Information about COVID-19 as it relates to research
UA Information
- Guidelines for Partial Reactivation of Laboratory Research Activities at UA - May 10, 2020
- CITI Program COVID-19 Returning to Campus training - Available, for free, through March 2021
- UA's response to the pandemic (or here for faculty-specific information)
The Office of Research Administration (ORA) is closely following the COVID-19 pandemic. This page contains information about COVID-19 as it relates to externally-funded research and sponsored programs. The ORA will continue to update this page as new information and resources become available. Researchers are urged to contact their program officers, as well as their pre- and post-award ORA representatives with any questions or issues that arise. We are all in this evolving situation together.
NSF
- NSF Coronavirus Information (undated) - summary page with numerous NSF and other links
- NSF Implementation of OMB M-20-26: "Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants...," posted 6/26/2020
- FAQs regarding COVID-19 for Proposers and Awardees, latest update: 5/19/2020
- COVID-19 Impact on Existing Deadlines, latest update: 7/7/2020. Keep checking this page. NSF is updating this list periodically.
NIH
- Information for Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding, updated 7/8/2020, includes information regarding research involving human subjects and animals, as well as funding opportunities regarding COVID-19
- NIH COVID-19 Flexibilities - FAQs - Updated 7/2/2020 to align with OMB M-20-26.
- Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding, 3/12/2020, NOT-OD-20-086, includes information regarding prior approval requirement waivers, pre-award costs, reporting extensions, and more
- FAQs for Proposal Submission and Award Management Related to COVID-19, 3/10/2020, NOT-OD-20-083
- Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) COVID-19 Pandemic Contingency Planning for Animal Care and Use Programs, released 4/2/2020, updated 5/26/2020
- Late Application Policy Due to COVID-19, 3/26/2020, NOT-OD-20-091. For information purposes. All grant applications submitted late for due dates between March 9, 2020, and May 1, 2020, were accepted through May 1, 2020.
DOD
- FAQs for DOD Research Proposers and Awardees Impacted by COVID-19 (undated), covers a range of topics and in many ways are consistent with NIH and NSF guidelines, with one notable exception. While DOD policy supports no-cost extensions whenever possible, funding expiration statutes may prohibit such extensions. Please contact your DOD grants manager for award-specific guidance. Some DOD agencies are issuing specific guidance: DARPA (3/19/2020)
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES
- Department of Energy Memorandum for Applicants and Awardees, 3/13/2020
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 FAQs, June 2020
- NASA Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applications Impacted by COVID-19 (undated) and NASA FAQs re: Grants and Research during the COVID-19 Epidemic, released 3/25/2020; updated 4/16/2020
State of Ohio Information
- Ohio Department of Transportation COVID-19 Impacts on Research statement, released 4/7/2020
In light of the COVID-19 public health concerns, many organizations have converted to teleworking or closed their offices completely. ODOT’s Research Section, is still hard at work…. remotely. Although we are not physically in the office, the entire staff is teleworking and available via email or phone during normal business hours. Unless you are informed otherwise by your ODOT Research Project Manager, all project status calls are continuing as scheduled. While everyone is doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19, we understand that the progress of research projects may be impacted.
Laboratories at universities and some private facilities have either put restrictions on the number of people that may have access at any one time or are preparing to close. Access to project staff, such as students, may become limited. Obtaining essential supplies for testing/development, getting survey responses, and coordinating for field tests/data collection may have become more difficult. While ODOT does expect work on research projects to continue, we do realize that due to these unique circumstances projects may be delayed at no fault of the researcher. Our office will take these events into consideration in regard to due dates and contract completion dates. It is essential that researchers keep Technical Advisory Committees and ODOT’s Research staff informed of any issues that may lead to a delay in a project. Be proactive. Send an email to Research@dot.ohio.gov to help document these problems in the event adjustments to the contract may be needed. Don’t wait until draft final reports are due to let us know of issues affecting projects that are related to COVID-19 closures.
No-cost time extension requests should not be submitted until the full impact on the project is known. All delays associated with COVID-19 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If researchers are unsure of what to do, contact the ODOT Re-search Project Manager for assistance. We also understand that many accounting/billing departments are in the process of converting to teleworking. ODOT is currently making the same adjustment. Quickly transitioning a paper process to an electronic one is difficult and challenging. In light of this, ODOT’s Research Section is issuing a 30-day grace period on project billing for the quarter ending March 31, 2020 on all research projects. These invoices will be due by May 31, 2020 as opposed to April 30, 2020. We strongly encourage organizations who are able to submit their invoices by the standard deadline to do so in order to reduce delays in reimbursement. If you have any questions about billing, please contact your ODOT Research Project Manager. We thank you for your participation in transportation research in Ohio. Your efforts help ODOT provide an efficient and safe transportation network to the traveling public. If you have any questions, please contact our office. In the spirit of safety, keep washing your hands.
Funding Opportunities - Please read solicitations carefully for eligibility requirements
- Grantforward COVID-19 Research Funding Opportunities - Please read eligibility requirements carefully. PI must contact Mrs. Ellen Perduyn (perduyn@uakron.edu; 330-972-6056) in UA's Development Office BEFORE contacting any foundation/non-profit agency. This link is provided for your convenience. Grantforward is offering this listing for free during the pandemic. For additional UA-specific funding opportunities, see ORA's Research Blog.
Other Resources
- Council on Government Relations (COGR) - summary of agency and institutional responses to COVID-19