|
NMNH Funding Page Updated - May 17, 2007 The NMNH funding page has been updated. To see this page, please click here. For more information contact Benjamin Nevius at 202.633.7109. Animal Care and Use Webpage Launched OSP has created and launched an Animal Care and Use webpage. To access this page, click here. OSP Online Training Now Available! The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has built and launched an online training system aimed at further assisting Smithsonian staff and affiliated researchers who wish to seek or who have already obtained external funding for a project, exhibition or research activity. The system can be found by clicking here. The first two classes that have been launched are “Cost Sharing” and “Grant Proposal and Award Management.” As part of the system, OSP has also launched a new “Workshops” page that allows users to view and register for upcoming OSP workshops all with a few clicks of a mouse! OSP will be adding more workshops over the next few months, so keep checking the webpage for even more opportunities in the near future. Monthly Financial Measures Report Available OSP's Monthly Financial Measures Report for February 2007 is now available under the Reports page. To see this page, click here. NMNH Funding Page Updated - January 25, 2007 The NMNH funding page has been updated. To see this page, please click here. For more information contact Benjamin Nevius at 202.275.0692. The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) will be closed beginning Thursday, Jan. 11 due to our move to Crystal City. OSP will re-open on Wednesday, Jan. 17. OSP FY 2006 Annual Report - Now Available The Office of Sponsored Projects Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report can be found here. Change in Smithsonian Indirect Cost Policy The Smithsonian uses indirect cost rates to ensure that the total cost of grant and contract work performed at the Smithsonian is recovered and paid for by the sponsor. The indirect cost rates are applied to government grants and contracts for all Smithsonian units. Until this fiscal year, the indirect cost rates charged to government grants and contracts were fixed (or capped) for the life of the award set at the rate in effect when the award was received. If, in subsequent years, the rates were lower than the rates in effect when the award was received, the lower rates were charged. The Institution has changed its policy to require that all government grants and contracts (Fund 803) be charged the current year indirect cost rates instead of fixing the rates. All government grants and contracts will bear the current year negotiated indirect costs rates, regardless of what the rates were at the time of grant or contract award. The indirect cost policy for government grants and contracts administered by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory will not change, because these grants were already being charged current year indirect cost rates. The revised policy became effective for all government grants and contracts on October 1, 2006. The new policy will be applied against all existing government grants and contracts. Prior year indirect cost expenses or rates will not be adjusted with this policy change. Sponsors with regulatory requirements to fix or cap indirect cost rates will be honored using the existing overhead waiver process in SD 318. If you have questions about the rates, please contact your OSP Grant/Contract Administrator (Staff Directory) or the main OSP phone number at (202) 275-0840. For more information regarding indirect costs, please see the "Policies" page. "Commonly Used Smithsonian Facts" Webpage Launched The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has launched a “Commonly Used Smithsonian Facts” page to assist principal investigators in finding information when preparing proposals, which can be accessed here. Please note that all proposals that will result in a grant or contract must be reviewed by OSP before submission. For information on OSP's Grants Forum 2006, please click here. Smithsonian On-Demand Website Launched The Deputy Secretary recently launched a website concerning the Smithsonian On-Demand agreement which can be accessed here. This website provides links to informative documents and background on the initiative. Due to the potential to affect projects funded by grants or contracts, OSP highly recommends that current and potential project leaders become familiar with this site. Please note that proposals or awards that have filming activities in a grant or contract would require concurrence of the appropriate Smithsonian management and the involvement of OSP. Conflict of Interest Issues in Research Click here for an article titled "COI Concerns Grow With More Academia-Industry Partnerships" from the Report on Research Compliance August 2006 issue. Please be aware that The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has recently revised and reissued SD 604, “Misconduct in Research .” This directive applies to all research, research training, applications for support of research or research training, and related scholarly activities. This policy can be found on PRISM here. If you have any questions, please contact OSP at 202-275-0840. Monthly Financial Measures Report Available OSP's Monthly Financial Measures Report for June 2006 is now available under the Reports page. To see this page, click here. What Do Researchers Do? Click here for information on the results of a 2004 “Faculty Burden Survey,” that was facilitated by the Federal Demonstration Partnership and coordinated by Northwestern University. This survey of 6,000 faculty compared the amount of time that researchers spend on their research versus administrative responsibilities. OSP Increases Smithsonian Monthly Cash Flow In May, OSP increased the frequency of Letter of Credit Drawdowns from quarterly to monthly! This effort will significantly improve SI monthly cash flow. Many thanks to the OSP Post-Award staff for their efforts and Suh Kang in OCIO for providing new OSP consolidated reports to help accomplish this important achievement. OSP Sends New Consolidated Reports To The Units Starting in May, Unit Quarterly Financial Statement Summaries were sent to Principal Investigators, Directors, and fund managers by OSP. These summaries provide