Dear UMB Community,

I write to share guidance about research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) related to stop work orders. If you are part of a research team, please see the information below for steps to follow.

We will continue to share information and guidance as the situation changes. Also, be aware that we are working to construct a website to keep you up to date and provide you with information in this rapidly changing environment.

Thank you in advance for reviewing the information below. 

Sincerely,

Gregory F. Ball, PhD

Vice President for Research

Should I Stop My Research Activities If They Involve Federal Funding?
No, unless you have received a stop work order, you should not stop working on any sponsored awards. Please continue preparing and submitting proposals according to the published agency deadlines.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Stop Work Order? 
If you receive a stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive from an authorized official of a Sponsor — either a United States Government (USG) Sponsor or Pass-Through-Entity (PTE) — send it immediately by email to Jill Frankenfield, MSL, MS, associate vice president, Sponsored Programs Administration, and Laura Scarantino, MSF, CPA, assistant vice president, Office of Sponsored Projects Accounting and Compliance, copying your department chair and school dean. They will, with guidance from the Office of University Counsel, review the contents, determine its applicability, and provide guidance on how to proceed.

Please note that some stop work orders, suspension notices, or equivalent communications are currently subject to federal injunction orders and may not be legally applicable at this time.  

If you are provided guidance that your project is subject to a stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive that has not been enjoined by an injunction, no work should be charged against the grant until official notification lifting the order has been received from an authorized official or until you receive further clarification from Jill Frankenfield or Laura Scarantino.

The cost of any work performed during the effective period of a stop work order or a suspension order that is not subject to the injunction referenced above may not be paid by the Sponsor.

During a stop work or suspension, recipients are expected to maintain operational readiness to resume work if and when the order is lifted. Deliverables in the contract/agreement may or may not be negotiable upon resumption of the award. It is therefore important to approach contingency planning, bridge funding, project de-scoping, and budget realignment carefully to ensure the ability to resume implementation immediately if approved.

Note: Only USG Contract Officers, Agreement Officers, and PTE Authorized Organizational Representatives have binding contract authority. Communications and instructions from a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, or other USG or PTE technical or program office representative, are not binding. 

Stop Work Orders and Human Subjects Research
If UMB Is the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Record:
If you receive a stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive from an authorized official of a Sponsor, immediately notify the IRB in addition to forwarding the stop work or suspension notice to Jill Frankenfield and Laura Scarantino, as described above. 

You must notify the IRB by utilizing the Reportable New Information pathway in CICERO; select #9 “Suspension or termination of the research by the sponsor or the investigator.”

Include the following information: 

• attach the written stop work order, suspension, or equivalent directive 
• the number and status of participants 
• the overall status of the research project
• the potential impact on the rights, welfare, and safety of participants resulting from the stop work, suspension, or equivalent directive
• the potential impact on the collection of study data and overall study integrity

All stop work orders, suspensions, or equivalent directives will be reviewed by a fully convened panel of the IRB for review.

If an External IRB Serves as the IRB of Record:
If you receive a stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive from an authorized official of a Sponsor, immediately notify the IRB in addition to forwarding the stop work or suspension notice to Jill Frankenfield and Laura Scarantino, as described above.

You must notify the IRB by utilizing the Reportable New Information pathway in CICERO; select #14 “Determination...Suspension or termination at UMB (External IRB studies ONLY)”

Include the following information: 

• attach the written stop work order, suspension, or equivalent directive
• the number and status of participants 
• the overall status of the research project
• potential impact on the rights, welfare, and safety of participants resulting from the stop work, suspension, or equivalent directive
• potential impact on the collection of study data and overall study integrity

All stop work orders, suspensions, or equivalent directives will be reviewed by a fully convened panel of the IRB for review.

Stop Work Orders and Animal Subjects 
If you receive a stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive from an authorized official of a Sponsor, immediately notify the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in addition to Jill Frankenfield and Laura Scarantino, as described above, utilizing the following mechanisms:

For paper protocols, submit via email at iacuc@umaryland.edu and include the following information: 

• IACUC number
• number of animals on study and being maintained in animal facilities
• overall status of the research project
• potential impact on study data and overall study integrity
• potential impact on the animals

For CICERO protocols, submit via the system utilizing the following pathway:

• Open your protocol
• Click the button “Contact IACUC Staff” found in the left navigation menu
• Enter text as described above
• Attach the stop work order, suspension notice, or equivalent directive
• Click “OK” to submit

If you have questions or concerns regarding the care and disposition of your animals, contact the Office of Animal Welfare Assurance at iacuc@umaryland.edu.

All stop work orders, suspensions, or equivalent directives will be reviewed by a fully convened panel of the IACUC for review.