DCG NewsFlash
The DCG listserv sends messages to University faculty and staff with important research administration updates and tips. To subscribe to our mailing list, please send an email to Congelli@usc.edu with the subject line “Subscribe to DCG Listserv”.
Latest Updates
NIH Postpones NIH Common Forms Implementation
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is adopting the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form in alignment with the White
Judge Issues Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Blocking NIH Guidance Imposing 15% Cap on F&A Costs
Today, a federal judge, Angel Kelley, issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from enforcing a new guideline, which
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities (Weekly Email)
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This Week’s Announcements: New Nominations New
Research & Appropriations Working Group – February 2025 Memo
Please see the attached memo from Robbie Llewellyn, Director of Federal Relations and Tyler Aguilar, Senior Executive Director of State Relations. Topics covered in the
Executive Order: Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative
President Trump’s recent executive order introduces measures aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in federal spending, particularly concerning research awards. The key points impacting research funding
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against OMB Funding Freeze
Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against OMB Funding Freeze On February 26, the D.C. District Court issued a Preliminary Injunction in National Council of Nonprofits v.
Important Legal Update on Recent Executive Orders
On Friday, February 21, the Maryland District Court issued a preliminary injunction in Nat’l Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, temporarily blocking
Update – Lawsuit Against NIH F&A Cap
A federal judge has extended the temporary block on the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) plan to reduce F&A payments to universities to 15%. Judge Angel
NSF’s Implementation of Executive Orders
In reviewing the recently released website discussing NSF’s implementation of the Executive Orders, here are some key takeaways that NSF researchers should be aware of: Panels
New NSF Webpage Regarding Recent Executive Orders
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has introduced a new webpage to keep the research community informed about recent executive orders and how they are being implemented
Important Update on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Funding
Earlier today, NIH leadership issued a memo authorizing staff to resume issuing new and continuing grants under current funding policies, including previously approved negotiated indirect cost
No-Cost Extensions on NIH Awards (Restored)
The ERA Commons functionality for submitting a first-time No-Cost Extension (NCE) on National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards—allowing USC to extend the project period by
Temporary Restraining Order Issued Blocking NIH 15% Cap on Indirect Costs
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from enforcing a 15% cap on indirect costs for
Grants Management Dashboards for Principal Investigators and Research Administrators (Workday)
The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new feature in Workday’s Grants Management Dashboards – designed specifically
NIH Update from Ishwar Puri, SVP, Research & Innovation
Dear Colleagues, We understand that the new guidance (NOT-OD-25-068) issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday has caused concern across the research
NIH Releases Supplemental Guidance on Indirect Cost Rates
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates, which introduces significant changes
Exciting New Feature Coming Soon to WorkDay (PI and RA Dashboards!)
The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is happy to announce an upcoming enhancement to the WorkDay PI and RA dashboards that will provide a
NASA Issues Directive on Executive Order Compliance
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has issued a directive (attached) to NASA staff outlining compliance measures for the Executive Order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology
Important Message for HRSA Award Recipients
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued an official update stating that HRSA grant funds may no longer be used for activities that
January 2025 Research & Appropriations Memo
The research landscape is evolving, and staying informed is more important than ever. University Relations is committed to keeping the USC research community updated on
NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued agency-wide guidance in response to recent executive orders, which can be found at whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions. Key points from the guidance
OMB Rescinds Pause on Federal Grants, Loans, and other Financial Assistance
This morning, the Office of Management and Budget rescinded the order freezing federal grants. Attached is the official communication to executive departments and federal agencies.
Recent Federal Directives – Pre/Post-Award Guidance and a New Webpage Resource
As federal agencies and sponsors respond to recent Executive Orders, USC’s Office of Research and Innovation (OORI) remains dedicated to providing timely guidance, updates, and
Pause on Financial Assistance Programs Blocked by Federal Judge
A federal judge has paused the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive that called for a temporary freeze on financial assistance programs. The ruling
OMB Clarification Regarding Federal Funding Pause
The Office of Management & Budget (OMB) issued a clarification regarding yesterday’s communication requesting that agencies temporarily pause, to the extent permitted by law, grant,
Communication from the Acting Director to NIH Staff
In a recent communication to NIH staff, the Acting Director of NIH emphasized their commitment to ensuring the continuity of critical biomedical research during the
Summary of OMB Memo M-25-13: Temporary Pause on Financial Assistance Programs
Attached is the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum (M-25-13) issued on January 27, 2025, regarding a temporary pause on Federal financial assistance programs.
