Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

DRAFT FORMAT

RESEARCH PERFORMANCE PROGRESS REPORT

Background

Effective with publication of this Notice in the Federal Register [insert reference], agencies will be able to utilize a new uniform format for reporting performance progress on Federally-funded research projects. The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) will directly benefit award recipients by making it easier for them to administer Federal grant and cooperative agreement programs through standardization of the types of information required in interim performance reports—thereby reducing their administrative effort and costs. The RPPR will also make it easier to compare the outputs, outcomes, etc. of research programs across the government.

The RPPR resulted from an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). One of the RBM Subcommittee’s priority areas is to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal research awards. Given the increasing complexity of interdisciplinary and interagency research, it is important for Federal agencies to manage awards in a similar fashion. Upon implementation, the RPPR will be used by agencies that support research and research-related activities for use in submission of interim progress reports. It is intended to replace other interim performance reporting formats currently in use by agencies. The RPPR does not change the performance reporting requirements specified in 2 CFR Part 215 (OMB Circular A-110) and the Common Rule implementing OMB Circular A-102.

Standard Cover Page Data Elements and Reporting Categories

The standard cover page data elements shown below, as well as mandatory and optional components comprise the complete research performance progress report format. If an agency has an electronic reporting system that can identify the award and the recipient, it is not required to collect the standard institutional information included in the cover page data elements.

Each category in the RPPR is a separate reporting component. Agencies will direct recipients to report on the one mandatory component (“Accomplishments”), and may also direct them to report optional components, as appropriate. Recipients will not be required or expected to report on each of the questions or items listed under a particular category. They will be advised to state “Nothing to Report” if they have nothing significant to report during the reporting period. Within a particular component, agencies also may direct recipients to complete only specific questions, as not all questions within a given component may be relevant to all agencies.

Agencies will utilize the standard instructions that have been developed for each category, but may provide additional program-specific instructions necessary to clarify a requirement for a particular program. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to collect information on environmental impacts; so EPA can direct recipients to report on the research’s benefit to the environment or human health under the following reporting question: “How has the project contributed to society beyond science and technology?”

Agencies may develop additional agency- or program-specific reporting components and instructions (e.g., the National Institutes of Health may need to collect information on clinical trials in certain types of awards); however, to maintain maximum uniformity, agencies will be instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard categories. Such agency- or program-specific requirements will require review and clearance by OMB.

Agencies also may use other OMB-approved reporting formats, such as the Performance Progress Report (PPR), if those formats are better suited to the agency's reporting requirements, for example, for research centers/institutes, clinical trials, or fellowship/training awards or in connection to reporting on program performance, through mechanisms such as the Performance Assessment Rating Tool.

COVER PAGE DATA ELEMENTS

• Federal Agency and Organization Element to Which Report is Submitted

• Federal Grant or Other Identifying Number Assigned by Agency

• Project Title

• PD/PI Name, Title and Contact Information (e-mail address and phone number)

• Name of Submitting Official, Title, and Contact Information (e-mail address and phone number), if other than PD/PI

• Submission Date

• DUNS and EIN Numbers

• Recipient Organization (Name and Address)

• Recipient Identifying Number or Account Number, if any

• Project/Grant Period (Start Date, End Date)

• Reporting Period End Date

• Report Term or Frequency (annual, semi-annual, quarterly, other)

• Signature of Submitting Official (signature shall be submitted in accordance with agency-specific instructions)

MANDATORY REPORTING CATEGORY

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: What was done? What was learned?

• What are the major goals and objectives of the project?

• What was accomplished under these goals?

• What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?

• How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?

  • What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals and objectives?

The information provided in this section allows the agency to assess whether satisfactory progress has been made during the reporting period.

INSTRUCTIONS – Accomplishments

The PI is reminded that the grantee is required to obtain prior written approval from the awarding agency grants official whenever there are significant changes in the project or its direction. See agency specific instructions for submission of these requests.

