Office of

Grant and Research Development

17-January-2003 meeting - items discussed:

Link to Video

This was our first meeting with a different format that was recommended by one of the RAC members. We were seated so we could face each other and have a discussion vs. a lecture. All seemed to go well and there was a great deal of interaction.

  1. OGRD News:
    • Update on the Contracting Officer Search. The Search Committee is down to 3 candidates and have almost completed their reference calls and will meet Friday Jan. 24th to determine the next steps.
    • Andrea Comley explained the improvements in processing at OGRD. Award processing to SPS now occurs on a daily basis - we are very encouraged

  2. Technology Update:
    • Research Administrators may register on the OGRD Gateway under https://gateway.ogrd.wsu.edu/ (updates, edits, and checks are happening through the design phase and may delay your registration, however, be patient and you will be added). Andrea Comley from OGRD will provide training on the database on Feb. 26th.
    • SPS and OGRD discussed their joint effort to streamline the technology issues related to account setup. It was pointed out that in addition to technology advances that business processes will be reviewed to incorporate the changes in the technology. These efficiencies will help a great deal when setting up standard federal grants. SPS and OGRD are actually looking at the end process (billing and reporting) in order to develop the start of the process (electronic REX form with electronic routing and approval)
    • Jennifer Jansen, OGRD, communicated the NSF is being pretty picky about format issues with FastLane proposal submissions, especially the "Broader Impact Statements".

  3. Meeting Reports (FDP Meeting in Irvine California)
    • Dan Nordquist gave an update on the FDP meeting and discussed the various task forces that he will be involved with, ie, "Expanding the Expanded Authorities", "Subaward Task Force", "Initiative to Reduces Administrative Burden", and Electronic Research Administration (Monte Sutton from OGRD).
    • NIH is nearly set to go with its electronic proposal processing system called "eRA Commons"https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/index.jsp OGRD will be developing an electronic form for the PI's to register in the Commons Database. This information has not been broadcast to the entire nation but only to FDP members (benefits of being a member)

  4. Policies/Guidelines/Procedures Information
    • Dorothy Heitter from Cooperative Extension communicated with the group the importance of completing Effort Certification Reports. This was an area that the Auditors will likely be looking at in the next audit so it is important to make sure your areas are up to date.
    • Lori Selby from SPS clarified that for federal grants that objects 00 and 01 will automatically be added to BALANCES so separate e-mails and approvals will no longer be necessary.
    • Lori Selby and Brenda Carlson gave an update on the changes happening in the Effort Certification system where there won't be as many forms to sign on a monthly basis but the forms will come out 4 times per year on a semester basis.
    • Tom Martin brought up a discussion about the possibility of the PEARS report serving as an Effort Certification approval form. This is being looked at by SPS as well as by WSU as represented at the FDP meeting. Actually FDP has a Task Force entitled "Payroll Verification" that has been implemented to review ways to streamline that process. Barry Johnston will be sending a Post-Award representative to this meeting to take part in these meetings.
    • Andrea Comley, OGRD, shared that the NIH Salary cap has been revised. Here is an excerpt from the Council on Government Relations (COGR):

    • This originator of this message is Tony DeCrappeo. If you have questions/comments, please email: tdecrappeo@cogr.edu

      • Federal pay scales have been increased effective January 1, 2003, and the new salary amount for Executive Level I is $171,900, an increase from the FY 2002 amount of $166,700. As you know, salary charges for researchers on NIH grants is limited by law to the Executive Level I pay rate. However, there are a couple of uncertainties right now. The FY 2003 appropriations for most federal agencies, including NIH, have not yet passed into law. The government right now is operating under a continuing resolution, which provides that agencies for the most part are funded at FY 2002 levels. It has been reported that one of the FY 2003 NIH appropriations bills under consideration by Congress retains the NIH salary cap at Executive Level I, but at this point we cannot be sure what will pass into law. For now, one might decide to use the new salary level for budgeting purposes in new NIH grant applications, but it might be premature to start charging current NIH grants at the new level.

      Tony DeCrappeo
      COGR

  5. Other News:

  6. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 10th at 9:00 a.m.

    7. Dan Nordquist
    Director
    OGRD

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