COVID-19 Updates
Some of the available downloads from OSP may not meet UNC accessibility guidelines. While we work to make all our documentation accessible, please contact OSPCommunications@unc.edu for support utilizing any downloads.
Communications
- 03/13/2020 – Federal Sponsor Updates
- 03/16/2020 – OSP Continuity of Operations While Teleworking
- 03/20/2020 – Message from Campus Leaders on Reduced Operations
- 03/24/2020 – Federal Sponsor Updates
- 03/27/2020 – UNC System Announces Work-Leave Provisions for April
- 05/21/2020 – Message from Chancellor on Return to Campus and Carolina RoadMap
- 05/23/2020 – Plans to Scale-Up Research on UNC Campus
- 07/20/2021 – Office of Sponsored Programs Update
UNC Research
- UNC Research COVID-19 Website
- UNC Research COVID-19 Q&A Session from June 8, 2020
- Directions and Guidance for All On-Campus Research
Other Resources
- UNC Coronavirus Webpage
- Campus Guidance and FAQs for Faculty and Staff
- Campus Guidance and FAQs on Travel
- UNC Finance Operational Updates
- COVID-19 Resources for Graduate Students
- UNC System Coronavirus Resource Center
Federal Agencies
Federal Guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Office of Management and Budget
- M-20-26: Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (CO VID-19) due to Loss of Operations (PDF)
- M-20-23: Aligning Federal Agency Operations with the National Guidelines for Opening Up America Again (PDF)
- M-20-22: Preserving the Resilience of the Federal Contracting Base in the Fight Against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF)
- M-20-21: Implementation Guidance for Supplemental Funding Provided in Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19 (PDF))
- M-20-20: Repurposing Existing Federal Financial Assistance Programs and Awards to Support the Emergency Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF)
- M-20-18: Managing Federal Contract Performance Issues Associated with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF)
- M-20-17: Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations (PDF)
- M-20-11: Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF)
National Institutes of Health
Contracts must be handled on a case by case basis. Details regarding any contract must be directed to the cognizant Contracting Officer. Salary changes must also be handled by the contracting officer.
- Presentation on Overview of NIH Guidance
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients
- FAQs on COVID-19 – Flexibilities for Applicants and Recipients
- NIH Guidance on Travel and Meetings Hosted by NIH
- NOT-OD-20-091 NIH LATE APPLICATION POLICY Due to Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- NOT-OD-20-083 General Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Proposal Submission and Award Management Related to COVID-19
- NOT-OD-20-086 Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
- NOT-OD-20-087 Guidance for NIH-funded Clinical Trials and Human Subjects Studies Affected by COVID-19
- NOT-OD-20-088 Flexibilities for Assured Institutions for Activities of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) Due to COVID-19
National Science Foundation
- Important Notice No. 146 – NSF Letter to Community Regarding COVID-19
- NSF Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-20 (PDF)
- NSF Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17 (PDF)
- Impact on Existing Deadline Dates (PDF)
- NSF Guidance on the Effects of COVID-19 on Human Subjects Research (PDF)
- NSF Guidance on the Effects of COVID-19 on Vertebrate Animal Research (PDF)
- NSF Guidance for Major Facilities and Contracts Regarding COVID-19 (PDF)
- FAQs About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for NSF Proposers and Awardees (PDF)
- FAQS About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for NSF SBIR and STTR Grantees (PDF)
- FAQS About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for NSF Major Facility Cooperative Agreement Recipients (PDF)
- NSF Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-26 (PDF)
Agencies for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Information for CDC Applicants and Recipients of CDC Funding
- Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
- General Funding and Grants Frequently Asked Questions
- Updated Flexibilities Guidance for Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19: July 8, 2020
DARPA
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) for DARPA Performers
Department of the Air Force (Sent to Contractors, Subject to Change)
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
- Accommodating Interruptions from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (PDF)
- ARPA-E Actions Owing to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PDF)
- PF 2020-20 COVID-19 Guidance for Financial Assistance Actions
Department of Health and Human Services
- Preparation for Potential COVID-19 Impact on Contract and Contractor Performance (PDF)
- OHRP Issues Guidance for Application of the Human Subjects Protection Regulations to Actions Taken in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- OHRP Guidance on COVID-19
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Grantees and Recipients- Information Memorandum: IM-ACF-OA-2020-01 (PDF)
