Updated as of 4/18/2025
To view the latest updated guidance on the priorities of the U.S. National Science Foundation, please visit this page.
Updated as of 4/2/2025
With a temporary restraining order in place, all federally sponsored projects can continue work as planned prior to the issuance of the Executive Orders and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memos and as stipulated in original grant and contract agreements. This new guidance replaces all previous guidance, including campus-wide communication and individual emails to Principal Investigators. Note that this situation is prone to sudden change, and guidance may change accordingly.
Guidance issued by individual Federal Agencies can be found on the Agency Guidance page.
Rescinded Federal Funding directives can be found on the Archived Federal Funding Updates page. Guidance and information found on this page is still in effect.
*Notice from the OSP Team* The Payment Management System (PMS) has introduced a new mandatory field in response to Executive Order (EO) 14222, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Cost Efficiency Initiative” (issued February 26, 2025). This field now requires grant recipients to provide a justification explaining the purpose of each reimbursement request. This includes Major federal sponsors utilizing PMS include DHHS, NASA, ARS, and the Department of Treasury.
Our office processes monthly drawdowns for awards in PMS, drawing down each award individually but as part of a larger Letter of Credit (LOC) request. In response to this change, we are working with Business Analysts to develop a new report to streamline compliance with this requirement.
How This Affects You
If all prior month’s expenses align with approved budget categories, our team will centrally generate the required justification.
If there are expenditures in unbudgeted categories, we will need your assistance to provide a justification statement.
Given the complexity of these drawdowns, turnaround times will be short.
If additional details are required, you will receive an email from your Post-Award Specialist
The Trump administration, which assumed office on January 20, 2025, has issued several Executive Orders (White House News) that have resulted in project-specific suspensions, stop work orders and terminations from federal agencies and sponsors. Additionally, all federally funded projects with DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) components were required to halt these activities immediately on January 20, 2025, and no further DEIA charges are permitted to be applied to the award.
As federal agencies and sponsors make changes or notify us of updates to specific research projects, REDD will keep you informed with guidance, updates, and relevant resources to help you navigate these changes. If you come across any information not covered on this page, please forward it to fgraf@uwyo.edu for inclusion.
Proposals
We will continue to submit proposals as the federal agencies submission systems remain operational.
Sponsor proposal review timelines may be extended while federal agencies navigate pauses on federal assistance funding in specific areas.
Pre-Award Spending Accounts:
Pre-Award Spending accounts will not be approved during this transition.
Pre-Award Spending accounts already approved with department guarantees may proceed with caution.
What to Do for Proposals:
Reconfirm proposal deadlines, as they may change.
Verify that funding announcements have not been revised or postponed.
Expect that any DEIA-related aspects will be removed from RFAs and solicitations.
Sign up for agency or sponsor alerts, if available.
Awards
The terms and conditions of your active awards remain enforceable. Continue with business as usual unless notified otherwise.
Any amendments to awards will be reviewed and shared promptly.
Award information can be viewed in ROAMWyo. Financial Information can be viewed in WyoCloud.
Compliance:
Expect changes to research compliance requirements (e.g., export control, IRB, IACUC, COI).
Act swiftly to meet new requirements to avoid jeopardizing funding.
Contact chesco@uwyo.edu for research security/export control and COI matters.
Contact irb@uwyo.edu for IRB matters.
Contact iacuc@uwyo.edu for IACUC matters.
DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Activities:
Federal agencies have issued notices to immediately cease all DEIA activities tied to awarded federally funded projects.
Affected activities include, but are not limited to:
DEIA/Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) plan requirements
Training and reporting
Staffing considerations
Other direct or indirect award activities
What You Need to Do for DEIA:
Stop all DEIA-related activities on your project immediately.
If any sub-recipients are performing DEIA-related activities, see Sub-recipients section below.
Do not apply any further charges to the award for DEIA purposes.
Costs and salaries for DEIA activities may be mapped to non-sponsored accounts at the unit’s discretion.
Ensure that funds previously allocated for DEIA activities remain unspent and are not reallocated to other budget categories.
