Please contact Sponsored Programs as soon as you have plans to submit a proposal. This knowledge helps our office plan workload schedules, and we often can give you additional information or guidance about the funding opportunity that may be valuable as you prepare your proposal.
The earlier the better. Although Sponsored Programs requests that you have the completed proposal in our office five business days before the sponsor deadline, it is helpful if it arrives earlier to aid with varying workflow.
Your proposal and resulting award document (usually a grant or contract) represent a legal promise or agreement between the University and the funding agency; therefore, only an authorized signatory for the University is allowed to sign. The Director of Sponsored Programs will sign the majority of the time; if that person is not available, the Office of Research will obtain the signature from another authorized person. This requirement protects the Principal Investigator (PI) from liability.
After you certify your proposal in AGrants and submit it, the proposal will automatically be routed for approvals from those to whom you report. The same applies to your Co-Investigators on the project. The electronic proposal is then routed to the Director of Special Funds Accounting and the Director of Sponsored Programs for final approval.
Your proposal must go through the complete AGrants approval process, which includes approvals by two signing levels above your position (usually your department chair and dean), the Director of Special Funds Accounting, and the Director of Sponsored Programs. At that point, you may be given permission by Sponsored Programs to mail or deliver the proposal yourself.
Yes, if a contract has been issued but has not yet begun. Contact Sponsored Programs for assistance.
Most of the time, no. The only time that an individual is required to register with Grants.gov is when an award to the individual, such as a fellowship, is made. Most federal funding, however, is not to the individual, but to the institution; and Sponsored Programs must submit proposals using the University's grants.gov account.
Yes, if the letter of inquiry or pre-proposal requires an authorized signature or a detailed budget. Otherwise, internal routing is not required.
To complete sponsored activities, you will be using time and resources that are owned by the University and the State of North Carolina. The University must therefore agree that usage of the resources in this manner is in the best interest of the University and State. This action also provides legal and fiscal protection for you.