June 2009

June 2009

As always, please allow extra time for our office to assist you in processing your grant proposals to avoid unnecessary delays or missed deadlines.

REMINDER: Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In recent weeks the Office of Sponsored Programs has received several delinquency notices related to progress reports on sponsored projects.   In some cases, the notice was a second or third request for the report. 

Not only do agencies review these reports to determine the appropriateness of releasing additional funding or paying a final invoice, but the reports are also a regulatory requirement for many sponsors.  The quality and timeliness of these reports not only reflect on your work, but also on the institution as a whole.  Failure to make timely submissions could result in denial of future proposals from JMU.

I have found most program officers to be very cooperative with extension requests received in advance of a deadline.   If the report due date falls at a bad time relative to teaching workload or due to a family crisis, please contact my office so we can communicate those factors to the sponsor proactively.  Otherwise, please dedicate the time to honor the sponsor’s contribution to your scholarship.  Thank you.

National Academies Releases Updated Responsible Researcher Guide

The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine have released the third edition of "On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research." The guide has been updated to "reflect the emergence of electronic publishing and globalization of research," the groups said. "The volume offers researchers — particularly early-career scientists and their mentors — guidance on how to conduct research responsibly, avoid misconduct such as fabrication and plagiarism, and think about how to respond in complex ethical situations. ... The report discusses recent real-world instances of misconduct, as well as hypothetical case studies to help scientists think about principles that should guide decision making."

Link: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12192.

In 1995, the Public Health Service (PHS) and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the regulations at 42 C.F.R. Part 50, Subpart F and 45 C.F.R. Part 94, designed to promote objectivity in PHS-funded research by establishing standards to ensure that the design, conduct, and reporting of research funded under PHS grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts is not biased by any conflicting financial interest of an Investigator.

In the intervening years since the publication of these regulations, the pace of translation of new discoveries from the research bench into effective treatment of patients has significantly accelerated.  As a result, the biomedical research enterprise in the United States is extensive and growing in size and complexity.  Recognition of the increasing complexity of biomedical research and the increased interaction between Government and the private sector in meeting common public health goals have heightened public scrutiny regarding the regulatory requirements for Investigator disclosure, management of conflicts, and Federal oversight and have raised the question of whether changes to the regulation may be needed.

NIH developed an ANPRM to gather public comment on possible revisions to the PHS regulations.  The NIH believes that the complex and controversial issues surrounding FCOI warrant a carefully considered, open dialogue with all affected parties to enhance regulatory compliance and effective oversight.  Consequently, with the ANPRM we invite public comments on all aspects of potential regulation in this area, and particularly on the following issues:

• Expanding the scope of the regulation and disclosure of interests;
• The definition of “Significant Financial Interest”;
• Identification and management of conflicts by Institutions; 
• Assuring Institutional compliance;
• Requiring Institutions to provide additional information to the PHS; and
• Broadening the regulations to address Institutional conflicts of interest.

To assure consideration, comments must be received by July 7, 2009 at Regulations.gov

Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-099.html

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) Opportunities

NIH Announces Limited Competition: Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15):

Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-OD-09-007

Application Due Date: September 24, 2009

This NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is supported by funds provided to the NIH under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act” or “ARRA”), Public Law 111-5. The purpose of the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program is to stimulate research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. These AREA grants create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs, to contribute to the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. AREA grants are intended to support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions.

Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) R15 award mechanism.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. It is estimated that up to 50 awards will be made in FY 2010. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

Budget and Project Period. Applicants may request up to a total of $300,000 direct costs plus applicable Facilities and Administrative (F&A)/ indirect costs. Use the modular budget for direct cost amounts up to $250,000 and the detailed budget for direct costs amounts above $250,000. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this funding opportunity may be up to three (3) years.

