NSF, NIH, and Other Federal Grant Updates

Greetings, 

As the federal research funding landscape continues to evolve, the UW is navigating multiple changes each week, including agency notices and legal challenges, terminations and delays in award notifications. All UW schools, colleges and campuses are impacted. 

Please regularly visit the Guidance on Federal Administration Research Policy webpage for the latest up-to-date guidance. We also have two new NSF and NIH FAQ pages as well as select links to court decisions and agency announcements relevant to UW research. There’s also a host of information to help explain indirect costs (IDC) and their role in funding the cost of research. 

The UW, in alignment with many of our peer institutions, made the difficult decision to pause NSF proposal submissions and accepting NSF grants received after May 5. With no imminent deadlines, it was critical to wait for an outcome of a legal challenge to the 15% NSF cap (filed May 14). 

In addition, the UW is participating in a national collective of stakeholders – the Joint Associations Group (JAG) on Indirect Costs – working to develop a new indirect cost model. The group plans to put forward a proposal by the end of May, and we do not want to undermine those efforts. 

Late Friday, we learned that NSF agreed to stay implementation of their IDC Cap policy through June 13, 2025, the date of the hearing. With this change, OSP will move forward with award processing and proposal submissions using the UW’s negotiated IDC rates while we wait for the court’s decision. However, please note that award notices from NSF have not been coming in for several days, and there is a concern that delays will continue. 

Beyond NSF, there are also some new NIH challenges. Please review these UW NIH FAQs for more guidance. 

• NIH issued an Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards.

• No-cost extensions are no longer automatic and NIH prior approval is required.

• Many Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are ending early (on 5/24 – only cycle I deadlines allowed). Check the list in the notice to make sure your NOFO is still active if you are submitting for June/July/August Deadlines.

OSP is actively working with the Attorney General’s Office to support PIs who choose to appeal or object to a termination. OSP is also working with individual PIs on impacts to their grants related to other court decisions.  

We will continue to update our guidance in response to evolving conditions. 

Thank you, 
The Office of Research and the Office of Sponsored Programs