- ORI Operations Status during Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Food and Drug Administration
- FDA Guidance Documents on COVID-19
- FDA – Flexibilities Available to Applicants and Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance Affected by COVID-19
Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) For IES Grantees
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Assistant Administrator for Procurement Message on Coronavirus (PDF)
- NASA COVID-19 For Grantees
- NASA Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-20-17 (PDF)
- Grants and Research during the COVID-19 Epidemic (PDF)
- Memo to Contractors (PDF)
- COVID-19 Impact to NASA SBIR/STTR Program
Office of Justice Programs, DOJ
OJP Grantee Update #1 COVID-19 Impacts (PDF)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)
- COVID-19 Information for SAMHSA Discretionary Grant Recipients
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to COVID-19 for SAMHSA Grant Recipients (PDF)
USDA – National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Other Sponsors
American Cancer Society
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
COVID-19 FAQs for Applicants and Awardees
Duke Endowment
A Word from our President on COVID-19
Information Museum and Library Services
Information for IMLS Grant Applicants and Awardees
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Applicant and Awardee FAQs Related to COVID-19
Procter & Gamble (P&G) Supplier
COVID-19 Bulletin – Mar 26, 2020
Research Triangle Institute International
External Resources
Council on Government Relations
OSP Operations
Will OSP continue to process requests and transactions for sponsored projects management?The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is open to the public weekdays 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Appointments are not required. Face masks are required and social distancing is enforced. Please proceed as usual with your proposal submissions and sponsored project requests. Please reference the OSP business units page for full descriptions and emails of all OSP personnel and reference the OSP contact page for a list of all email inboxes to contact for specific requests. |
Will OSP continue to answer phone calls?The OSP main phone 919-966-3411 will continue to be answered during normal business hours, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. |
With OSP now open to the public, can we still drop-off checks or documents for signature?You can still use the green mailbox (printed with Office of Sponsored Programs on the front) at the entrance of the Administrative Office Building (AOB) to drop-off any mail or checks to OSP. All mail received will be processed within 1 business day from drop-off. If you would like a confirmation receipt that OSP has received your mail, please include a note with the mail stating that and list any email addresses to receive the confirmation. Reference this post on OSP’s continuity of operations during telework. |
Is OSP still processing physical mail (i.e. agreements, notices, and checks)?OSP is processing physical mail on a daily basis. OSP retrieves mail both from University Mail Services and the OSP mailbox at AOB. For items dropped off at the OSP mailbox at AOB, those will be processed within 1 business day from when you dropped it off. If you would like a confirmation receipt that OSP has received your mail, please include a note with the mail stating that and list any email addresses to receive the confirmation. Reference this post on OSP’s continuity of operations during telework. |
Will payments be processed as normal?There will be no delay in processing payments during this time from OSP. Any checks you need deposited can be dropped off at the OSP mailbox at AOB (see above for directions). |
Are the email inboxes supported by OSP still being monitored?OSP remains fully operation and all inboxes supported by the office such as SponsoredPrograms@unc.edu, OSPBilling@unc.edu, OSPCommunications@unc.edu, Contracting@unc.edu, OSPContracting@unc.edu, OSPSubs@unc.edu, etc. will be monitored as normal during this time. |
If I am uncertain about sponsor flexibility in response to COVID-19 what do I do?OSP continues to monitor sponsor guidance and will communication these updates via email and update this COVID-19 guidance page. You can also email SponsoredPrograms or contact your department’s Sponsored Programs Officer for additional assistance. |
Proposal and Award Management
Are proposal still being submitted to the sponsor?Yes, both the Office of Sponsored Programs and Sponsored Programs Office are fully operational during remote operations. |
Which federal agencies have made major changes in proposal submission and award management guidance in response to COVID-19?The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) maintains a matrix of agency guidance that describes how various federal agencies have implemented policies that are consistent with the authorities granted to them under OMB. |
Is there anything I should do if an OSP managed sponsored project has halted or slowed progress due to COVID-19?Sponsor guidance may vary. Please contact your department’s Sponsored Programs Officer for additional assistance. |