NSF Announces Limited Competitions : MRI-R2 and ARI-R2
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Academic Research Infrastructure – Recovery and Reinvestment program (the ARI-R2 solicitation, NSF 09-562) and Major Research Instrumentation – Recovery and Reinvestment program (the MRI-R2 solicitation, NSF 09-561) are supported by funds provided to the NSF under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NSF's inclusion in the ARRA reflects widespread recognition that short-term and long-term investments in fundamental science and engineering research and education are important for stimulating the American economy and ensuring that the United States continues its leadership in innovation. 

Together, these two solicitations are intended to strengthen the nation’s academic research capabilities by providing opportunities to develop or acquire research instrumentation (MRI-R2), and to renovate research facilities (ARI-R2).

For the Academic Research Infrastructure solicitation, the deadline for letters of intent, mandatory for those institutions wishing to submit full proposals, is July 1, 2009.  The deadline for full proposals is August 24, 2009.   For the Major Research Instrumentation solicitation, the deadline for full proposals is August 10, 2009.  (No letter of intent is required for MRI-R2.)  

Those interested in submitting proposals are encouraged to carefully review the solicitations and program websites, http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/ari/ and http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri/. 

Check this link often for daily updates to AARA funding: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/recovery.jsp

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http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/index.html

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Arts on Radio, Television

Value-Added Producer Grants

Recovery Act Limited Competitions:
Major Research Instrumentation
Academic Research Infrastructure

Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology

Energy for Sustainability

Annual Grant Competition

Small Research Grant Program

Recovery Act Limited Competition: Academic Research Enhancement Award

• National Endowment for the Arts grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of radio and television programs on the arts.
• Eligibility: State, county, city, township, or special district governments; independent school districts; institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); and nonprofit organizations.
• Funding: Grants range from $10,000 to $200,000.
• Web: http://www.nea.gov/grants/APPLY/RadioTV/index.html
  
• Deadline: September 3, 2009

• The Agriculture Department seeks applications to help eligible independent producers of agricultural commodities, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperative, and majority-contrlled producer-based business ventures develop strategies to create marketing opportunities and develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities.
  
• Eligibility: For-profit organizations and nonprofit organizations, including independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
• Funding: $18 million for $100,000 planning grants and $300,000 working capital grants.
• Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
  
• Deadline: July 6, 2009

Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI-R² )

• As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NSF will invest $200 million in the Nation's research facilities and research training infrastructure.  This investment will advance the science and engineering research enterprise at many institutions.
• Funding: Approximately 100 awards ranging from a total of $250,000 to $2,000,000; approximately 6-10 awards ranging from a total of over $2 million to $5 million; approximately 3-5 awards ranging from a total of over $5 million to $10 million. The award duration for ARI-R² grants up to $2 million is up to three years; award duration for grants over $2 million up to $10 million is up to four years.
• Special Resstrictions: Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:  One (1), either as the lead organization or as a sub-awardee but not both. 
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/ari/
• Deadlines: Letter of Intent Deadline Date:  July 1, 2009 , Full Proposal Deadline Date:  August 24, 2009

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI-R²)

• The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program is announcing a call for proposals that is separate from the standard January submission deadline. Awards made in response to this solicitation will be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (Public Law 111-5), and have special award conditions. Unless otherwise specified, ARRA funding should be considered one-time funding.
• This Major Research Instrumentation-Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R2) competition differs from those for the regular MRI competition.  For this MRI-R2 competition only:
  • Eligible organizations1 may submit a maximum of three (3) proposals, independent of the number of proposals that may have been submitted under the NSF 09-502 MRI competition. However, proposals that wholly or substantially duplicate those that were accepted for review under
    NSF 09-502 will not be accepted for this competition.  A maximum of two submissions can be for instrument acquisition.  If three proposals are submitted, at least one submission must be for instrument development.
  • An organization may be included as a funded subawardee/subcontractor in another organization's development proposal, at a level of 20% or less of that proposal's budget, without affecting the subawardee's/subcontractor's submission limit.  Inclusion as a funded subawardee/subcontractor in a development proposal at a budgetary level in excess of 20%, or in any acquisition proposal, must be counted against proposal submission limits.
  • Proposal budgets may include requests from NSF in the range $100,000-$6 million from Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and non-degree granting organizations; up to $6 million (there is no minimum request) from non-Ph.D. granting institutions of higher education or the disciplines of mathematical sciences or social, behavioral, and economic sciences at any eligible organization.
• Eligibility: Ph-D-granting and non-PhD-granting colleges and universities; and nonprofit organizations.
• Funding: $200 million for up to 400 awards ranging from $100,000 to $6 million each.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09561/nsf09561.htm
  
