NSF has new inspector general

Allison C. Lerner is now Inspector General at the National Science Foundation. Click the headline for brief background information from NSF's website.

Grants.gov "perfect storm" brewing; ports of refuge available

Monday, April 27, is the deadline for 29 federal grant programs. Needless to say, Grants.gov will be very busy. To minimize frustration, try to submit before the last minute, or use an alternative submission system. Some agencies will accept applications through their own systems. Check the accompanying post "Overburdened Grants.gov gets relief") for names of those agencies.

Overburdened Grants.gov gets relief

Interest in grants offered under the Recovery Act have taxed Grants.gov beyond its capabilities. OMB seeks to increase the capacity of Grants.gov. In the meantime, some agencies are accepting applications through other submission systems. Click the link for details.

OMB seeks to improve Grants.gov -- fast

Federal officials are working to "initiate urgent improvements" to Grants.go, which was not built to handle the volume of application submissions generated by the Recovery Act. Grant-making agencies have been asked to chip in to pay for the improvements.

To read the memo from Peter Orszag, click the headline, then the link for M-09-17, "Improving Grants.gov."

Grants.gov stakeholder webcast April 15

Grants.gov will provide its quarterly update at a webcast scheduled for 1-2 p.m. April 15. Registration is not required. Topics will include Grants.gov and the Recovery Act, recent system builds, and Recovery.gov. Click the headline for the webcast link.

Research.gov offers grant application status

Investigators and sponsored projects offices can now check the status of grant applications to the National Science Foundation, USDA's CSREES program and DoD's Army Research Office. Click the headline to learn more.

OMB releases guidelines for agency handling of Recovery Act funds

Agencies must follow strict criteria in their handling of Recovery Act funds. Click the headline for a link to the latest OMB guidance on the topic.

NIH to consider use of $400 million in comparative effectiveness research

A newly formed council to consider the use of federal funds for research on the comparative effectiveness of health treatments seeks public comment on spending priorities. The council will conduct a "public listening session" April 14 in Washington, D.C. Those interested can also watch the session online. Click the headline for more details

Grants.gov delaying submission of your NIH grant? Read this

Federal officials realize that the volume of funding opportunities created by the Recovery Act is taxing the capacity of Grants.gov. NIH has some advice for investigators who have trouble meeting the deadline when submitting applications through Grants.gov.

Give students, science educators summer opportunities, NIH says

NIH urges those with currently funded grants to apply for supplements that will allow them to bring students and elementary, middle and high school teachers into their labs this summer. Grantees also can support community college faculty and faculty from non-research intensive institutions. Funding announcement.