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Government Shutdown - Latest News
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 8:00 a.m. - Agencies are open again for business. We will keep you posted to the best of our ability if this changes.
This page provides links to agency resources in the event of a government shutdown, to mitigate impact to the research and awards process.
Agency Contingency Plans
These contingency plans are NOT in effect. We will leave them here for reference, during the continuing resolution. (Updated Mon, Jan 22, 2018)
See all: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/agency-contingency-plans/
HHS - 2018 HHS Contingency Staffing Plan and Informal Letter to Funding Recipients. This page specifically mentions that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue patient care for current NIH Clinical Center patients, minimal support for ongoing protocols, animal care services to protect the health of NIH animals, and minimal staff to safeguard NIH facilities and infrastructure. As a consequence, certain planned awards may be canceled or postponed.
Should HHS determine that action is necessary, the financial assistance officer for each of the affected programs or awards will provide prompt appropriate notice to the recipient. Notices will contain the direction necessary to comply. Unless a recipient is provided formal notification to the contrary, all HHS recipients must continue to comply with all terms, conditions, requirements, and performance goals specified in their financial assistance award.
NSF - Neither Fastlane nor research.gov a are running. NSF has posted emergency shutdown instructions. Grants.gov may be up and running, but FastLane will not be operating and therefore proposal downloads from Grants.gov will not take place. Therefore, proposals will not be checked for compliance with NSF proposal preparation requirements or processed until normal operations are allowed to resume.
NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will limit operations. The Grants Online System will not be available. Recipients who are paid on a reimbursable basis will be unable to receive payment during a lapse in appropriations.
NSA- National Security Administration - For contractors that have contracts with obligated funding remaining, and place of performance is at the contractor's facility, work may continue at the contractor facility until currently obligated funding is exhausted or the period of performance has expired.
The following summarizes some of the impacts that may be experienced by the university research community.
What can I expect as a researcher or research administrator?
- Do continue awarded research as usual unless otherwise advised by your agency or program.
- Do still submit proposals to ORSP so that we can be responsive on your behalf as operations resume.
- Know that approvals of new applications will likely be delayed, and in many cases, applications are not being accepted, but proceed as if they are.
- Know that communications with federal offices, including those by phone, email or via websites, will likely be delayed, or may not be possible.
- Know that access to funds may be delayed.
Additional questions
I am working on a new proposal that is due. Should I continue?
Yes. We encourage researchers to proceed with application preparations and be ready with every aspect possible, including submitting to ORSP for review and working with your research administrators. The submission requirements may vary from agency to agency, but your PR at ORSP will process according to the best direction we are given. Note that any communications with federal agencies, including, questions, submissions, and approvals, will not be possible.
Can I continue to work on my federally funded research?
Yes, work may continue on all awards, unless otherwise notified, to the extent that doing so will not require federal staff intervention and that funds are available.
Will any of the above circumstances change my deadline for a new federal proposal?
The answer to this question is unknown at this time. We recommend that you move forward as if it the deadline is the same and submit to ORSP. If a deadline is extended, applicants will be notified by the agency. Deadlines have not formally changed yet, any such changes will be communicated by the Federal agencies only after operations resume.
Agency Contingency Plans - whitehouse.gov
Below are the links to contingency plans for agencies across the Federal Government. The page will be updated as more plans are posted. AbilityOne Program (September ...