Office of Sponsored Programs


Principal Investigator's Handbook


Table of Contents


 

Introduction

    Introduction

        Office of Sponsored Programs

            Purpose

            Organization

 

Section I: Proposal & Development Activity

            Proposal & Development Activity

            OSP Staff Assignments Chart

 

            The Principal Investigator

                        University Affiliation for Institutional Awards

                        Individual Awards

                        Conflicts of Interest

 

            Proposal Development & Submission Responsibilities

                        The Principal Investigator

                        The OSP Staff Member

                        The School/College Dean

                        The Office of the Provost

 

            Development & Marketing Activity

                        Funding Sources

                        Proposal Types

                        Pre‑Submission Procedures

                        Pre-Approval Procedures

                        Special Types of Funding

                        Compliance Issues

                        Classified Research

 

            The Technical Proposal

                        Preparation of the Technical Proposal

                        Checklist for Principal Investigators Developing a Proposal

                        General Format

                        Proposal Typing

 

            The Cost Proposal

                        Procedure

                        Components

                                    Direct Costs

                                    Indirect Costs

                                    Cost Sharing

                                    Subagreements

            Processing the Proposal

                        Routing through the University

                        Photocopying and Presentation

                        Submission of Proposal

                        Electronic Proposal Submission

                        Delivery

                        Submission of Revisions

 

            Attachment I‑A:  Publications & Guidelines Available at OSP

            Attachment I‑B:  Sample Title Page

            Attachment I‑C: Summary of Budget Assumptions for Preparation of Proposals and Sample Budget

            Attachment I-D: Sample Consultant Agreement

            Attachment I-E: Global Accident & Health Protection

            Attachment I‑F: Sponsored Programs Approval Form

 

 

Section II: Contract & Grant Administration

            When a Proposal Becomes an Award

                        Acceptance of Award

 

            OSP Staff Assignments

                        Negotiations

 

           Responsibilities

                        The Principal Investigator

                        The Assigned OSP Staff Member

                        The Office of Grants Accounting

                        The School/College Dean

                        The Office of the Provost

 

            Project Administration

                        Project Account Number

                        Project Brief

                        Technical Reports

                        Financial Reports

                        Property Control  

                                    OMB Circular A-110, Section 34

                        Insurance

                        Academic Fraud


            Intellectual Property
                               

            Drug‑Free Workplace

                                                                       

            Changes in a Contract or Grant

                        Change of Principal Investigator

                        Transfer of Contract or Grant

                        No‑Cost Extensions

                        Changes in Research Plan

                        Rebudgeting

                                    OMB Circular A-110, Section 25

                        Carryover of Funding

                        Supplemental Funds

                        Cost Overruns

                        Internal Prior Approval Systems

 

            Conclusion of the Contract or Grant

                        Termination of Project Personnel

                        Close‑Out Procedures

                        Records Retention

                       

            Attachment II‑A:  Project Start‑Up Checklist

            Attachment II‑B: Sample Project Brief

            Attachment II‑C:  University Vehicle Safety Policy & Guidelines

            Attachment II‑D:  Framework for Institutional

                                    Policies and Procedures to Deal with Fraud in Research

            Attachment II-E:  University Patent Policy

            Attachment II-F:  Drug Abuse Policy

            Attachment II-G:  Grant Closeout Checklist

            Attachment II‑H: Sponsored Programs Sample Contract Closeout Form

           

           

Section III: Financial Management & Forms Processing

            Expenditure Procedures

                        University Object Codes

                        Project Expenditure Control Authority

                        Routing of Expenditure Documents

                       

            Project Expenditures

                        Personnel Costs

                        Fringe Benefits

                        Consultants 

                        Personnel & Payroll Forms

                        Travel Policy 

                        Procurement of Goods & Services

                        Subagreements

                        Facilities and Administrative Allowance (Indirect Costs)

                        Unallowable Expenses

                        Time and Effort Certification

                       

            Final Accounting Procedures

                        Program Income

                        Billings/Financial Reports

                        Audits of Sponsored Projects

                        Common Audit Findings


Attachment III-A: Most Commonly Used Expenditure Object Codes at AU
            Attachment III-B:  XEX1, XEX2 and XEX3 Reference Sheets

Attachment III‑C:  OMB Circular A-21, Section J

            Attachment III-D:  Graduate Authorization and Tuition Remission Form
            Attachment III-E:  Consultant/Subcontract Request Form
            Attachment III‑F:  Disbursement Request
            Attachment III-G:  Sample Consultant Invoice

            Attachment III‑H:  Sample Memo: Breakdown of Travel Expenses

            Attachment III‑I: Advance Expense Form

           

Section IV: Compliance Policies

           Human Subjects

                        Institutional Review Board Committee

                       

           Animal Care and Use

                        Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

                       

           Radiation Safety

                        Radiation Safety Committee

                       

           Hazardous Materials

 
           Controlled Substances

Attachment IV-A:  American University Regulations on  the Protection of Human Subjects
Attachment IV-B:  Federalwide Assurance of Protection for Human Subjects
Attachment IV-C:  Human Subjects Research at American University
Attachment IV‑D:  IRB Research Proposal Review
Attachment IV-E:  Claim of IRB Exemption
Attachment IV-F:  Questions and Answers About Human Subject Protection
Attachment IV-G:  Protocol for Use of Live Vertebrates for Research, Teaching, or Demonstration
Attachment IV‑H:  Procedures for Ordering and Receiving Radioactive Materials at American University