[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR1275.103]

[Page 519-520]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
                   CHAPTER V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 1275_RESEARCH MISCONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1275.103  Role of awardee institutions.

    (a) The awardee institutions have the primary responsibility for 
prevention and detection of research misconduct and for the inquiry, 
investigation, and adjudication of research misconduct alleged to have 
occurred in association with their own institutions, although NASA has 
ultimate oversight authority for NASA research.
    (b) When an allegation of research misconduct related to NASA 
research is made directly to the OIG and the OIG defers to the awardee 
institution's inquiry or investigation, or when an allegation of 
research misconduct related to NASA research is made directly to the 
awardee institution which commences an inquiry or investigation, the 
awardee institution is required to:
    (1) Notify the OIG if an inquiry supports a formal investigation as 
soon as this is determined.
    (2) Keep the OIG informed during such an investigation.
    (3) Notify the OIG immediately--
    (i) If public health or safety is at risk;
    (ii) If Federal resources, reputation, or other interests need 
protecting;
    (iii) If research activities should be suspended;
    (iv) If there is reasonable indication of possible violations of 
civil or criminal law;
    (v) If Federal action is needed to protect the interests of those 
involved in the investigation; or
    (vi) If the research community or the public should be informed.
    (4) Provide the OIG with a copy of the investigation report, 
including the recommendations made to the awardee institution's 
adjudication official and the Respondent's written comments (if any), 
along with a copy of the evidentiary record.

[[Page 520]]

    (5) Provide the OIG with the awardee institution's final 
determination, including any corrective actions taken or planned.
    (c) If an awardee institution wishes the OIG to defer its own 
inquiry or investigation, the awardee institution shall complete any 
inquiry and decide whether an investigation is warranted within 60 days. 
It should similarly complete any investigation, adjudication, or other 
procedure necessary to produce a final determination, within an 
additional 180 days. If completion of the process is delayed, but the 
awardee institution wishes NASA's deferral of its own procedures to 
continue, NASA may require submission of periodic status reports.
    (d) Each awardee institution must maintain and effectively 
communicate to its staff, appropriate policies and procedures relating 
to research misconduct, including the requirements on when and how to 
notify NASA.