We are your connection to the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), Office of Industry Engagement (OIE), Sponsored Projects Award Administration (SPAA), and Office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (VPCFO). We will assist you in submitting research proposals through OSP/OIE, coordinating award documentation with OSP, OIE, VPCFO, and providing post-award administration in conjunction with SPAA. We provide workshops for faculty and graduate students that develop grant preparation skills and grant compliance and advise faculty in all research administration topics. If you are experiencing or have been contacted for an audit, please notify COERA staff immediately so that we may assist and coordinate.
Pre-Award:
Assist faculty members, students, and other researchers with the preparation and submission of grant and contract proposals to a sponsoring agency, company, or foundation. This process includes:
- Research the submission process for each application, including rules, regulations, and requirements for each sponsor, as well as the individual program announcement. Communicate with the sponsor if questions about the rules/guidelines arise.
- Meet/confer with the researcher for budget planning and coordination of proposal docs for proposal submission. Create a detailed proposal budget and budget justification. If a subaward is proposed, PI will communicate with the subaward organization in order to coordinate materials.
- Review research portions and other sponsor-required documents. Prepare the grant application via the electronic submission portal for each sponsor and upload the requisite documents.
- Create an electronic OSP Proposal Review Form and coordinate with OSP regarding the proposal approvals. Act as an advocate for the Principal Investigator throughout the submission process.
- Coordinate with the researcher to prepare “Just-in-Time” documents for NIH submissions likely to be funded, or any required pre-award documentation as requested by a sponsor.
Serve as primary contact for sponsored project awarding process, which includes:
- Prepare revised budgets, SOWs, or award documentation based on actual award terms, if necessary.
- Review grant agreements and suggest necessary changes during contract negotiation for smoother transition with OSP award negotiation.
- Work with OSP award negotiators to coordinate the facilitation of funded proposals or contracts to ensure execution, proper post-award paperwork submission, prepare cost share forms as needed, credit requests if necessary, and set-up of accounts.
- Prepare and coordinate subawards and additional OSP mandated contractual agreements under the award.
- Request no-cost extensions, amendments, continuations, and supplement requests while preparing contractual paperwork for NCEs or amendments, if needed.
Serve as OSP liaison for appropriate post-award functions, which include:
- Aid researchers and COE post-award specialist with all award maintenance needs that arise throughout a project, including award interpretation, continuation funding processes, financial portion only of progress reports, no-cost extensions, credit requests, and cost share planning.
Post-Award:
Assist faculty and departmental staff with sponsored account budget issues such as insufficient funds and accounting errors. Act as a liaison between department/faculty and SPAA. Perform budget transfers on sponsored research accounts.
Maintain sponsored accounts compliance with internal (UT) and external (sponsor, state, federal) policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with internal and external policies and procedures including institutional, sponsor-specific, Federal OMB Circular policies, and Uniform Guidance - CFR-200. Act as a liaison between department/faculty and SPAA. Work with COERA pre-award staff to provide necessary cost- share information and invoice expenditure detail as requested by SPAA.
Work with COERA pre-award staff to process post-award amendments (including no-cost extensions and/or extensions with additional funds), post-award credit authorizations, and “spend available” requests.
Upon account set-up, reconcile the proposal budget with the awarded budget. Coordinate any audits involving COE sponsored research accounts. Work with SPAA to rectify sponsor invoicing and/or receivables issues, as well as provide invoice and financial reporting guidance.
Serve as primary contact and planner for COERA served sponsored project appointments, which includes:
- Attend workday training and keep up-to-date on training and system updates
- Maintain knowledge regarding HR policies and procedures around appointments and establish internal procedures to accommodate
- Create templates to facilitate appointment processing (aka appointment spreadsheets)
- Review award budget and key personnel award effort requirements
- Coordinate with PI in face-to-face meetings and multiple follow-up emails for appointment planning across all sponsored projects (Post-Workday)
Serve as primary contact and planner for all COE sponsored project effort certification, which includes:
- Review all salary and tuition transactions for the effort period and pre-certify effort reports.
- Review, analyze, and calculate project cost share for effort certification.
- Contact each COE PI with detailed and specific instructions on project and individual certification
- Meet with PIs by request for effort certification submission.