Two NSF Items

First, an article from Inside Higher Ed about a bill passed earlier this month that could decrease NSF's budget for social and behavioral research.

Second, the NSF's FY 2013 Performance and Financial Highlights, which includes information like this: in fiscal year 2013, 49,014 proposals were evaluated by their merit review process and 10,844 were funded. This is the lowest number of new awards since fiscal year 2006. It can only get better from here!

Beware of a grant scam!

The Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) has received reports from a number of people regarding a grant scam. The scammers contact investigators saying they represent COFAR and want to award the investigator a grant ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, but they require a processing fee be paid first and ask for bank account information. COFAR wants people to know that they never award grants; in addition, no one from the government would ever ask for someone's bank account information for any reason.

Read more about the scam here: http://www.fordham.edu//images/academics/Office_of_Research/OSP//COFAR-Grants-Alert.pdf

NIH raises salary cap to $181,500

The NIH announced today that they are operating under a continuing resolution, and that the Executive Level II salary is increased by 1% from $179,700 to $181,500. See NOT-OD-14-043 for more information.

Inside Higher Ed article about how the sequester has affected research institutions

WASHINGTON -- The automatic federal budget cuts, known as sequestration, that took effect in March have forced universities to lay off research-related personnel, delay projects and admit fewer graduate students, according to a new survey released Monday. Read more: Inside Higher Ed

Cold Spring Harbor Lab (LI) hosts the NSF for an upcoming workshop

The tentative agenda includes:
• an overview of the proposal and merit review process at NSF
• information on cross-disciplinary programs
• breakout sessions for specific disciplines, and
• "Proposal Preparation 101"

Registration costs run from $150 to $300 (including lunch, reception and hotel room where appropriate). More information can be found at https://meetings.cshl.edu/meetingsregistration_nic1.asp.

Fordham has a NEW Indirect Cost (F&A) Rate

As of July 1, 2013, our on-campus rate is going up to 78.5% and our off-campus rate is going up to 39%. As a reminder, these are the rates we must use when there is no cap on the F&A rate for a grant proposal. Our full rate is calculated against our salaries and wages only, and includes our fringe benefits. If there is a cap on F&A for a grant proposal, you must use the capped rate on the total direct costs, not just Fordham personnel costs.

NIH transitioning to new forms (version C) in September

Most NIH proposals due September 25, 2013 or after will be using the new Forms C packages in Grants.gov. Be careful that you don't download application packages too early and end up with Forms B - they will not be accepted. More information here: Notice NOT-OD-13-074