U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has announced a new streamlined process for providing states funding flexibilities to meet the needs of students and educators during the COVID-19 national emergency. Authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security CARES Act, the flexibilities allow schools to repurpose existing K-12 education funds for technology infrastructure and for professional development for teachers who are teaching remotely. Any state may complete a brief form available at https://oese.ed.gov/, and it will receive an initial determination within one business day. Read more →

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Director Mark Schneider has published a blog post on IES activities and resources in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses many topics including the recent What Works Clearinghouse Rapid Evidence Synthesis to generate high-quality information about what works in distance education. To read the complete blog, see IES in a Time of Pandemic by Mark Schneider, Director of IES, March 31, 2020.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently updated its Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients website with additional FAQs and new funding opportunities. In response to community concerns about the ability to submit applications in a timely manner, the NIH has published Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-091 announcing that grant applications submitted late for due dates between March 9, 2020, and May 1, 2020, will be accepted through May 1, 2020. This notice applies to all relevant funding opportunity announcements, including those that indicate no late applications will be accepted. Read more →

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued Important Notice No. 146 to the Community Regarding COVID-19. NSF has also issued additional guidance on NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum (M-20-17), entitled, Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations. NSF has implemented flexibilities authorized by OMB from specific administrative, financial management, and audit requirements contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

Any questions about the policies described in the NSF guidance should be directed to policy@nsf.gov. Questions specific to a particular award should be directed to the cognizant NSF Program Officer. NSF is working to update existing FAQs and other resources to reflect NSF’s new guidance and will keep you informed on its website at nsf.gov/coronavirus.
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To assist the community with the new requirements for the National Science Foundation (NSF) biographical sketch and current and pending support documents and to start using SciENcv, NSF and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will conduct a joint webinar including a walk-through of how to prepare these documents in SciENcv. The date will be provided as soon as it is available, and you are encouraged to sign up for notifications.

The next NSF Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Forum will be held on May 14, 2020 at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET where NSF will discuss the NSF-approved format requirements, as well as the new capability to prepare and submit separately submitted collaborative proposals in Research.gov. To sign up for ERA Forum notifications including registration availability for the May 14 event, please send a blank email to NSF-ERA-FORUM-subscribe-request@listserv.nsf.gov and you will be automatically enrolled.

The following training resources are now available, and NSF will continue to keep the community informed as additional resources are released. Read more →

UF Research is continually updating information on its website at https://research.ufl.edu/covid-19-updates.html. Additional links to important updates can be found here:

UF COVID-19 Updates

Sponsor Updates

COVID-19 Grant Opportunities Read more →

The need and opportunity for telework offers unique venues for work productivity and professional growth using online tools and science connectivity. At UF Research, we are concerned for the safety of our science workforce during the current pandemic while also intrigued with the notion that time away from the grind presents very real prospect for enhancing typical progress in our work.

We at UF Research offer suggestions for activities that advance research productivity while also keeping in active work status. While this guidance is directed to those typically working in laboratory, field, or clinical research funded by sponsored programs, it is applicable to a wide range of research associated positions at UF. As a secondary support, we offer suggestions for administrative and financial staff to supplement and diversify their administrative and financial support responsibilities should that be necessary.

Suggestions and information are available at https://research.ufl.edu/covid-19-updates/sponsored-programs-related-telework-activities.html Read more →