Key Guidance for Principal Investigators
While the university continues to monitor the potential impact of federal actions on our research enterprise, we want to ensure that our research community remains supported and prepared in the context of this shifting landscape. Please be reminded that investigators should promptly forward all communications from the federal government or prime organizations on federal awards—including data requests, surveys, stop-work orders or other notices—to the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) at osr
gwu [dot] edu (osr[at]gwu[dot]edu). We encourage researchers to continue their research to the extent possible, keeping the following guidance in mind:
- Sponsor Notices and Communications
- Principal investigators (or project staff) with active awards should immediately forward any stop-work orders or other relevant notices received directly from a funding agency to the Office of Sponsored Projects at osrgwu [dot] edu (osr[at]gwu[dot]edu).
- OSP will provide responses to any sponsor orders and notifications received as required.
- Please coordinate with your Research Support Team (RST) staff and OSP Post-Award staff, who will provide guidance regarding how PIs must implement any orders, and will transmit any needed follow-on communications to the funding agencies.
- Principal investigators (or project staff) with active awards should immediately forward any stop-work orders or other relevant notices received directly from a funding agency to the Office of Sponsored Projects at osr
- Certifications
- Promptly forward any request for certification to OSP at osrgwu [dot] edu (osr[at]gwu[dot]edu). Individuals should not make any institutional or project-level certifications. OSP will review all requests for certifications and follow up with sponsors for additional guidance.
- Promptly forward any request for certification to OSP at osr
- Surveys/Requests for Data
- Investigators should promptly forward all communications from the federal government—including data requests and surveys—to OSP at osrgwu [dot] edu (osr[at]gwu[dot]edu). OSP will review forwarded communications and provide specific guidance for investigators. Only the assistant vice provost for sponsored projects, our Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), is authorized to respond to sponsor requests on behalf of the university.
- Investigators should promptly forward all communications from the federal government—including data requests and surveys—to OSP at osr
- Access to Federal Agency Data for Your Research
- The Research Data Management (RDM) Task Force is a collaboration between Libraries and Academic Innovation, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, GW Information Technology, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Risk. RDM is coordinating with a number of external organizations and GW departments to ensure long-term stability and preserve access to critical research data. If you have questions about data initiatives at GW or need support accessing or preserving data, contact them at RDMhelpgwu [dot] edu.
- Data Preservation Efforts and Data Sources (GW Libraries)
- The Research Data Management (RDM) Task Force is a collaboration between Libraries and Academic Innovation, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, GW Information Technology, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Risk. RDM is coordinating with a number of external organizations and GW departments to ensure long-term stability and preserve access to critical research data. If you have questions about data initiatives at GW or need support accessing or preserving data, contact them at RDMhelp
- Payment or Drawdown Justification Requests
- The university is aware that additional justifications for reimbursable expenses are being requested by some federal sponsors, in some cases these requests are made directly to the investigator. Promptly forward any request for expense details to GCASinvoicegwu [dot] edu (GCASinvoice[at]gwu[dot]edu). Individuals should not provide any expense details directly to a requesting agency. GCAS will review all requests for financial reporting and follow up with sponsors for additional guidance.
- The university is aware that additional justifications for reimbursable expenses are being requested by some federal sponsors, in some cases these requests are made directly to the investigator. Promptly forward any request for expense details to GCASinvoice
- Proposals
- Regularly check sponsor websites to track any changes to solicitation requirements or possible removal or revisions of solicitations (both new and competing continuations).
- Confirm and adhere to all announced proposal deadlines.
- Plan ahead and submit proposals early as some sponsor portals may become unavailable without prior notice. OSP continues to track the status of federal sponsor portals (e.g., Grants.gov and eRA Commons) and will communicate any known interruptions and outages to the research community.
- Continue to work on proposals following established GW guidelines for proposal development and budget preparation, including guidance on IDC, unless otherwise advised by OSP.
- F&A Rates for Proposals
- GW investigators should continue to utilize the university's federally-negotiated indirect cost rates as they develop and submit federal proposals. Any request by a sponsor to apply a rate different than GW's federally-negotiated rate will require review and approval by a GW authorized representative.
- Award Terms and Conditions
- Carefully examine award terms and conditions to ensure you understand any new terms, particularly any that concern funding availability and prior approvals.
- Award Management
- Continue with planned activities unless otherwise notified (e.g., by a sponsor or OSP).
- Adhere to all previously announced deadlines for progress and annual reports. Before submission, please review carefully for any new terms or certifications that have been added within sponsor reporting portals, and contact OSP before submitting reports.
- Please allow time to receive grantor/sponsor approved no cost extensions and other sponsor prior approvals. Please ensure required prior approvals are in place before implementing the requested changes.
- Bring to the attention of your associate dean for research (ADR) any component of the sponsored project that you believe might be impacted under the Executive Actions referenced below.
- Monitor Budget Balances
- Please make sure all allowable expenses are posted in a timely fashion, to help avoid delays in invoicing or reporting.
- We encourage prudent spending of non-compensation grant funds to ensure that funds remain to cover compensation expenses. We do not anticipate any immediate disruptions to payroll, particularly research staff compensation.
- Continuations
- If you are expecting non-competing continuations, please consult with your research support team (RST) and associate dean for research on how to proceed. Monitor your obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future funding.
- Project-Specific Assistance
- If you have questions regarding impact of federal guidance on your specific project, engage OSP and ADR for additional guidance.
- Activities That Are Not Sponsored Projects
- For all other activities (i.e., if your project is not a federally-funded sponsored project), promptly forward all requests for certification, federal directives and other questions to askovprgwu [dot] edu (askovpr[at]gwu[dot]edu). Individuals should not make any institutional or project-level certifications. All queries will be routed to the appropriate units for review.
- For all other activities (i.e., if your project is not a federally-funded sponsored project), promptly forward all requests for certification, federal directives and other questions to askovpr