Immediate Impact of New Executive Order on NASA Research Agreements
Consistent with the recent Executive Order titled “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” issued on January 20, 2025, NASA has released the attached memorandum
2025 Administration Transition Updates & COGR Resources
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is actively monitoring the impact of recent executive actions by the Trump Administration on federally funded research and has developed
Association of American Medical Colleges Responds to Recent HHS Communication
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has shared a communication with its members offering additional context regarding the HHS Directive. The AAMC notes that
Recent Federal Directives Impacting DHHS and DOE
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) recently issued agency-wide directives which may impact federal funding. Below is a summary
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities (Weekly Email)
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. Please note that the Packard Fellowships
NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy Update
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated its security standards in its NIH Security Best Practices for Controlled-Access Data Subject to the NIH Genomic
OORI Proposal Submission Deadline Dates Extended To March
*** Please see the below memo from Ishwar K. Puri – Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation.*** Dear Colleagues, Given the severe difficulties many in
Grant Submission Deadlines and Natural Disasters
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
Zumberge Proposal Submission Extension
Dear Colleagues, We hope this message finds you safe and well. We are aware that these events have created significant disruptions for many of you.
Reminder – NSF Biographical Sketch Requirements
Reminder: The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) recently released a valuable YouTube video covering the NSF Biographical Sketch Requirements. This informative resource provides
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities (Weekly Email)
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This Week’s Announcements: New Nominations New
Winter Break 2024
The Department of Contracts and Grants would like to wish you and your families a Happy Holiday season. To prepare for the University’s Winter Recess, below
USC Issues Updated COI in Research Policy
Announcement: The USC Office of Ethics Culture and Compliance (OCEC) has issued a revised COI in Research policy and supplemented procedures that are now effective. While
Happy Thanksgiving from DCG!
Dear USC Researchers and Research Administrators, As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) would like to take a moment
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities (Weekly Email)
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This Week’s Announcements: New Nominations New
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities (Weekly Email)
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This Week’s Announcements: New Nominations New
New Webinar on NIH Grants Process
Announcement: The NIH Center for Scientific Review along with the NIH Office of Extramural Research will be hosting an upcoming webinar, titled “NIH Grants Process Primer:
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This Week’s Announcements: New Nominations New
Pre-Award Training Date and Time Change
Announcement: The scheduled Pre-Award Training, “A Walk-Through Cayuse SP and the Proposal Process”, initially set for today at 3:00 pm, has been rescheduled. We invite you to
Mandatory Multifactor Authentication for Research.gov Sign-in Effective on 10/27
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently issued Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 25-011) to notify the research community about the mandatory use of multifactor authentication (MFA) for Research.gov sign-in effective
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. This week’s announcements: New Nominations
Implementation of the Chips & Sciences Act 2022 and Guidance on Malign Foreign Talent Programs
Announcement: The Chips & Science Act of 2022 prohibits participation in any foreign talent recruitment program by personnel of Federal research agencies and prohibits participation in a malign
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly digest of new limited submissions and time-sensitive opportunities. Note that the very popular Mathers
Office of Research & Innovation – Monthly Newsletter (September 2024)
Office of Research & Innovation MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2024 Dear Colleagues, To enhance your impact through pilot projects that can be later leveraged to obtain external
Upcoming Changes to Uniform Guidance 2CFR200 (Effective October 1, 2024)
Announcement: In preparation for the implementation of OMB’s October 1, 2024, revision (“2024 Revisions”) to the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance; Final Rule –
NASA Policy Update (Grant Notice 24-01 )
Announcement: NASA Grants Policy and Compliance has published Grant Notice 24-01, informing NASA grant and cooperative agreement recipients and applicants about upcoming changes to NASA’s grant
Updates to NSF Award Terms and Conditions
Announcement: USC researchers and administrative staff should be aware of updates to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Award Terms and Conditions, effective October 1, 2024.
Training for USC Research Administrators
Reminder: The Department of Contracts & Grants offers a valuable training resource for administrative and support staff at the program, department, or dean’s office level. The Cardinal
Office of Research & Innovation – Monthly Newsletter (August 2024)
*** Please see the below Monthly Newsletter from the Office of Research & Innovation.*** Office of Research & Innovation MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2024 Dear Colleagues, I
eRA Information – Automated Email Notification Asking for Just-in-Time Information to be Retired
Announcement: The automated email sent by eRA requesting Just-in-Time information for an application will be retired on October 1, 2024. This email is sent from era-notify@mail.nih.gov for
Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities
* Please see the below Newsletter from the Office of Research Initiatives and Infrastructure.* Institutionally Limited & Time-Sensitive Opportunities Greetings, Please see below our weekly
NIH Issues New Centralized Resource of Policies and Practices for Promoting Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health has issued a new resource to assist the research community in understanding how NIH policies guide artificial intelligence (AI)-related research.
