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FEDERAL REGULATIONS & CIRCULARS

OMB Circulars

The Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) publishes a number of circulars related to federal sponsored funding.

Circular A-110 outlines uniform administrative requirements for grants and cooperative agreements (not contracts). Each Federal Agency must formally issue its implementation of A-110 (see Agency Implementation).

Circular A-21 establishes cost principles applicable to grants, contracts, and other agreements with educational institutions.

Circular A-133 establishes audit requirements for institutions of higher education and other nonprofits.

Federal Register

Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

For Federal Regulations regarding Conflicts of Interest, visit the COI Federal Regulations page.

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs)

The FAR was established to codify uniform policies for acquisition of supplies and services by executive agencies. The FARs govern federal contracts just as A-110 governs federal grants and cooperative agreements.

Federal Demonstration Partnership

The Research Terms & Conditions and Agency-specific Research Terms & Conditions are revised on an irregular basis.  See the Research Terms & Conditions on the NSF website http://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/rtc.jsp

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemptions

Federal agencies occasionally receive requests for information about university investigators’ proposals or projects. These agencies then contact investigators to inform them that they will provide information about their proposals or projects to an interested party.

Investigators who receive such correspondence should know that under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), they are not required to disclose all information requested. Under FOIA, there are nine categories of records exempt from mandatory disclosure. Investigators may request that records or portions of records that fall within one or more of these exemptions be withheld. These requests must be made in writing to the originating agency within the timeframe specified by the agency or else all materials will be disclosed.  Investigators or Administrators receiving a FOIA request should forward it to the Deputy Director for Grants & Contracts in Univeristy Research Administration Manager for immediate attention and assistance.

The nine exemptions to FOIA are listed below. If you would like more information about FOIA and these nine exemptions, contact University Research Administration. – September 1992

Exemptions to FOIA

  • Records which are authorized by executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are so classified pursuant to such executive order.
  • Records related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency.
  • Records which are specifically exempted from disclosure by other federal statutes.
  • Privileged or confidential trade secrets or commercial or financial information.
  • Interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with an agency.
  • Personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
  • Investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes.
  • Records related to reports prepared by or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions.
  • Geological and geographical information (including maps) concerning wells.