Archive for January, 2010
Standard Research Report About to Hit the Streets
The National Science Foundation – on behalf of the Grants Policy Committee and the Research Business Models Subcommittee – is accepting final comments on the new governmentwide Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) format, while at the same time putting the format out for use by federal agencies.
In a Federal Register announcement, NSF said agencies may now use the new standard format, which is designed to help streamline the reporting process for grantees as well as allow federal awarding agencies to more easily analyze, compare, and compile research program information.
NSF says it expects this to be the last opportunity for public input before the reporting format is finalized. Comments may be submitted until February 12 via email to Suzanne Plimpton, splimpton@nsf.gov.
You can access the FR notice inviting comments here.
Our annual Federal Grants Update seminar will have additional information about this new report, as well as other developments in grants management. Dates and locations of the one-day seminar will be announced soon. Watch this blog or visit our website www.managementconcepts.com/grants for future information.
How Would You Improve Grants.gov?
The Grants Policy Committee is preparing a response to a GAO report about the timeliness of grant application submission through Grants.gov, and they want help from the public.
The GPC’s Preaward Workgroup is drafting an OMB response to the July GAO Report, “Grants.gov Has Systemic Weaknesses That Require Attention.” This workgroup is specifically focusing on the GAO recommendation regarding the timeliness of applications. Some of the issues being addressed by the GPC workgroup include what constitutes a timely application, how to notify applicants regarding the timeliness of applications, and handling of late applications.
While this is not a formal request for comments from the workgroup, it is an outreach effort designed to gather input from the grants community and offer stakeholders the opportunity to have their concerns and ideas reflected in the official OMB response.
Input can be provided through the GPC website at www.GPC.gov.