Sent to all federal PIs, research associate deans, other academic leaders, and central and departmental research administrators.
Dear Research Colleagues,
We have heard about multiple cases recently of National Science Foundation (NSF) personnel reaching out directly to principal investigators (PIs) and asking them to:
- modify their scope of work,
- certify their adherence to NSF’s new priorities, and/or;
- certify their adherence to Federal anti-discrimination statutes.
The content of these requests is not necessarily problematic, but PIs should not be asked to make these certifications or scope changes on their own. If you receive such a request, please contact your SPA Grant and Contract Officer (GCO) immediately. Please also copy your associate dean for research on any such correspondence. SPA GCOs will coordinate with their managers and with PIs in developing a compliant response.
The requested scope changes may involve a request to remove DEI-related activities. While work scope changes do not need to go through SPA, SPA staff can assist in coordinating appropriate responses
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to David Hagen at [email protected].
Please continue to visit our SPA Federal Executive Orders and Other Policy Directives website for the most up-to-date guidance.
Sincerely,
April Coon, Director, Sponsored Projects Administration
David Hagen, Director, Office of Cost Analysis