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Federal Research Updates

02/21/25 Letter from VP Patterson

02/21/25 The FSU administration is actively engaging with federal and state partners to share the potential impact of these developments on our university, the State of Florida, students, and all taxpayers. But we need your help. Here are a few ways you can amplify your work:

  • Share compelling stories of how your work has led to significant advancements, solved pressing problems, or improved lives. These narratives can be powerful tools in showcasing the value of our research and creativity. Our research communications team stands ready to help at rsch-communications@fsu.edu.
  • Foster collaborations with industry partners, not-for-profit organizations, and other academic institutions to broaden the reach and impact of your research.
  • Utilize social media, public lectures, and community events to share our messages with the public about the importance of research and its contributions to society and our economy. Please like and share FSU stories through your networks!

02/20/25 Letter from VP Patterson

02/11/25 NOT-AD-25-068 issued by NIH, as detailed below, placed a 15% cap on indirect costs. A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) has been placed on this action. Judge Angel Kelley of the federal district court of Massachusetts has paused this nationwide, writing the NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services and “their officers, employees, servants, agents, appointees, and successors are hereby enjoined from taking any steps to implement, apply, or enforce” the NIH cost-cutting” in any form with respect to institutions nationwide until further order is issued by this Court.”

The guidance below (dated 2/09/25) continues to apply. All funded research activities and proposal submissions, including those with the NIH, should continue per standard business procedures utilizing the budgeted and approved FSU indirect cost rates that have been approved by DHHS (unless an institutional waiver has been approved).

02/09/25 The National Institutes of Health NIH released NOT-OD-25-068 on Friday, which states that all new and existing NIH awards are subject to a 15% indirect cost, effective February 10, 2025. Full information on the implementation of this policy was not provided. Our team is awaiting further guidance from the NIH regarding the implementation of this change.  We will communicate as soon as possible regarding any changes. At this time, all funded research activities and proposal submissions, including those with the NIH, should continue per standard business procedures (with the budgeted and approved indirect cost rate) without interruption.

At this point, FSU administration is advising faculty to continue conducting grant-related activities for which funds have already been allocated, unless they are specifically advised that a project has been suspended or terminated. Federal agencies have issued notices to immediately cease all DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) activities.

Faculty should also exercise prudence in making additional financial commitments at this time, especially if a funded award appears to conflict with current administration priorities and executive orders.

If you receive any communications from your federal sponsor, please forward it to Kerry Peluso, Associate Vice President for Research Administration and Finance (kpeluso@fsu.edu). If you have questions regarding the research compliance requirements on your award, please contact Mary Sechrist (m.sechrist@fsu.edu).

Overview

Several Executive Orders have been issued recently (White House News), which reflect shifts in federal priorities. These changes could potentially impact both awarded projects and those awaiting funding from federal agencies or sponsors.

As federal agencies and sponsors adapt to these developments, FSU’s Office of Research will continue to provide you with guidance, updates, and links to relevant resources to help you navigate this evolving landscape.  If you receive information that isn’t already on this page, please forward it to Kerry Peluso, Associate Vice President for Research Administration and Finance (kpeluso@fsu.edu) for inclusion.

Proposals

  • Proposals will continue to be submitted under FSU’s existing processes and procedures.
  • Sponsor proposal review timelines may be extended while federal agencies navigate pauses on federal assistance funding in specific areas.
  • Pre-award spending is not recommended at this time. Requests for Advance Accounts will require additional reviews and may not be approved.

What to Do:

  • There may be changes to proposal deadlines. It is recommended to reconfirm the deadline and program dates.
  • Reconfirm that the funding announcement has not been revised, postponed, or removed. If available, consider signing up for alerts from the federal agency or sponsor.
  • Expect DEIA-related aspects to be removed from solicitations.

Awards

  • The terms and conditions of your executed award remain enforceable so long as your award is active.  This includes the ability to invoice and receive reimbursement.  Please continue with business as usual.   If there is a change to your award, FSU will receive an amendment for review and execution.
  • We anticipate possible changes to research compliance requirements. These changes could either be implemented directly by a federal agency or sponsor or may require an amendment on a project-by-project basis. We will share any information we receive with you, though you may also receive instructions directly from your Program Officer. It is crucial to act swiftly to ensure compliance with any new requirements, as failure to do so could jeopardize funding.
  • We anticipate updates to award reporting requirements. These changes could either be implemented directly by a federal agency or sponsor or may require an amendment on a project-by-project basis. We will share any information we receive with you, though you may also receive instructions directly from your Program Officer.  It is crucial to act swiftly to ensure you comply with any new reporting requirements, as failure to do so could jeopardize funding. If you need assistance managing any requests, please contact yourGrants Officer in SRA.
  • Delays or pauses in payments for existing grants are anticipated.
  • Federal agencies have issued notices to immediately cease all DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) activities. These include training, reporting, staffing-related, and other activities. If you are unsure if this would apply to your activities, please contact Kerry Peluso, Associate Vice President for Research Administration and Finance to discuss.

What to Do:

  • Review your Grant Award: Ensure you understand the terms, especially clauses related to funding availability and reimbursement.
  • Cease any DEIA activities (per note above).
  • Funds budgeted for DEIA activities should remain unspent and NOT be rebudgeted to other areas.
  • Monitor spending on your projects: Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations. Anticipated future funding remains subject to the availability of funds and should not be considered guaranteed. All pre-award spending on existing advance accounts should be kept to a minimum (ensuring that the requirements of the project continue to be met and the project is not negatively impacted.
  • Communicate with your Program Officer: Stay in touch with your program officer to confirm no changes affect your award. If you receive guidance from your program officer or sponsor regarding the status of your award or continued funding, please forward it to Kerry Peluso, Associate Vice President for Research Administration and Finance (kpeluso@fsu.edu). If you have questions regarding the research compliance requirements on your award, please contact Mary Sechrist (sechrist@fsu.edu).
  • Monitor due dates: Ensure reports and deliverables are addressed in a timely manner. Prioritize the submission of any technical reports or deliverables that may be past due.
  • Regarding travel, federal agencies may place additional restrictions on travel. At this point, if travel has been budgeted, booked, and is necessary, it is fine to proceed. Any future travel that is not critical should be refrained from until additional guidance is provided.
  • Monitor Policy Updates: Keep an eye on announcements from the federal agency overseeing your grant for any updates on funding or compliance requirements.
  • Monitor communications from OVPR (Office of the Vice President for Research) and SRA (Sponsored Research Administration): Closely monitor your emails and this dedicated page for Federal Research Updates for any communications regarding updates and changes.
  • When engaging in procurement activities for federally funded projects, please consider the following:
    • If federal funding has not been obligated to FSU to pay for the procurement, consider postponing or canceling the procurement until the required funds are awarded.
    • If a procurement is in process, review the terms and conditions of the agreement for cancellation provisions and upcoming payment milestones.

Previous Updates and Other Resources

Last Updated: Friday, February 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM