Software Expenses on Sponsored Awards
Commercial software is usually considered general purpose and therefore not allowable as a direct cost on a sponsored project. However, there are times when the purchase of specialized software may be made as a direct charge given adequate justification based on project needs and given sponsor approval. When these conditions are met, software expenses may […]
Research Types in KR PD
Last week’s blog, “F&A Rates on Sponsored Projects” covered three different activity types in KR PD – research, instruction, and other sponsored activity. Appropriate classification ensures that the correct F&A rate is applied given project activities. This week’s blog is focused on the corresponding research types listed under ‘Supplemental Information’ in KR PD. When an […]
Travel Supported by Federal Funds
Travel and transportation of goods paid for with U.S. Federal funds are required to use a U.S. air carrier service (Fly America Act). According to the Fly America Act, “all air travel and cargo transportation services funded by the federal government are required to use a ‘U.S. flag’ air carrier service.” This requirement extends to […]
PI Eligibility at CSU
Eligibility to act as a principal investigator (PI) or co-principal investigator (Co-PI) on a sponsored project is limited to CSU employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to comply with all award regulations and requirements and who have an appointment type that permits serving as a PI or Co-PI. This limitation is in place because […]
Post-Submission Requests
Just-in-Time Post-submission Requests Just-in-Time (JIT) Information refers to information that is required by a sponsoring agency prior to issuing an award. The process of requiring applicants to send information only if any award is likely, reduces the administrative burden for applications that will not receive funding. JIT information is typically requested after the agency has […]
Cost-sharing and CSU
Cost-sharing occurs when a portion of project costs are not paid for by a sponsor but are paid using CSU resources or by an entity outside of CSU (aka third-party cost-sharing). Cost-sharing may be a condition of the award (i.e., mandatory) or may be voluntarily contributed to a sponsored project. Voluntary contributions may or may […]
Project Titles
The title of a grant proposal is the first chance to woo peer reviewers. Investigators often create a title that is creative and innovative, while aptly describing the nature of the project. While proposal titles should be relevant and results-driven, such as “TESTY: Testing the Effects of Saccharin on Testosterone-Y,” titles must also conform to […]
Proposal Review & Submission
The proposal review provided by OSP adds value by ensuring proposal elements, including the budget, meet sponsor requirements. The review not only helps to safeguard that the proposal will be accepted by the sponsor, but it also assists in timely award receipt and negotiation. In order to provide an equitable and efficient review of proposal […]
Incentive Payments
Incentive payments are payments or items given to individuals in order to encourage participation in research. Incentive payments may include small dollar items, such as cash, gift cards, gift certificates, or other tangible, small value items such as pens, mugs, or keychains. For example, a research participant may be given a CSU mug for participating […]
Effective Email Communication
Use of Subject Lines Some email recipients rely heavily on the subject line to inform them of the email’s topic and to search and find the email for reference once read. Use the subject line to indicate the topic so that the recipient immediately knows what the message is about. Be specific since a lot […]