What are the major goals of the project?

List the major goals of the project as stated in the approved application or as approved by the agency. If the application lists milestones/target dates for important activities or phases of the project, identify these dates and show actual completion dates or the percentage of completion.

Generally, the goals will not change from one reporting period to the next. However, if the awarding agency approved changes to the goals during the reporting period, list the revised goals and objectives. Also explain any significant changes in approach or methods from the agency approved application or plan.

What was accomplished under these goals?

For this reporting period describe: 1) major activities; 2) specific objectives; 3) significant results, including major findings, developments, or conclusions (both positive and negative); and 4) key outcomes or other achievements. Include a discussion of stated goals not met. As the project progresses, the emphasis in reporting in this section should shift from reporting activities to reporting accomplishments.

What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?

If the research is not intended to provide training and professional development opportunities or there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe opportunities for training and professional development provided to anyone who worked on the project or anyone who was involved in the activities supported by the project. “Training” activities are those in which individuals with advanced professional skills and experience assist others in attaining greater proficiency. Training activities may include, for example, courses or one-on-one work with a mentor. “Professional development” activities result in increased knowledge or skill in one’s area of expertise and may include workshops, conferences, seminars, study groups, and individual study. Include participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars not listed under major activities.

How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe how the results have been disseminated to communities of interest. Include any outreach activities that have been undertaken to reach members of communities who are not usually aware of these research activities, for the purpose of enhancing public understanding and increasing interest in learning and careers in science, technology, and the humanities.

What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?

If there are no changes to the agency-approved application or plan for this effort, state “No Change.”

Describe briefly what you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals and objectives.

OPTIONAL CATEGORIES

PRODUCTS: What has the project produced?

Publications are the characteristic product of research. Agencies evaluate what the publications demonstrate about the excellence and significance of the research and the efficacy with which the results are being communicated to colleagues, potential users, and the public, not the number of publications.

Many projects (though not all) develop significant products other than publications. Agencies assess and report both publications and other products to Congress, communities of interest, and the public.

List any products resulting from the project during the reporting period. Examples of products include:

• Publications, conference papers, and presentations;

• Website(s) or other Internet site(s);

• Technologies or techniques;

• Inventions, patent applications, and/or licenses; and

• Other products, such as data or databases, physical collections, audio or video products, software or NetWare, models, educational aids or curricula, instruments, or equipment

INSTRUCTIONS – Products

Report any products that have been developed during the reporting period.

If there is nothing to report under a particular item, state “Nothing to Report.”

Publications, conference papers, and presentations

Report only the major publication(s) resulting from the work under this award. There is no restriction on the number. However, agencies are interested in only those publications that most reflect the work under this award in the following categories:

• Journal publications. List peer-reviewed articles or papers appearing in scientific, technical, or professional journals. Include any peer-reviewed publication in the periodically published proceedings of a scientific society, a conference, or the like. A publication in the proceedings of a one-time conference, not part of a series, should be reported under “Books or other non-periodical, one-time publications.”

Identify for each publication: author(s); title; journal; volume: year; page numbers; status of publication (published; accepted, awaiting publication; submitted, under review; other); acknowledgement of federal support (yes/no).

• Books or other non-periodical, one-time publications. Report any book, monograph, dissertation, abstract, or the like published as or in a separate publication, rather than a periodical or series. Include any significant publication in the proceedings of a one-time conference or in the report of a one-time study, commission, or the like.

Identify for each one-time publication: author(s); title; editor; title of collection, if applicable; bibliographic information; year; type of publication (book, thesis or dissertation, other); status of publication (published; accepted, awaiting publication; submitted, under review; other); acknowledgement of federal support (yes/no).

• Other publications, conference papers and presentations. Identify any other publications, conference papers and/or presentations not reported above. Specify the status of the publication as noted above.

Website(s) or other Internet site(s)

List the URL for any Internet site(s) that disseminates the results of the research activities. A short description of each site should be provided. It is not necessary to include the publications already specified above in this section.