Discontinued Enterprise Licenses
Office of Research and Innovation Dear Research Administrators, Please inform your faculty, students and postdocs of the information below. I very much appreciate any assistance
Research Administration Education Series (Hosted by The Office of Research and Innovation)
Announcement: As mentioned in the most recent Office of Research and Innovation Newsletter, a new Research Administration Education Series has been announced. The program is designed
Office of Research and Innovation – Monthly Newsletter (May 2024)
Office of Research and Innovation MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – MAY 2024 Dear Colleagues, You inspire me every day through your contributions that enhance our impact as
Introducing the NEW DCG Website!
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants is pleased to announce the launch of our new DCG website! The website has been redesigned with user
Updated F&A Rate Agreement
Announcement: The University has negotiated a new Federal Rate Agreement. The new rates can be found below and on DCG’s Rates at a Glance page. F&A
Summary of Changes in the New NSF PAPPG (Training Video and Slides)
Announcement: As mentioned previously, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the new PAPPG (24-1) will be effective for all proposals due on or after
Independence Day Closure
Announcement: In observance of Independence Day, The Department of Contracts and Grants, consistent with the University calendar, will be closed on the following dates: Principal
Reporting Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan Activities in the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health(NIH) is informing the extramural research community of planned changes to the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) instructions to address the
NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Training Update
Update: In light of USC Commencement, the NSF PAPPG training session mentioned in the below NewsFlash has been moved to: We hope you can join
NSF’s Implementation of the NSTC-Approved Common Forms
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the NSTC-approved Common Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support which are
Research Lifecycle Compliance Guidance
Announcement: The USC Office of Culture, Ethics and Compliance is excited to announce the publication of its Research Lifecycle Compliance Guidance one-sheet library. Each one-sheet provides
Changes Coming to NIH Applications and Peer Review in January 2025
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health(NIH) will be implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted to NIH
Office of Research & Innovation Monthly Newsletter (March 2024)
Office of Research & Innovation MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2024 Dear Colleagues, April is Earth Month, a time to celebrate USC researchers who do so
PI Eligibility Waiver Process Update
Reminder: Consistent with the USC Guide to Sponsored Research, all tenured, tenure track, and Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical (RTPC) faculty (with the exception of
Revision of NSF Award Terms and Conditions
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the following sets of NSF Award Terms and Conditions have been revised: The revised award terms and conditions
Revised NSF Grants.gov Application Guide
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a revised version of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (NSF 24-006). Overall, the guide has been updated to align
NIH eRA Commons – Improved Visual Appearance in Modules
Announcement: Over the next few months, several eRA Commons modules and screens will be moving to an improved visual appearance being adopted by other eRA modules.
Increase to NIH Salary Cap (FY 2024)
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health(NIH) recently released a notice regarding the salary limitation for NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards and extramural research and development contract
Updated Information for Identification and Management of Research Services Agreements
Update: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG), in collaboration with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) has updated the DCG Website to include new guidance on
NIH Final Updated Policy Guidance for Subaward/Consortium Written Agreements
Update: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have begun to implement new requirements for outgoing subawards, effective January 1st as set forth in NOT-OD-23-182. The new
Reminder of eRA Commons ID Requirement for All Personnel on the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile Form
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a reminder and updated guidance to the requirement for eRA Commons IDs for all Senior/Key Personnel. An
Updated Subaward Certification Form
Update: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG), in collaboration with the Office of Ethics, Culture and Compliance has updated the Subaward Certification Form to address
Updated Unobligated Balance Transfer Form
Update: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG), in collaboration with Sponsored Projects Accounting (SPA), has updated the Unobligated Balance Transfer Form to collect information consistent
Thanksgiving & Winter Break 2023
The Department of Contracts and Grants would like to wish you and your families a Happy Holiday season. To prepare for the Holiday season and
Grants.gov Scheduled Maintenance Outage (IMPORTANT UPDATE)
Announcement: In a previous NewsFlash, it was noted that for the below upcoming scheduled downtime for Grants.gov, Cayuse S2S users would still be able to
Grants.gov Scheduled Maintenance Outage
Announcement: The Grants.gov Program Management Office (PMO) schedules system-wide software releases to bring users new features and fixes. During these releases, downtime is scheduled to
NIH eRA Enhancements – New Look Coming to xTRACT
Announcement: On Monday, October 16, 2023, the Extramural Trainee Reporting and Career Tracking (xTRACT) module within eRA Commons will begin to feature refreshed screens and new
NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution
Announcement: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), operates under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (Public
NIH Guide Notice-Prior Approval Requests for Revisions to an Approved DMS Plan
