Title
Office of Sponsored Programs - 200.01 - Office of Sponsored Programs Responsibilities
Purpose
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at UNC-Chapel Hill provides control of the administrative and financial aspects of sponsored research and maintains consistency with the University's mission to acquire and disseminate knowledge. OSP is established in adherence with the UNC System Office policies governing sponsored research (Chapter 500).
Policy Statement
OSP is the designated University unit responsible for institutional oversight, administration, and financial management of Federal and non-Federal contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. Therefore, any document and transaction related to the administration of these types of research-related instruments are reviewed by OSP on behalf of the University to confirm its accuracy and compliance with Federal, University, and sponsor policies. In some instances, OSP may delegate certain tasks to the School of Medicine's Sponsored Programs Office (SOMSPO) as appropriate. OSP provides numerous services, including, but not limited, to:
- Reviewing and approving the financial and administrative aspects of proposals, awards, agreements, contracts, and grants associated with sponsored programs and training activities;
- Signing all instruments associated with sponsored program activities on behalf of the University;
- Negotiating and implementing award terms, conditions, and amounts;
- Negotiating and implementing the University's Indirect Cost (F&A) rate agreement;
- Overseeing financial compliance related to agreement terms and conditions;
- Training University staff in research administration regulations and procedures;
- Managing regulatory compliance;
- Administering financial reporting and information systems;
- Maintaining receivables for sponsored programs accounts; and
- Serving as liaison with auditors on financial matters.
Exclusions
While OSP is concerned only with sponsored programs administration, there are various aspects of research governed by other divisions at the University, and subject to University-wide conventions, such as purchasing and accounting methods.
Related Requirements
Contact Information
For questions regarding this operating standard and its related procedure, please contact SponsoredPrograms@unc.edu.
For questions regarding Pre-Award management or Post-Award administration, please contact the assigned Sponsored Projects Specialist (SPS).
For invoicing, reporting and other financial matters, please contact the assigned Sponsored Projects Accountant. OSP Staff assignments may be found in RAMSeS or on the OSP website.
History
History Table
| Date |
Description |
| 11/28/2023 |
Revised to reflect updated Sponsored Programs Office name change. |
| 10/28/2022 |
Revised to reflect updated process. |
| 07/01/2022 |
Revised to reflect new office name. |
| 05/15/2018 |
Revised to coincide with the release of the new OSP Website. |
| 08/06/2010 |
Updated links to Account Services Business Manual. |
The operating standards in the Office of Sponsored Programs Operating Standards & Procedures Manual supersede any OSP operating standards, procedures and appendices previously included in the University Business Manual, a publication of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Division of Finance.