NAVREF Mission: NAVREF’s mission is to promote high quality management and communication among the VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations and to pursue issues at the government level that are of interest to its members.

1. While Congress has always maintained a keen eye on NPC operations, during the last year VA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) transitioned to a more active oversight role requiring considerable effort on the part of NAVREF to ensure that the individuals involved have an understanding of NPC operations and the role NPCs play at the local level. This included working with two acting Chief Research and Development Officers, staff of the VA NPC Program Office and members of the VA NPC Oversight Board.

This effort culminated in the response to the April 1 OGC advisory that left NPCs with no viable means to enter into agreements with study sponsors. Within a very short time frame, there was general agreement among ORD, the OGC Corporations Panel, OGC and NAVREF to continue to use clinical research agreements during the transition to CRADAs as the preferred means to establish relationships with study sponsors.

2. With Jane Searing, CPA, of Clark Nuber, P.S., NAVREF developed comprehensive, NPC-specific guidance on how to complete IRS Form 990. This form is the primary tool used by the public and government oversight entities at the state and federal levels to assess whether tax-exempt organizations provide a public benefit. It is important for each NPC to ensure that their Form 990 accurately reflects the organization’s activities and operations. During a two-hour workshop conducted by conference call, Ms. Searing presented a wealth of information designed to ensure complete and compliant Form 990 submissions as well improved consistency among the NPCs. Subsequently, line-by-line instructions were compiled in a table that was posted on the NAVREF web site along with the audio of the workshop, the speaker’s slides and links to other helpful resources.

3. NAVREF continued to collaborate with VA to expand board members’ understanding of their NPC responsibilities. This was accomplished by conducting a well-attended interactive session for medical center directors and associate directors during the VHA Senior Management Conference and by collaborating with ORD and a consultant to develop a comprehensive manual on NPC governance that was the basis for an eight-hour workshop held for NPC boards across the country.

Policy Development

• Maintained a strong working relationship with staff of the VA Nonprofit Program office that was created in response to the GAO recommendation that NPCs were functioning well but would benefit from more oversight. Collaborated on responses to numerous internal VA and external inquiries about the NPCs.
• Conducted extensive research in order to develop guidance and sample policies on business meeting support, reimbursement for subscriptions and dues and transfers of funds when a PI relocates.
• Participated in extensive discussions with VHA policymakers regarding NPC difficulties negotiating IP clauses in clinical research agreements (CRAs). These culminated in a January 2005 meeting during which a methodical plan for solving the problems was laid out. Regrettably, this was subsequently subsumed by the April 1 OGC advisory.

Member Communications and Services

• In light of increased scrutiny by VA and the IG, NAVREF urged NPCs to implement policies and procedures, particularly in regard to avoiding joint VA/NPC employment for research personnel, and provided sample policies regarding paying for subscriptions, memberships and business meetings, and for reimbursing VA for clinical services provided purely for research purposes.
• Responded to numerous email and phone questions from members, usually with a one-day turnaround time; used questions to prompt newsletter articles on timely topics and additional postings on the web site.
• Wrote and disseminated by email 18 newsletters and updates; posted on web site for future reference.
• Conducted three Best Practices Consultations and scheduled two more.
• Performed a complete updating of the web site technology to improve navigation and the search capability.
• Broadened membership inclusiveness by involving the governmental affairs (GAC) and non-governmental grants (NGGC) board advisory committees in identifying and addressing issues relevant to the general membership.

Governance

• Continued to work closely with the Government Affairs and Non Governmental Grants board advisory committees formed to assist the board in identifying initiatives and developing positions; to draw on the expertise of members beyond the board; and to broaden involvement in NAVREF activities.
• Designated two new board positions for “executive directors” to increase the depth and breadth of representation on the board and to ensure a pool of future board leaders.
• Held four board of directors meetings, each hosted by a NAVREF member foundation to allow interaction between the host board and the NAVREF board.
• Conducted ongoing governance training for the board that incorporated board development, characteristics of effective boards and board meeting assessment.

Advocacy and Public Policy

• Helped to achieve restoration of the $20 million cut in the R&D appropriation that was proposed by the administration’s FY 2005 budget.
• Collaborated closely with other members of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Coalition to advocate a significant increase in the FY 2006 appropriation for R&D. These ongoing joint efforts have included developing recommendations and supporting materials, organizing a briefing for FOVA members conducted by the Acting Chief Research and Development Officer, Stephan Fihn, MD; meeting with key legislators and staff; testifying before the House appropriations subcommittee and generating support for a Senate Dear Colleague letter.
• Responded to numerous congressional inquiries about VA research funding, priority areas of research, recent achievements and VA policies in regard to women and minority participation in VA studies.
• Arranged to make presentations about the NPCs before the industry members of the American Medical Surgeons of the US (February 2005), the 15th Annual Conference on Contracting and Negotiating Clinical Trials (May 2005) and the National Council of University Research Administrators (November 2005)
• Met with VHA, OGC and OIG, and participated as a VA NPC Oversight Board meeting “guest” to maintain open lines of communications and to ensure that policymakers considered NPCs’ positions.

Conferences

• Managed a highly successful 2005 Annual Conference that provided two and a half days of educational sessions specifically targeted to the needs of the NPCs as well as numerous networking opportunities. Particularly well-received educational sessions covered such topics as business ethics for all nonprofits, NPC/VA operational issues; and preventing negligent firing as well as interactions with VA’s Office of the Inspector General and General Counsel.
• Fostered NPC administration of NIH grants by offering training on compliance with OMB Circular A-122 regulations regarding federal funds management.
• Conducted four (4) membership conference calls including two membership calls without a structured agenda, one conference call on new Fair Labor Standards Act regulations conducted by labor attorney, Manesh Rath of Keller and Heckman, LLC; and one conference call on Understanding the 990 with Jane Searing of Clark Nuber, PS.
• Collaborated with the VA Nonprofit Program Office on Governance Training provided to statutory members of the VA-affiliated NPCs and worked with the NPC Program Office to create and distribute DVD’s of the governance training and manuals to all NPC’s.

Administration

• After a prolonged search and negotiation process, NAVREF procured new office space in Chevy Chase, Maryland, to accommodate expanding the NAVREF staff and to improve access to downtown Washington. The new location is just two blocks away from the Friendship Heights Metro Station and two stops from NIH.
• Hired a part-time administrative assistant and conference coordinator.
• Implemented the first increase in NAVREF dues since its inception to support the new office and staff; phased the increase in over two years.