Non-financial post-award administration involves various activities aimed at ensuring the successful and compliant implementation of an awarded grant or contract. These activities go beyond financial transactions and include monitoring, support, and communication within the university and when necessary, with the sponsor, to achieve the intended goals of the project.
SPA assists PIs with the following as part of non-financial post award monitoring:
Our Award Acceptance team assists PIs with managing these changes.
As a reminder, the University must follow 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (aka, “Uniform Guidance”). Uniform Guidance applies to all federally funded projects including federal funding through a non-federal entity. Uniform Guidance sets forth both financial and non-financial requirements for managing federal awards.
Because non-financial requirements are part of an award’s terms and conditions, failure to follow these requirements can result in disallowed costs, audit findings or other penalties.
Examples of other non-financial post award considerations are:
Questions about property purchased on a sponsored award and any disposition requirements should be directed to your Grants and Contracts Associate.
See Inventory for additional information.
Questions about intellectual property developed during a sponsored award should be directed to the Office of Innovation.
See Invention Reports for additional information.
University researchers and their students need the ability to use data and other research work products for noncommercial educational and research purposes and the right to independently publish. This right can be provided under license, can be delayed by a sponsor’s right of review, or can be limited for a short period to permit the protection of IP rights. Credit should be given to the source of support for the project through an appropriate acknowledgement and as the terms and conditions of the agreement typically dictate.
If a proposed sponsored agreement restricts publication rights beyond what is described above, SPA coordinates with the Office of Innovation and Office of Research Compliance and Integrity to determine appropriate publication rights and other compliance considerations (e.g., export controls).
NIU has developed a Data Management Policy (PDF) to protect the rights of NIU and our researchers in regard to ownership and retention of research data and research records.
Questions about data ownership and rights should be directed to the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity.
To prevent harassment, discrimination, and other inappropriate behaviors, and foster a climate that supports scientific excellence and collaboration, NSF policy requires PIs and NIU to take additional steps to safeguard individuals when engaging in off-campus research.
The NSF policy requires that each proposal to conduct research off-campus or off-site have a plan in place for a safe and inclusive work environment and that the plan be distributed to everyone who will participate in the off-campus or off-site research prior to departure.
See the NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Resource page for more information.
To ensure a safe and healthy work environment and comply with federal requirements, NIU has developed protocols for reporting inappropriate behavior, including sexual and other forms of harassment, discrimination, and bullying.
NIU procedures align with requirements for a safe work environment set forth by federal sponsors such as NSF.
SPA coordinates with the NIU Office of Ethics and Compliance to identify events that may trigger sponsor reporting requirements. SPA completes any mandatory reporting to the sponsor.
The research community has recognized personal and professional rewards from training in the Responsible Conduct of Research. All National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health Training, and United States Department of Agriculture grants require RCR training.
See Responsible Conduct of Research for more information.
Export control regulations are federal laws regulating the export, transfer or transmission of certain commodities, software, technology and technical information from the United States to a foreign destination or to foreign nationals on U.S. soil. Export control laws may arise for one or more of the following reasons:
Sponsored project agreements can include clauses that may introduce export control concerns. Problematic clauses include:
*Export control countries of heightened concern
If the research falls into a category enacting export control law, NIU may need to apply for an export license which can be costly and take time to obtain. SPA coordinates with the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity on any sponsored agreements contacting troublesome clauses to determine the appropriate response.
See Export Controls for additional information.
Questions about the use of human subjects in research should be directed to the Office of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety.
See Human Subjects Research for more information.
The Office of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety houses the mandated federal review boards for research. These include the Institutional Review Board (IRB) which handles protections and approvals for research involving human subjects, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) which is responsible for protections and approvals regarding research with animals, and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) which is the authority for protections and approvals with research involving biohazards.
Sponsored funding must adhere to all research compliance requirements.
Questions regarding all matters relating to research compliance and integrity should be directed to the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity
As a public institution of higher education, certain information related to sponsored projects may be subject to public disclosure through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Additionally, records of the federal government can also be subject to FOIA disclosure.
The university often has very strict timelines for responding to such requests and they may be subject to various exemptions to protect any confidential or propriety information.
Contract SPA as asosp@niu.edu immediately if you receive a FOIA request. SPA will work with the Principal Investigator and the NIU FOIA Officer to evaluate the request and respond accordingly.
See NIU’s Freedom of Information page for more information.
Pre-award and Proposals
asosp@niu.edu
Post-award and Award Management
GrantsFiscal@niu.edu
InfoEd Questions
erahelp@niu.edu