New! Collaborative Research Administrators Group July Meeting: Brown Bag Discussion- Using AI in Research Administration

Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Have you used an AI tool to streamline a research administration process? Have you encountered an interesting AI project related to the research lifecycle? Do you have thoughts on integrating AI into your work day? Join the Office of Sponsored Projects as we discuss AI tools in research administration- the good, the bad, and what may come next. This meeting will be held in a Brown Bag format, so come prepared to share, discuss, and learn from your colleagues as we explore this important and timely topic! 

New! Research Evaluation and Analytics Capacity Hub (REACH) Webinar: Where Could AI Actually Help Your Research Analytics Team?

Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Research analytics and research administration teams are increasingly being asked the same question: What should we actually be doing about AI? For many institutions, the challenge is not a lack of interest, it’s determining where AI could realistically provide value while protecting research integrity, governance, and institutional priorities.

Rather than focusing on hype or tools, this session will help participants explore where AI may realistically reduce administrative burden, where it could improve insight generation and research intelligence, how to evaluate opportunities responsibly, and how institutions can begin identifying practical next steps. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI may, and may not, make sense for their institution.

OMB Releases Proposed Uniform Guidance Updates

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released the anticipated proposed updates to the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200. Please take the time to review this information. A 45-day public comment period is open until July 13, 2026. More information is available on the OSP website, including information on submitting a public comment and resources exlopring the proposed changes.

New! Request for Public Comment on Draft NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has requested public comment on the draft NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA), which will replace the current Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). You can find the notice in the Federal Register. Comments can be submitted through August 24, 2026. 

Coming August 5, 2026: NASA Requirements for Research Security Training and Use of Common Forms

On February 5, 2026, NASA Grants Policy and Compliance released a Grant Information Circular (GIC) 26-02 on NASA Research Security Training Requirements. In short, GIC 26-02 states that starting August 5, 2026, “covered individuals” on federal financial assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements applicants/recipients), must certify to NASA they have taken research security training prior to submission of proposals. This training requirement and certification does not apply to civil servants and contractors who propose to or are funded by NASA.

Potential proposers for NASA financial assistance funding are encouraged to take the training (see second bullet point below) well in advance of the NASA proposal due date.

Questions may be directed to: hq-dl-grants-policy-compliance@mail.nasa.gov and hq-researchsecurity@mail.nasa.gov.

NIH Request for Information: Proposal to Cap the Number of Simultaneous Research Project Grants per Principal Investigator to Support More Researchers and Maximize Scientific Productivity and Innovation

On June 8, 2026 NIH released Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-086 which solicits public input on the outline for a proposed policy that would cap the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) an individual can simultaneously serve on as Principal Investigator (PI) or Multi-Principal Investigator (MPI). Comments on this notice can be submitted electronically and must be received no later than August 3, 2026. 

NIH Rescinds the New Threshold for Subawards and the 15% De Minimis Rate

On April 20, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notice NOT-OD-26-72 rescinds two important flexibilities allowed in the 2024 Uniform Guidance revisions. The flexibilities were effective for awards starting on or after October 1, 2024; and were effectively implemented by NIH on October 1, 2024 (NOT-OD-25-059). The subaward threshold up to $50,000 is reverting back to $25,000. The 15% de minimis rate is reverting back to 10%. This blog post by Attain Partners discusses these changes. 

Update of NIH Late Application Submission Policy and End of Continuous Submission

On March 31st, the NIH released Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-064 announcing an updated policy for late submission of competitive applications. Be sure to review the entire Guide Notice for complete information about the below changes.

End of Continuous Submission

Due to submission delays leading to inefficiencies in application referral and peer review, NIH is ending the Continuous Submission Policy and updating the Late Application Submission Policy to designate participation in a recent review or advisory group meeting as an acceptable reason for late submission. NIH will accept Continuous Submission applications through August 10, 2026 (the end of the continuous submission receipt period for the June/July standard due dates) for assignment to January 2027 Council. 

Late Application Submission Policy

The updated NIH Late Application Submission Policy applies to applications due on or after May 25, 2026 and allows late submissions only in limited, case-by-case circumstances. Late applications must be submitted within two calendar weeks of the due date, result from documented extenuating circumstances affecting a listed PD/PI, and be submitted to a funding opportunity that permits late applications. Fellowships, Small Business awards, certain international programs, and any opportunity that explicitly prohibits late submissions are not eligible. Applications may also be submitted within the late application period, if within four calendar weeks before or after the due date, any PD/PI named on the application participates in an NIH peer review study section or special emphasis panel, an NIH Board of Scientific Counselors, Program Advisory Committee, or an NIH Advisory Board or Council. 
This specific review service is the only pre-authorized reason for a late submission (i.e., automatically accepted once review service information provided in the cover letter is confirmed).

NIH to Require Prior Approval for Changes to Domestic Subawards

On March 25th, the NIH released Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-062 announcing updates to the NIH requirements for obtaining prior approval for changes to domestic subawards on all NIH grants and cooperative agreements. Effective June 1, 2026, all prime recipients are required to obtain NIH prior approval when adding a new domestic subaward to a project post-award, when the arrangement was not originally a part of the peer-reviewed and approved application. The new prior approval requirement is intended to ensure that NIH is aware of all subaward activities for each NIH project, so that NIH can monitor the prime recipient and ensure compliance with subaward monitoring and reporting requirements. Requests must be submitted in the eRA Commons Prior Approval Module using the “Other Request” type.

Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan

NIH has released Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-046 which is intended to update Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan elements to clarify common areas of confusion in the research community while streamlining and simplifying DMS Plans. NIH states that DMS Plans should include only the elements indicated in the Guide Notice. An updated DMS Plan Format page will be made available upon receipt of OMB clearance. A draft can be viewed here: Data Management and Sharing Plan Format Page. Effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026, applicants and recipients are required to utilize the new, simpler format. NIH is implementing this updated format page as a pilot and will evaluate the need for additional updates over the next year.

New PF5 NOFO for NIH Application Structure for NIH-Funded International Collaborations

On January 20, 2026, NIH released PA-26-002,a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the PF5 Collaborative International Research Project, implementing a new application and award structure for applications that request funding for foreign component organizations. For reference, see Guide Notice NOT-OD-25-155, background, second paragraph (September 12, 2025). This opportunity specifically implements an award structure to support NIH-funded international collaborations of prime domestic awards with independent foreign awards that are linked to the prime. This structure provides NIH with oversight capacity for international collaborations, and allows NIH to track international funding, as identified in NOT-OD-25-104. The PF5 NOFO should not be used for foreign consultants, purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, foreign collaborations that do not involve NIH funding, or any other foreign component that would not result in a foreign subaward. NIH provided additional details in the FAQs for PF5 application preparation and submission.

NIH Policy Notice: Implementation of Research Security Training Requirement for Covered Individuals 

NIH has issued guide notice NOT-OD-26-017 which announces implementation of the requirement for all covered individuals (defined by NIH as Senior/Key Personnel) to certify that they have completed research security training within 12 months of the date of application submission. NIH will collect the individual’s certification at the time of the application submission, through the Biographical Sketch in SciENcv. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is required to complete an institutional certification that each covered individual on the application has completed the research security training prior to application submission. Completion of research security training for senior/key personnel, individual and institutional certifications will be effective for NIH applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026. GW researchers may review the Research Security Training page for guidance on how to complete this requirement.  

Most OSP Resources are located on the Education and Training SharePoint site. To access the site, you will need to use your GW Single Sign On credentials. If you need any assistance finding a resource, or require help to access the Education and Training SharePoint site, please contact OSP_EandT@gwu.edu.