Sec. 201. Interagency working group on research regulation
620 words·~3 min read·
/bill/114/s/3084/is/section-201A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress makes the following findings: Scientific and technological advancement have been the largest drivers of economic growth in the last 50 years, with the Federal Government being the largest investor in basic research. Federally funded grants are increasingly competitive, with the Foundation funding only approximately 1 in every 5 grant proposals. Researchers spend as much as 42 percent of their time complying with Federal regulations, including administrative tasks such as applying for grants or meeting reporting requirements. The time spent on the activities described in paragraph
(3)affects efficiency and reduces valuable research time. It is the sense of Congress that administrative burdens faced by researchers may be reducing the return on investment of federally funded research and development. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish an interagency working group (referred to in this section as the Working Group ) to reduce administrative burdens on federally funded researchers while protecting the public interest in the transparency of and accountability for federally funded activities. The Working Group shall— regularly review relevant, administration-related regulations imposed on federally funded researchers; and recommend those regulations or processes that may be eliminated, streamlined, or otherwise improved for the purpose described in subsection (c). The Working Group, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, shall— conduct a comprehensive review of Federal science agency grant proposal documents; and develop, to the extent practicable, a simplified, uniform grant format to be used by all Federal science agencies. In developing the uniform grant format, the Working Group shall consider whether to implement— procedures for preliminary project proposals in advance of peer-review selection; increased use of Just-In-Time procedures for documentation that does not bear directly on the scientific merit of a proposal; simplified initial budget proposals in advance of peer review selection; and detailed budget proposals for applicants that peer review selection identifies as likely to be funded. The Working Group shall establish, to the extent practicable, a secure, centralized database for investigator biosketches, curriculum vitae, licenses, publications, and other documents considered relevant by the Working Group. In establishing the centralized database under subparagraph (A), the Working Group shall consider incorporating existing investigator databases. To the extent practicable, all grant proposals shall utilize the centralized researcher profile database established under subparagraph (A). Each investigator shall— be responsible for ensuring the investigator's profile is current and accurate; and be assigned a unique identifier linked to the database and accessible to all Federal funding agencies. The Working Group shall— establish a central repository for all of the assurances required for Federal research grants; and provide guidance to universities and Federal science agencies on the use of the centralized assurances repository. The Working Group, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, shall— conduct a comprehensive review of the mandated progress reports for federally funded research; and develop a strategy to simplify investigator progress reports. In developing the strategy, the Working Group shall consider limiting progress reports to performance outcomes. In carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (d)(1), the Working Group shall consult with academic researchers outside the Federal Government, including— federally funded researchers; nonfederally funded researchers; institutions of higher education and their representative associations; scientific and engineering disciplinary societies and associations; nonprofit research institutions; industry, including small businesses; federally funded research and development centers; and members of the public with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the performance of scientific research. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Working Group shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual report on its responsibilities under this section, including recommendations under subsection (d)(1)(B).