Module 4: Post-Award Administration of Sponsored Projects (Part 2)

1. Module 4: Post-Award Administration of Sponsored Projects (Part 2) Office of Research and Sponsored Programs The University of Mississippi 100 Barr Hall ~ 662-915-7482 www.research.olemiss.edu/

2. Part 2 of Module 4 provides detailed information on some of the most common post-award administration activities including: • Changes to an existing award • Subawards • Regrants • Reporting • Closeout • Beyond closeout Updated October 2009

3. Changes to an existing award Updated October 2009

4. Changes to an existing award • Some changes can be approved by the institution (through the ORSP) – this is called “Expanded Authorities” (not applicable to federal contracts) • Other changes require prior approval from the sponsor • The award terms and conditions will tell you how to handle changes to an existing award • Any change that is subject to Expanded Authorities or that requires sponsor prior approval should be processed through the ORSP Updated October 2009

5. Changes that always require sponsor prior approval Written prior approval from the sponsor is always required for any of the following: • Change in the project scope or objectives • Absence of the principal investigator for more than three months or a reduction of 25% or more in effort devoted to the project • Change in key personnel • The transfer of funds allotted for training allowances (direct payment to trainees) to other categories of expense • Transfer the performance of “substantive work” on the project to a third party (subcontract, subaward) Updated October 2009

6. Changes that sometimes require sponsor prior approval Written prior approvalfrom the sponsor is sometimes required for any of the following: • Purchase of equipment not in the approved budget • Use of consultants • Rebudgeting between direct and F&A costs Updated October 2009

7. Changes that do not require sponsor prior approval OMB Circular A-110 permits federal granting agencies to waive certain sponsor prior approval requirements and gives the grantee institution the authority to approve actions such as: • Incurring pre-award costs (if allowed by the agency) • First-time no-cost extension of up to one year (but you cannot extend just to spend out remaining funds) • Carry forward of unobligated balances Updated October 2009

8. How do I obtain prior approval? It depends on whether your award is: • Federal or • Non-federal Updated October 2009

9. Obtaining prior approval on federal awards To obtain institutional prior approval, the investigator should complete a UM Prior Approval System for Federal Grants and Agreements form and forward it to the ORSP then… • The ORSP will request prior approval from the sponsor if sponsor approval required or.. • The ORSP will notify the sponsor of the change if institutional approval required Updated October 2009

10. Obtaining prior approval on non-federal awards • Contact the ORSP • The ORSP will request prior approval from the sponsor if sponsor approval required or.. • The ORSP will notify the sponsor of the change if institutional approval required Updated October 2009

11. Subawards Updated October 2009

12. Subawards • Need for a subaward • Initiating subawards • Monitoring subawards • Changing subawards • Closing subawards Updated October 2009

13. Need for a subaward • The potential need for a subaward should be considered by the investigator at the proposal stage. Why? • Because most funding agencies require written approval before a subaward is issued • Because (depending on sponsor guidelines) other information may be required such as: • Letter of intent • Biographical sketch • Current and pending other support • Available facilities information Updated October 2009

14. Initiating subawards The steps to be taken in initiating a subaward depend upon whether: • The subaward was included in the approved award budget, or • The subaward was not included in the approved award budget Updated October 2009

15. Initiating subawards:Subaward included in approved budget – investigator responsibilities The investigator should forward the following to the ORSP: • Request to Issue Subcontract or Subcontract Modification Under anExternally Funded Program form • Statement of Work (approved by subaward institution) • Budget (approved by subaward institution) • Copy of the subrecipient’s F&A Rate Agreement (if F&A is being requested) then… Updated October 2009

16. Initiating subawards:Subaward included in approved budget – ORSP responsibilities The ORSP will: • Determine that the subrecipient is not debarred or suspended from receiving federal awards • Develop the subaward in compliance with sponsoring agency guidelines, UM and subrecipient policies and procedures • Obtain subrecipient A-133 Compliance Certification, if applicable • Obtain signatures of the UM investigator, the subrecipient authorized official, and the VC/ORSP to execute the subaward • Create a purchase order to encumber funds • Provide a copy of the fully executed subaward to the UM investigator • Annually, ensure that the subrecipient remains compliant with A-133 audit requirements throughout the life of the subaward • Perform desk audits as necessary for review of subrecipient fiscal records Updated October 2009

17. Initiating subawards:Subaward NOT included in approved budget – investigator responsibilities The investigator should: • Obtain sponsor approval to issue the subaward (concurrence of the technical manager, then approval of the grant/contract manager) • Document the basis for subrecipient selection • Forward the following to the ORSP: • A Request to Issue Subcontract or Subcontract Modification Under anExternally Funded Program form • Statement of Work (approved by subaward institution) • Budget (approved by subaward institution) • Copy of the subrecipient’s F&A Rate Agreement (if F&A is being requested) • Documentation of sponsor approval of the subaward then… Updated October 2009

