Institutions must manage data for multiple highly complex loan, grant, and work study sources for Title IV aid. Creating uniform interfaces and navigation across existing systems would assist the administrators responsible for maintaining data in multiple portals.
The FAR requires semi-annual submission of Individual Subcontract Reports (ISRs) for all federal agencies, as well as Summary Subcontract Reports (SSRs) for DoD and NASA, and annual submission of SSRs for civilian agencies. In addition to the submissions required during performance of a covered contract, ISRs are required to be submitted within 30 days of contract completion. Amending the FAR, at a minimum, and the ...more »
The government should make efforts to reduce focus on the micro accounting of grant expenditures and move towards a system where the peer review process and program managers base future funding decisions on broader measures of appropriate expenditures of cost. Princeton University suggests that one useful guide might be the IRS rules: in general, any expenditure that would normally be considered taxable income (apart ...more »
Consider an effort to have PUBLIC LAW 96-511—DEC. 11, 1980 (Paper Reduction Act) updated or encourage a new public law so as to change the focus to reducing administrative burden (i.e. creation of a “Administrative Burden Reduction Act”). The goal would be to (1) engage the research community on an ongoing basis to create efficiencies, (2) encompass a risk analysis for all types of administrative activities to match ...more »
Do the feds have a formula they want us to use when reporting on partner stations that DO NOT collect unduplicated individuals served? Every year we run up against this issue and how to dissect a number of all served, usually duplicated, to how that breaks down as far as number of individuals served by RSVP volunteers.
Harmonize Requirements and Standardized Collection of Non-Financial Training Prior to Issuance of an Award - Non-Financial Investigator training requirements (e.g. Financial Conflict of Interest, Responsible Conduct of Research, Research with Human Subjects), are convoluted because acceptable subject matter and timelines for completion vary by agency. Non-financial training requirements should be harmonized to reduce ...more »
Based on the lack of any perceptible value for the agencies or the public, we recommend that Congress repeal the mandate for reporting on executive compensation and that the FAR Council subsequently revise the relevant contract clauses. Doing so will save millions of dollars and liberate additional contractor and government resources to focus on what matters most—achieving the missions of the federal government and serving ...more »
1. Achieve a true single audit. IHEs are still subject to multiple audits of their individual programs and compliance processes, despite the Single Audit Act of 1984, OMB Circular A-133 and 2CFR-200 Uniform Guidance which mandate single audits for non-federal entities that receive federal funding. The University is subject to a major compliance audit, desk audits and program audits each year.
Comment from June 10 Data Act Summit breakout session on Recipient Reporting:
As a Federal contract recipient, I want performance reporting to be in one place.
Comment from June 10 Data Act Summit breakout session on Recipient Reporting:
I’m interested in Entity Classifications- better classifications, better utilization of existing classifications. I want to, for example, be able to look in USASpending.gov and analyze the dollars going to non-profits.
The RPPR continues to evolve into more financial and administrative reporting than it has to do with scientific/technical progress ever since you eliminated annual FFR's for SNAP grants. Institutions are getting hammered on follow-up questioning from Grants Mgmt Specialists regarding unobligated balances, effort reported on the participants tab, other support, use of IDP's and MyNCBI noncompliant pubs. Many followup ...more »
In at least some areas of NSF there is a two-stage proposal process: A short preliminary proposal goes to an initial screening. If it passes that initial screening then a full proposal must be written. I would propose that NEH adopt this process as well. Given the intense competition for NEH grants, with a success rate hovering around 15%, although for the most competitive grants it’s about 6%. Writing grants is a ...more »