misconduct
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the final rules governing scientific misconduct by researchers with HHS funding. The new rules officially expand the agency’s jurisdiction to include all HHS-funded projects, including contracts and National Institutes of Health intramural programs. Additional areas, such as misconduct related to reviewing research, also are covered in the final guidelines. The rules, which took effect on June 16, redefine research misconduct as “fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.” READ MORE.
NIEHS Strategic Plan
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is updating its 2000 strategic plan entitled NIEHS Strategic Plan 2000—A Five-Year Program: New Opportunities in Environmental Health Research. NIEHS requests input from scientists, members of the public, and all interested parties in order to anticipate, meet, and set priorities for environmental health research, training, resources, and technologies. The goal of this strategic planning process is to discover the most effective way to study environmental health issues, identify barriers to progress for future research, and to define future needs and directions for environmental health. Responses should be submitted to the NIEHS Office of Science Policy and Planning on or before August 5. READ MORE.
New NSF Grants Policy Manual Released
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released the revised edition of its Grants Policy Manual, which went into effect July 1. It contains important information about revisions to NSF policies and enhancements to FastLane. A summary of significant changes from the previous version is included at the beginning of the manual. READ MORE (pdf).
USAID Announced New Education Strategic Plan to Guide Funding
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new plan to concentrate future education efforts in some of the world's most disadvantaged areas. USAID hopes to enhance social and economic development, project sustainability, and teaching methods and skills among educators, as well as to make educational opportunities available to those previously ineligible, such as girls and the poor.
The emphases of the new plan are on teaching basic skills (literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking) and on higher education objectives. In the higher education area, USAID's main activity is to support partnerships between U.S. universities and their counterpart institutions in host countries. USAID supports these partnerships to promote progress in specific areas of development, such as strengthening faculties and departments. Since 2004, USAID funded more than 295 university partnerships in 71 developing countries. READ MORE (pdf).
Future specific solicitations will be announced in FedBizOpps. Under “Search by Agency” enter “Agency for International Development.”
IMLS Releases FY06 Guidelines
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has published the guidelines of its 2006 grant programs for libraries and museums. The document includes information on the agency, including its new address, and outlines the grant opportunities offered directly by IMLS or through the agency’s partnerships with other organizations and federal agencies. READ MORE (pdf).
American Health Information Community
In June Mike Leavitt, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced the formation of a national collaboration, the American Health Information Community (AHIC), which advances efforts to support President Bush’s call for most Americans to have electronic health records within ten years.
AHIC provides inputs and recommendations to HHS on how to make health records digital and interoperable while assuring that the privacy and security of those records are protected.
HHS is soliciting nominations for people to serve on AHIC. Secretary Leavitt will appoint up to 17 commission members. READ MORE.
NEH Announces Afghanistan Initiative
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new agency-wide initiative, "Rediscovering Afghanistan," which is designed to promote research, education, and public programs about Afghan history and culture. Starting in July, the NEH will invite grant applications from U.S. scholars and institutions interested in exploring the nation's cultural heritage. Information about the application process will be available on the NEH web site beginning in July. READ MORE.
CDC Extends Grant Application Deadlines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended the deadlines for several of its recent solicitations related to immunization and vaccinations. The longer deadlines will give officials more time to come to terms with the agency’s 2006 appropriations, which are awaiting congressional approval. Researchers interested in the following opportunities will now have until August 31, 2005, to prepare their proposals:
- Improving Vaccination Coverage in the Greater than 65 Years of Age Population;
- Developing Methods and Strategies to Increase Use of Immunization Registries by Private Providers;
- Enhancing Utilization of Childhood Immunization Client Recall Practices by Private Providers;
- Influenza Vaccination of Children and Accompanying Adults: Mass Vaccination vs Vaccination in Routine Care; and
- Effectiveness of a Hospital-Based Program for Vaccination of Birth Mothers and Household Contacts with Inactivated Influenza Vaccine.