Is there a template letter available for responding to sponsor about COVID-19 related impacts?Yes, please reference the OSP COVID-19 Research Impacts – Sponsor Template (Word) and contact your department’s Sponsored Programs Officer for additional assistance. |
How should recipients submit details on how COVID-19 has delayed or affected the progress of research activities on NIH-funded grant projects?Recipients of NIH funded research must report on any effects on award in their next RPPR submission. Recipients are not to submit standard letters, but rather report on these details within the RPPR. The funding IC will consider the effects that are reported by the recipient when reviewing and approving the RPPR. |
What information should be included in NIH RPPRs due related to COVID-19?Recipients of NIH Funded research should document COVID-19 effects and state that research outcomes are not available at this time. Recipients should outline when they believe they will be able to include details related to the disruptions to the research efforts. It is important to clearly document progress on grants as it may provide substantiation for any future no-cost time extension requests. |
Subrecipient
Will UNC subrecipient still received payment?Currently there are not cuts to funding including subrecipients and are no delays in payment. As we receive information from sponsors, we will update OSP’s COVID-19 Resources page. |
What is the guidance on repurposing funds during COVID?Please be aware that the updated guidance from Federal agencies for sponsored research funds applies to UNC subrecipients as well. If you have a question about the ability to repurpose funds for a specific grant, check that agency’s website. |
Impacts on Federal Grants and Contracts & Non-Profit Funded Projects
Impacts on Federal Grants
What level of detail concerning the impacts of COVID-19 should be included in an upcoming RPPR? Is the template emailed from OSP sufficient or should the PI be providing much of the details including payments vs completed/uncompleted work?Recipients should document any COVID-19 effects and outline any research outcomes that are not available at the time of reporting. Recipients should outline when they believe they will be able to include details related to the disruptions to the research efforts. It is important to clearly document progress on grants as it may provide substantiation for any future no-cost time extension requests.The template letter (Word) provided on the OSP website is not sufficient but can provide general language that may be included. Do NOT submit the template letter with your RPPR. The PI will need to provide detailed information on any COVID-19 effects to the project as part of the RPPR form. Some examples include:
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Is submitting a subsequent, or new, progress report recommended if we submitted an RPPR just prior to the outbreak and do not have an RPPR due during this period?No, we recommend you provide notification to NIH at the time that the next RPPR for your grant or cooperative agreement is required. For documentation purposes NIH has requested that we use the regularly scheduled annual reporting mechanism to provide this notification. |
Do you expect Federal agencies to release more funding for salaries being paid during the months the University is closed due-to the pandemic?Supplemental funding is available but as of now seems to be focused on COVID supplemental research. NIH’s most recent FAQs indicate that while documentation is required, recipients should not assume additional funds will be available if charging these costs results in a shortage of funds to eventually carry out the project. This could change over time and we recommend talking with your SPS about any concerns you might have so we can reach out to the appropriate sponsor for additional guidance. |
Which section of the RPPR is the most appropriate in which to report COVID-19 Impacts?Section F-Changes is the section of the RPPR in which you should describe any challenges or delays that you encountered during the reporting period and any actions or plans to resolve them. As a result, this is the most appropriate location to report COVID-19 Impacts to your project. While this section is the primary location that you should describe any impact to your project, additional information may be included throughout the RPPR depending on how your specific project was impacted by COVID-19. Examples of RPPR sections that may include additional information include but are not limited to: Section B-Accomplishments and Section D-Participants. |
If there is an employee who took Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements |
COVID Impacts on Federal Contracts
If we have charged paid administrative leave on Federal contracts, do we need to request prior approval?Yes, please contact your OSP SPS as soon as possible to request sponsor prior approval, even if it is after the fact. Any paid administrative leave charges on federal contracts require sponsor prior approval. |
Impacts on Non-Profit Funded Projects
