Scientific meetings, conference grants, symposia, symposium, administrative requirements, intellectual property, reporting and record retention

14.11 Administrative Requirements

14.11.1 Intellectual Property: Publications, Copyright, and Public Disclosure

If the recipient publishes material developed in whole or in part with NIH funds, the material may be distributed free of charge. If the recipient organization charges for the material, the sales proceeds are considered program income, and must be accounted for as specified in the NoA Notice of Award: The official, legally binding document, signed (or the electronic equivalent of signature) by a Grants Management Officer that: (1) notifies the recipient of the award of a grant; (2) contains or references all the terms and conditions of the grant and Federal funding limits and obligations; and, (3) provides the documentary basis for recording the obligation of Federal funds in the NIH accounting system. and reported on the FFR (see Administrative Requirements-Reporting and Record Retention in this chapter).

Unless otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award, the recipient is free to arrange for copyright of any publication resulting from an NIH-supported conference. However, any such copyrighted publication shall be subject to a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to the Federal government to reproduce, translate, publish, and dispose of the material and to authorize others to use the work for government purposes. Copyright does not extend to any materials prepared by Federal employees as part of their official duties.

The recipient is cautioned to remind conference participants that any presentation or discussion constitutes public disclosure of information. Any such public disclosure could seriously impact the degree to which any intellectual property rights could be protected.

14.11.2 Reporting and Record Retention

Upon completion or termination of a grant in support of a conference, recipients are responsible for submitting the final RPPR and the final FFR in accordance with the Closeout provisions described in Administrative Requirements-Closeout in IIA. Submission details of the final FFR and Final Progress Report are described in respective subsections of Closeout.

14.11.2.1 Progress/Final Report

For single conferences, a final report of the conference must be submitted electronically through the eRA Commons, or by paper submission to the NIH DCGP within 120 days after the end of the project period. The report must include the following:

  • Grant number
  • Title, date, and place of the conference
  • Name(s) of the person(s) shown on the application as the conference director or PD/PI(s)
  • Name of the organization that conducted the conference
  • A list of the individuals, and their organizational affiliations, who participated as speakers or discussants in the formally planned sessions of the meeting
  • A summary of topics discussed/conclusions.

  • Summary of outcomes of plans to enhance diversity.

Under multiple-year awards, i.e., ones that support more than one conference, NIH requires an annual progress report that contains a description of specific plans for the next budget period, in similar detail and format as for a single conference. The annual progress report must be submitted at least 6 months before the next scheduled conference. The final progress report should be submitted within 120 days after the end of the project period.

With the approval of the NIH awarding IC The NIH organizational component responsible for a particular grant program or set of activities. The terms "NIH IC," or "awarding IC" are used throughout this document to designate a point of contact for advice and interpretation of grant requirements and to establish the focal point for requesting necessary prior approvals or changes in the terms and conditions of award., copies of proceedings or publications resulting from the conference(s) may be substituted for the final report, provided that they contain the information specified for inclusion in the final report.

14.11.2.2 Federal Financial Report

Electronic submission of the final FFR through PMS is required from the recipient within 120 days after the end of the project period. Records of expenditures and any program income generated must be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR Part 200.328 and 45 CFR Part 75.341 (see Administrative Requirements-Monitoring-Record Retention and Access in IIA).