Federal Update 1
March 4, 2009
CONGRESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
Update on Stimulus Opportunities for Higher Education
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law two weeks ago. Approximately $20 billion of the $787 economic recovery bill is allocated to federal research agencies to support research and development initiatives that will create or retain jobs, modernize infrastructure, and make investments in long-term innovation activities. Agencies are directed to obligate research funding within 90 days of enactment and capital funding within 120 days of enactment.
The bill provides support to university-led research at federal agencies in this way:
- National Institutes of Health -- $10.4 billion
- National Science Foundation -- $3 billion
- Department of Energy Office of Science -- $2 billion
- Department of Energy Renewable Energy -- $2.5 billion
- NASA -- $1 billion
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) -- $610 million
- Department of Defense -- $300 million
The outline of how each agency plans to distribute its funding is beginning to emerge, and some of that information is provided below. As each agency's plans evolve, the IU Office of Federal Relations will attempt to communicate updated information.
Directives on the use of federal research dollars included in the stimulus bill
- Two-year funding -- no commitment of funds beyond 2010
- Funds should stimulate the local economy -- reporting requirements on the use of funds include the number of jobs created
- Geographic Distribution -- agencies are to be sensitive as to where funds are allocated
Distribution Plans by Agency
National Institutes of Health -- $10.4 billion
Web site: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- $8.2 billion in support of scientific research priorities -- $7.4 billion is transferred to the Institutes and Centers and Common Fund (CF), based on a percentage-based formula; and $800 million to the Office of the Director (OD) (not including CF), for example, support for Challenge Grants), a program designed to focus on health and science problems where progress can be expected in two years.
- $1 billion to support Extramural Construction, Repairs, and Alterations -- Allocated to the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) in support of all NIH funded research institutions
- $300 million for Shared Instrumentation and other capital equipment -- Allocated to NCRR to support all NIH activities
- $500 million for NIH buildings and facilities -- To fund high priority repair, construction and improvement projects on NIH campuses that also align with the overall purpose of the Act
- $400 million for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)
NIH will distribute the $7.4 billion for scientific research in the following way:
1. The 14,000 RO1 grant proposals already peer-reviewed and determined worthy of funding will be a starting point. These will not be automatically funded, however will be subject to the priorities established by Institute and Center Directors utilizing their strategic plans and must be determined to have significant scientific impact. This is not a restoration of grant funding. There will be no additional commitment at the end of two years.
2. NIH will supplement some existing grants through both a competitive approach and an administrative approach. These current grants may contribute to improved science in the two year timeframe by expanding the research area. These research areas will be THEMED with the themes being established by NIH Center and Institute Directors.
3. NIH will initiate a Challenge Grant RFA to support research proposals that are scientifically justifiable within the two-year funding. They will most likely be peer-reviewed and will be required to comply with regular approach to successful award funding. Awards will be in the range of $500,000 a year for two years.
Plans for distribution of the $1 billion in NCRR funds for the Extramural Construction program have not been released.
National Science Foundation -- $3 billion
Website: http://nsf.gov/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- $2.5 billion research and related activities
- $100 million education and human resources
- $400 million major research instrumentation and facilities construction
NSF is planning to distribute the $2.5 billion for research and related activities in the following manner:
The focus of awarding money will be to improve NSF's 25 percent success rate
- Will not solicit new proposals
- NSF does not anticipate any stimulus money will be used to supplement existing awards
- NSF currently has 24,000 reviews in-house; 8000 of those reviews have been completed; 3000 of the completed reviews received a rating of "very good" or better
Department of Energy Office of Science --$2 billion
Website: http://www.energy.gov/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- Office of Science -- $1.6 billion
- ARPA-E -- $400 million
At this time, no further information about how DOE plans to distribute the Science funding in ARRA is known.
NIST -- $610 million
Website: http://www.nist.gov/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- $220 million for NIST laboratory research, measurements, and other services supporting economic growth and U.S. innovation through funding of such items as competitive grants; research fellowships; and advanced measurement equipment and supplies;
- $360 million to address NIST's backlog of maintenance and renovation projects and for construction of new facilities and laboratories, including $180 million for a competitive construction grant program for funding research science buildings outside of NIST;
- $20 million in funds transferred from the Department of Health and Human Services for standards-related research that supports the security and interoperability of electronic medical records to reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care; and
- $10 million in funds transferred from the Department of Energy to help develop a comprehensive framework for a nationwide, fully interoperable smart grid for the U.S. electric power system.
The $180 million provided for the NIST competitive construction program at universities may provide opportunity for capital support.
Department of Defense -- $300 million
Website: http://www.defenselink.mil/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- Army -- $75 million
- Navy -- $75 million
- Air Force -- $75 million
- OSD -- $75 million
The total of $300 million is to support the development of energy-efficient technologies for use in meeting national security goals.
NASA -- $1 billion
Website: http://www.nasa.gov/recovery/
Breakout of funding:
- Cross-Agency Support -- $50,000,000; to restore NASA-owned facilities damaged from hurricanes and other natural disasters occurring during calendar year 2008
- Inspector General -- $2,000,000
- Science -- $400,000,000; to accelerate the development of the Tier 1 set of Earth Science climate research missions recommended by the National Academies
- Exploration -- $400,000,000
- Aeronautics -- $150,000,000; to undertake systems-level research, development and demonstration activities related to aviation safety, environmental impact mitigation andtThe Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