• Deadline: August 10, 2009

• The NSF's Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology program supports studies concerning the changing aspects of life, ecology, environments, and biogeography in past geologic time based on fossil plants, animals and microbes; all aspects of the Earth's sedimentary carapace; the science of dating and measuring the time sequence of events and rates of geological processes of the Earth's past sedimentary and biological record; the geological record of the production, transportation, and deposition of physical and chemical sediments; and understanding the complexities of Earth's deep time (pre-Holocene) climate systems.
• Eligibility: Unrestricted.
• Funding: $6 million for 40 awards ranging from $30,000 to $500,000.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09560/nsf09560.htm
• Deadline: August 7, 2009; January 16, 2010; July 16, 2010

Energy for Sustainability

• The NSF supports fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage, and it is focused on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable.
• Eligibility: State educational offices or organizations and local school districts may submit proposals intended to broaden the impact, accelerate the pace, and increase the effectiveness of improvements in science, mathematics and engineering education in both K-12 and post-secondary levels.
• Funding: Average annual grant award is $100,000 for one to three years.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026
• Deadline: Proposals accepted from August 15, 2009 to September 15, 2009.

• The USIP requests applications for the Annual Grant Competition for any project that falls within the institute's broad mandate to help prevent and resolve violent conflicts; promote post-conflict stability and development; and increase peace building capacity, tools and intellectual capital worldwide.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations; public institutions; civil society organizations; institutions of secondary, post-secondary and community education; public and private education; training, or research institutions; libraries; national and international public agencies and organizations.
• Funding: Average grant range is $50,000 to $120,000.
• Web: http://www.usip.org/grants/annual_guide09.doc
  
• Deadline: October 1, 2009.

• The National Institutes of Health supports small research programs that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. Types of projects supported by this grant include: pilot or feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.
• Eligibility: State, country, city, or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); nonprofit organizations; small businesses; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
• Funding: Grants up to $50,000.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-163.html
• Deadline: May 7, 2012

• The purpose of this program is to stimulate research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation's research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. These grants create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH programs, to contribute to the Nation's biomedical and behavioral research effort. AREA grants are intended to support small-scale health-related research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions.
• Funding: It is estimated that up to 50 awards will be made in fiscal year 2010. The total amount awarded and that number of awards will depend upon the quality, duration, and costs of the application received. Applicants may request up to a total of $300,000 direct costs plus applicable Facilities and Administrative indirect costs.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-007.html
• Deadline: September 24, 2009

Advancing Public Health Protection Through Water Infrastructure Sustainability

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking new and innovative research applications that link opportunities to advance public health protection with improvements in the condition and function of the water infrastructure. For purposes of this RFA, the water infrastructure includes centralized and decentralized systems that convey, store, and distribute potable and non-potable water and collect and manage municipal and industrial wastewater, stormwater, and on-site rainwater. Innovation can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses. The focus of the solicitation is on improving the effectiveness of the water infrastructure for protecting public health. Projects should clearly demonstrate an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach that leads to advances in design, operation, and management of the water infrastructure and should directly tie those advances to public health protection in conjunction with improving water efficiency and reducing energy requirements.
• ELIGIBILITY: Public nonprofit institutions/organizations (includes public institutions of higher education and hospitals) and private nonprofit institutions and organizations (includes private institutions of higher education and hospitals) located in the U.S., state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply.
• FUNDING: About $6 million for all awards. It is estimated that 8 regular awards and 4 early career awards will be made. For a regular award, the potential funding per awards is up to a total of $600,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 4 years. Early career awards are limited to a total of $300,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a duration of 4 years. Cost-sharing is not required.
• Web: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/ 2009_star_water_infrastructure.html

