To enhance efficiency and optimize our contracting services, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) made the following update to how certain research agreements are processed:
- The Clinical and Corporate Contracts Services Team is now named the Contracts Services Team to reflect that the team will review, negotiate, and process research agreements from all funding sources including federal, state, nonprofit, and industry. Positions that were responsible for negotiating research agreements and subcontracts on the Grants Management Services Team will now be on the Contracts Services Team.
The Office of Sponsored Programs has two leadership updates:
- Zack Byrnes will lead the Contracts Services Team in his new role as Senior Associate Director for Contracts.
- Celeste Flaherty-Thomas will lead the Grants Management Services Team in her new role as Associate Director for Grants Management.
Note: The Federal Contracts Services Team has no changes as part of this update, and will continue to process all proposals, agreements, and related requests for Federal Contracts and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
No changes have been made to how requests should be submitted to OSP. Department Research Administrators should continue to submit requests in MyFunding and MyRA as usual.
See the OSP website for more information or email osp@pitt.edu with any questions.
FEDERAL AGENCY ROUNDUP
Updates from federal agencies for the week of 12/08/2025
- NSF released a Policy Notice: Implementation of Policy Changes to Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 24-1, Supplement 1. NSF will defer release of the 26-1 version of the PAPPG, previously developed and planned for publication in Fiscal Year 2026, to ensure alignment with forthcoming Uniform Grant Guidance updates.
Stay up-to-date and informed by visiting the Pitt Research Executive Orders and Federal Funding website.