SR Resource Updates: Progress Reports, Capsules, SRAs, and MTAs
Sponsored Research would like to draw your attention to new resources on the SR website, including:
- Lists of upcoming NIH and NSF required reports
- Updated capsule assignments
- Updated Standard Research Agreement
- New requirement for certain outbound MTAs
Updated Capsule Assignments
Sponsored Research is pleased to share that the new Assistant and Associate Sponsored Research Officers we welcomed to the PAA team in September have now been assigned to capsules. CERES has been updated and new proposals and AMRs will route based on the updated assignments. Note, items already routed and currently under review (or AMRs pending sponsor approval) will stay with the Assistant or Associate currently assigned in CERES. However, you may continue to see some reassignments internally based on workload and experience, or as needed for backup during absences. To identify if your SR capsule contacts have changed, please use the Find My Capsule tool.
Progress Report Resources
Due to the changes imposed by the NIH, departments are no longer able to access the NIH RPPR overdue report list. As a result, Sponsored Research has added a new Progress Reports page where you can find lists (updated monthly) detailing upcoming NIH and NSF required reports. These lists include annual performance reports as well as those required for grant closeout.
Compliance with Reporting Requirements
As a reminder, compliance with reporting requirements is critical to ensuring continued funding of the University’s research. Failure to submit the required reports can have serious consequences, not only for the individual PI(s), but for the University as a whole.
Recent NIH Updates Regarding RPPRs
- For all awards ending after October 1, 2024, AHRQ will transition to using eRA Commons for closeout activities, including the Final RPPR and Final Invention Statement.
- For RPPRs submitted on or after October 1, 2024, new requirements for reporting Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan activities apply
- NIH RPPR Instruction Guide (updated October 2024)
New Standard Research Agreement (SRA)
A new Northwestern University Standard Research Agreement (SRA) is now available on the Agreements page on the SR website. Northwestern’s Standard Research Agreement is available to provide to collaborators before formal negotiations occur. It offers terms that Northwestern could endorse with efficiency. As a reminder, formal negotiations (including any negotiations involving detailed budgets) must involve Sponsored Research.
New Outbound MTA Requirement
For outbound Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) where the shipper is: (1) sending any items to an Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) sanctioned country or Military End Use (MEU) country; (2) sending biologics or hazardous materials to any country; or 3) sending critical or emerging technologies to any country, you must include a completed "CERES Material Transfer Agreement Questions" document as an attachment to the CERES agreement record. In these scenarios, the Export Controls office needs to review the answers to the MTA Questions. Visit the Knowledge Base to learn more about how to Create and Submit a Non-Funded Agreement in CERES.