From lmason at osrhe.edu Wed May 3 09:20:55 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Wed, 3 May 2017 14:20:55 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] The Uniform Grant Guidance Changes Indirect Costs: Are You Prepared? In-Reply-To: <5016893621.3@informz.net> References: <5016893621.3@informz.net> Message-ID: For your information. Dr. Linda Mason Coordinator of Grant Writing Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-225-9486 desk 405-706-8757 cell 405-225-9230 FAX lmason at osrhe.edu www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/ From: Thompson Grants Compliance [mailto:service at thompson.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2017 9:06 AM To: Mason, Linda Subject: The Uniform Grant Guidance Changes Indirect Costs: Are You Prepared? If you have trouble viewing this email, read the online version. [http://www.informz.net/grants/data/images/grants_logo.png] Indirect Costs & Cost Allocation Plans: Options & Requirements Under the Uniform Guidance The uniform guidance consolidated eight prior grant circulars into one uniform regulation; however, there are still significant differences for indirect costs and cost allocation plans among nonfederal entities, some of which are included in the provisions of the uniform guidance and some in its 12 appendices. For example: How do grantees qualify to receive a 10 percent "de minimis" flat rate for indirect costs? What are the different types of rates that are available? Here’s where to look for answers. Register now for Indirect Costs & Cost Allocation Plans: Options & Requirements Under the Uniform Guidance In this 90-minute webinar Karen Norris shares her expertise in federal grants management and audit resolution to help you prepare for uniform guidance requirements and opportunities. Clear, up-to-date guidance. You’ll learn how the uniform guidance changes the way indirect costs are treated in federal grants. You’ll also discover what new processes will be put in place and when the new flat rate can be used! During the live Q&A, you can also ask your own specific questions. Reserve your space now to learn how to use the new guidance to reduce risks and turn the uniform guidance to an advantage, including: * Gain awareness of direct and indirect costs. * Recognize changes to indirect costs. * Distinguish between different indirect cost rates. * Review considerations to obtain a rate. * Identify key requirements for cost allocation plans. Remember, understanding the complexities of indirect costs can be a powerful tool for grantee organizations, while a failure to perform in this area could lead to recovery audits, loss of grant funds, and other sanctions. Register now for Indirect Costs & Cost Allocation Plans: Options & Requirements Under the Uniform Guidance to get to work with real-world guidance, right away. Questions or concerns? Contact service at thompson.com. Date: May 9, 2017 Time: 1:00-2:30 pm ET Credits: 1.5 CPE, 1.5 GPCI CEU Live: $249 OnDemand: $249 Live + OnDemand: $349 — Best Value Three Easy Ways to Register: Order Online Call 800-677-3789 Fax 1-800-999-5661 [http://www.informz.net/grants/data/images/Grants_Event_Marketing/register-now-blue-lg.png] Who Will Benefit This webinar is of value to all federal granting agencies, non-federal entities receiving federal grant funds, and everyone who works with federal grants, including: * Grant administrators * Grant program staff * Accounting and finance staff * Internal auditors * Independent auditors Register now! Meet Your Webinar Leaders: [http://www.informz.net/grants/data/images/Grants_Event_Marketing/Karen%20Norris.jpg] Karen Norris is nationally recognized in the grants community, a Subject Matter Expert (SME), and Principal at k4rnoco - a Karen Norris Company in Gaithersburg, MD. She has experience in grants and contracts for more than 20 years, as a grants administrator for educational institutions in the State of Maryland and as an author and managing editor for national publications. Norris has served on the Board of Directors of professional associations and nonprofit organizations. She is an invited annual presenter at national conferences and training events, including the Grant Professionals Association, National Grants Management Association, Management Concepts, Thompson Information Services/Columbia Books, and the former Council for Resource Development. Norris conducts virtual, eLearning, and onsite grant training at national summits and for nonfederal entities including federal, state, local and territorial governments, and presents webinars to national audiences. Her white paper about health grants was published by the White House Conference on Aging. Norris has advised and responded to information requests about the grants process from the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management. Norris has served as a federal reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [CPE] Thompson Information Services is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Web site: www.nasba.org Prerequisite: None. [RAC] Columbia Books & Information Services, including its subsidiary Thompson Information Services, is registered with the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI) as an accepted continuing education provider of continuing education credits (CEU). Issuers of national credentials have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CEU credit. Thompson Information Services • 4340 East-West Highway, Suite 300 • Bethesda, MD 20814 This message was intended for lmason at osrhe.edu because you previously purchased a Thompson Grants webinar or indicated that you wanted to stay informed of news and promotions. This is an advertising email for Thompson Grants webinars. If you prefer not to receive emails about webinar training opportunities, click here. If you prefer not to receive any emails from Thompson Grants click here to unsubscribe. © 2017 Thompson Information Services. [Informz] [http://grants.informz.net/z/cmVkNi5hc3A_bWk9NjEwMTg1NSZ1PTg5OTYyMDU4OCZiPTMwNTI4/image.gif] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmason