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COVID-19 Guidance Summaries - Federal Sponsors

Last Updated: April 23, 2020

Note: Announcements and guidance for grant recipients related to COVID-19 received from any sponsor, regardless of the number of active awards, has been uploaded to the Document Repository at the bottom of the sponsor’s Organization profile in GMAS.

Federal Contracts

Federal Grants

The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is maintaining a summary of major federal agency guidance related to COVID-19 (.xlsx file from COGR) and several other useful links related to COVID-19. 

Please note: 

  • current COGR guidelines apply to grants only
  • Harvard policies related to expenses and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic still apply 
  • guidance may change as the situation develops

The links below lead to guidance for managing grants for federal sponsors not listed by COGR. 

Information contained on this page has been either broadly disseminated to the public, or Harvard has received a communication from the sponsor with this information. 

Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) 

Date of latest Guidance: March 26, 2020 guidance directs grant recipients to USAMRAA site. See USAMRAA on the COGR summary (.xlsx file from COGR).

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Department of Education – Institute of Education Sciences (IES) 

  • Date of latest Guidance: April 8, 2020 
  • Guidance consistent with Harvard? Yes, follows OMB M-20-17 continue to pay salary and stipend 
  • Late Proposal Submission: allowing extensions 
  • Travel: cancellation fees are allowable if not reimbursable or refundable and were reasonable. Travel insurance can be charged if it is the only means to carry out objective and must be undertaken during the pandemic and insurance is otherwise allowable. Refunds should be treated as program income and be used for grant-related costs. 
  • Salary: Yes, may continue to pay if consistent with institutional policy, but cannot draw additional compensation for activities which are not closed down.  
  • Stipend: Yes, may continue to pay if consistent with institutional policy, but cannot draw additional compensation for activities which are not closed down.  
  • Continuation / No Cost Extension: always eligible for one year, further allowed if approved 
  • Late RPPR / Reporting: if they must be late, contact Program Officer to set new due date
  • Treatment of Subcontracts: Yes, may continue to pay if consistent with institutional policy, but cannot draw additional compensation for activities which are not closed down 
  • Other: should not assume that additional funds will be available. Exercise emergency “act of God” provisions for refunds. Discuss issues related to project continuity for data and samples with program officer

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Department of Justice: Office of Justice (DOJ) 

  • Date of latest Guidance: March 16, 2020 
  • Guidance consistent with Harvard? No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies 
  • Late Proposal Submission: 2 week extensions for solicitations 
  • Travel: Contact grant manager to use grant funding for hotel or travel cancellation fees; institutions should try to get airfare refunds as cash – if not, credits for future program use. 
  • Salary: Follow 2 CFR 200.430 (Compensation) and institutional policy 
  • Stipend: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Continuation / No Cost Extension: All programs eligible for one-year extension; if current request is for a second year, then go to DOJ Financial Guide and ask grant manager. 
  • Late RPPR / Reporting: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Treatment of Subcontracts: Grantees should provide subs with the same guidance for travel 

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Institute of Museum of Library Services (IMLS) 

  • Date of latest Guidance: April 6, 2020 
  • IMLS COVID-19 Website
  • Guidance consistent with Harvard? Yes, generally aligned with Harvard
  • Late Proposal Submission: Yes, 5 programs have pushed back deadlines by 14 days.  Additional changes may occur and will be posted. 
  • Travel: With advanced approval, can charge cancellation of events, travel.  See Question 2 on the IMLS COVID-19 Website.
  • Salary: With advanced approval, can charge salaries and benefits if consistent with university policy.  See Question 1 on the IMLS COVID-19 Website.
  • Stipend: No guidance on stipends 
  • Continuation / No Cost Extension: if requested, up to 12 months is between March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020 
  • Late RPPR / Reporting: with approval, delays of up to 3 months and final due 90 days after the end of the extension
  • Treatment of Subcontracts: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Other: SAM extensions are automatically 60 days. Cannot assume funds will be available. IDC rates and Single Audit extension delays are granted

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James Webb Space Telescope (STScI)

  • Date of latest Guidance: April 15, 2020
  • James Webb Space Telescope COVID-19 website
  • Guidance consistent with Harvard? Incomplete, follow Harvard policy
  • Late Proposal Submission: Cycle 1 GO deadline indefinitely delayed, update will be provided on June 1, 2020 
  • Travel: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Salary: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Stipend: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Continuation / No-Cost Extension: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Late RPPR / Reporting: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Treatment of Subcontracts: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies

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National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 

  • Date of latest Guidance: March 23, 2020 
  • Guidance consistent with Harvard? Yes, continue to pay salary and stipend 
  • Late Proposal Submission: continuing on their normal schedule 
  • Travel: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies 
  • Salary: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Stipend: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Continuation / No Cost Extension: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Late RPPR / Reporting: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Treatment of Subcontracts: No guidance; in lieu of guidance follow Harvard policies
  • Other: contact project officer or grant management specialist to explore options for extensions, revisions, changes to scope

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