State-of-the-art research is carried out in the twelve schools and colleges and the more than 80 research centers and institutes at the University of Connecticut. The annual expenditures at the University exceed $250 million.
Enhancing interdisciplinary research is a strategic goal for the University. An important component of this is the strengthening of the inter-campus collaborations between Storrs and the Health Center. We can assist faculty in preparing and submitting externally funded inter-campus proposals and awards.
Because UConn (Storrs) and UConn Health (UCH) are two separate fiscal entities, proposals seeking extramural funds are administered similar to sponsored activity involving any other inter-institutional collaborations – where one institution serves as the lead applicant and the other consortium partner acts as the subawardee.
At the proposal stage, the external funding agency will typically require a statement of commitment from each collaborating organization to ensure that there is appropriate programmatic and administrative support and oversight.
In order for Sponsored Program Services (SPS) at Storrs and UCH to approve a Letter of Intent/Consortium Statement, both the lead organization and subawardee proposals need to be routed, reviewed and approved by the respective academic and administrative offices.
- Lead Organization: One campus is the lead organization; the other campus participating in the project is the subawardee. The decision regarding which campus serves as the lead applicant typically is dictated by the scope of the project – the lead organization performs a substantive role in conducting the project and maintains appropriate oversight of all scientific, programmatic, financial, and administrative matters related to the grant.
- Budgets: The subawardee’s proposed costs (direct and F&A) get rolled-up into the lead organization’s budget. Each site (Storrs or UCH) applies and receives its respective F&A costs. The lead organization waives F&As associated with the first $25K of inter-campus subaward. Subawardee personnel cannot be included as personnel in the lead organization’s budget.
- Internal Review/Approval by the Subawardee Organization: At least 10 business days before the funding agency’s deadline, the subawardee principal investigator needs to submit internal forms (Storrs or UCH routing and significant financial interest, scope of work, budget and budget justification plus any additional documents requested to the subawardee’s sponsored programs office [Storrs SPS or UCH ORSP]). After review and approval by that office, the subawardee investigator will submit the approved consortium statement, scope of work, budget and budget justification plus any additional requested documents to the lead organization’s principal investigator.
- Internal Review/Approval at the Lead Organization: The principal investigator for the lead organization should route the complete application to his/her respective sponsored programs office, using the normal review, compliance, and approval processes and by that office’s stated deadline.
Staff Contacts
Roles and Responsibilities
Subawardee Pre-Award
- Prepares budget that includes all subawardee costs (direct and F&A), budget justification, scope of work, internal forms, and consortium statement.
- Routes sub’s proposal for internal review/approval (dept., dean) and submits to SPS/ORSP for review and approval.
- Submits sub’s proposal (consortium statement, scope of work, budget/ budget justification, etc.) to lead ’s PI for inclusion in lead’s proposal to be submitted to sponsor.
Lead Applicant Pre-Award
- Prepares the entire application budget — all lead organization costs, including the sub’s budget and lists subawardee as consortium partner.
- Routes proposal (including sub’s budget and consortium statement) through SPS/ORSP for review and approval.
- Submits proposal to sponsor.
- Notifies subawardee of sponsoring agency’s funding decision.