Working With DoD

Explore these sponsor-specific tools and resources for working with the Department of Defense (DoD).

Proposal submission resources

• DoD Common Terms and Definitions
• Environmental Questionnaire
• Human subjects research:
  • DoD Principal Investigator Checklist
• Information security requirements:
  • Information Security Requirements
  • Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
  • Technology Control Plans & Licenses
• Representations Regarding Unpaid Federal Tax Liabilities and Conviction of Felony Criminal Violations under Any Federal Law form (PDF download) — U-M has not filed articles of incorporation, so item 1 should be marked “Is not” and items 2 and 3 should be left blank.

DoD-specific policies

Please remember to adhere to deadlines from your unit and special circumstances, such as the various Forms that DoD require, completed by U-M OSEH and other such items. 

Timely spending and invoicing

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) reminds grantees that excessive unexpended funds without proper justification may result in reduced or no additional funding for annual award increments. AFOSR anticipates fewer no-cost extensions will be approved going forward. Project teams should make sure they are spending and invoicing in a timely manner throughout each year.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 

Effective Nov. 10, 2025, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued their final rule for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The rule mandates specific IT security, physical and personnel security controls and requirements on DOD contractor IT systems. The implementation requires institutions to certify at the time of agreement and over the life of the project that the institution is compliant with relevant security controls and requirements. Enforcement of the final rule introduces false claims implications for non-compliance. Agreements containing this clause will require a review by the Research Information Security Office (RISO).

Managing DoD awards

Office of Naval Research RPPR process

A web‐based system exists for submitting Interim Progress Reports, including products (journal articles, proceedings, etc.) generated from research. The new system modernizes and streamlines processes, and implements the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) standard. (The RPPR standard is a government-wide effort to standardize research reporting across the entire enterprise.)

Note, the new RPPR system does not include Monthly, Quarterly or Final Progress Reports at this time. ARO has been partnering with the Office of Naval Research to develop and test the new system over the past year.

Access to the new system will be via the existing ARO Extranet with a new pod entitled, “RPPR Interim Progress Reports,” using an individual’s existing userid and password.  This document outlines the changes to help project teams familiarize themselves before deployment.