Dear Research Administrators.

 

Below guidance was sent to all active PIs. Forwarding for your information.

 

Thanks,

 

Brian

 

 

Dear Principal Investigators.

 

For your use in whole or in part.

 

Notifying Sponsors of COVID-19 Disruptions thru RPPRs, Progress Reports, or Otherwise

 

Most sponsors are expecting RPPRs or other types of Progress Reports being submitted in the next few months to include discussion about COVID-19 effects and impact on project activities.

 

To assist and in cases where a University of Vermont lead in statement may be helpful you may use in whole or in part the following statements for these communications.

 

·         On March 24, the State of Vermont Governor Scott issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order and directed the closure of in-person operations for all non-essential businesses.

 

·         The University of Vermont following the State of Vermont “Stay at Home, Stay Safe” order transitioned where possible research and sponsored project activities to remote work, with a small number of projects continuing as essential research. Projects that could not transition to remote work and have not been approved as essential have been paused, until otherwise directed, by University and State officials.

 

·         The University of Vermont has established procedures to ensure that critical research infrastructure and assets like animals, cell lines and biological assets, reagents and chemical components remain viable, cared for, and safe.

 

·         The University of Vermont paramount goal, is to protect the health and safety of our University community and the community in which we work, to continue essential research and protect research assets, to help our researchers cope with the disruptions they have faced, and to maintain our research support and administrative infrastructure.

 

·         On April 17, the State of Vermont Governor Scott outlined an approach for the phased restart of Vermont’s economy, emphasizing the state’s modeling indicates initial steps can be taken while the Stay Home/Stay Safe order remains in effect.

 

·         On April 20, the University of Vermont convened an ad-hoc committee to begin discussions and prepare communications to campus that will outline procedures and strategies to reopen research activities that is consistent and based on guidance that is released from federal and state public health officials.

Project Specific Discussion/Topics

 

·         Despite the current challenges of the COVID pandemic, we continue to pursue the objectives of this project. Activities that have continued with little or no interruption include: (Insert that which is appropriate for your project)

 

·         Sponsored project activities that have been temporarily impacted due to the COVID pandemic include: (Insert as appropriate for your project. This might include experimental laboratory activities; travel; field work; etc)

 

·         Tentative plans for work on this project for the next 60 days include: (Insert short paragraph describing tentative research plans for the next 2 months of activity. Consider including work that is continued or modified. If there are unanticipated costs going forward, you may wish to include this as well.)

 

Significant Change in Scope of Work

 

·         As a reminder, a significant change in scope is typically not permitted without sponsor approval.

 

·         If you believe a significant change to your scope of work (rather than change in methods or timelines) is necessary, please consider contacting your Program Officer with a short update before proceeding with a formal request.

 

For Formal Requests, use UVMClick - Award Mod Request

 

·         If the program officer directs you to move forward with a formal request, please login to UVMClick, go to Awards, find your Award using the search functionally, click the Award hyperlink and complete the activity “Award Mod Request”. Upload all related documents and information and submit. The request is delivered to SPA who will complete the action.

 

·         If you have any questions, please contact your department’s assigned SPA RA.

 

Thank You,

 

Brian

 

Brian Prindle, MBA, CRA | Executive Director | Signing Official

University of Vermont

Research Administration and Integrity

Office of the Vice President for Research

340 Waterman | 85 South Prospect Street

Burlington, VT 05405-0160

P: 802-656-1435 | [log in to unmask]