Reminder: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that any changes to an approved Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) (for funded awards subject to the Final NIH
Potential Government Shutdown
Announcement: Negotiations continue as Congress works to pass a budget by the close of the federal fiscal year on September 30, 2023. If Congress fails to
NIH Subaward Requirements (Webinar)
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced an upcoming online webinar on the topic of NIH Subaward Requirements (Domestic and Foreign). Join experts from the
Crash Course in NIH Grants Fundamentals
Announcement: Are you new to the world of NIH grants or looking for a refresher? The National Institutes of Health has curated a playlist of YouTube videos
Critical NSF System-Related Deadlines
Announcement: Please review the following system-related critical deadline dates in relation to FastLane, Research.gov, and Grants.gov for NSF proposals. FastLane September 29th Deadlines Research.gov and
Reviewing Writing Samples
Reminder: If you are new to writing grant applications, sometimes seeing how someone else has presented their idea can help as you are developing your own
New NSF Mandate for Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
Please see the attached memo from Ishwar K. Puri, Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation ******************************************************************************** I am writing to inform you of new requirements
NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Pilot Update
Announcement: In October 2020, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a new Policy for Data Management and Sharing, effective January 25, 2023. The new policy requires
New Version of diSClose Released
Announcement: A new version of diSClose is now live and can be accessed on the usual website: https://disclose.usc.edu/. The new system is similar to the previous system
Updated ClinicalTrials.gov Website
Announcement: The ClinicalTrials.gov website has been modernized with an updated design that is more visually appealing and easy to read. This new design includes simple web components,
Responsible Units for Handling Different Types of Agreements
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants is pleased to announce that the Responsible Units for Handling Different Types of Agreements Matrix has been updated. The
NIH Human Subjects, Clinical Trials, and Inclusion Resources
Announcement: Does your PI work with human subjects? If so, the National Institutes of Health’s Division of Human Subjects Research recently put together a handy one-page resource to help researchers find
Dataset Metadata Auto-Population in NSF In-Progress Project Reports
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently incorporated system enhancements to the Project Reports module in Research.gov to enable the auto-population of dataset metadata submitted to the
Recent NIH Guide Notices
Announcement: Please see the below summary of recent NIH Guide Notices. NHLBI Supplement to the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (NOT-HL-23-070) National Heart,
FAQs On Proposal Preparation and Award Administration Related to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On Proposal Preparation and Award Administration Related to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies
Closing Proposals in Cayuse SP
Reminder: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) has the ability to close erroneously created proposals in Cayuse SP. If you find that you have
Proposal Linking Guide for Cayuse SP
Reminder: Now that all proposals have been converted from KC to Cayuse SP, you can now create proposals that are: Not Related to a proposal or
USC Research and Innovation Workshop
Want to learn about new internal funding opportunities supporting a diverse range of research areas, scholarship, and artistic and cultural expression at USC? The USC Research and
Cayuse SP Proposal Email Notifications
Announcement: Have you ever wondered which Cayuse SP actions trigger email notifications? Below are some of the email triggers and notifications that get generated when routing
Important Reminder on How to Create a Proposal in Cayuse SP
The first day working in our new proposal and award management system, Cayuse SP, was a success! We had over 200 users log into SP
Cayuse S2S and SP Resource Guide
Announcement: Do you prepare and submit Grants.gov proposals via Cayuse S2S? If so, starting March 1st, you will be able to create and link a Cayuse
Cayuse SP is Now Live!
Announcement: Cayuse SP is now live! You can now log into the University’s new proposal and award management system, Cayuse SP and: Create a proposal. Route
Reference Guides – How to Link an IACUC/IRB Protocol to a Cayuse SP Proposal or Award
Announcement: For IRB and IACUC studies funded by a Cayuse SP proposal/award, users will be asked to link their iStar application to the associated Cayuse
Cayuse SP Quick Guide for Principal Investigators
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is committed to supporting Principal Investigators in the transition from Kuali Coeus to Cayuse SP. Attached is
Updated F&A Rate Agreement
Announcement: The University has negotiated a new Federal Rate Agreement. Effective February 8, 2023: The University’s current F&A rates have been extended through June 30,
Cayuse SP Post Go-Live Support
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is committed to supporting the research community as we transition to Cayuse SP. Below are post go-live contacts
Don’t Forget to Take the “Preparing Proposals in Cayuse Sponsored Projects (SP)” Training Course
Announcement: To facilitate your transition from using Kuali Coeus (KC) to prepare proposals to the new Cayuse SP, please take the online training module “Preparing
Important Cayuse SP Cutover Dates
Announcement: To facilitate a smooth transition from Kuali Coeus (KC) to Cayuse SP, please note the important dates: Please note: Cayuse S2S for grants.gov
PHS Assignment Request Form in Grant Applications
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health is encouraging the use of the Public Health Service (PHS) assignment request form when putting together grant applications. This form
Release of a Cayuse SP Frequently Asked Questions Web Page
Announcement: In addition to the below Cayuse training resources, the Department of Contracts and Grants has released a Cayuse SP Frequently Asked Questions webpage. The
Implementation of the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing
