Department of Veterans Affairs September 1, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On December 6, 2000, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive Office of the President, published a notification of a final Federal Policy on Research Misconduct (Federal Policy) (65 FR 76260). That policy set forth a definition of ``research misconduct'' and provided basic guidelines for responding to allegations of misconduct for all Federally-funded research and proposals for such research. Federal agencies that conduct or support research, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), are required to implement the Federal Policy. VA publicized its intent to adopt the Federal Policy on April 30, 2002 (67 FR 21325). On May 4, 2005, VA finalized and released its research misconduct policy, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook 1058.2. These internal policies and procedures are fully consistent with and circumscribed by the Federal Policy. To the extent that the Federal Policy was published in the Federal Register subject to notice and comment requirements, no additional substantive policies affecting the public are created by VA's internal research misconduct policies and procedures. These policies and procedures apply only to allegations of research misconduct as defined herein. Other ``research improprieties'' are handled according to separate, extant VA policies and procedures.

This document amends VA's regulations to codify the provisions of revised OMB Circular A-133. That circular provides standards for consistency and uniformity among Federal agencies for the audits of States, local governments, and non-profit organizations expending Federal awards. Further, this document codifies the provisions of former OMB Circular A-110. That rule provides for uniform administrative requirements for grants and agreements with institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations. Codification of these provisions allows VA to execute these standards and requirements through the establishment of binding rules.