consolidated financial information, statistical analysis, and time period analysis that is not available in SIERP. OSP provides the report as a service to help Principal Investigators in making project management decisions. For more information, contact Teresa Neese at 202-275-0675. Mall grant and contract uncollected accounts receivable down 78%! Mall grant and contract uncollected accounts receivable were down 78% in February of 2006 when compared with February of 2002. Uncollected accounts receivable hit an all time low of $711,796 in February of 2006, down from $2,574,398 in February of 2002. OSP Post-award staff contacted sponsors, collected funds and confirmed deposits manually in SIERP. This effort has significantly improved SI cash flow. Many thanks to the OSP Post-award staff for their hard work. Additionally, OSP looks forward to automating accounts receivable with the implementation of the new SIERP Account Receivable module, which will further improve the process. Please be aware that The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has recently revised and reissued SD 318, “Externally Funded Grants and Sponsored-Project Contracts.” This directive defines the types of externally funded financial agreements entered into by the Smithsonian, and provides guidance in identifying the appropriate indirect cost rates to apply when budgeting for an external agreement and management official with authority to sign the external agreement. This policy can be found on PRISM here. If you have any questions, please contact OSP at 202-275-0840. New Policy on Salaries Charged to Interagency Transfers (IATs) The Smithsonian has a revised policy related to Interagency Transfer Agreement (IAT) funding. IAT projects are recorded in the ERP as Fund 100, with a designated code starting with 799xxx. Please be aware that The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) has recently revised and reissued SD 304, “Guidelines for Administering Indirect Cost (Overhead) Rates and Charges.” This directive applies to all Smithsonian units that conduct government and/or non-government sponsored projects and auxiliary activities (does not include Smithsonian Business Ventures). This policy can be found on PRISM here. If you have any questions, please contact OSP at 202-275-0840. SI Invited to Use NOAA Grants Online System The Smithsonian was invited this month to the NOAA Grants Online system, which can be accessed here. This system will perform as the central, electronic location to accept awards, and conduct award administration for NOAA grants. A link to this system and other agency systems can be found on the Federal Agency Website and Policies page. Financial Close-Out Checklist Now Available The Financial Closeout Checklist, which can be accessed here, has been developed as a reminder of those financial actions which may be necessary to close an award. If one reconciles a grant or contract monthly, and follows the suggestions stated in this document, the closeout process will be easier. If you have any questions, regarding the Financial Closeout Checklist, please contact the Grant and Contract Financial Analyst assigned to your unit (see staff page). If you have any questions about the reports mentioned in the document, please refer to the ERP Financial Reports Catalog on the Enterprise Resource Planning website on PRISM. Mall grant and contract deficits down 87% Mall grant and contract deficits were down 87% in February 2006 when compared with February 2002. Deficits hit an all time low of $35,087 in February down from $263,269 in February 2002. This monumental reduction is due to an improved system of internal controls. SIERP has a better and more clearly defined budget control system that stops deficits before they occur. The process to close an award in SIERP stops all accounting transactions and stops deficits before they occur. Thanks to Deron Burba for implementing the required internal controls, Suh Kang for providing new OSP deficit reports and the OSP Post-award staff for closing 575 awards. The combined effort of these individuals also eliminated an audit finding that was on the books for three years. As a result of this improvement, units, OC and OSP will spend less time correcting errors and more time on other important tasks. New! SD 605 Animal Care and UsePlease be aware that Smithsonian Directive 605, Animal Care and Use, is now effective and is available on PRISM. The directive applies to the care and use of any live vertebrate animal used, or intended for use, in research, research training, experimentation, biological testing, exhibition, collection and related activities. Whether the funding source for the care and use of these animals is the Public Heath Service, National Science Foundation, private sponsors, or Federal appropriation is of no consequence. The SD applies to all vertebrate animals cared for or used by Smithsonian employees and associates in SI facilities, field sites and facilities at other institutions. OSP Launches New WebsiteThe Office of Sponsored Projects has launched a new website aimed at further assisting Smithsonian staff and affiliated researchers who wish to seek or who have already obtained external funding for a project, exhibition or research activity. Current Indirect Cost RatesThe negotiated fringe benefit and indirect cost rates for fiscal years 2005 and 2006, can be found on this website under Policies If you have questions about the rates, please contact your OSP Grant/Contract Administrator or the main OSP phone number at (202) 275-0840. New Smithsonian PolicyAS/PO – Effective January 1, 2006, the Smithsonian will include Administrative Support and Project Oversight costs in proposals to private sponsors. The Office of Planning, Management and Budget, Office of Development, and Office of Sponsored Projects have put materials together to assist Smithsonian staff in understanding this new policy. These materials can be found under the “Indirect Cost” portion of the Policies page on this website. OSP FY05 Annual ReportThe FY05 OSP Annual Report can be found under the Reports section of this website. 2006 OPM Salary TablesThe Office of Personnel Management released the 2006 salary tables on January 1, 2006. Please click here to see these tables, which can be used when budgeting for sponsored projects. |