Announcement: Today, January 25, 2023, marks the implementation date for the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (DMS Policy). As such, for all
Issuance of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide
Announcement: NSF has published a revised version of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (NSF 23-006). Overall, the Guide has been updated to align with the
Increase to NIH Salary Cap FY 2023
Announcement: NIH recently released a Notice regarding the salary limitation for NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards and extramural research and development contract awards. The
Upcoming Release of Cayuse SP
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants is excited to announce the upcoming release of Cayuse Sponsored Projects (SP). On February 28, 2023, Cayuse
Salary Limitation on AHRQ FY2023 Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Contracts
Announcement: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a Notice regarding salary cap limitations imposed for Fiscal Year 2023. Effective January 1,
Revision of NSF Award Terms and Conditions
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the following sets of NSF Award Terms and Conditions have been revised: NSF Agency Specific Requirements to the Research
Winter Break 2022
The Department of Contracts and Grants would like to wish you and your families a Happy Holiday season. To prepare for the Holiday season and
An Introduction to Cayuse Sponsored Projects
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants is excited to announce the launch of Cayuse Sponsored Projects (SP) training materials. Cayuse SP is slated to replace Kuali Coeus (KC)
DCG NewsFlash: Updates to Cayuse 424 Proposals and Kuali Coeus
Reminder: As mentioned previously, USC’s current Cayuse 424 platform underwent a major update this week in preparation for the transition to Cayuse SP, the university’s forthcoming grants
Issuance of NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 23-1)
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 23-1) has been issued. The
Cayuse 424 Modernization & Downtime (Monday – 10/24)
Announcement: Please be advised that USC’s current Cayuse 424 platform will be undergoing a major update Monday, October 24. As a result, the Cayuse 424 system will be
Grants.gov Downtime Impacts September 22-30 Application Due Dates
Reminder: As indicated in an earlier NewsFlash, Grants.gov services will go offline this Friday, September 23, and are planned to remain unavailable through Thursday, September 29. To
Grants.gov Extended Downtime for September 2022
Announcement: Grants.gov will be unavailable for an extended period due to a planned cloud migration. The Grants.gov Production System will be offline during the following period: Production System will
Periodic Reminder of Reporting Requirement for NASA Funding Recipients
Reminder: Each year, NASA awards more than $3 billion in Federal financial assistance to hundreds of recipient institutions. NASA is committed to promoting safe, productive research
NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) Program
Please see the important message below regarding the upcoming NSF Engines Proposal Submission. **************************************************************************************** USC’s Office of Research has been coordinating a USC-led proposal that
Research-Related Travel Sponsored by the State of California
Reminder: In 2016, the California legislature passed a bill called AB 1887 that went into effect on January 1, 2017. Under this legislation, the State of
NIH to Host Two Webinars on Data Management
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy (OSP) and the Office of Extramural Research (OER) will be hosting two online webinars that will focus
New DOE Requirement for Annual Financial Interest Disclosure
Announcement: The Department of Energy (DOE) requires that all investigators on DOE funded projects submit an annual disclosure of significant financial interests related to their USC
Updated F&A Rate Agreement
Announcement: The University has negotiated a new Federal Rate Agreement. The latest agreement can be found on DCG’s Rates at a Glance page. Please begin utilizing the new rate agreement in
Updated Fringe Benefit Rates
Announcement: The University has received updated federal and non-federal post-doc fringe benefit rates (highlighted below). Please begin using the new federal fringe rates in proposals to
Action Required for In-Progress RPPR Budget Forms By or Before June 22
Announcement: The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) module in eRA Commons is moving June 23 to the new visual appearance of other eRA modules. This is
New Office of Research Zumberge Seed Grant Program
Announcement: The Office of Research is proud to announce the launching of a new Zumberge grant program! The Zumberge Research Coordination & Team Building (RCTB) award provides opportunities to foster
New Research.gov Proposal Preparation Functionality and NSF-PAR Enhancements
Announcement: We are excited to share the latest Research.gov proposal preparation functionality updates, along with information about NSF Public Access Repository (NSF-PAR) enhancements. As mentioned in
NSF Research.gov Memo
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently shared an article entitled NSF Research.gov Proposal Submission System: Modern, Agile and Tailored. The article discusses useful webinars and demonstrations as
Updated NSF Pre-Award and Post-Award Disclosures Table and Current and Pending Support FAQs
Update: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued an updated version of the table entitled NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending
Updated F&A Rate Agreement
Announcement: The University has negotiated a new Federal Rate Agreement, effective March 9, 2022. The latest agreement can be found on DCG’s Rates at a Glance page and adjusts the FY22 fringe benefit
Research.gov for Preparation and Submission of Proposals in Response to Program Descriptions
Announcement: NSF will now start requiring the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals in response to program descriptions. FastLane is targeted to
Ability for Users to Consolidate Multiple Commons Accounts in eRA Commons
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that for eRA Commons users who have multiple accounts, a solution is coming soon that will allow you
New Department of Contracts and Grants Website!
