OCGA Blog

The UCLA Indirect Cost Rate Agreement was revised on April 24, 2026, to incorporate fringe benefit rates for FY2026 and FY2027. View the updated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement on the OCGA website. In May 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will implement several policy changes: Starting with due dates on or after May 8, 2026, applicants ...

Proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) that complies with PAPPG 24-1 and PAPPG 24-1, Supplement 2. Effective April 27, 2026, the DMSP must be created using the tool in Research.gov. View the NSF website and funding opportunity for instructions in completing the DMSP.  

NIH is Seeking Input for the Framework of the Next NIH-Wide Strategic Plan On March 16, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued NOT-OD-26-047 seeking public input on the framework for its NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for FY 2027–2031. The framework outlines NIH’s overarching priorities in research areas, research capacity, and research operations, with goals focused ...

National Institutes of Health Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Guidance On March 19, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a NIH Extramural Nexus article outlining the required and optional components of a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) application and what applicants should include in each. The article features a quick-reference table that summarizes, by ...

UC/State of California Indirect Cost Rate Increase to 40% On February 19, 2026, the UC Chief Financial Officer approved the State of California Indirect Cost (IDC) rate escalation from 35% MTDC to 40% MTDC effective July 1, 2026. This is the final increase to the UC/State of California rate table and brings the recovery rates for ...

Updates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH): The Office of Contract and Grant Administration (OCGA) has received confirmation from NIH that the agency’s existing leniency regarding the adoption of the updated Commons Forms also applies to the requirement for senior/key personnel and other significant contributors to link their ORCID iD with their eRA Commons accounts. ...

NASA Research Security Training Requirement On February 5, 2026, NASA issued GIC 26-02 to announce that effective August 5, 2026, NASA will require Covered Individuals (defined in GIC 26-02) to certify completion of research security training within 12 months prior to proposal submission by signing certifications on NASA biographical sketch and current/pending support forms. This requirement ...

On February 4, 2026, NIH issued NOT-OD-26-033 to announce that NIH has extended the leniency period for required use of the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support through May 2026. During this period, applicants may continue to use the existing NIH formats, and submissions that do not use the new Common ...

Updates from the National Institutes of Health: As announced in NOT-OD-26-018, NIH requires use of the Common Forms for the Biographical Sketch, NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms. In recognition of the ongoing technical challenges reported through SciENcv and the eRA Service Desks, the agency has implemented a temporary leniency period ...

Reminder: NIH will Require Use of Common Forms On December 2, 2025, NIH issued NOT-OD-26-018 to announce that NIH will require use of the Common Forms for the NIH Biographical Sketch Common Form, NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement and Current and Pending (Other) Support for applications due and progress reports submitted on/or after January 25, 2026. These ...

On December 3, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued NOT-OD-26-019, to announce changes to the grant application process. Given NIH’s recent decision to centralize the peer review, NIH is no longer requesting or accepting letters of intent (LOIs). Additionally, effective immediately, NIH will no longer require investigators to contact the funding Institute or ...

NIH Updates On December 2, 2025, NIH issued NOT-OD-26-018 to announce adoption of the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for due dates on or after January 25, 2026. NIH will require individuals identified as senior/key personnel certify on their Common Form for Biographical Sketch that they are not a party ...

NIH Issues Guidance on Implementing a Unified NIH Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued guidance on November 21, 2025, on Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding  Of note:   NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICO) funding policies should… promote ...

Understanding NIH Multi-Year Funded (MYF) Awards and Carryforward Limitations The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is increasingly utilizing Multi-Year Funded (MYF) awards for Non-Competitive Continuation grants. Under this funding model, the full committed budget is provided at the outset of the award period. As a result, the traditional concept of carryover—or carryforward—of unobligated funds does not ...

To support the campus community with flexible, accessible learning opportunities, the Office of Contract and Grant Administration (OCGA) is pleased to announce the release of a new series of training videos focused on the Electronic Extramural Proposal Approval and Submission Summary (EPASS) System. These videos are designed to help users navigate EPASS more confidently and efficiently, ...

Potential Federal Government Shutdown OCGA has posted information on our webpage under Hot Topics related to processes and expectations for federal grant and contract issues during a shutdown. Please check back regularly as the guidance may evolve as agencies post information on their websites.  NIH Timeline for Implementation of Research Security Policies To Be Updated The National Institutes of ...

Federal Grant Funding Reinstated at UCLA Following Judicial Ruling Following a court order, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reinstated previously suspended grants to UCLA. Email notifications have been sent to impacted UCLA Principal Investigators (PIs) confirming reinstatement of grants. The OCGA Outgoing Subawards Team will be sending emails to PIs this afternoon requesting confirmation ...

NIH Policy Update on International Collaborations In NOT-OD-25-104, NIH announced its intention to establish a new award structure that would directly fund foreign entities collaborating with lead domestic entities, moving away from the traditional subaward structure for collaboration with foreign entities. In line with that new award structure, on September 12, 2025, NIH issued NOT-OD-25-155, outlining ...

It has been an active few weeks in relation to the news surrounding federal grant support. On August 25, 2025, Vice Chancellor Wakamoto sent an announcement regarding Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRPs). Because covered individuals participating in federally funded research and development projects are not permitted to participate in MFTRPs, many federal agencies require covered ...

The U.S. White House issued an Executive Order on Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, on August 7, 2025, outlining a comprehensive overhaul of how federal discretionary grants will be reviewed, awarded, and monitored. Some key points from the Executive Order (EO) include: Agency Oversight Political officials will review and approve funding opportunity announcements and related discretionary awards using ...