Guidance from NIH and NSF regarding COVID-19
The Office of Sponsored Research has been closely monitoring updates from our sponsors in relation to proposal and award management concerns with regards to COVID-19. OSR will continue to monitor and provide updates and guidance.
Currently, National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released guidance on Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19 and National Science Foundation (NSF) has provided a set of frequently asked questions.
Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
In Notice NOT-OD-20-086, NIH has identified the following short-term administrative flexibilities to assist applicants with managing administrative, financial management and audit requirements under the Uniform Guidance “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” – which are implemented in HHS regulation at 45 CFR Part 75. These flexibilities are applicable to NIH applicants and recipients where the entity is conducting research activities related to or affected by COVID-19.
Highlights of topics included in guidance:
- Pre-Award Costs
- Extension of Post-Award Financial and Other Reporting
- Prior Approvals
- Cost Related Flexibilities/Expenditure of Award Funds:
- Travel – Non-refundable costs associated with grant-related travel that has been cancelled due to COVID-19 may be charged to the NIH award if they would have otherwise been allowable. See NIH GPS 7.9.1 for detailed information on the allowability of travel expenses.
- Salaries – NIH understands that many researchers may be unable to work as a result of or related to the effects of COVID-19. If a recipient organization’s policy allows for the charging of salaries and benefits during periods when no work is performed due to the effect of COVID-19, regardless of the funding source, including Federal and non-Federal, then such charges to NIH grant awards will be allowable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for NSF Proposers and Awardees
NSF has prepared a document to address questions associated with proposal submission and award management that may arise in relation to COVID-19. NSF is providing this information in the hope it will address most of the questions that may arise in this regard. Given that COVID-19 and the associated impacts continue to evolve, proposers and awardees are strongly encouraged to monitor the NSF website for updates.
Please contact your department’s Sponsored Projects Specialist or the Sponsored Programs Office with questions specific to your proposal and/or award.
Please contact ResAdminOSR@unc.edu for other general sponsored programs administration questions and requests.