Dear Colleagues, please see the information/guidance below from REDKE related to a possible government shutdown at the end of the month. This is just FYI at this time.

 

Thanks,

Emily

Emily P. Bonner, Ph.D.

 

Professor, C&I (mathematics education)

Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs

College of Education and Human Development

University of Texas at San Antonio
emily.bonner@utsa.edu

Twitter: @EPBonnerSA and @coehdresch_utsa

 

Questions, concerns, or ideas about COEHD research?  Drop them in the virtual COEHD Research suggestion box

 

From: Vice President for Research <vpresearch@utsa.edu>
Subject: Potential Government Shutdown

 

September 21, 2023

 

To:                         Deans, Directors, Fiscal Admin, and Department Chairs

                                             All Federally funded Principal Investigators

 

From:                    JoAnn Browning, Interim Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise

 

CC:                         Taylor Eighmy, President

                                              Veronica Salazar, Senior Vice President Business Affairs

 

Re:                         Monitoring the Potential Government Shutdown

 

We feel it is important to communicate the current situation regarding the potential shutdown of the federal government at the end of this month.  We are monitoring the situation and assessing potential impacts to the institution so that our research community can be informed and respond appropriately.

 

If a shutdown does occur, federal awarding agencies are expected to send notices to grantees regarding the continued operations of the federal projects.  In the meantime, we provide the following FAQs based on OMB guidance, previous shutdown experiences, and industry advice:

 

FAQs

 

  • What are the federal agencies’ individual shutdown plans?

In the case of a federal shutdown due to a lapse in funding, the White House Office of Management and Budget requires that all agencies develop, submit, and publish a contingency plan to operate during the period with funding lapse. We can see how every agency operates in a shutdown by looking at the agency contingency plans on the White House Office of Management and Budget website.  There are currently only a handful that have posted 2023 updates, but we will monitor and communicate updates on agencies that provide funding to UTSA investigators. These contingency plans mostly focus on the level of agency activities and operations during the shutdown, but some also include expectations and activities of funded projects.  

  • How does the shutdown affect faculty and proposals they are working on?

With regard to grant deadlines, faculty should heed deadlines for grant proposals they’re already working on as those deadlines will not likely change.  Generally speaking, Grants.gov and research.gov will be maintained by the agencies so that grants can be submitted. Submitted proposals will be held in queue and processed after the shutdown has ended. All proposals and existing RFAs will continue with the posted deadline.  New funding opportunity announcements will not be issued from closed agencies. 

In general, no new grants, continuing grant increments, or cooperative agreements will be awarded.

 

  • I am working on an NSF grant submission and have a funded NSF grant.  What do I need to know?

In 2022, the NSF communicated it would use available carryover balances to continue daily operations. Once those balances are exhausted, NSF electronic systems for proposal preparation and submission will remain open during a lapse in appropriations (Research.gov and Fastlane). The Awards Cash Management Service (ACM$) and the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) also would be operational for the submission and processing of valid payments for awardees and contractors. NSF awardees could continue performance under their NSF awards during a lapse in appropriations, to the extent funds are available, and the period of performance of the grant or cooperative agreement has not expired.

 

  • What about researchers who are currently working under federal contracts and grants? Should they continue to work?

Yes, researchers should continue to work on their grants and contracts unless their agency or program officer has advised them otherwise. In the infrequent case that federal personnel are required to participate or provide oversight on the project such as approval before starting the next phase of the project (most likely under a cooperative agreement) the project activities will be stopped until the shutdown is over. 

 

  • Will UTSA receive any new awards?

New awards are likely to be delayed until after the shutdown is over. As always, please be very cautious about spending funds before an official award notice is received.  All expenditures must occur in the period of performance.

 

  • Routine Administration of Grants and Contracts by the Agencies:  Because federal staff is not working during a government shutdown, it is expected that requests for re-budgeting, no-cost extensions, award continuations, and other actions will be delayed.

 

  • What about researchers who are currently working under federal contracts and grants? Should they continue to work?

Yes, researchers should continue to work on their grants and contracts unless their agency or program officer has advised them otherwise. Generally, program officers will notify the faculty of any specific instructions regarding your award.  Faculty with questions should keep in close touch with their OSPA representatives and check the website for updates.

 

  • Availability of Funds: A federal shutdown does not impact the funds that have already been obligated to the grantees under specific awards.  Most agencies will continue to allow automatic drawdowns. We do not anticipate any impacts relative to fund availability as long as the shutdown is minimal (e.g., some have suggested minimal impacts if the shutdown is less than two weeks).

 

  • I am on a federal agency peer review panel.  What should I expect?

In previous federal government shutdowns, panel reviews were postponed.  You will likely receive direct communication regarding your panel participation.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please direct your questions to the following:

 

New proposals and submissions: Research Service Center, RSC-ABE@utsa.edu; RSC.SCI-ENG@utsa.edu; VPR-OCIA@utsa.edu

                                                                               

Existing projects, budgets, expenditures, or special requests (i.e. extensions, budget modifications): Post Award Administration, postaward@utsa.edu