Cottrell College Science Awards

• The Cottrell College Science Awards support research in astronomy, chemistry, physics and closely related fields that significantly overlap with research in these three disciplines at public and private, predominantly undergraduate colleges. The projects proposed are judged on the basis of scientific originality, significance, feasibility, overlap with the three core disciplines and the ability of the institutional environment to sustain the activity. The involvement of undergraduate students in the research is expected, and is an important factor in most awards.
• ELIGIBILITY: Applications will be accepted from faculty members at public and private institutions of higher education in the United States. The applicant's home department must offer at least the baccalaureate, but not doctoral, degrees in the applicant's discipline. The institutional environment and support for research are important considerations in evaluating the potential of the proposal. The principal investigator must have a faculty appointment in a department of astronomy, chemistry or physics, or, if from another department, propose research that significantly overlaps with research in one of these three disciplines. At the time of application the applicant must be within the first three years of her (his) first tenure track appointment.
• FUNDING: Cottrell College Science Awards provide for only those direct expenses necessary for the conduct of the proposed research and within the five budgetary categories described in the guidelines. An institutional matching contribution to the project of at least 20% of the funding requested from Research Corporation for Science Advancement is expected. While these awards are designed to provide primarily summer support, continuation of the research throughout the academic year is expected. Budgets should be tailored to individual circumstances. Awards are approved for two years with a single, one-year extension possible to expend remaining funds. The total funding requested from Research Corporation for Science Advancement must be between $25,000 and $45,000.
• Web: http://www.rescorp.org/cottrell-college-science-awards

Environmental Conservation

• The Mazda Foundation supports education and literacy; environmental conservation; cross-cultural understanding; social welfare; and scientific research.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations
• Funding: In 2007, the foundation provided more than $400,000 in charitable grants.
• Web: http://www.mazdafoundation.org/grantguidelines.html
  
• Deadline: July 1, 2009

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The following external links are funding deadlines organized by discipline. Please select the applicable discipline to access possible funding opportunities: (courtesy of The Grant Advisor Plus)

• Fine Arts
• Humanities
  
• Sciences
  
• Social Sciences
  
• Federal Register
  
• Education
  
• International
  
• Health Related
  
• Unrestricted / Other
  
• Minorities / Women

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John Hulvey, Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and Accounting
MSC 5728, JMAC-6, Suite 26
hulveyjd@jmu.edu
x8-3725

Sponsored Programs Administration:
Pre-Award & Post-Award (Non-fiscal)
www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/
jmu_grants@jmu.edu
JMAC-6, Suite 26
MSC 5728
Phone: 568-6872; Fax: 568-6240

Sponsored Programs Accounting :
Post-Award (Grants & Contracts)
www.jmu.edu/acadaffairs/grant.shtml
JMAC-6, Suite 30
MSC 5713
Phone: 568-4623; Fax: 568-2397

Tamara Hatch, Associate Director
hatchtt@jmu.edu
x8-2350

Sally Dickenson, Grants Specialist
dickensr@jmu.edu
x8-2336

Whitney Keister , Grants Specialist
keistejw@jmu.edu
x8-3558

Carolyn Strong, Research Coordinator
IRB & IACUC Contact
strongcd@jmu.edu
x8-2318

Amanda Brown , Executive Assistant
brown2aw@jmu.edu
x8-6872 or x8-4623

Donna Crumpton, Financial Administrator
crumptdl@jmu.edu
x8-8099

Brenda Seifried, Financial Administrator
wilburbc@jmu.edu
x8-8-2314

Kyra Shiflet, Financial Administrator
shiflekl@jmu.edu
x8-7108

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