General Information
May we request expedited MFTRP reviews when it’s time sensitive?
Yes, using the RAMP email feature, reach out to RAMPCOI@gmu.edu and copy Joel Thurston (jthurst4@gmu.edu) and notify them that a response is needed by X due date.
What does ORIA review as part of the MFTRP Security Check?
ORIA reviews information provided on proposers’ Biosketches or equivalent (e.g., CV, resume) and Current & Pending (C&P) forms – specifically fields such as organizations and locations, current/ongoing appointments and positions, co-authors and co-PIs, sources of support, and primary places of performance.
ORIA screens this information against lists of individuals and organizations known to be affiliated with or acting as MFTRPs. They also review information researchers have previously disclosed in RAMP as part of their conflict of interest and conflict of commitment requirements to ensure information across all these sources align.
Does ORIA need to review a pre-proposal or LOI?
Yes, if it meets Mason’s Letter of Intent guidelines and must come through OSP for submission. LOIs that may be submitted by the PI directly without OSP review do not need MFTRP review until the full proposal submission.
Would you clarify who must submit MFTRP documentation for review? Does this include subrecipients?
All senior and key personnel are required to submit a Biosketch and C&P for the MFTRP Security Check, this includes:
The PI, co-PI(s), co-I(s), whether Mason faculty or subrecipients
Subrecipient key personnel, even if not co-PI or co-I
Consultants, only if identified as senior or key personnel
What format is required for the C&P and Biosketches to facilitate MFTRP Security Review?
Please always use the formats requested by the sponsor. If no specific format is required, any format will do for Biosketches; for C&Ps please use the OSTP Common Forms, which include the MFTRP certification and signature. These forms, which are the same as the new NSF forms, are available on the OSP website. OSP is working with Huron to have the Current and Pending format added to the RAMP Other Support feature. We encourage you to use https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/ to prepare Biosketch and C&P forms whenever possible to ensure formatting is correct and make it easier to generate these documents for additional proposals.
Besides the current and pending support, do you require Biosketch(s) as well for all involved or just for key personnel?
Even if the sponsoring agency does not require a Biosketch, it does need to be included in the MFTRP review to ensure we can perform the government-required due diligence related to MFTRP disclosures. When agencies ask for something comparable to a Biosketch (e.g. resume or CV), you can submit those for the MFTRP review in lieu of the Biosketch Common Form.
What is the turnaround time for MFTRP Security Checks?
The MFTRP documents should be delivered to ORIA via the ancillary review notification prior to Department Review, due by the internal deadline in RAMP. The review will be completed within the internal deadline review window. However, if ORIA has not cleared it by 2-days prior to the sponsor deadline, please email rampcoi@gmu.edu to follow-up.
How do we help ensure a smooth MFTRP Security Check process?
Best practice is always to address compliance related issues or questions early in the process. A few key items:
Create a timeline of deliverables with your Department RA. Increase lead time for larger, more complex proposals.
Identify senior/key personnel at Mason and extramural entities (i.e., subrecipients and consultants) as early as possible.
Create final versions of Biosketches and C&Ps early and send to the Department Research Administrator
Submit the MFTRP ancillary review by the time it is submitted for Department Review. You may submit earlier, if desired, however the information submitted for the MFTRP must include final copies of Biosketches and C&P forms (or equivalent) of the review cannot be completed as updated/final versions will have to be re-reviewed.
ORIA approved the MFTRP Security Check ancillary, but left a comment in the RAMP history. What action steps are required and who should take them to address it?
ORIA may leave comments on the record for situational awareness, typically reflecting future action items necessary only if awarded. ORIA will provide specific information for items that require action prior to proposal submission.
Proposal Review
The MFTRP Security Check is complete, but the proposal has changed. What specific changes to the proposal would require an updated review?
Any substantive change to the proposal that would impact ORIA’s review requires an updated review. The list below is non-exhaustive, but it is representative:
Added or deleted publications, synergistic activities, or affiliations on the Biosketch
Additional or deleted entries on the Current & Pending, or substantive changes (e.g., minor title changes that do not impact the scope of work are non-substantive)
Inclusion of foreign travel to restricted countries
Just-in-Time
If a federal sponsor requests a revised Current & Pending as part of just-in-time (JIT), should it be reviewed again by ORIA?
If there are only non-substantive changes (e.g., minor title changes that do not impact the scope of work), the original approval stands. However, if there are substantive changes, or additional projects that have not been reviewed by ORIA, the revised C&P will need to be reviewed again.
What is the process for submitting revised C&P during just-in-time (JIT)?
Faculty or staff notified of the sponsor request for JIT information reach out to the assigned specialist to start the JIT review process. If MFTRP review was not completed at time of proposal, this will need to be completed prior to the submission of the JIT information and documentation.