Proposal Compliance Requirements

Proposal Compliance Requirements

To support a clear understanding of institutional, sponsor, and federal compliance obligations, BSOS requires the following items to be addressed before BSOS review and approval of any BSOS-led proposal:

  1. Acknowledgement of UMD Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, and Consulting Policies (BSOS requirement)
  2. inTERP Disclosure (University and sponsor requirement)
  3. Research Security Training (Federal sponsor requirement, recommended for all sponsors and projects with international travel or research components, and export control considerations)
  4. Safety & Inclusion Plan for Off-campus and Off-Site Research Activities (NSF requirement)
  5. Data Management Plan (Federal sponsor requirement)

For additional information on Conflict of Interest, inTERP disclosure requirements, Research Security, and Export Control, please visit the Vice President for Research (VPR) website for Research Compliance.

Acknowledgement of UMD Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, and Consulting Policies 

Click to submit the BSOS COI/COC & Consulting Policies Acknowledgment Form.

In accordance with Maryland State Ethics Laws, University of Maryland policies, and applicable federal requirements, all investigators and individuals designated as Senior and Key Personnel on BSOS-led proposals are required to review and acknowledge the University of Maryland policies on Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, and Consulting. This requirement applies regardless of home unit or college affiliation.  Deans, Chairs, Directors, and Directors of Administrative Services are also required to complete this acknowledgment. 

The BSOS Dean’s Office will not approve or route proposals to the Office of Research Administration (ORA) until all Senior and Key Personnel have completed the required Acknowledgement Form. 

Required Policy Review and Acknowledgment

Senior and Key Personnel must review the following University of Maryland policies, which outline expectations related to outside professional activities, the identification and management of actual or perceived conflicts, and ensuring that external activities do not interfere with University responsibilities.

After reviewing both policies, each individual must complete the BSOS COI/COC & Consulting Policies Acknowledgment Form. The form must be completed individually and submitted prior to BSOS review during the proposal routing process. This Acknowledgment Form is a one-time requirement. Individuals will only be asked to complete the form again if the University updates the Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment, or Consulting policies.

Questions and Additional Information

If you have questions about this requirement or the acknowledgment process, please contact bsosresearch@umd.edu. 

inTERP Disclosure Compliance

 

Click to disclose via inTERP

 

As of October 1, 2025, under the Disclose to Propose mandate, all faculty, exempt staff, and graduate research assistants are required to submit and maintain an up-to-date inTERP disclosure of all outside professional activities and significant financial interests, including those of their immediate family members. 

Disclosures must be:

  • Submitted even if there is nothing to disclose

  • Reviewed and updated at least annually, and/or before proposal submission

  • Updated within 30 days of any significant change in outside activities or financial interests

For researchers, an inTERP disclosure must be submitted before proposal submission. At the proposal stage, disclosures are not required to be dispositioned. ORA will not review or submit proposals for individuals who are not in compliance. However, disclosures must be fully reviewed and dispositioned (e.g., No Conflict or Conflict with a Management Plan) before an award can be accepted and established in Kuali Research or Workday. Failure to maintain a current disclosure may delay award acceptance or account setup.

Research Security Training

Enroll in the Research Security Training

 

In accordance with the Chips and Science Act of 2022, all investigators and individuals designated as Senior and Key Personnel must complete UMD’s annual Research Security Training (RST) before proposal submission. Completion is certified through the KR Investigator Questionnaire. This training is a federal sponsor requirement and is strongly recommended for all sponsors and for projects involving international travel or research, or export control considerations. 

The Research Security Training (RST) provides recipients of federal research funding with detailed guidance on research security expectations, conflict of interest considerations, and activities that must be disclosed in Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents. There are also UMD-specific modules about international travel and export control. Additional information about the Research Security Training requirement is available on the UMD Research Security Office (RSO) website. 

Research Security Training is administered through ELMS and must be completed by UMD personnel only.