18. Initiating subawards:Subaward NOT included in approved budget – ORSP responsibilities The ORSP will: • Determine that the subrecipient is not debarred or suspended from receiving federal awards • Develop the subaward in compliance with sponsoring agency guidelines, UM and subrecipient policies and procedures • Obtain subrecipient A-133 Compliance Certification, if applicable • Obtain signatures of the UM investigator, the subrecipient authorized official, and the VC/ORSP to execute the subaward • Create a purchase order to encumber funds • Provide a copy of the fully executed subaward to the UM investigator • Annually, ensure that the subrecipient remains compliant with A-133 audit requirements throughout the life of the subaward • Perform desk audits as necessary for review of subrecipient fiscal records Updated October 2009

19. Monitoring UM subawards:Investigator responsibilities • Provide ongoing monitoring of subrecipient’s programmatic and fiscal compliance throughout the life of the subaward • Maintain regular contact with subaward principal investigator regarding technical aspects of project • Review and approve subrecipient invoices • Perform site visits as necessary to review fiscal and program-matic records and/or observe programmatic activities of the subrecipient • Ensure that all deliverables (e.g., technical, equipment, and invention reports) required under the subaward are being provided before approving invoice payment Updated October 2009

20. Monitoring UM subawards:ORSP responsibilities • Inform each subrecipient of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) title and number, award name and number, and name of the federal agency providing funding, if applicable • Advise subrecipients of the requirements imposed on them by federal laws, regulations, the provisions of the prime award, or provisions of UM • Ensure that non-profit subrecipients expending $500,000 or more in federal awards during the subrecipient’s fiscal year have met the audit requirements of OMB Circular A-133 and… Updated October 2009

21. Monitoring UM subawards:More ORSP responsibilities • Issue a management decision (when subrecipients have A-133 audit findings) within six months after receipt of the subrecipient’s audit report and ensure that the subrecipient takes appropriate and timely corrective action • Consider whether subrecipient audits necessitate adjustment of UM’s own records • Require each subrecipient to permit UM and auditors to have access to the records and financial statements as necessary for audit purpose and… Updated October 2009

22. Monitoring UM subawards:More ORSP responsibilities • Review and approve subrecipient invoices and forward them to the investigator for final review and approval • Perform desk audits and/or site visits as necessary for review of subrecipient financial records • Obtain a Small Business Subcontracting Plan from the subrecipient if a subaward is on a federal contract incorporating the Small Business Subcontracting Plan requirement, the amount of the award is ≥$500,000 AND the subrecipient is not a small business Updated October 2009

23. Changes to existing subawards A formal amendment or modification should be issued to make one or more of the following changes to an existing UM subaward: • Change in period of performance • Significant change to the budget • Change in scope of work • Change of key personnel • Acquisition of equipment not in the budget • Issuance of a lower-tier subaward Updated October 2009

24. Initiating a change to an existing subaward To initiate a change to an existing UM subaward, the investigator should: • Obtain prior approval of the sponsor, if required (concurrence of the technical manager, then approval of the grant/contract manager) • Forward the following to the ORSP: • Request to Issue Subcontract or Subcontract Modification Under anExternally Funded Program form • Description of the change • Approved budget (if changing funding) • Documentation of sponsor approval (if prior approval required) Updated October 2009

25. Closing subawards • Subawards must be closed by UM before the prime award close date (ORSP recommends 30 days before) • Subawards typically have closeout requirements similar to those of the prime award • The investigator is responsible for insuring that the subrecipient has submitted all required closeout reports and a FINAL invoice to UM Updated October 2009

26. Regrants Updated October 2009

27. Regrants On occasion, a sponsored program will require contracting with a UM faculty member who has been selected to perform a portion of the statement of work, but who was not included in the approved budget as program personnel. Funds for the faculty member’s effort are provided in the form of a regrant. Updated October 2009

28. Regrants In order to initiate the process of transferring funds for the faculty member’s use, a Request to Issue Regrant form, along with a Transmittal Sheet, statement of work and budget, should be submitted to the ORSP. Work performed under a regrant is subject to the same terms and conditions as the original award. Updated October 2009

29. Reporting Updated October 2009

30. Reporting: Technical • Investigator is responsible for preparation and submission to sponsor • Frequency and format specified in award terms and conditions • Timely submission is important • Failure to submit in a timely manner could jeopardize future funding from the sponsor • Sponsor uses technical report to monitor and evaluate project performance Updated October 2009