What do I do if I have personnel who are idle on my project? Are non-profit sponsors generally allowing for this flexibility?They should contact their SPS so OSP can review the agreement terms and sponsor requirements to help determine if prior approval is required or some type of notification and if so assist in preparing this. Yes, in some cases our non-profit sponsors are allowing flexibilities, but they vary from sponsor to sponsor. |
Should I reach out to the Non-Profit Sponsor directly if I have concerns about my project?No, we ask that you please loop in OSP by reaching out to your SPS who can help to facilitate and coordinate any communication and requests. |
What do I do if my project is ending soon and I will not be able to complete my scope of work?Work with your SPS to review the terms of your agreement, sponsor flexibilities that have been provided, and help to coordinate any request. |
The Federal government is requiring that we include how and if our project was impacted by COVID-19 in our progress reports, should we do the same with Non-Profit sponsor?Yes, if your project has been impacted by COVID-19 it is important that you provide details on how it has been impacted in your next progress report. It is also recommended that if you were able to continue your project with little impact (example working remotely) then it can’t hurt to provide details on how you were able to continue. |
I charged Paid Administrative Leave to my project and now I do not have enough funding to complete my project, what do I do?Work with your SPS to review the terms of your agreement, sponsor flexibilities that have been provided, and help to coordinate any request. |
Do Non-Profit sponsors have gap or supplemental funding available?In general, we are not seeing gap or supplement funding from our non-profit sponsors but since our sponsors are unique there could be instances where this type of funding will or is currently available. |
Training
| Session | Description | Date | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Impacts on Industry Sponsored Projects | This webinar will provide an overview and guidance on working with industry partners during this time of uncertainty. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 4-Jun-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording |
| Impact of COVID-19 on Federal Funding | Participants will get a broad overview of how to manage Federal funding sources if their project is impacted by COVID-19, as well as resources and guidance on how to work with OSR to communicate any impacts to their sponsors. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 7-Jul-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording |
| Impacts of COVID-19: Managing Non-Profit Funded Projects | The webinar will discuss the unique characteristics of non-profit funding. It will provide an overview of the University’s Policies related to the pandemic and their impact on non-profit funding. We will cover the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Prior Approval Request (PAR) process and tips and tools for working with our Non-Profit Sponsors as well as the University’s resources and FAQ’s. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 13-Aug-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording |
| Impacts of COVID-19 on Salary and Effort Management | This session covers important impacts of COVID-19 on both salary and effort management. It provides a change in OSR guidance on these subjects. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | Pre-recorded Webinar |
Training Opportunities
| Session | Description | Date | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Impacts on Industry Sponsored Projects | This webinar will provide an overview and guidance on working with industry partners during this time of uncertainty. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 4-Jun-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording dated 06/04/2020 |
| Impact of COVID-19 on Federal Funding | Participants will get a broad overview of how to manage Federal funding sources if their project is impacted by COVID-19, as well as resources and guidance on how to work with OSR to communicate any impacts to their sponsors. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 7-Jul-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording dated 07/20/2020 |
| Impacts of COVID-19: Managing Non-Profit Funded Projects | The webinar will discuss the unique characteristics of non-profit funding. It will provide an overview of the University’s Policies related to the pandemic and their impact on non-profit funding. We will cover the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Prior Approval Request (PAR) process and tips and tools for working with our Non-Profit Sponsors as well as the University’s resources and FAQ’s. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | 13-Aug-20 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Recording dated 08/13/2020 |
| Impacts of COVID-19 on Salary and Effort Management | This session covers important impacts of COVID-19 on both salary and effort management. It provides a change in OSR guidance on these subjects. Click here (PDF) for the presentation. | Pre-recorded Webinar |