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The Office of Sponsored Programs has analyzed the University’s eligibility for the National Institutes for Health (NIH) Research Enhancement Awards (R15) and based on the University’s recent success with receiving consistent NIH funding, we are projected to be ineligible to submit proposals for the NIH R15 program in the next federal fiscal year, starting October 1, 2022. 

The NIH R15 Program includes the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions, and the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools.

This eligibility determination is contingent on receipt of at least $6 million in select NIH funding for October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. For the past two fiscal years, we have exceeded $9 million in such funding and thus fully expect to exceed $6 million in the current fiscal year. The analysis of our eligibility has been conducted using NIH public resources and confirmed by NIH program officers.

FAQs for R15 Eligibility, based on NIH provided clarifications:

1. I’ve already submitted my R15 proposal. Will I be denied an award if it comes after October 1, 2022?
   • No, the eligibility is only for proposal submissions. Awards may come after this deadline.
2. Will this prevent no-cost extension of current R15 awards?
   • No, current awards will remain in effect and extensions are allowable.
3. Will this prevent renewals of current R15 awards?
   • Yes, the R15 eligibility will cover new and renewal applications. Renewals of current R15 awards will not be allowed.
4. Can we apply in September 2022 for an October 2022 deadline? The submission will come while we are still eligible although the deadline will come after our eligibility expires.
   • To the best of our knowledge and interpretation of NIH guidance, our understanding is that Syracuse University remains eligible to apply in September 2022 for an October 2022 deadline. PIs should verify this information with a Program Officer from the Institute or Center to which they are applying.

If you have further questions, please direct questions to Stuart Taub, Director, Office of Sponsored programs at staub@syr.edu.

Federal agency guidance on current and pending (C&P) support is changing:

• NSF – further updated their current and pending support requirements for proposals submitted on or due, and awards made, on or after October 4, 2021.
• NIH – changes impact applications, Just-in-Time submissions, and Research Performance Progress Reports with due dates on or after January 25, 2022.
• Other Federal Agencies – Specific requirements for other agencies may differ. Check the program solicitation for requirements.

Current and Pending Support, also known as Other Support, is a form typically used by federal sponsors to request information for the PI(s) and Key Personnel’s current and pending research projects. Most federal agencies require Current & Pending Support documents to be submitted:

• • with the proposal or
  • just before an award is issued, and
  • if awarded, they may require any changes to be disclosed in progress reports.

When required, please remember to include ALL support including grants, and contracts from all non-U.S. and domestic sources, including internal Syracuse University project support (e.g., CUSE Grants). The format of this requirement varies by sponsor. It is the responsibility of the Investigator/Key Personnel to make sure that all research projects and affiliations are fully disclosed and that the document is completed in its entirety.

Recently the Federal Government has been placing additional scrutiny on foreign influence and the impact to federal research.  Please see the Foreign Influence in University Research page on the Office of Research website for additional guidance applicable to Syracuse University researchers. These government concerns around foreign influence have resulted in some federal agencies providing additional guidance on what needs to be included in Current and Pending/Other Support documents.  Guidance for the specific agencies can be found on the Other Support/Current & Pending Support  page of the Office of Sponsored Programs website.  This information will be updated as we learn of new requirements from federal agencies. If you have any questions related to Current and Pending Support being reported at the proposal or just-in-time stage or to report changes to Current and Pending Support at the award stage, please contact your OSP Research Administrator.

Reminders of NIH Policies on Other Support and on Policies related to Financial Conflicts of Interest and Foreign Components:

The intent of this notice is to remind the extramural community about the need to report foreign activities through documentation of other support, foreign components, and financial conflict of interest to prevent scientific, budgetary, or commitment overlap.

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-19-114.html

Please note this important message from NSF regarding upcoming changes to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections that go into effect for NSF proposals submitted or due, on or after October 5, 2020.

For additional guidance, please visit our NSF Updates page.

A new Third Party Engagement on Sponsored Programs form has been posted in the forms section of the Sponsored Programs website.  The purpose of this form is two-fold.  The first to assist in identifying the collaborative relationship and the second to comply with procurement policies requiring full and open competition.

When working with third party (external) collaborators on a sponsored project, determining the proper method of engagement (subrecipient/consultant/contractor/vendor) is determined by evaluating the type of work to be performed and the characteristics of the collaborating entity.   It is recommended that this determination be made at the proposal stage so that budgets can be prepared accurately.  Page 1 of the form will assist in this determination.

When a sponsored project with third party collaborators is awarded, a process is initiated to formalize the collaboration.  The process differs based on the subrecipient / consultant / contractor determination that is made.  However, justification related to the selection process is required for most third party relationships.  Requirements for Subrecipients and Consultants are included in Page 2 of the Third Party Engagement on Sponsored Programs form while requirements for Contractor/Vendors are managed by Purchasing.

