Special FCOI Requirements for DOE Researchers
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has its own interim financial conflict of interest regulation, the Department of Energy Interim COI Policy. Columbia is implementing its compliance plan for this Interim COI Policy on a rolling basis, and will be in contact with individual DOE researchers regarding requirements for compliance. The regulation, which is incorporated as an appendix to the University's FCOI and Research Policy, includes specific requirements for all DOE investigators, including special certification language in the annual COI disclosure form (filed in Rascal); special requirement for reporting sponsored travel, and a requirement for all DOE researchers to complete training in Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research at least once every four years.
DOE researchers have two options for completing their initial FCOI training in Rascal:
- Taking Rascal course TC7000 - Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) for Faculty and Other Senior Personnel, a broad course on RECR required of all NSF-funded researcher, that contains DOE-related COI content; or
- Taking Rascal course TC1450 - Financial Conflicts of Interest for PHS/DOE Researchers, a stand-alone FCOI course for PHS- and DOE-funded researchers.
To remain compliant with the DOE FCOI 4-year training requirement, researchers who have previously completed FCOI training can complete Rascal course TC1455 - Refresher FCOI Training for PHS/DOE Researchers, an abbreviated FCOI refresher course. [Note that TC1455 is refresher training only and does not satisfy the initial FCOI training requirement.]