Information/Guidance Regarding the Impact of the Partial Federal Government Shutdown on UCI’s Research Program

At midnight December 21, 2018, current year funding to approximately twelve federal government agencies expired. The largest providers of research funding to UCI that are impacted by the partial shutdown are the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). We have set forth below guidance provided by both agencies during the partial shutdown.

Please note that the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Education (DOED) have received Fiscal Year 19 funding and are operating normally.

NSF:

Proposal Preparation & Submission

FastLane, Research.gov and Grants.gov are available for proposal preparation and submission (including supplemental funding requests and award transfer requests); however, NSF will not process proposals until normal operations resume. During the shutdown, NSF will accept proposal submissions pursuant to existing deadlines.

Awards

No new grants, cooperative agreements, or continuing increments will be issued during the shutdown.

Performance of research under NSF awards may continue during the shutdown, to the extent funds are available, and the period of performance of the grant or cooperative agreement has not expired. During the shutdown, NSF cannot authorize costs exceeding available award amounts or obligate additional funds to cover such costs.

No-Cost Extensions

FastLane will be available to submit both grantee-approved and NSF-approved no cost extensions (NCEs).

·Grantee-approved NCEs do not require NSF approval; therefore, the NCE would be processed automatically and the award date would be extended.

·NSF-approved NCEs will not be processed until normal operations resume. Federal funds cannot be obligated for expenses that occur beyond the award end date.

Other Post-award Notifications & Requests and Project Reports

Research.gov will be available to submit post-award notifications and requests and project reports (annual, final and project outcomes). Project Reports should be submitted in accordance with the due date in the award terms and conditions.

NASA:

Grants or cooperative agreements that do not require access to a NASA installation, access to NASA IT resources and data, or participation of NASA personnel in order to perform the research are to continue as long as funding is available. NASA is not obligated to reimburse expenditures in excess of the total funds allotted to the grant or cooperative agreement. Any research performed during the Government shutdown should be carefully planned, taking into account that NASA technical and administrative personnel will not be available to support the activities.

Please contact Sponsored Projects for guidance for awards that require access to NASA installations, NASA IT resources and data.

Guidance and FAQ’s issued by federal sponsors subject to the partial federal government shutdown can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/agency-contingency-plans/

Please contact your Contract and Grant Officer if you should have questions or require additional information or assistance.

Nancy

Nancy Lewis

Executive Director, Sponsored Projects