The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) has been notified that Grants.gov is intermittently failing to validate SAM.gov registrations, triggering a false “inactive/deactivated” error that blocks proposal submission. USC’s SAM.gov registration is active and in good standing — this is a federal system issue, not a USC problem. Impact: Proposal submissions may be delayed minutes to several days […]
Announcements
Federal Grant Regulations May Change This Fall
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) — the federal rules governing the administration of grants and cooperative agreements. Released on May 29, 2026, the proposed rule could take effect as early as October 1, 2026. What Could Change? The revisions touch on how federal awards are issued, […]
NIH Reminder on the Definition of Foreign Components
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently released Notice NOT-OD-26-084 to remind the extramural research community of NIH’s longstanding definition of a “foreign component” and related disclosure expectations. Importantly, NIH clarified that the agency has not changed or expanded the definition of a foreign component, even as oversight of foreign collaborations continues to increase. Why This Matters NIH […]
NSF Announces New $1.5 Billion “X-Labs” Initiative
Announcement:The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a major new investment in the future of American science and technology through the launch of the NSF X-Labs initiative, a $1.5 billion effort over the next decade designed to accelerate breakthrough scientific innovation and strengthen U.S. competitiveness. According to NSF, X-Labs will support independent teams of researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs […]
NIH Foreign Subaward Policy Webinar by NCURA
The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) is hosting an upcoming webinar focused on the evolving NIH foreign subaward landscape and the operational impacts facing research institutions. “Navigating NIH Foreign Subaward Policy: Current State, Implications, and Best Practices” Date/Time: May 18, 2026 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET — Webinar Presentation 3:35 – 4:30 PM ET — “After the Show” […]
eRA Enhancement – Ability to Consolidate Multiple Accounts
Announcement: There is a release scheduled for May 18, 2026, that will enhance eRA Commons by allowing users to access the system with a single set of eRA credentials. This enhancement will allow users with multiple accounts to consolidate into a single account that can then be mapped to Login.gov. If you are an eRA Commons user with multiple […]