Sponsored Research News | June 2020
COVID-19 Updates

  • Dr. Preston's May 21st memo to Principal Investigators providing an update on Research Restart. Phase III will begin on June 1st. Please visit the OVPR Research Restart page for additional information.

  • ARA held the May meeting over Zoom and a recording of the webinar may be accessed here. Dr. Jennifer Lyon Gardner presented on Research Restart Phase III.

  • UT Emergency Leave will no longer be available for idled staff after May 31st for both sponsored and non-sponsored funding. Questions have been added to the OSP FAQ page that cover different scenarios for paying staff on sponsored funding. If you have a question not listed on this page, please contact OSP.

  • NIH and other sponsors may request documentation of UT's policy allowing idled staff to be paid. Please provide the Emergency Leave policy and the UT COVID page. Include documentation found in the Timekeeping section of the UT COVID page that shows Emergency Leave was allowed for idled staff from March 13 – May 31.

  • OMB Memo M-20-17 expires June 17, 2020. OSP and OVPR will monitor guidance from OMB and federal agencies, and will communicate information to campus as it becomes available.


The OVPR, RSC, and OSP COVID-19 FAQ pages are continually updated, so please check regularly for the most up-to-date information.
Sponsor Updates

NSF PAPPG (20-1)

Required templates for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending documents delayed until October 5, 2020! You may begin using the new templates now

NSF will implement all other changes listed in PAPPG (20-1) on June 1st. This includes new information in the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending forms:

Biographical Sketches must list all appointments, even if the PI received no payment or whether the appointment was voluntary, including adjunct, visiting or honorary.

Current and Pending will need to list in-kind contributions not associated with the project being proposed and has a time-commitment. The NSF FAQ document provides helpful guidance for this requirement.

AHRQ Data Management Plan

AHRQ Notice NOT-HS-20-011 requires proposals for new/competing grants and research contracts to include a Data Management Plan  for managing, storing and disseminating the primary data, samples, physical collections and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of research funded by AHRQ, or state why data management is not possible, as a component of their grant application or research contract proposal.
University Updates
Approved Fringe Benefits  
 
UT Austin successfully negotiated the FY21 fringe rates with DHHS. Effective September 1, 2020, the fringe rates are:

Benefits Eligible: 30.1%
Benefits Ineligible: 5.68%

The rate agreement is dated May 8, 2020 and is posted on the OSP site.

UT Research Management Suite

The Agreements module of UT Research Management Suite is live! Beginning today, all new non-funded research agreement submissions will be created, submitted, reviewed and activated in the new system.

The project team continues to provide scheduled training for end users of the Agreements module. There are many new resources available on the updated project website to assist users.

The Training page provides helpful resources to guide users through submissions and navigate within the system as well as the ability to book a training session for you or your team via an interactive calendar.

The Get Help Now page offers a self help toolkit and the opportunity to connect with a team member through Live Chat.

Check out the website for more updates and information on the upcoming IRB module release planned for August 2020.
26 Account Voucher
Approval Process


SPAA has implemented a new Voucher Approval Process. Specialist with constituency assignments will no longer be approving vouchers. The vouchers are now being approved by designated group within SPAA based on the voucher type. 
 
Departments creating the vouchers should still continue to attach supporting documentation as required to the individual voucher, however in the event, supplemental documentation is required please forward the information to SPAA@austin.utexas.edu . Be sure to include your unit number and document ID within the subject line of your email and your request will be routed to the designated approver on your behalf. 
 
If the voucher requires immediate approval, please send your requests to SPAA@austin.utexas.edu . Be sure to include RUSH and the document ID within the subject line.


Effort Listserve

A listserv has been created to disseminate information regarding Effort, including Salary Compensation Reports. This listserv will be the official means of communicating cycle information, training dates, and policy and process updates. All Effort Contacts and relevant department administrators are encouraged to join.
 
To subscribe, visit:  https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa/info/effort_announcements  and click the “Subscribe” link on the left side of the page.
 
Only valid UT email addresses will be accepted on the listserv.

Due to the confidential nature of Effort topics, any messages sent to the Effort Listserv will be not be distributed to the listserv.

If you have any questions regarding Effort, please direct them to effort@austin.utexas.edu . 
Continuing Education
T he Office of Sponsored Projects and other research support units offer educational opportunities on campus each month. Check the OSP Calendar for free on-campus training that is applicable to
CRA re-certification. Below are training opportunities that were available last month as well as those coming up in the month ahead.
MONTH IN REVIEW
- MAY-


THE MONTH AHEAD
- JUNE -



Learn More
Find the latest Federal regulation and UT Austin policy and procedures related to sponsored research on the OSP News & Alerts page.

Reserve your seat for live-cast webinars and workshops on Research TRACKS (where your research-related continuing education credits are recorded).
Did you miss the last newsletter? View past newsletters on the OSP Website.
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