Students and post-doctoral researchers seeking external funds must apply through Brown's Office of Sponsored Projects. This office is a resource for faculty and other Brown grant-seekers, providing assistance in the identification of funding sources, proposal preparation, and negotiation of agreements. It also offers administrative support during the progress and close-out of sponsored project activities. The director of the OSP is a University-designated administrative official for signing all proposals for externally sponsored activities.
OSP, a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Research, performs the following services:
- Reviews all proposals for compliance with University policies and sponsoring agency requirements
- Determines the accuracy of proposal budgets, including calculation of fringe benefits and indirect costs
- Maintains administrative liaison with sponsoring agencies and knowledge of agency guidelines and administrative requirements
- Serves as the central University administrative office responsible for negotiating contracts, grants, and other special agreements
- Reviews all award documents for acceptance and compliance with terms and conditions and initiates required internal accounting procedure
- Monitors on-going activities with emphasis on fiscal control and accountability
- Prepares and processes monthly, quarterly, annual, and final expenditure reports (as applicable)
- Monitors the sponsoring agency requirements for submission of technical reports
- Reviews and approves all invoices for payment
- Maintains time and effort reports (or equivalent) for all exempt personnel receiving salary from sponsored activities
- Assists in negotiating the indirect cost rate with the cognizant federal audit agency
- Conducts space and property inventories for purposes of the indirect cost calculation
- Monitors the University's cost-sharing commitments and obtains necessary internal approvals before obligating the University; negotiates cost-sharing agreements with sponsoring agencies
- Interacts on a continuing basis with faculty and department chairs to be responsive to their service needs