Technologies or techniques

Identify technologies or techniques that have resulted from the research activities. Describe the technologies or techniques and how they are being shared.

Inventions, patent applications, and/or licenses

Identify inventions, patent applications with date, and/or licenses that have resulted from the research. Submission of this information as part of an interim research performance progress report is not a substitute for any other invention reporting required under the terms and conditions of an award.

Other products

Identify any other significant products that were developed under this project. Describe the product and how it is being shared. Examples of other products are:

• Databases;

• Physical collections;

• Audio or video products;

• Software or NetWare;

• Models;

• Educational aids or curricula;

• Instruments or equipment;

• Data & Research Material (e.g., cell lines, DNA probes, animal models); and

• Other.

PARTICIPANTS & OTHER COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS: Who has been involved?

Agencies need to know who has worked on the project to gauge and report performance in promoting partnerships and collaborations. Provide the following information on participants:

• What individuals have worked on the project?

• What other organizations have been involved as partners?

• Have other collaborators or contacts been involved?

INSTRUCTIONS – Participants & Other Collaborating Organizations

What individuals have worked on the project?

Provide the following information for: (1) principal investigator(s)/project director(s) (PIs/PDs); and (2) each person who has worked at least one person month per year on the project during the reporting period, regardless of the source of compensation (a person month equals approximately 160 hours of effort).

• Provide the name and identify the role the person played in the project. Indicate the nearest whole person month (Calendar, Academic, Summer) that the individual worked on the project. Show the most senior role in which the person has worked on the project for any significant length of time. For example, if an undergraduate student graduates, enters graduate school, and continues to work on the project, show that person as a graduate student, preferably explaining the change in involvement.

Describe how this person contributed to the project and with what funding support. If information is unchanged from a previous submission, provide the name only and indicate “no change”.

Identify whether this person is collaborating internationally. Specifically is the person collaborating with an individual located in a foreign country and whether the person had traveled to the foreign country as part of that collaboration and duration of stay. The foreign country(ies) should be identified.

Example:

Name: Mary Smith

Project Role: Graduate Student

Nearest person month worked: 5

Contribution to Project: Ms. Smith has performed work in the area of combined error-control and constrained coding.

Funding Support: The Ford Foundation (Complete only if the funding support is provided from other than this award.)

Collaborated with individual in

foreign country: Yes

Country(ies) of foreign collaborator: China

Travelled to foreign country: Yes

If traveled to foreign country(ies) duration of stay 5 months

What other organizations have been involved as partners?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe partner organizations – academic institutions, other nonprofits, industrial or commercial firms, state or local governments, schools or school systems, or other organizations (foreign or domestic)– that have been involved with the project. Partner organizations may provide financial or in-kind support, supply facilities or equipment, collaborate in the research, exchange personnel, or otherwise contribute.

Provide the following information for each partnership:

Organization Name:

Location of Organization: (if foreign location list country)

Partner’s contribution to the project (identify one or more)

• Financial support;

• In-kind support (e.g., partner makes software, computers, equipment, etc.,

available to project staff);

• Facilities (e.g., project staff use the partner’s facilities for project activities);

• Collaborative research (e.g., partner’s staff work with project staff on the project); and

  • Personnel exchanges (e.g., project staff and/or partner’s staff use each other’s facilities, work at each other’s site)

More detail on partner and contribution (foreign or domestic).

Have other collaborators or contacts been involved?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Some significant collaborators or contacts within the recipient’s organization may not be covered by “What people have worked on the project?” Likewise, some significant collaborators or contacts outside the recipient’s organization may not be covered under “What other organizations have been involved as partners?” For example, describe any significant:

• collaborations with others within the recipient’s organization;

especially interdepartmental or interdisciplinary collaborations;

• collaborations or contact with others outside the organization; and

• collaborations or contacts with others outside the United States or with an international organization.