The Office of Sponsored Programs ensures that Subrecipient and Consultant engagements are properly established and executed.  Therefore, both pages of the new Third Party Engagement on Sponsored Programs form must be submitted when requesting subawards or execution of consulting agreements on your awards.

Contact the Purchasing department for direction regarding requirements for Contractor / Vendors / Purchased Services relationships.

Effective July 1, 2019, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will no longer accept subrecipient invoices forwarded from parties other than the authorized financial representative of the subrecipient entity.  This change is being made to preserve an “arm’s length” relationship between Syracuse University and every subrecipient.  Moving in this direction will also increase efficiencies and transparency.

Invoices are to be submitted directly to the Subaward Administrator at subawardadmin@syr.edu.

Subrecipient invoices must:

• Be generated by the subrecipient entity’s financial system of record;
• Be formatted using the method consistent with the independent entity’s invoicing practices;
• Reflect charges that are approved and allowable under the terms of the subaward agreement;
• Itemize charges in a manner that is constant with the approved budget contained in the subaward agreement;
• Include only expenditures that are supported by detailed backup (i.e. receipts, payroll…). This backup must be made available on request.

The Office of Sponsored Programs is responsible for managing contractual and financial aspects of all collaborations involving subrecipients.  In order to improve efficiencies and minimize confusion, OSP will work directly with the personnel from each entity to insure that the relationship is properly communicated from the beginning of the project period.

OSP understands that failure to adequately monitor the compliance of subrecipients could result in damage to Syracuse University’s reputation, and has the potential to jeopardize current and future funding.  It is the responsibility of The Office of Sponsored Programs on behalf of Syracuse University, as the pass-through entity, to ensure the good stewardship of sponsored funding.

Further information can be found at Working with Subrecipients ‎

As announced in guide notice NOT-OD-19-015, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has changed its approach to how it uses the R15 activity code.  The current AREA Parent Announcement, PA-18-504, expires after January 7, 2019.

Research enhancement opportunities will now be split between two distinct programs:

1. Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) will be reserved for grants to undergraduate-focused institutions that do not receive substantial funding from NIH; and
2. Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) that will support graduate schools of arts and sciences and health professional schools that grant baccalaureate or advanced degrees.

As background, the goals of the R15 program are to support meritorious research, expose students to research, and strengthen the research environment of an institution.

It is important to note that each funding opportunity announcement includes detailed program-specific eligibility information that supersedes any general information listed here.

Eligibility for the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program for undergraduate-focused institutions requires that:

• The applicant institution must be an accredited public or non-profit private school that grants baccalaureate degrees in biomedical sciences.
• At the time of application submission, all the non-health professional components of the institution together have not received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 federal fiscal years.*
• A signed letter is required from the Provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility verifying the eligibility of the applicant institution at the time of application submission. The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will coordinate with the Office of the Provost to obtain the signed letter.

Organization eligibility for the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) program for graduate schools and health professional schools require that:

• The applicant organization must be an accredited public or non-profit private school that grants baccalaureate or advanced degrees in health professions or advanced degrees in biomedical and behavioral sciences.
• At the time of application submission, the applicant institution (all components) may not have received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 federal fiscal years.*
• A signed letter is required from the Provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility verifying the eligibility of the applicant institution at the time of application submission. The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will coordinate with the Office of the Provost to obtain the signed letter.

*For both AREA and REAP program eligibility, please note that all activity codes are included in the eligibility calculations except the following: C06, S10, and all activity codes starting with a G.

Syracuse University currently meets the eligibility requirements for both the AREA and REAP programs, however specific program announcements/solicitations from NIH institutes/centers may have additional requirements/limitations so it is important to ensure that you read these documents carefully. Questions regarding eligibility may also be directed to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

NIH will make the Project Outcomes Section of all Interim and Final Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) submitted on or after October 1, 2017 available to the general public via the NIH RePORTER. Please see notice NOT-OD-18-103 for the full details.

What You Need to Know

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is already up and running on Workspace and are ready to assist with you with the transition. As of January 1, 2018 Grants.gov Adobe Forms Applications will be officially replaced with the Grants.gov Workspace solution..

What You Need to Do

We recommend becoming more familiar with the features of Workspace with this overview presentation, which also provides live links to Grants.gov training resources.  Unlike the Adobe Forms Applications, for full multi-user access, Workspace requires that users register with Grants.gov first.  Please follow this step-by-step guidance to register in Grants.gov.

NIH & NSF Submissions?

At present we recommend that NIH proposals continue to be prepared and submitted using ASSIST, as it has some functionality that Workspace does not yet have.  We’ll reassess this over time and provide future updates on this.

NSF proposals should continue to utilize FASTLANE as their primary submission portal.

Questions?  Contact your OSP Research Administrator or call the OSP front desk at 315-443-2807 or email to ospoff@syr.edu.