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is happy to announce the launch of our new website! Found at dcg.usc.edu, the updated website contains new materials
Increase to NIH Salary Cap
Announcement: Since 1990, Congress has legislatively mandated a limitation on direct salary for individuals under NIH awards. The mandate appears in the annual appropriation act that
Updated NSF Pre-Award and Post-Award Disclosure Table
Update: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued an updated version of the table entitled NSF Pre-Award and Post-Award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and
Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS)
Announcement: On December 17, 2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a revised Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS) that represents an update to the April 2021 version
Revision of NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CAFATC)
Update: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) have been updated with additional information regarding NSF’s enforcement of Article 56,
Research Training Finder
Please see the below memo from the Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance.********************************************************************* Dear Colleagues, The Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance (OCEC) is collecting data on the use
Amazon Web Services Outage Impacting Cayuse Applications
Announcement: Please be aware that Amazon Web Services suffered a major outage this morning. As a result, some federal web applications, including eRA Commons, have been affected. So
Update to Cayuse 424 Tonight at 5 p.m. (Workday Cost Centers Added)
Announcement: Today at 5pm, Cayuse 424 will convert Organizational Unit Codes to Workday Cost Centers. The update is in response to the implementation of Workday Financials and
Winter Recess (Office Closure)
The Department of Contracts and Grants would like to wish you and your families a Happy Holiday season. To prepare for the Holiday season and
Enhancements to the Research.gov Proposal Submission System, NSF Public Access Repository, and NSF.gov Award Search
Announcement: Effective November 22, 2021, the National Science Foundation (NSF) enhanced the Research.gov Proposal Submission System, NSF Public Access Repository, and NSF.gov Award Search. Below is
Enhanced Checks for Compliance with Clinical Trial Registration and Reporting in RPPR
Announcement: Enhanced checks on non-compliance with clinical trial registration and reporting came into effect in eRA’s Human Subjects System on October 1 that could delay your
Revision of NSF Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CAFATC)
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the Cooperative Agreement Financial and Administrative Terms and Conditions (CA-FATC) have been updated to implement Executive Order 14042,
Announcement of Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) began providing childcare cost support to recipients of full-time National Research Service Awards (NRSA) fellowships this past April. The NIH
New Proposal and Submission Types and System Enhancements to Support the Revised PAPPG (NSF 22-1)
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) released New Proposal and Submission Types and System Enhancements to Support the Revised Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide
Reminder of COVID-19-Related Flexibilities for NIH Grants
Reminder: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a long list of flexibilities to support the research community in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The
Revision of NSF Award Terms and Conditions
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the following sets of NSF Award Terms and Conditions have been revised: NSF Agency Specific Requirements to the
Issuance of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a revisedversion of the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide (NSF 21-084). Overall, the Guide hasbeen updated to align
IMAGINE Finance Transformation: What’s Changing for Faculty
Please see the below important information sent to all faculty regarding the upcoming Workday Financials implementation. Workday Financials is replacing Kuali Financials on July 6,
Issuance of NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (NSF 22-1)
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that a revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 22-1)
Transition from Kuali Coeus (KC) to Cayuse Sponsored Projects (SP) Postponed
Announcement: Please see the below important message from the IMAGINE Team regarding the Cayuse SP implementation. After a thoughtful and thorough review of the schedule,
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Replacing DUNS
Announcement: The federal government is transitioning from using the DUNS number to a “Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)”. The University of Southern California’s UEI has
DCG Training Program Update
Announcement: The Department of Contracts & Grants will be updating The Cardinal & Gold Curriculum and Grants Management Training for Staff program this Friday, September
Voiding Old Proposal Records in Kuali Coeus
Announcement: In preparation for the migration of proposal records from Kuali Coeus (KC) to Cayuse SP, all non-routed proposal development documents that were created from
Cayuse SP Website and Pre-Award Training Materials
Announcement: To support the transition to Cayuse SP, the Department of Contracts and Grants is excited to announce the release of our Cayuse SP Resources
Effort Certification Schedule
Announcement: Please see the below memo from the Office of Financial Analysis. Good afternoon, As you are aware, the University is moving away from
Contract Responsibilities for Handling Agreements
USC Offices Responsible for Handling Agreements with Industry and Other Collaborators The following table provides a description of the most common types of agreements entered
Bayh-Dole Act Obligations for Universities
Importance of reporting inventions in sufficient time to permit the filing of patent applications prior to U.S. or foreign statutory bars. USC has a long
Postdoc Mentoring Narrative for NSF Proposals
Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars at USC Text for use in NSF proposals December, 2011 Rationale For grant proposals that include funding to support postdoctoral researchers, the
Creating a BioSketch in SciENcv
Federal Regulatory Checks 1. Create Your Account in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) System: Go to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/ Register with either your USC or
Minimum Salary for Postdoctoral Scholars
Effective January 1, 2020, the State of California’s minimum salary increased to $54,080 annually. The California minimum salary will continue to increase in 2021 and
An Introduction to Cayuse SP
