<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
Dear Principal Investigators,</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
The Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) is sharing this high-level guidance on how the federal government shutdown is currently affecting sponsored projects at UC Merced. For complete details and ongoing updates, please review
<span style="color: purple;"><u><a style="color: purple;" data-outlook-id="391a4b72-c3d1-4328-a57a-04faf5c3246b" title="https://ucop.edu/research-policy-analysis-coordination/policies-guidance/federal-government/shutdown/index.html" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA8a94c470-aef3-bdef-24b2-98a5f76b7d24" href="https://ucop.edu/research-policy-analysis-coordination/policies-guidance/federal-government/shutdown/index.html">UCOP’s
guidance</a></u></span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<b>Key points</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>New awards and amendments paused:</b> Federal agencies generally will not issue new awards, supplements, or amendments that require agency action during a shutdown.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>Limited agency operations:</b> Most federal staff will be unavailable, so proposal reviews, inquiries, prior approvals, and other actions may be delayed.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>Payments and reimbursements interrupted:</b> Drawdowns and reimbursements may not be processed until operations resume. Work on active awards may generally continue, but reimbursement may be delayed.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>SPO proposal submissions:</b> SPO will continue submitting proposals to federal agencies when sponsor portals are available and open for submission.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>PPFM draws:</b> PPFM will continue to submit draws and reimbursement requests if federal payment systems are open and operational. </li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>Continuing amendments:</b> If a continuing amendment is not received before the budget period expires, spending on the affected award will be paused until the amendment is received.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>Project-specific dependencies:</b> Projects requiring access to federal facilities, direct agency collaboration, or governed by cooperative agreements may face additional limitations.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
<b>After reopening:</b> Expect backlogs and processing delays when agencies resume operations.</li></ul>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
<b>Recommended actions</b></div>
<ul style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
Continue work on active awards unless directed otherwise by SPO or your program officer. Forward any instructions you receive directly from a program officer to
<span role="presentation" style="color: purple;"><u><a style="color: purple;" data-outlook-id="771b84bf-2646-4791-98e0-012c5ece748b" title="mailto:SPO@ucmerced.edu" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA39f02a94-2684-8b67-2ca9-9c3827d343df" href="mailto:SPO@ucmerced.edu">SPO@ucmerced.edu</a></u></span>.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
Exercise discretion in spending on federally funded projects. Consider reducing expenses to the extent practical, while avoiding significant impacts on research progress.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
Plan around tasks that require federal approvals or access to federal facilities.</li><li style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in;">
Stay alert for updates from SPO and CGA.</li></ul>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
If you have questions about a specific project or need support, please contact SPO at
<span style="color: purple;"><b><u><a style="color: purple;" data-outlook-id="b41b2559-0ec0-4b8c-906f-ce2583c93a03" title="mailto:spo@ucmerced.edu" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWA4be9930f-b678-e770-2e5b-e53ccb0432a2" href="mailto:spo@ucmerced.edu">spo@ucmerced.edu</a></u></b></span>.<br>
SPO hosts daily <span style="color: purple;"><u><a style="color: purple;" data-outlook-id="6d3cda0d-a43d-4ee0-8cb5-13e8c1797f57" title="https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/89808101582?pwd=T0I0eTJSSmRXbnlLZTVJU1gzMHZZUT09" class="OWAAutoLink" id="OWAd18a75b3-cad7-1407-d2a4-bcc278f1ea03" href="https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/89808101582?pwd=T0I0eTJSSmRXbnlLZTVJU1gzMHZZUT09">virtual
office hours</a></u></span> for all researchers from <b>10–11 a.m.</b> and <b>2–3 p.m.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
Gillian </div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" id="mail-editor-reference-message-container">
<div class="elementToProof" id="mail-editor-reference-message-container">
<div class="elementToProof" id="mail-editor-reference-message-container">
<div class="elementToProof" id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature">
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
Gillian Wilson</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
Professor, Department of Physics </div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
University of California Merced</div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="elementToProof">
5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>