The Department of Contracts and Grants extends its heartfelt thoughts to our USC community members affected by the recent fires. We recognize the challenges you may be facing and want to ensure you have access to the necessary resources and support to navigate disruptions to your sponsored research activities.
Several federal funding agencies have established policies to address the impact of natural disasters on grant proposals. Below, we’ve highlighted key guidance from major sponsors to assist you during this time:
NIH Policy on Proposals Impacted by Natural Disasters
NIH offers flexibility for late submissions due to natural disasters, provided the reason for the delay is clearly documented. Learn more about their policies here:
NIH Guidance on Natural Disasters
NSF Guidance for Proposals Impacted by Natural Disasters
The NSF emphasizes flexibility in proposal deadlines when delays are caused by natural disasters. Detailed guidance can be found here:
Other Federal Sponsors
Similar to NIH and NSF, most federal sponsoring agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), provide accommodations for proposal delays due to natural disasters. These agencies generally require that the circumstances leading to the delay be clearly documented in the submission.
What You Should Do
If your proposal or award management activities have been impacted by the recent fires or other natural disasters, we encourage you to contact your DCG Officer as soon as possible. Our team is here to guide you through the process and assist in communicating with sponsoring agencies to ensure your proposal or award remains on track.
Please know that DCG is committed to supporting you during this challenging time. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.