Montana State University’s Research and Economic Development (RED) team welcomes new and returning faculty, staff, and students to campus for fall 2025.

Our office continues to closely monitor changes affecting research-related activity coming from our federal government.  We will continue to help faculty, staff, and students navigate this dynamic funding landscape with current guidance.  We work with various stakeholders including our congressional delegation where appropriate to share information and concerns that affect MSU research. 

We encourage MSU Researchers to continue their good work improving the lives of Montanans while also providing the student training opportunities that build the scientific and technological workforce of tomorrow.

Please refer to this web page for updates.   You are welcome to reach out directly to Vice President Alison Harmon with your questions or specific concerns:  harmon@montana.edu. 

For Additional Information and Support:

For any additional questions about federal grants, contact your MSU OSP Research Administrator at (406) 994-2381.  Find your administrator here: About Us - Office of Sponsored Programs | Montana State University

For help strategically aligning your research goals with evolving federal priorities and/or locating alternative or temporary sources of potential funding, please contact the Office of Research Development. Sign up for an appointment here:  Office of Research Development | Montana State University

MSU Research Updates

Grant Cancellations and Pauses:  

During the Spring of 2025, MSU had 17 grants terminated by various organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the American Lamb Board. Since that time, 39 new awards have been made to MSU researchers, including from NSF and NIH. For this reason, you are encouraged to continue pursuing grant funding opportunities and work with our Office of Research Development (ORD) to align your proposals with new and changing expectations for federal funding agencies.

MSU Research Guidance for All Researchers and Sponsored Research Faculty: 

New Proposals: 

  • Most federal sponsors are accepting new proposals at this time. You are encouraged to continue submitting proposals following existing solicitation guidance.  Check for updates regularly and reach out to your program officer to confirm deadlines and solicitation requirements. 
  • Proposals submitted to federal sponsors, such as NIH and NSF, are likely to undergo an additional layer of internal review to ensure alignment with administration priorities. 
    • This additional internal review may happen prior to the scientific review process, in which proposals that are considered out of alignment are triaged. Alternatively, it may happen following the scientific review process for proposals that are recommended for an award.

Active Awards: 

  • Carry out your grant-funded work as planned, unless you receive formal communication from the sponsor or MSU to halt work.
  • Ensure that you have completed and submitted all required reports.
  • Pay close attention to project timelines.  No-cost extensions may be less likely to be approved. 
  • Continue to closely monitor your project expenditures and balance.  Future funding from awards that are incrementally awarded (e.g. annual award document/funding) should not be considered guaranteed; funding remains subject to the availability of funds.
  • Hiring: New grant-funded hires will be reviewed as per usual MSU policies.  Work closely with your HR business partner on vacancy announcements and proposed compensation. 
  • Travel: Travel that has been funded and approved may be carried out as usual, unless you receive a formal modification, stop work order or notice of termination. Submit travel approvals promptly and make travel arrangements only when you are certain your funding will persist. 

Stop Work Notices and Termination Notices: 

If, as a Principal Investigator (PI), you receive a stop work notice from your sponsor or a message that your grant will be terminated, please contact your MSU OSP Research Administrator as soon as possible and share any relevant documentation.  Please take these ‘stop work’ or ‘pause’ notices seriously. MSU cannot provide funding to cover grant expenditures that will not be reimbursed.

Importantly, if MSU personnel or students are affected by a grant closure, you should be in touch with your MSU HR Business Partner immediately-- please do not take any action without contacting Human Resources first.

Indirect (IDCs)/Facilities, and Administrative (F&A) Costs: 

We continue to use our federally negotiated indirect cost rate on submitted proposals.  We do not have any new information about permanent reductions in Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates, but we are forecasting a significant reduction in the accumulation of F&As during FY25.  As a reminder, we are taking the following actions in preparation for FY26:

  • All F&A funds should be conserved for the highest and most essential priorities.
  • Internal grant calls for new proposals are paused until further notice. (NOTE: this only applies to grants offered by the VPRED office and does not apply to FEG grants offered by the Center for Faculty Excellence and seed grants offered by the Outreach and Engagement Council.) 
  • No cost extensions for previously awarded internal grants will not be permitted.
  • Distributions of IRD (Institutional Research and Development) funds are paused until further notice.
  • Previously made commitments to provide start-up resources to new faculty hires will be honored to the greatest extent possible. Faculty can continue to utilize these funds for their priorities unless otherwise directed by the VPR.
  • Note: IPR (Incentive Program for Researchers) is not paid with IDCs and therefore should continue so long as the grant that is paying for a portion of a faculty member’s FTE continues. 

If You are Contacted by the Media: 

Please immediately reach out to University Communications for guidance:

Mike Becker, Interim Vice President of University Communications,, michael.becker@montana.edu

Additional Resources About IDCs, Facilities, and Administrative Costs: 

Joint Associations Group on F&A Costs - APLU

Joint Associations Group (JAG) Release of Recommendations of the JAG Subject Matter Experts Group Informational Webinar on 6/12 and Town Hall on 6/17 | Council on Governmental Relations

Fair Cost Models Jag June 10, 2025

How IDCs (F&As) are allocated at MSU:

Annual Research Review - Office of Sponsored Programs | Montana State University

Resources and IDCs/F&As from APLU:

Research Facilities & Administrative Costs - APLU

Costs of Federal Research Infographic 

Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs of Research - 2/5/25

Facilities & Administrative Costs Explainer Video – APLU

Current Agency Specific Information: 

CDC

DoD

DOE

EPA

HHS

HRSA

IMLS

NASA

NIH

NSF

USDA

Other Links Related to Presidential Actions: 

The President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request – OMB – The White House

Executive Orders: Presidential Actions – The White House

Resources on APLU, AAU, & ACE Legal Action Contesting NIH Cuts for F&A Reimbursement Rates. 

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