Event
Event Details
Where:
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
When:
August 7 - 10, 2022
August 7 - 10, 2022
Attain Partners experts are presenting at several NCURA sessions! See details below.
Learn more about the event here.
Hot Topics in Federal Consulting
Monday, August 8, 1:30p – 2:30p
Hosted by Bella DiFranzo, Attain Partners, and Rachel Kinney, JD, High Point University
This discussion session will explore troublesome clauses found in federal contracts, what struggles institutions are facing related to these clauses, and facilitate conversation about what we all do to ensure compliance. Examples of such clauses include various Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and FAR deviation clauses, compliance with FAR 52.223-99, Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors; Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) implications; FISMA security; publication restrictions arising from distribution statements, foreign management compliance, and other emerging issues impacting the federal contracting landscape.
The BIG QUIT and Impacts to the Research Enterprise
Monday, August 8, 4p – 5p
Hosted by Mark Davis, Courtney Swaney, and Alex Nichols, Attain Partners
Colleges and Universities’ Research Administration have been significantly impacted in the past two years by high rates of staff turnover and shortages of skilled resources combined with rising salaries and calls for greater flexibility and remote working. A record number of workers are quitting their jobs and/or leaving the workforce. During this session, the presenters will discuss their experiences working with industry institutions to address these issues and remedies for bridging the short-term and possible outcomes for the mid-term and longer term.
Improving Financial Performance with Research Density Metrics
Tuesday, August 9, 2:45p – 3:45p
Hosted by David Moore and Alexander Brown, Attain Partners
Increasingly, universities, academic medical centers, and other organizations are interested in applying data-driven decision-making across the research enterprise. Many will encounter a number of challenges given the realities of the current environment. These can include reductions in tuition and state subsidies for higher education institutions and tightening clinical margins for AMCs, as well as increasing operational costs and challenges related to COVID-19. This session aims to address some of the concerns, approaches, and methods to consider when attempting to more successfully monitor and measure the financial performance of the research enterprise. Generally, this analysis covers the aforementioned issues with respect to:
– Tracking expenses, space allocations, and space usage
– Developing and tracking financial performance metrics and targets.
Incorporating Library Cost Analysis Studies into F&A Cost Proposals
Tuesday, August 9, 4p – 5p
Hosted by Mark Davis and Blake Norby, Attain Partners
Library costs are often overlooked or not taken full advantage of due to insufficient data when educational institutions are developing F&A cost proposals for indirect cost recovery. The 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance Cost Principles for Institutions of Higher Education allows institutions to allocate library expenses based on usage. A Library Cost Analysis Study can help institutions assign library expenses to a purpose of use so that expenses used for funded research, instruction, patient care, or other institutional uses can be identified and counted to help increase institutions’ indirect cost rate. Our proven method of study includes assigning cost centers, collecting user data through library user surveys, and compiling cost allocations based on actual use. The speakers have performed many library studies and will share interesting experiences and how the results of the library cost studies were incorporated into the F&A cost proposal and negotiated rates.
Team Approach to Administering NIH IDIQ Contracts
Wednesday, August 10, 8:30a – 10a
Hosted by Bella DiFranzo, Attain Partners, and Rachel Kinney, JD, High Point University
With the rise of NIH indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, it is becoming increasingly necessary to know the ins and outs of federal contracts and who should be involved. In this session, we will give an overview of the full life cycle of National Institutes of Health (NIH) federal contracts from proposal submission to closeout, then dive into NIH IDIQ contracts with a focus on negotiating and administering those contracts utilizing a team approach to ensure operational success and compliance. Along the way we will discuss which institutional partners should be involved in the process and how best to incorporate them into the workflow for a more unified and collaborative approach.
Federal Contracting: Best Practices and Lessons Learned (Follow-up Discussion to “Team Approach to Administering NIH IDIQ Contracts” on 8/10 at 8:30 am)
Wednesday, August 10, 10:30a – 12p
Hosted by Bella DiFranzo, Attain Partners, and Rachel Kinney, JD, High Point University
As a follow-up to the concurrent session, “Team Approach to Administering NIH IDIQ Contracts,” we will discuss where institutions struggle in the life cycle of National Institutes of Health (NIH) federal contracts from proposal submission to closeout and what best practices have been implemented at other institutions. We will explore contract negotiations, administering contracts, and the teams institutions have established to tackle these complex mechanisms. Individuals will also be encouraged to share where institutions have fallen short previously and the steps taken avoid those pitfalls in the future.