at osrhe.edu Wed May 3 16:26:46 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Wed, 3 May 2017 21:26:46 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] RCR (Responsible Conduct of Research) Requirements Message-ID: Kathi, The discussion we had yesterday was based on a posting at Iowa State, and therefore their interpretation of the NIH, NSF and NIFA requirements for Responsible Conduct of Training. I cannot find verification of the requirement for faculty in the information posted directly on the NSF website. However, I DO see the requirement for faculty in the information posted directly on the NIH website. So, for the purposes of our discussion questions, IF your training is to meet both NSF and NIH training: * You cannot use CITI online training alone. You must supplement it with face-to-face training. * You must meet the NIH-specified 10 items of content in the subject matter. * Faculty can achieve their training by being a trainer. * You can determine the timing of the training; in other words if it is not offered when a researcher begins the research, you can make sure the researcher receives the training when it is offered. * At least 8-hours, preferably more in a semester long series of seminars. I am providing these links for you to verify my research. See how you read it. See you later this month. Iowa State University Office for Responsible Research - www.compliance.iastate.edu/rcr/training 1. National Science Foundation FAQ's about the RCR Requirement - https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rcr/rcrfaqs.jsp#3 See FAQ 3: "Who must receive the RCR training?" - ....students (undergraduates and graduates) and postdoctoral researchers who receive NSF funds (support from salary and/or stipends to conduct research on NSF grants) will obtain RCR training.... See FAQ 8: "Do undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers have to receive RCR training before being identified on a proposal to NSF? - ....No. It is not required that the training be completed at that time. The institution plan for training should include when individuals are to receive the training. NSF's Implementation of Section 7009 of the America COMPETES Act - https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-08-20/html/E9-19930.htm Are faculty required to have RCR? - ....faculty members are not required to take such training....institutions, at their discretion, may expand the scope of such training to include other categories of individuals... 2. NIH Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-10-019.html Basic Pinciples See BP5: Instruction should include face-to-face discussion by course participants and faculty; i.e., on-line instruction may be a component of instruction in responsible conduct of research but is not sufficient to meet the NIH requirement for such instruction.... Policy NIH requires that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH awards must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. 3. NIFA Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research - https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research Dr. Linda Mason Coordinator of Grant Writing Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-225-9486 desk 405-706-8757 cell 405-225-9230 FAX lmason at osrhe.edu www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmason at osrhe.edu Fri May 19 13:11:51 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Fri, 19 May 2017 18:11:51 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] FYI - History - CGR Began in 2004 Message-ID: The first meeting of the Council on Craftsmanship and Research was officially on September 30, 2004, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. C. J. Vires was elected president and Anita Blankenship was elected secretary. The Spring 2005 meeting was held March 3, 2005, at NSU. Dr. Linda Mason Coordinator of Grant Writing Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-225-9486 desk 405-706-8757 cell 405-225-9230 FAX lmason at osrhe.edu www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmason at osrhe.edu Tue May 23 19:37:09 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 00:37:09 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] U.S. Department of Education Stakeholder Budget Briefing In-Reply-To: <52063A06-DC6D-4069-96CA-DAAAD5E66325@osrhe.edu> References: <354729437.1195.1495564830805.JavaMail.no-reply@ed.gov>, <33E9BECA-533B-4A86-9371-8E051D904A81@usao.edu>, <926BBA75-572F-48C6-A56F-2546897CF6EC@osrhe.edu>, <52063A06-DC6D-4069-96CA-DAAAD5E66325@osrhe.edu> Message-ID: <49016C64-21EA-4381-B969-1A1FC4A8306D@osrhe.edu> > Dr. Linda Mason Sent from my iPad > > Begin forwarded message: > > U.S. Department of Education Stakeholder Budget Briefing > > I watched this, and it was informative about the Federal Budget request for 2018. The high points include these: > - a 13% cut > - increase in charter school funding > - Pell is stable and fully funded for the next 8 years > - grant funding for HBCUs, minority serving programs of Title IIII and V are strengthened > - ESEA was discontinued > The focus throughout the webinar was on low income children. One question was about Upward Bound continued finding, and they said they would have to defer the answer till next week. > > Considering all these cuts is premature in my opinion, based on the congressional response to the Federal 2017 budget. They basically ignored the administrative recommended cuts. I expect the actual 2018 budget will be significantly different than the request. > > The U.S. Department of Education's briefing of stakeholders on the 2018 budget request is available at the following link: http://edstream.ed.gov/webcast/Play/95a9873b79ed47ad94bc0cb18ea59ff11d > From lmason at osrhe.edu Thu May 25 16:02:40 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 21:02:40 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] Questions about unemployment and self-insurance In-Reply-To: <4B089877AF613A438E5560F102DD964D01B12FA826@MAILBOX.admin.swosu.edu> References: <7EAE45BEE1D8D54FA478017A2F86C8C901691494E5@EXCHANGE2010-1.ecu.ecu> <7EAE45BEE1D8D54FA478017A2F86C8C9016918190C@EXCHANGE2010-1.ecu.ecu> <4B089877AF613A438E5560F102DD964D01B12FA826@MAILBOX.admin.swosu.edu> Message-ID: Yolanda, you can send this out using the list serve. It is Oklahoma Regional Sponsored Programs Directors (okgrantsmanship at lists.onenet.net), and Tony Wohlers is still the list serve administrator. You probably want to be the administrator yourself. It involves reading the message that someone wanted to post (mostly you as CGR or me as Regents) and approving its distribution to the list. All the members of CGR and grant staff for all the higher education institutions are on the list. Dr. Linda Mason Coordinator of Grant Writing Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-225-9486 desk 405-706-8757 cell 405-225-9230 FAX lmason at osrhe.edu www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/ From: Carr, Yolanda [mailto:yolanda.carr at swosu.edu] Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 1:12 PM To: 'Lyon, Leah P.' Cc: Mason, Linda Subject: RE: Questions about unemployment and self-insurance Leah, If you don't mind, I have copied Dr. Mason on this email. She may be able to assist you in getting a response regarding your questions below. I believe her email list contains more individuals. Linda, can you assist us with the two questions listed below? Thanks. From: Lyon, Leah P. [mailto:llyon at ecok.edu] Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 10:03 AM To: Carr, Yolanda > Subject: FW: Questions about unemployment and self-insurance Importance: High Yolanda, Beverly sent this out a while back but I didn't get any response. Could you please send out these two questions again? Thanks! Can you send this question out to our CGR group for any answers or input? 1) If your university is self-insured for unemployment benefits, how do you handle paying claims on grant/externally funded staff? 2) Does anyone have a "reserve" as mentioned in the highlighted section below? If yes, how do you handle it? Can you share a policy or procedure with me? Below are two excerpts related to such reserves/options. Thank you for anything you can share. Leah Lyon, Director Office of Sponsored Programs and Research East Central University Ada, OK 74820 580-559-5259 llyon at ecok.edu Uniform Guidance on Self-Insurance and Unemployment § 200.431 Compensation-fringe benefits. (1) Provisions for a reserve under a self-insurance program for unemployment compensation or workers' compensation are allowable to the extent that the provisions represent reasonable estimates of the liabilities for such compensation, and the types of coverage, extent of coverage, and rates and premiums would have been allowable had insurance been purchased to cover the risks. However, provisions for self-insured liabilities which do not become payable for more than one year after the provision is made must not exceed the present value of the liability. (2) Costs of insurance on the lives of trustees, officers, or other employees holding positions of similar responsibility are allowable only to the extent that the insurance represents additional compensation. The costs of such insurance when the non-Federal entity is named as beneficiary are unallowable. (3) Actual claims paid to or on behalf of employees or former employees for workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, severance pay, and similar employee benefits (e.g., postretirement health benefits), are allowable in the year of payment provided that the non-Federal entity follows a consistent costing policy and they are allocated as indirect costs. § 200.447 Insurance and indemnification. (d) Contributions to a reserve for certain self-insurance programs including workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and severance pay are allowable subject to the following provisions: (1) The type of coverage and the extent of coverage and the rates and premiums would have been allowed had insurance (including reinsurance) been purchased to cover the risks. However, provision for known or reasonably estimated self-insured liabilities, which do not become payable for more than one year after the provision is made, must not exceed the discounted present value of the liability. The rate used for discounting the liability must be determined by giving consideration to such factors as the non- Federal entity's settlement rate for those liabilities and its investment rate of return. (2) Earnings or investment income on reserves must be credited to those reserves. (3)(i) Contributions to reserves must be based on sound actuarial principles using historical experience and reasonable assumptions. Reserve levels must be analyzed and updated at least biennially for each major risk being insured and take into account any reinsurance, coinsurance, etc. Reserve levels related to employee-related coverages will normally be limited to the value of claims: (A) Submitted and adjudicated but not paid; (B) Submitted but not adjudicated; and (C) Incurred but not submitted. (ii) Reserve levels in excess of the amounts based on the above must be identified and justified in the cost allocation plan or indirect cost rate proposal. (4) Accounting records, actuarial studies, and cost allocations (or billings) must recognize any significant differences due to types of insured risk and losses generated by the various insured activities or agencies of the non- Federal entity. If individual departments or agencies of the non- Federal entity experience significantly different levels of claims for a particular risk, those differences are to be recognized by the use of separate allocations or other techniques resulting in an equitable allocation. (5) Whenever funds are transferred from a self-insurance reserve to other accounts (e.g., general fund or unrestricted account), refunds must be made to the Federal government for its share of funds transferred, including earned or imputed