The audit process can be intimidating to those inexperienced with it, especially when an auditor shows up unexpectedly: How should you respond? Do you have to respond? What if the auditor presents an inspector general’s badge? In this program we will discuss the audit process and the differences between audits, reviews, inspections and investigations. We will also look at how auditors approach an audit, and the various institutional roles including that of the institutional audit and compliance officer, the central research administrator, and the departmental research administrator.
Cost sharing is an issue that affects all institutions, and its implications are often the cause of confusion. The program will include a review of the types of costs that qualify for cost sharing, the accepted categories of cost sharing, and the requirements for documenting and reporting it. The panel will discuss the various pressure points with cost sharing, from proposal to award to project closeout.
In addition, the relationships among cost sharing, effort reporting, and indirect cost rates create the need for sophisticated systems to manage the complexities, and the panel will discuss the key points of intersection. Finally, the panel will seek to clarify important risk areas arising from a heightened emphasis on cost sharing in recent audits.
Facilities & Administration (F&A) revenue is critical to supporting the research infrastructure at universities and colleges. Simply put, our scientists and institutions would not be able to sustain research activities with out this source of revenue. Universities and colleges have experts that calculate and negotiate our F&A rates, however every level of research administrator should have a basic understanding of what comprises the rate, and the variables that can drive its calculation, such as cost-sharing, waivers or coding.
Whether you are from a research intensive university or a PUI, whether you are pre-award, post-award, central or a departmental administrators, you have a role to play in order to ensure the correct and optimal development of the F&A rate. This session will take away some of the “mystery” of the F&A rate preparation process, and give the viewer a greater appreciation of the institutional processes and policies that can impact your rate. You don’t need to be a costing expert to explain the importance of the F&A rate to your faculty!
Subrecipient Monitoring: Assessing Risk
Program Details
As the research world becomes more collaborative and complex, the issue of subreceipient monitoring is one that your institution needs to be fully aware of. A plan for maintaining compliance is paramount to your institution’s research enterprise. This session will provide an in-depth discussion, starting with the OMB Circular A-133 compliance supplement, risk assessments and how they’re used, and the different models used for monitoring (e.g., all done centrally in one office, shared responsibility between central and departmental offices). Issues such as monitoring large for-profit organizations, start-up companies, and foreign subagreements will be addressed.