OMB Provides Administrative Relief

The Office of Management and Budget released M-20-17 allowing charges to grant projects – including salary and benefits – to continue during COVID-19 related interruptions consistent with ECU’s institutional policies.

Questions related to this guidance or other issues related to sponsored projects may be directed to the Office of Research Administration.

Excerpt from OMB M-20-17:

6. Allowability of salaries and other project activities.(2 CFR § 200.403, 2 CFR § 200.404, 2 CFR § 200.405)

Awarding agencies may allow recipients to continue to charge salaries and benefits to currently active Federal awards consistent with the recipients’ policy of paying salaries (under unexpected or extraordinary circumstances) from all funding sources, Federal and non-Federal. Awarding agencies may allow other costs to be charged to Federal awards necessary to resume activities supported by the award, consistent with applicable Federal cost principles and the benefit to the project. Awarding agencies may also evaluate the grantee’s ability to resume the project activity in the future and the appropriateness of future funding, as done under normal circumstances based on subsequent progress reports and other communications with the grantee. Awarding agencies must require recipients to maintain appropriate records and cost documentation as required by 2 CFR § 200.302 –Financial management and 2 CFR § 200.333 –Retention requirement of records to substantiate the charging of any salaries and other project activities costs related to interruption of operations or services.