Announcement: As July 1st approaches, the Department of Contracts and Grants is excited to announce the release of our first training video introducing Cayuse Sponsored
Late Proposals
Announcement: Last minute and same-day proposal submissions do not allow enough lead time to conduct a proper review of proposals and can jeopardize the ability
Trojan Learn Technical Update
Announcement: In the past year, web browsers have taken an aggressive stance on protecting web browsing privacy and reducing security threats. Unfortunately, this has
IMAGINE Virtual Conference Sessions
Reminder: The IMAGINE Virtual Conference is next week! The conference is a direct response to feedback from the USC finance community and an opportunity to
Increase to NIH Salary Cap (2021)
Announcement: Since 1990, Congress has legislatively mandated a limitation on direct salary for individuals under NIH awards. The mandate appears in the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
Research Grant Application Deadlines (2021)
Announcement: Please see the below important message from the IMAGINE Team regarding the Cayuse SP implementation. After a thoughtful and thorough review of the schedule,
Transition Early to Use of Login.gov to Access eRA Commons, ASSIST, IAR and Commons Mobile
Announcement: Login.gov will serve as the single-entry point to The Department of Health & Human Services four different grants systems: eRA (Electronic Research Administration),
Winter Recess
UPDATE:The below Newsflash has been updated to reflect the additional week of Winter Recess announced yesterday by President Folt. The Department of Contracts and Grants
New Submission Requirements for DoD-funded Journal Articles
Announcement: On August 19, 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued an update to the DoD Grants and Agreements Regulations (DoDGARs), 2 CFR Section 1134.140.
DCG Customer Service Feedback
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) is pleased to announce the release of a new Feedback Form that allows faculty and research administrators
eRA Enhancement: Automated Trainee Diversity Report Required
Announcement: Submitting a Trainee Diversity Report with the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) has long been required by NIH for institutional training and career development
Reminder: Using the Negotiation Module in Kuali Coeus
Reminder: The Negotiation Module in Kuali Coeus (KC) serves as a valuable reference tool for Principal Investigators and Research Administrators to view the status of
NSF Updates to the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)
Announcement: Effective October 5, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will enhance the Project Reporting System in Research.gov to implement the revised Research Performance Progress
NIH Encourages SOs to Review the Accuracy of Grant Information
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health NIH is encouraging signing officials from recipient organizations to verify the accuracy of their grant assignments to departments or
Research.gov Implementation Update
Please see the below memo from Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, National Science Foundation. “The National Science Foundation (NSF) has been at the forefront in the
Enforcement of NSF-Approved Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats
Announcement: Effective October 5, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will begin enforcing the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) requirement
eRA Enhancement – Ability to Select Awarded Components on RPPR Screen
Announcement: eRA has announced a new way of selecting components for multi-project awards for the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR), coming Thursday, September 3, 2020.
NSF Issuance of Proposal Preparation & Award Administration FAQ
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the issuance of a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to NSF Proposal & Award Policies
Additional Foreign Collaboration Certifications and Questions Added to KC Proposal
USC is engaged in far-reaching, global research and learning programs and recognizes the importance of these international collaborations. As research and learning programs are becoming
Updates to Existing NSF Proposal & Award Policy-Related Guidance
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made updates to the following guidance on the NSF website based on inquiries received from the broad research
Now Available on Research.gov Proposals – Cost Sharing and Single Copy Documents
Announcement: Effective July 27, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has enabled cost sharing (Line M on the proposal budget) for programs with mandatory cost
FAQs on NSF’s Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-26
Announcement: Last month the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued guidance on NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum (M-20-26), entitled, Extension
NIH Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2020 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Announcement: The National Institutes of Heath (NIH) has released a notice that provides guidance for investigators preparing NIH grant applications for the May 2021 Council
Federal Mandate for Disclosing International Collaborations
Announcement: The University of Southern California is engaged in far-reaching, global research and learning programs and recognizes the importance of these international collaborations. As research
Updated Fringe Benefit Rates
Announcement: The University has negotiated a new Federal Rate Agreement. Effective today, July 1, 2020: The University’s current F&A rates have been extended through June
Requirement for Electronic Submission of All Administrative Supplements
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced three important updates to their administrative supplement submission policies: Effective immediately, NIH will begin accepting administrative
NSF CAREER Program Deadline
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that they are extending the upcoming proposal deadline for the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) until
Guidance Regarding Change in Status, Including Absence of PI and Other Key Personnel Named in the Notice of Award
Announcement: The National Institutes of Heath (NIH) has released a notice that discusses NIH’s expectations regarding change in status, including the absence of a Program
Additional Proposal Questions Added to KC Pre-Award
Announcement: To assist in the identification of where sponsored projects’ work will be performed, all KC Proposals initiated on/after June 16, 2020 will include performance
Please RSVP – Project Restart Webinars
Dear Colleagues, Please join me for updates on Project Restart this Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5 with representatives from the Research, Graduate, Clinical,
Revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and Delays to Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support Changes
Reminder: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the issuance of a revised version of the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
Introducing the New Sponsor & Subaward Request Form
Anouncemnet: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) has created a new portal for requesting the addition of Sponsors and Subaward Institutions into Kuali
xTRACT and xTrain Changes to Accommodate Transition to FORMS-F for Due Dates on or After May 25, 2020
Reminder: NIH grant applicants must use FORMS-F for all application due dates on or after May 25, 2020. ASSIST has been updated to support
Temporary, Emergency Situations Due to COVID-19 and NIH Application Scores Received During Peer Review
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is aware of applicant concerns about the potential impact of this temporary emergency situation on the outcome of
NIH COVID-19 Funding and Funding Opportunities
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is devoting significant resources to COVID-19. In addition to dedicating regularly appropriated funds, to date NIH has received
New CIRM Salary Cap (Effective 7-1-2020)
Announcement: The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has announced that their salary cap, which specifies the maximum amount of an individual’s salary that can
ASSIST Has Been Streamlined to Support Easier Initiation and Submission of Administrative Supplements
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that ASSIST has been streamlined to support easier initiation and submission of administrative supplements. When an
eRA Enhancement – Two Factor Authentication Login Option Coming to eRA Modules
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that ASSIST has been streamlined to support easier initiation and submission of administrative supplements. When an
COGR’s FAQs and Resources on COVID-19’s Impact to Federal Awards
Announcement: The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) has released a Federal Agency Guidance Matrix (attached) that lists several major grant-making agencies (NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD,
Revision of NSF’s Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a revision to NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum (M-20- 17), entitled,
COGR NIH-Specific FAQ Regarding COVID-19
Announcement: The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) has released a NIH specific FAQ (attached) regarding COVID-19 and it’s impact on NIH grants. The FAQ covers
NSF-Approved Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the availability of both NSF-approved formats for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of
Office of Naval Research (ONR) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Current and Prospective Awardees Impacted by COVID-19
Announcement: As mentioned in a previous Newsflash, the Department of Defense (DoD) is taking action to provide greater flexibility to the research community during this
Research.gov Expanded – Separately Submitted Collaborative Proposals from Multiple Organizations Now Available
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that, effective March 30, 2020, the research community can prepare and submit separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple
Responding to Frequent Questions on Flexibilities Related to NIH Funding and COVID-19
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently updated their Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients website with a number
DOD Issues FAQs for Proposers and Awardees Impacted by COVID-19
Announcement: The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued a notice regarding Frequently Asked Questions for DOD Research Proposers and Awardees Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus
Minimum Level of Effort for NCI-Funded Awards
Announcement: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) released a notice requiring a minimum level of effort for funding consideration for NCI-funded grants. In addition to previously
NSF Implementation of OMB Memo M-20-17 – Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus due to Loss of Operations
Announcement:The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued important guidance to the community regarding COVID-19: Important Notice No 146 to the Community Regarding COVID-19 Guidance on
Guidance for NIH-Funded Clinical Trials and Human Subjects Studies Affected by COVID-19
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a notice detailing expanded flexibilities related to NIH-Funded clinical trials and human subjects studies affected by
Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a notice to alert the research community of administrative flexibilities that will apply to NIH applicants
NSF COVID-19 Website, FAQs and Other Materials
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has developed a website dedicated to providing detailed guidance on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on NSF researchers.
Notice of Transition to New System for Issuing Certificates of Confidentiality for Non-NIH Funded Research
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated its Certificate of Confidentiality request process for non-NIH funded research through a new online system. Certificates
NSF Releases FAQ Regarding COVID-19
Announcement: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released FAQs related to COVID-19. Included are the below general recommendations: Contact your Program Officer (PO) regarding any
NRSA Stipends, Tuition, Fees, and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2020
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued an official Guide Notice that establishes stipend levels for fiscal year (FY) 2020 Kirschstein-NRSA awards for
Increase to NIH Salary Cap
Announcement: Since 1990, Congress has legislatively mandated a limitation on direct salary for individuals under NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards. The mandate appears in
Additional Guidance on the NIH Policy on the Use of a Single Institutional Review Board for Multi-Site Research
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a notice concerning additional guidance on the NIH Policy on the Use of a Single Institutional
Revised Postdoctoral Scholar Minimum Salary Requirement
Announcement: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced the publication of the revised NIH Grants Policy Statement. This revision is applicable to all NIH
Launching DCG Training (Adobe Flash Update)
Announcement: The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) has three major training programs aimed at research administrators and faculty: Grants Management Training for Faculty Grants