It is not recommended to extend Pre-Award spending unless the project is at significant risk of being negatively impacted. If Pre-Award spending has already been initiated for your project due to indications from the federal agency regarding an award, ongoing negotiations, or awaiting the next funding increment, it is encouraged to keep your department informed about the potential risks associated with any future funding decision.
Events/Meetings:
If an event has been scheduled but can no longer proceed, promptly notify all relevant stakeholders, including participants, speakers, and organizers, about the cancellation or postponement.
Funding Adjustments:
Programs may face restructuring, delays, or defunding. Guidance will be shared when available.
Avoid extending At-Risk status unless project objectives are significantly threatened.
Procurements:
If Funding is Not Obligated:
For all awards, not just federal – if funding has not been obligated to UW to pay for the procurement, consider postponing or canceling the purchase until the required funds are provided. If this is a procurement that requires further consideration or resources from UW, please contact Deputy Vice President for Research and Innovation, Arun Pradhan at apradhan@uwyo.edu.
If Funding is Obligated:
If you are able to secure equipment, materials, or supplies for your project using your currently obligated funds, you are encouraged to proceed with doing so.
Continue to verify the availability of funds and stay informed about any policy changes that could impact your projects.
If a procurement is in process, review the terms and conditions of the agreement for cancellation provisions and upcoming payment milestones
When obtaining quotes for a procurement, request that the country of origin be included and ensure the quote includes a validity period during which the vendor is committed to maintaining the quoted prices without alteration.
Reporting:
Changes to reporting requirements may occur. Respond promptly to instructions from your Program Officer.
What to Do for Awards:
Review your grant agreement, especially funding and reimbursement clauses.
Monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits.
Communicate with your Grant Officer to confirm any changes.
Submit overdue reports and deliverables promptly.
Travel:
Travel may be suspended by federal agencies. If you have already made travel arrangements using obligated and approved funds, and the trip is critical, you may proceed. If travel is not essential or critical, it is advised to refrain from traveling until further guidance is provided.
Subrecipients:
Coordinate with Hallie Sherard at hallie.sherard@uwyo.edu.
When an award is signed, the federal agency allocates a portion of the total approved budget as obligated funds. UW as the recipient can incur expenses up to the obligated amount and these expenses will be reimbursed. Any expenses incurred within the scope of the award and covered by obligated funds will be reimbursed. Future expenses beyond the current obligation will not be reimbursed. The same principles apply to sub-awards. When an award is signed, the federal agency allocates a portion of the total approved budget as obligated funds. UW, as the recipient, can authorize sub-awardee's to incur expenses up to the obligated amount, and these expenses will be reimbursed.
Any expenses incurred by sub-awardee's within the scope of the sub-award and covered by obligated funds will be reimbursed. However, future expenses beyond the current obligation will not be reimbursed unless additional funds are formally obligated.
Stop-Work Orders, Terminations, and Suspensions:
If you receive a stop-work order, immediately halt all project activities as specified in the notice.
Only costs incurred up to the date of the stop-work order are typically reimbursable.
Project costs and salaries may be mapped to non-sponsored accounts at the unit’s discretion
Notify your Post-Award Specialist.
Retain all records and communications related to the project for audit and closeout purposes.
Review the terms of the stop-work order or termination notice carefully. Award information can be viewed in ROAMWyo.
Submit any required final reports or deliverables promptly.
Avoid incurring any additional expenses unless explicitly authorized.
Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations. Anticipated future funding remains subject to availability of funds and should not be considered guaranteed.
When an award is signed, the federal agency allocates a portion of the total approved budget as obligated funds. UW as the recipient can incur expenses up to the obligated amount and these expenses will be reimbursed. Any expenses incurred within the scope of the award and covered by obligated funds will be reimbursed. Future expenses beyond the current obligation will not be reimbursed.
The same principles apply to sub-awards. When an award is signed, the federal agency allocates a portion of the total approved budget as obligated funds. UW, as the recipient, can authorize subawardees to incur expenses up to the obligated amount, and these expenses will be reimbursed. Any expenses incurred by subawardees within the scope of the subaward and covered by obligated funds will be reimbursed. However, future expenses beyond the current obligation will not be reimbursed unless additional funds are formally obligated.
*Note for Stop-Work Orders: Only costs through the date of receipt of the notice are typically reimbursable.