To:  All UCF Research Faculty
From:  Vice President M.J. Soileau


The U.S. House passed an $819 billion stimulus package on Wednesday. It is expected that a version of this bill will pass the Senate as well and then differences settled in compromise between the two chambers. While the details of the bill will undoubtedly change, major provisions are expected to remain intact - especially those that boost the federal agencies funding research (NSF, NIH, DOD, DOE, NEA, etc.)

In addition, the appropriations bill for the current fiscal year (FY09) is expected to be approved soon. Because the bill was not passed for the start of the current fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2008, agencies have been operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) signed by President Bush. The CR limits them to spending no more then 90 percent of their budgets from the previous fiscal year. Once the FY09 appropriations bill is passed, agencies will be free to spend the additional ten percent plus expected increases in research and development.

The net result of the stimulus bill and the passing of the FY09 budgets will be the sudden availability of substantial funds in all the federal agencies. These agencies are being told to prepare to distribute these funds as soon as possible.

Faculty and staff are urged to start now and get proposals in to these agencies as soon as possible. Any proposals recently turned down should be updated and re-submitted. Of course everyone should be alert to these expected new opportunities resulting from the stimulus bill, but do not wait to send in your proposals.

Return to Main Page