  • country(ies) of collaborations or contacts

It is likely that many recipients will have no other collaborators or contacts to report.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Agencies use demographic data for statistical purposes, primarily to help:

• Gauge whether our programs and other opportunities are fairly reaching and benefiting everyone regardless of demographic category;

• Ensure that those in under-represented groups have the same knowledge of and access to programs, meetings, vacancies, and other research and educational opportunities as everyone else;

• Gauge and report performance in promoting partnerships and collaborations;

• Assess involvement of international investigators or students in work we support;

• Track the evolution of changing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at different points in the pipeline (e.g., medicine and law demographics have recently changed dramatically);

• Raise investigator and agency staff awareness of the involvement of under-represented groups in research;

• Encourage the development of creative approaches for tapping into the full spectrum of talent of the STEM workforce;

• Respond to external requests for data of this nature from a variety of sources, including NAS, Congress, etc.; and

• Respond to legislatively-required analysis of workforce dynamics. Legislation requires at least one agency to routinely estimate scientific workforce needs. This analysis is accomplished through reviewing demographic data submitted for the existing workforce.

Please provide demographic data (i.e., gender, ethnicity, race, and disability status) for persons who have contributed significantly to the project. Submission of such data is voluntary. Such data need not be provided, if submitted under a previous performance report. There are no adverse consequences if the data are not provided. Confidentiality of demographic data will be in accordance with the agency’s policy and practices for complying with the requirements of the Privacy Act.

Gender: Male

Female

Do not wish to provide

Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino

Not-Hispanic or not-Latino

Do not wish to provide

Race (select one or more): American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

White

Do not wish to provide

Disability Status: Hearing Impairment

(select one or more) Visual Impairment

Mobility/Orthopedic Impairment

Other (Specify)

None

Do not wish to provide

Example:

Name Gender Ethnicity Race Disability

Mary Smith Female Not-Hispanic Black None

IMPACT: What is the impact of the project? How has it contributed?

Over the years, this base of knowledge, techniques, people, and infrastructure is drawn upon again and again for application to commercial technology and the economy, to health and safety, to cost-efficient environmental protection, to the solution of social problems, to numerous other aspects of the public welfare, and to other fields of endeavor.

The taxpaying public and its representatives deserve a periodic assessment to show them how the investments they make benefit the nation. Through this reporting format, and especially this section, recipients provide that assessment and make the case for Federal funding of research and education.

Agencies use this information to assess how their research programs:

• increase the body of knowledge and techniques;

• enlarge the pool of people trained to develop that knowledge and techniques or put it to use; and

• improve the physical, institutional, and information resources that enable those people to get their training and perform their functions.

This component will be used to describe ways in which the work, findings, and specific products of the project have had an impact during this reporting period. Describe distinctive contributions, major accomplishments, innovations, successes, or any change in practice or behavior that has come about as a result of the project relative to:

• the development of the principal discipline(s) of the project;

• other disciplines;

• the development of human resources;

• physical, institutional, and information resources that form infrastructure;

• technology transfer (include transfer of results to entities in government or industry, adoption of new practices, or instances where research has led to the initiation of a start-up company); or

• society beyond science and technology.

INSTRUCTIONS - Impact

What is the impact on the development of the principal discipline(s) of the project?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe how findings, results, techniques that were developed or extended, or other products from the project made an impact or are likely to make an impact on the base of knowledge, theory, and research and/or pedagogical methods in the principal disciplinary field(s) of the project. Summarize using language that an intelligent lay audience can understand (Scientific American style).

How the field or discipline is defined is not as important as covering the impact the work has had on knowledge and technique. Make the best distinction possible, for example, by using a “field” or “discipline”, if appropriate, that corresponds with a single academic department (i.e., physics rather than nuclear physics).

What is the impact on other disciplines?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe how the findings, results, or techniques that were developed or improved, or other products from the project made an impact or are likely to make an impact on other disciplines.