31. Reporting: Financial • Accounting Department is responsible for preparation and submission to sponsor BUT investigator is responsible for submitting to Accounting the following information to be used in financial reports: • Effort reporting and certification (see Module 6 for more information) • Cost sharing documentation (see Module 5 for more information) • Frequency and format specified in award terms and conditions Updated October 2009

32. Reporting: Patent/invention • Investigator is responsible for preparation and submission • Frequency and format specified in award terms and conditions • Work with ORSP Division of Technology Management if patents are involved Updated October 2009

33. Reporting: Other • Investigator is responsible for preparing and submitting • Frequency and format specified in award terms and conditions • Investigator is responsible for preparing and forwarding to ORSP if institutional signature is required Updated October 2009

34. Closeout Updated October 2009

35. Closeout • What is closeout? • Where can closeout instructions be found? • What reports are typically included in closeout and who is responsible for submitting them? Updated October 2009

36. What is closeout? Closeout is the process that must be followed when a sponsored project ends to ensure that sponsor reporting requirements have been met Updated October 2009

37. Where can closeout instructions be found? • OMB Circular A-110, Subpart D establishes general procedures for closeout of federal grants and cooperative agreements • Agency-specific closeout instructions can be found in the award terms and conditions Updated October 2009

38. The closeout process • Approximately 60 days before project end date, ORSP sends an email reminder to investigator • The investigator should: • Ensure that all project costs have been appropriately charged • Ensure that cost sharing is on track • Review personnel on sponsored project and decide whether to transfer to another project or terminate • Remind subrecipients of required reports, if applicable Updated October 2009

39. What reports are typically included in closeout? • Federal grants and cooperative agreements: • Final technical report • Final financial report • Final patent report • Due within 90 days from project end date Updated October 2009

40. What reports are typically included in closeout? • Federal contracts: • Final technical report • Final financial report • Final patent report • Final property report • Contractor’s release form • Generally due within 30-90 days from project end date Updated October 2009

41. Final technical report • Sponsor requirements are usually defined in the award terms and conditions • If an authorizing official signature is required, investigator should forward report to ORSP for VC/ORSP signature • Investigator is responsible for submitting report to agency and sending a disk copy (CD) to ORSP along with documentation of date report was submitted to agency Updated October 2009

42. Final technical report:Content The investigator should follow agency instructions regarding the content and format of the final technical report. When required, the final technical report should generally contain briefinformation on each of the following: • A comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals and objectives established for the period, the findings of the investigator, or both. Whenever appropriate and the output of programs or projects can be readily quantified, such quantitative data should be related to cost data for computation of unit costs. • Reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate. • Other pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs. Updated October 2009

43. Final financial report • Accounting prepares with assistance from the investigator • Accounting usually submits to sponsor, but may work with investigator to submit if investigator signature is required and/or if financial report is to be submitted with technical report Updated October 2009

44. Final patent/invention report • Investigator is responsible for preparing report and submitting to sponsor (with assistance from ORSP, if needed and/or from ORSP Division of Technology Management , if patents/inventions are involved)* • If an institutional signature is required, investigator should forward report to ORSP *Please note that patents should be discussed with staff in the ORSP Division of Technology Management as early as possible, even at the proposal stage. Technology Management staff are available to assist faculty and other personnel in identifying proposed project activities that may potentially result in patentable inventions. This ensures that faculty are informed at the outset concerning what to do to protect the inventions that may arise from the sponsored project, and also ensures that appropriate language is included in the sponsored research agreement establishing the relationship between the university and the sponsor should an invention arise from the sponsored project. Updated October 2009

45. Other final reports • Investigator is responsible for submission to sponsor and for sending a copy to ORSP • If an institutional signature is required, investigator should forward report to ORSP Updated October 2009

46. Beyond closeout Updated October 2009

47. Beyond closeout • Over/under-spent funds • Project records Updated October 2009

48. Beyond closeout:Over/under-spent funds If a project has significant over-spending or under-spending, it reflects negatively on the university Remember, the budget is the financial expression of the project Updated October 2009

49. Beyond closeout:Over-spent funds Over-spent funds indicate: • Inadequate planning • Inadequate financial management And the investigator/department pays… Updated October 2009

50. Beyond closeout:Over-spent funds Costs charged to sponsored projects that cannot be collected from the sponsorfor reasons such as unallowability, unallocability, dispute with or bankruptcyby the sponsor, or other reasons, must be paid for with principal investigatoror departmental funds. UM Policy ADM.AC.100.900 (Transfer of a deficit balance to another grant account is generally unallowable.) Updated October 2009