 |
Need help?
Contact the Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Help Desk.
|
|
ARRA FAQs
- The intent of the bill is to get the funds working in the economy as quickly as possible therefore in many cases ARRA funds are to be obligated by September 30, 2010. Agencies have not yet provided guidance on allowability of cost extensions. Some agencies have limited extensions on flowing down the spending deadline requirements.
- Agencies are required to have their Agency Recovery Plan in place no later than May 1, 2009.
- Job creation and contribution to economic recovery are critical components for determining if a research program is appropriate for funding. We can expect that the PIs and campus will need to report on both aspects.
- Agencies must provide weekly updates to the ARRA Commission established to oversee implementation, which is led by Vice President Joe Biden.
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act identifies very specific research areas for funding, which will also be outlined on the agency web sites.
- Reporting requirements, both fiscal and programmatic, will be at an unprecedented level. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document referenced below provides guidance to the agencies on reporting. Agencies have not yet flowed requirements down to recipients. Both PIs and universities will have additional reporting requirements, and we can expect mandatory quarterly reports for progress, job creating, and spending.
- Funds will be distributed through contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, and loans and loan guarantees.
- Extensive audit requirements are built in to the OMB guidance.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and perhaps other agencies, will fund all monies up front and allow 5 years to build/renovate buildings. They intend to pull proposals from the previous submission for infrastructure and have one additional round of submissions.
- NIH has advised potential Stimulus funds awardees that a previously submitted RO1 with a modular budget, will require a full and complete budget prior to awarding.
- There is no language in the Act or the OMB guidance regarding use for international collaboration or spending internationally or on hiring individual here on a visa from a foreign country. The UT System Office of Federal Relations and other are seeking guidance on this question.
- Some researchers at UTSA have already been contacted by sponsoring agencies about getting a proposal updated for consideration.
- Some agencies recommend that researchers call their program contacts at the agencies if they have a proposal that was not funded, had a relatively high score and fits within the purpose of ARRA, or if they think a supplement is possible.
|
 |
