42 CFR § 93.311 - Investigation time limits.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s93.311"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 93.311 - Investigation time limits."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "93.311"
section_name: "Investigation time limits."
chapter_name: "PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "H"
subchapter_name: "HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND HEALTH EFFECTS STUDIES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES RELEASES AND FACILITIES"
part_number: "93"
part_name: "PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE POLICIES ON RESEARCH MISCONDUCT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 216 and 289b"
regulatory_source: "89 FR 76295, Sept. 17, 2024, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "93"
---


# 93.311 Investigation time limits.

(a) *Time limit for completing an investigation.* An institution must complete all aspects of an investigation within 180 days of beginning it, including conducting the investigation, preparing the draft investigation report for each respondent, providing the draft report to each respondent for comment in accordance with § 93.312, and transmitting the institutional record including the final investigation report and decision by the Institutional Deciding Official to ORI in accordance with § 93.316.

(b) *Extension of time limit.* If unable to complete the investigation in 180 days, the institution must ask ORI for an extension in writing that includes the circumstances or issues warranting additional time.

(c) *Progress reports.* If ORI grants an extension, it may direct the institution to file periodic progress reports.

(d) *Investigation report.* If the investigation takes longer than 180 days to complete, the investigation report must include the reasons for exceeding the 180-day period.