interest from the date of transfer and debt interest, if applicable, chargeable in accordance with applicable Federal cognizant agency for indirect cost, claims collection regulations. (e) Insurance refunds must be credited against insurance costs in the year the refund is received. (f) Indemnification includes securing the non-Federal entity against liabilities to third persons and other losses not compensated by insurance or otherwise. The Federal government is obligated to indemnify the non-Federal entity only to the extent expressly provided for in the Federal award, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lmason at osrhe.edu Thu May 25 16:05:37 2017 From: lmason at osrhe.edu (Mason, Linda) Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 21:05:37 +0000 Subject: [Okgrantsmanship] Question about insurance - from Leah Lyon ECU Message-ID: If you do not know, please forward this question to an administrator who can answer the questions. PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO LLYON at ECOK.EDU. 1) If your university is self-insured for unemployment benefits, how do you handle paying claims on grant/externally funded staff? 2) Does anyone have a "reserve" as mentioned in the highlighted section below? If yes, how do you handle it? Can you share a policy or procedure with me? Below are two excerpts related to such reserves/options. Thank you for anything you can share. Leah Lyon, Director Office of Sponsored Programs and Research East Central University Ada, OK 74820 580-559-5259 llyon at ecok.edu Uniform Guidance on Self-Insurance and Unemployment § 200.431 Compensation-fringe benefits. (1) Provisions for a reserve under a self-insurance program for unemployment compensation or workers' compensation are allowable to the extent that the provisions represent reasonable estimates of the liabilities for such compensation, and the types of coverage, extent of coverage, and rates and premiums would have been allowable had insurance been purchased to cover the risks. However, provisions for self-insured liabilities which do not become payable for more than one year after the provision is made must not exceed the present value of the liability. (2) Costs of insurance on the lives of trustees, officers, or other employees holding positions of similar responsibility are allowable only to the extent that the insurance represents additional compensation. The costs of such insurance when the non-Federal entity is named as beneficiary are unallowable. (3) Actual claims paid to or on behalf of employees or former employees for workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, severance pay, and similar employee benefits (e.g., postretirement health benefits), are allowable in the year of payment provided that the non-Federal entity follows a consistent costing policy and they are allocated as indirect costs. § 200.447 Insurance and indemnification. (d) Contributions to a reserve for certain self-insurance programs including workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and severance pay are allowable subject to the following provisions: (1) The type of coverage and the extent of coverage and the rates and premiums would have been allowed had insurance (including reinsurance) been purchased to cover the risks. However, provision for known or reasonably estimated self-insured liabilities, which do not become payable for more than one year after the provision is made, must not exceed the discounted present value of the liability. The rate used for discounting the liability must be determined by giving consideration to such factors as the non- Federal entity's settlement rate for those liabilities and its investment rate of return. (2) Earnings or investment income on reserves must be credited to those reserves. (3)(i) Contributions to reserves must be based on sound actuarial principles using historical experience and reasonable assumptions. Reserve levels must be analyzed and updated at least biennially for each major risk being insured and take into account any reinsurance, coinsurance, etc. Reserve levels related to employee-related coverages will normally be limited to the value of claims: (A) Submitted and adjudicated but not paid; (B) Submitted but not adjudicated; and (C) Incurred but not submitted. (ii) Reserve levels in excess of the amounts based on the above must be identified and justified in the cost allocation plan or indirect cost rate proposal. (4) Accounting records, actuarial studies, and cost allocations (or billings) must recognize any significant differences due to types of insured risk and losses generated by the various insured activities or agencies of the non- Federal entity. If individual departments or agencies of the non- Federal entity experience significantly different levels of claims for a particular risk, those differences are to be recognized by the use of separate allocations or other techniques resulting in an equitable allocation. (5) Whenever funds are transferred from a self-insurance reserve to other accounts (e.g., general fund or unrestricted account), refunds must be made to the Federal government for its share of funds transferred, including earned or imputed interest from the date of transfer and debt interest, if applicable, chargeable in accordance with applicable Federal cognizant agency for indirect cost, claims collection regulations. (e) Insurance refunds must be credited against insurance costs in the year the refund is received. (f) Indemnification includes securing the non-Federal entity against liabilities to third persons and other losses not compensated by insurance or otherwise. The Federal government is obligated to indemnify the non-Federal entity only to the extent expressly provided for in the Federal award, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. Dr. Linda Mason Coordinator of Grant Writing Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-225-9486 desk 405-706-8757 cell 405-225-9230 FAX lmason at osrhe.edu www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: