Completing the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse Participant Commitment Form

Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Expanded Clearinghouse Members may use the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse Participant Commitment Form, instead of UC Berkeley’s standard Subrecipient Commitment Form. If you are not an FDP Expanded Clearinghouse Member, see the Subrecipient Commitment Form Guidance.

Your commitment form must be completed by someone who:

Is knowledgeable about your institution’s business processes.
Possesses information about the Statement of Work your institution’s Principal Investigator/Project Director will carry out.

Your commitment form must be approved and signed by your institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). This is the individual with the authority to legally bind your institution in administration matters related to grants, contracts and cooperative agreements. It should not be the head of a sub-unit within your institution, unless that individual has the written delegated authority to serve as an AOR.

Instructions for completing the form

The FDP Expanded Clearinghouse Participant Commitment Form collects project-specific information and confirm that the Subrecipient’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) has approved the Subrecipient’s information contained in UC Berkeley’s proposal.

UC Berkeley Proposal Information

This section must be completed by the UC Berkeley PI/Department before sending to the Subrecipient for completion and signature.

Subrecipient Information

This section provides background information on your organization that will be used to prepare the subaward. It must be completed by an authorized individual who is knowledgeable about your organization as a business entity.

Subrecipient’s Principal Investigator/Project Director: Identify a specific individual to serve as the Principal Investigator/Project Director of the subaward. This individual is expected to be involved in programmatic decisions impacting the overall project. If this individual must change during the subaward period, UC Berkeley will need to approve this change.

Amount of Funding Requested: What is the total estimated cost of the goods/services you will provide? This includes both direct and indirect costs.

Amount of Cost Sharing Commitment: This pertains to any quantifiable cash or in-kind contribution to the UC Berkeley project being made by your organization. This contribution must occur within the subaward period and be verifiable. Do not include cost sharing in your organization’s Statement of Work, budget, budget justification, or anywhere else unless it is specifically requested by the UC Berkeley PI.

If Cost Sharing is not anticipated respond “NA.”

Organization Address/Performance Site Address: If the sponsored activity will take place at another location, please provide this address under Performance Site address.

Congressional District (if in the U.S.): Please include the U.S. congressional district of your organization as well as the performance site (where the Statement of Work will be carried out) if it will be different from that of your organization. To find a specific congressional district, go to the U.S. House of Representatives website.

Certifications

This section provides certifications to requirements specific to the project.

1. Research Subject Compliance Information

Embryonic Stem Cells: Please check “Yes” if your organization’s Statement of Work involves any human embryonic or adult stem cell research. For more information, see the UC Berkeley Human Stem Cell Research Policy.
Human Subjects: If your organization will be carrying out human subjects’ research under the subaward with UC Berkeley mark, “Yes,” on the form. Please provide your organization’s Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP) approved Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) number (see below).
Animal Subjects: If your organization will be carrying out animal research under the subaward with UC Berkeley mark, “Yes,” on the form.

Note: The Berkeley IACUC must review and approve your organization’s animal research protocol before a subaward will be issued.

2. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) (for funded by NSF or any other programs requiring Ethics in Research training)

An increasing number of Sponsors are requiring domestic and international Subrecipients to train their personnel in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR). Requirements for who must be trained, and the frequency/duration of instruction vary by Sponsor. Subrecipients must review the Sponsor-specific RECR training requirements and establish plans to meet the requirements. Depending on the Sponsor, you may be required to include such plans in your portion of the submitted proposal or provide them to UC Berkeley and the Sponsor, upon request.

National Science Foundation (NSF) requires such training under the America COMPETES (America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act (Aug 9, 2007), and in accordance with their Jan 20, 2023 changes to the NSF PAPPG.
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requires such training under 2 CFR Part 422 Sections 2, 3, and 8.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires such training for certain funding mechanisms. You must check the training requirements of the relevant Funding Opportunity requires such training for certain funding mechanisms. You must check the training requirements of the relevant Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
For other Sponsors, the UC Berkeley PI can provide you with any RECR requirements in the Sponsor’s RFP/FOA or policies.

3. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) (only for U.S. Federal Projects)

DURC/PEPP is a unified federal oversight framework for conducting and managing certain types of federally funded life sciences research involving biological agents and toxins that may pose significant risks to public health and safety. It requires organizations conducting research under U.S. Federal Funding to identify projects that involve agents or toxins deemed high-risk under the DURC/PEPP policy; to establish and maintain policies and procedures consistent with the DURC/PEPP Policy; and to ensure that all personnel involved in relevant research are aware of and adhere to these policies. While such policies and procedures are not required to be included in the Subrecipient’s portion of the submitted proposal, Subrecipients are advised that all such policies and procedures are subject to review by UC Berkeley and the Federal Agency upon request.

As of May 6, 2025, DURC/PEPP applies only to NIH Awards. Other Federal Agencies are expected to implement DURC/PEPP policies in the near future.

4. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 Public Law 117 - 167: (only for U.S. Federal Projects)

Research Security Training: Under Section 10634 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, individuals who (a) contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of a research and development project proposed to be carried out with a research and development award from a Federal research agency; and (b) are designated as a covered individual by the Federal research agency concerned (“Covered Individuals”) are required to complete research security training. Institutions and other organizations must certify that such Covered Individuals employed by the institution or organization and listed on the application have fulfilled this requirement. The training should cover topics such as cybersecurity, international collaboration and travel, foreign interference, proper use of funds, disclosure requirements, conflicts of commitment, and conflicts of interest. Institutions have the flexibility to use federally developed training modules, like NSF’s Research Security Training, or to create their own programs, provided they meet the outlined requirements, or use a fee-based training institution such as CITI.

As of May 1, 2025, this training requirement applies only to DOE awards. Other Federal Agencies are expected to implement research security training policies in the near future.

Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program: Under Section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Covered Individuals are prohibited from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs (“MFTRP”s), as defined in the Act. To comply with this provision, Covered Individuals must certify at the time of proposal submission and annually thereafter for the duration of the award that they are not participants in any MFTRP. Institutions and organizations applying for federal research funding are also required to certify that each Covered Individual who is employed by such institution or organization is aware of and will comply with this prohibition. This requirement is part of a broader effort to safeguard U.S. research from undue foreign influence while still permitting legitimate international collaborations that do not compromise research security.

Authorized Official (AOR) Approval

Only an Authorized Official Representative (AOR) who has the authority to commit your organization as a legal entity should sign this form. The official’s signature certifies all of the statements/information listed on the Subrecipient Commitment Form and information and commitments provided in your organization’s proposal are true and correct.

If you have questions, please contact the Subaward Team at subcontracts@berkeley.edu. If you have a suggestion on how we might improve SPO’s subaward services, please drop it in the Subaward Suggestion Box.