Researcher's Guide

Office of Sponsored Projects

The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) serves as the coordinating office for externally funded research projects submitted by The University of Texas at Dallas. The goal of the OSP is to assist faculty and professional research staff in their efforts to secure external funding.

The OSP staff provides technical assistance to Principal Investigators during proposal preparation (budget, special instructions, etc.), serves as an information source for and monitors compliance with applicable University and sponsor policies and requirements, handles all administrative matters with sponsors, including contract negotiations. The staff reviews proposals before submission to the sponsor and advises the Principal Investigators of any omissions, necessary corrections or other items that might strengthen the presentation to the funding agency.

Most frequently sponsored projects proposals involve research projects but any program requesting support by an external sponsor that satisfies these criteria shall be submitted through the OSP.

• A specific program of work or research is proposed to or required by the sponsor;
• The sponsor requires an authorized institutional signature;
• The sponsor requires or expects one or more progress reports, a final report, financial reports and/or a formal accounting of how the funds were expended;
• There are intellectual property, confidentiality and/or publication conditions associated with the receipt of funds.

Areas of Assistance

Assist the University research community in processing research proposals to outside funding sources

• Research Opportunity Announcements
• Review of sponsor guidelines
• Review of compliance issues, including Animal Care and Use and Human Participants Requirements
• Representations and Certifications
• Negotiate Revised Budget
• Additional budget detail
• Proposal Check in

Serve as liaison between University and sponsor

• Check status of pending proposals
• Notify principal investigator if additional technical information is requested by sponsor

Receive and negotiate incoming awards

• Read and review terms and conditions of incoming awards
• Contact sponsor and negotiate unacceptable terms
• Notify principal investigator of special terms and conditions and obtain approval of final document.
• Prepare and negotiate subcontracts to outside entities
• Collect and report award information
• Intellectual Property policies

Serve as liaison between principal investigator and Contracts and Grants

• Initiate requests for pre-award costs, credit and authorization to spend available funds to facilitate continuity of research.

Serve as liaison between principal investigator and sponsor

• Assist with routine requests to sponsor (no cost extensions, rebudgeting requests, leave of absence of principal investigator, etc.)
• Remind principal investigators of specific requirements for submission of progress reports for non-competing award
• Assist principal investigator transferring to another institution with the transfer of active research projects
• Assist in the submission of final reports to sponsor by notifying the principal investigator of delinquent reports

Serve as the repository for information pertaining to research funding

• Provide monthly report of proposals and awards to colleges and organized research units
• Provide annual report of proposals and awards to the Vice President for Research
• Provide annual report of faculty awards to the Office of the Provost
• Prepare and disseminate information to faculty, departments, organized research unit, etc as requested.

Serve as the Facility Security Officer for the University