Current FDP Projects

Troublesome Clauses System
Contracts Task Force

Alex McKeown, Johns Hopkins University

An online database where FDP members can enter and access information about terms & conditions placed in research grants and contracts that are difficult to accept. The database tracks the negotiation of the clause, the resolution and any alternate language that was agreed upon. FDP members can use this tool to see how specific agencies have negotiated specific clauses previously and use that information in their negotiations.

Click here to get more information.

Project Certification Demonstration
Finance/Costing/Audit Committee

Debbie Rafi, Office of Naval Research
Rich Andrews, University of California Irvine

A demonstration with 4 universities and 2 federal agencies to demonstrate a new method for reporting time and effort information on federally sponsored research grants.

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A-133 Audit Information System
Subcontacts Subcommittee

Jim Becker, Indiana University

An online database where FDP members can enter information concerning their annual A-133 audits and other FDP members can access that information when complying with subrecipient monitoring rules and regulations.

Click here to get more information.

STAR METRICS Project
Research Administration Committee

Susie Sedwick, University of Texas at Austin
Dick Seligman, California Technological University

Working with federal agencies, research organizations submit data to a central depository where it is aggregated and information about the effect of the federal investment in the American research enterprise is extracted. The data is extracted and submitted automatically requiring very little effort once it is in place. This is being put forward as the best model for the federal government to collect this type of data.

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FCOI Clearinghouse
Resarch Administration Committee

Pamela Webb, University of Minnesota

This project was started in response to the PHS Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) regulations that went into effect on August of 2012. It is an online database that allows research organizations to certify that they are compliant with the regulations. Being online and readily accessible allows organizations to quickly and easily determine if their subrecipients are compliant.

Click here to get more information.

Expanded Clearinghouse
Research Administration Committee

Pamela Webb, University of Minnesota

With the success of the FCOI Clearinghouse, the FDP is looking at expanding the clearinghouse to house data beyond the PHS FCOI certifications in order to make subrecipient monitoring easier and more efficient.

JAD Team
eRA Committee

Ron Splittgerber, Colorado State University

The Joint Application Design (JAD) Team is a group of individuals with different roles in the grants application process that work with Grants.gov to address issues in the system and streamline the process of using Grants.gov to submit grant applications. They look at both the PDF forms submission process and the system-to-system submission process.

ScienCV
eRA Committee

Ron Splittgerber, Colorado State University

In collaboration with NIH & NSF, the FDP is exploring how a central repository of researcher profiles might be implemented in the United States. They are looking at systems that have been implemented on other countries as well as gathering input from stakeholders in the community.

Family Worklife Balance Project
Faculty Committee

Michelle Masucci, Temple University

A collaboration with NIH & NSF, this project is looking into best practices, policies and guidance on a federal and institutional level to help researchers achieve a good balance between their home life and work life.

Faculty Workload Survey
Faculty Committee

Sandy Schneider, University of South Florida

The FDP has conducted its second Faculty Workload Survey. With over 15,000 respondents, the analysis will be able to be much more detailed that in the previous survey. The results have been compiled and presented at the January 2013 FDP meeting with the final written report expected by May.

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IRB Exempt Wizard
IRB Subcommittee

Jane McCutcheon, New Yourk University

The IRB Exempt Wizard is a proof of concept pilot that will allow investigators to enter information about the human subjects protocol into an online decision support system in order to determine if their protocol needs to be reviewed by a full IRB committee or if it exempt from such review.

IRB Practical Guide
IRB Subcommittee

Lois Brako, University of Michigan

The goal is to provide a set of tools that will allow institutions to reduce administrative burdens and maintain superior standards of human subject protection while adhering to federal regulations. These tools are based on the suggestions of our forward-thinking colleagues, particularly the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP), and on our own experiences with successful demonstration projects.

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Subaward Forms
Subaward Task Force

Jim Becker, Indiana University
Jennifer Barron, Johns Hopkins University

The subaward form is an ongoing project that has produced a subaward template for institutions to use when processing Subawards. The goal is the creation of a common contract that all parties can use without changing the language. This reduces the time needed to review each contract and streamlines the subaward process.

Click here to get more information.