What is the impact on the development of human resources?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe how the project made an impact or is likely to make an impact on human resource development in science, engineering, and technology. For example, how has the project:

• provided opportunities for research and teaching in the relevant fields;

• improved the performance, skills, or attitudes of members of underrepresented groups that will improve their access to or retention in research, teaching, or other related professions;

• developed and disseminated new educational materials or provided scholarships; or

• provided exposure to science and technology for practitioners, teachers, young people, or other members of the public?

What is the impact on physical, institutional, and information resources that form infrastructure?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe ways, if any, in which the project made an impact, or is likely to make an impact, on physical, institutional, and information resources that form infrastructure, including:

• physical resources such as facilities, laboratories, or instruments;

• institutional resources (such as establishment or sustenance of societies or organizations); or

• information resources, electronic means for accessing such resources or for scientific communication, or the like.

What is the impact on technology transfer?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe ways in which the project made an impact, or is likely to make an impact, on commercial technology or public use, including:

• transfer of results to entities in government or industry;

• instances where the research has led to the initiation of a start-up company; or

• adoption of new practices.

What is the impact on society beyond science and technology?

If there is nothing significant to report during this reporting period, state “Nothing to Report.”

Describe how results from the project made an impact, or are likely to make an impact, beyond the bounds of science, engineering, and the academic world on areas such as:

• improving public knowledge, attitudes, skills, and abilities;

• changing behavior, practices, decision making, policies (including regulatory policies), or social actions; or

• improving social, economic, civic, or environmental conditions.

What dollar amount of the award’s budget is being spent in foreign country(ies)?

Describe what percentage of the award’s budget is being spent in foreign country(ies). If more that one foreign country identify the distribution between the foreign countries.

CHANGES/PROBLEMS

The PI is reminded that the grantee is required to obtain prior written approval from the awarding agency grants official whenever there are significant changes in the project or its direction. See agency specific instructions for submission of these requests. If not previously reported in writing, provide the following additional information, if applicable:

• Changes in approach and reasons for change.

• Actual or anticipated problems or delays and actions or plans to resolve them.

• Changes that have a significant impact on expenditures.

• Significant changes in use or care of animals, human subjects, and/or biohazards.

INSTRUCTIONS – Changes/Problems

Provide the following information or state “Nothing to Report.”

Changes in approach and reasons for change

Describe any changes in approach during the reporting period and reasons for these changes. Remember that significant changes in objectives and scope require prior approval of the agency.

Actual or anticipated problems or delays and actions or plans to resolve them

Describe problems or delays encountered during the reporting period and actions or plans to resolve them.

Changes that have a significant impact on expenditures

Describe changes during the reporting period that may have a significant impact on expenditures, for example, delays in hiring staff or favorable developments that enable meeting objectives at less cost than anticipated.

Significant changes in use or care of human subjects, vertebrate animals, and/or biohazards

Describe significant deviations, unexpected outcomes, or changes in approved protocols for the use or care of human subjects, vertebrate animals, and/or biohazards during the reporting period. If required, were these changes approved by the applicable institution committee and reported to the agency? Also specify the applicable Institutional Review Board/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval dates.

Change of primary performance site location from that originally proposed

Identify any change to the primary performance site location identified in the proposal, as originally submitted.

SPECIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Agencies also may develop additional agency- or program-specific reporting categories and instructions (e.g., the National Institutes of Health may need to collect information on clinical trials in certain types of awards); however, to maintain maximum uniformity, agencies will be instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard components. Such agency- or program-specific components will require review and clearance by OMB.

Respond to any special reporting requirements specified in the award terms and conditions, as well as any award specific reporting requirements.

BUDGETARY INFORMATION

This component is provided for those agencies that use the progress report to also conduct a periodic administrative/budgetary review. This component will be used to collect budgetary data from the recipient organization. The format of the budget will be consistent with that already developed for use in the SF 424 (R&R).

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