Frequently Asked Questions re: Federal Impacts on UC/UCI Research
Federal Executive Orders and Directives
This is a dynamic situation that UCI leadership is monitoring closely. Principal Investigators (PIs) should not adjust spend rates for extramurally funded research projects. Performance on active awards can continue if obligated funds are available and a stop-work or termination order has not been issued by the agency.
We understand that agencies are reviewing projects in their entirety but are also considering the preponderance of the type of activities when making termination decisions.
Proposals may be submitted to available federal funding opportunities as long as federal submission systems remain operational. However, agency proposal review timelines may be delayed due to agency-specific implementation plans and funding guidelines. Please reach out to Sponsored Projects if you have any specific questions about an application.
Contracts and Grants Accounting is successfully drawing down funds on federal awards.
While UCI Sponsored Projects promptly processes first no-cost extensions upon receipt, the response to second and third extension requests varies among federal agencies. Some agencies are actively responding to these additional extension requests, while others have not been responding to any extension requests at all.
UCI has not received any notices impacting or guidance about the GRFP.
Federal grants operate on a cost reimbursement basis. This means that UCI does not receive the funds upfront. Instead, Contracts and Grants Accounting at UCI draws down funds from the federal agency to reimburse expenses already incurred and recorded in the university's ledger. This draw-down process occurs weekly, specifically every Monday.
No, federal awards are cost reimbursable. Funds that have already been expended or dispersed do not need to be returned. However, no further spending on the project is allowed from the date of termination.
PIs should not adjust spending rates for extramurally funded research projects. Expenditures should proceed as they would under standard conditions.
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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
F&A or indirect costs are critical for the research enterprise at UCI. F&A supports research infrastructure, facilities, and administrative support that are not directly charged to grants, but necessary for the research community. The following FAQs from the APLU detail the importance of indirect costs. https://www.aplu.org/wp-content/uploads/frequently-asked-questions-about-facilities-and-administrative-fa-costs-of-federally-sponsored-university-research.pdf
Sponsored Projects has not received any specific information regarding NIH T32 grants. Additionally, we have not received any stop-work orders or termination notices from NIH for any T32 grants.
NIH has reinstated grantee-approved first no-cost extensions, and Sponsored Projects is processing them as received. We have not had any disapproved first no-cost extension requests due to federal EOs or directives.
Sponsored Projects has not received any formal notifications from NIH indicating nonstandard reductions in award amounts or disapprovals of carryforwards because of these Executive Orders and Directives.
NIH announced a new peer review framework for research project grants on October 19, 2023. Some Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) will now expire on May 24, 2025. R01, R21, and R34 continuous submission applications for the May 7, 2025 AIDS due date will be accepted until June 1, 2025. No applications will be accepted for due dates on or after May 25, 2025.
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National Science Foundation (NSF)
The following are just a few of the most pertinent NSF FAQs from the NSF website. Please check the NSF FAQs regularly as new and updated information is posted regularly.
Yes, NSF has entered into a consent agreement with the court to pause the implementation of NSF-25-034 Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate pending resolution after a June 13, 2025 hearing. Effective May 19, 2025, NSF will revert to issuing awards according to the institution's negotiated rates while implementation is on hold.
No; appeals are not being considered.
Project reports are being waived for terminated awards. This applies to annual (APR) and final annual (FPR) technical project reports as well as the Project Outcomes Report (POR). Principal investigators (PIs) may submit Interim Reports if they choose.
The summary of progress is the financial accounting of cost due within 30 days of termination, including an estimate to cover the closeout costs required to submit the final/annual report within 120 days. Project Outcomes Reports are waived for terminated awards.
Appeals for terminated awards will not be reviewed or considered. Terminations of awards on the basis that they no longer effectuate program goals or agency priorities are the final agency decision and are not appealable to NSF. In these instances, NSF does not allege a deficiency occurred (e.g., noncompliance with award terms and conditions or research misconduct of the awardee). Because there are no allegations of deficiencies by the awardee to dispute, there are no grounds for agency appeal. Similarly, alternative dispute resolution is not available where terminations were based on effectuation of program goals or agency priorities.
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