[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61849-61850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26090]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards; Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).

ACTION: Request for public comment on updated Research Terms and 
Conditions (RTC) to address and implement the Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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SUMMARY: In 2000, the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP), a 
cooperative initiative among numerous Federal agencies and 
institutional recipients of research funds aimed at reducing the 
administrative burdens

[[Page 61850]]

associated with research grants and contracts, developed Standard Terms 
and Conditions as a model implementation of OMB Circular A-110. These 
terms were an effective set of requirements for many agency research 
awards. In 2005, following public and agency comment on the original 
FDP terms, standard research terms and conditions were developed by 
Research Business Models (RBM), an Interagency Working Group of the 
Social, Behavioral & Economic Research Subcommittee of the Committee on 
Science (CoS), a committee of the National Science and Technology 
Council (NSTC). In 2008, a side-by-side comparison of OMB Circular A-
110 and the Research Terms and Conditions was developed; the terms and 
conditions were updated in 2011.
    This project is an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) 
Interagency Working Group. One of the RBM Subcommittee's priority areas 
is to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal 
research awards. Given the increasing complexity of interdisciplinary 
and interagency research, it has become increasingly important for 
Federal agencies to manage awards in a similar fashion.
    On June 30, 2014, a proposal was presented to the RBM on behalf of 
the participating agencies from the RBM Interagency Working Group to 
develop a revised set of RTCs for implementing the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards, 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance). The purpose was to 
develop a revised set of RTCs as they apply to research and research-
related grants made by the following awarding agencies to institutions 
of higher education and non-profit organizations.
    The agencies participating in this activity include the: U.S. 
Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
and National Institute of Standards and Technology; U.S. Department of 
Energy; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration; National Science Foundation; U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture; 
U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration; and 
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    While the Uniform Guidance outlines provisions that are specific to 
research, these terms and conditions:
     Incorporate the entire Uniform Guidance by reference, 
clarifying or supplementing select provisions where appropriate and 
consistent with government-wide research policy.
     Apply to an award when included as part of the award or 
when incorporated in the award by reference. Use of the RTCs is 
envisioned as a streamlined approach that supports the implementation 
of the Uniform Guidance by providing clarification, supplementary 
guidance, and, where appropriate, selected options, while meeting the 
spirit and intent of a uniform implementation. The RTCs also include 
flexibility for additional individual agency clarification through the 
incorporation of appendices and matrices. The side-by-side RTCs depict 
pertinent sections of the Uniform Guidance on the left side and 
clarifications for research and research-related awards on the right 
side.
    On behalf of the RBM, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has 
agreed to continue to serve as the sponsor of the updated version of 
these RTCs. The general public and Federal agencies are invited to 
comment on the proposed revised format during the 60-day public comment 
period. A ``For Comment'' version of the proposed RTCs, along with 
previous versions of the Research Terms and Conditions and other 
related materials, are posted on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/rtc.jsp.
    After obtaining and considering public comment, the RBM will 
prepare the format for final clearance.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, Office of the General Counsel, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 22230, email 
[email protected]; telephone: (703) 292-7556; FAX (703) 292- 9240. We 
encourage respondents to submit comments electronically to ensure 
timely receipt. We cannot guarantee that comments mailed will be 
received before the comment closing date. Please include ``Research 
Terms and Conditions'' in the subject line of the email message; please 
also include the full body of your comments in the text of the message 
and as an attachment. Include your name, title, organization, postal 
address, telephone number, and email address in your message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To view the draft Research Terms and 
Conditions, see: http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/rtc.jsp. For 
information on the Research Terms and Conditions, contact Jean Feldman, 
Head, Policy Office, Division of Institution & Support, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 22230, email: 
[email protected]; telephone (703) 292-8243; FAX: (703) 292-9171.

    Dated: October 8, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-26090 Filed 10-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P