Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA)
News and Events
New! New Faculty Guide to Competing for Research Funding. This recently purchased 81-page guidebook is intended to help new faculty get started. It addresses the key competitive strategies and grant writing skills new faculty need to master for funding success at federal agencies and foundations. To access the guide, you must log in using your NDSU email username and password. (rev. 1.24.2013)
New! Export control regulations. Federal export control regulations govern what hardware, software, materials, and technology can be exported out of the country or exposed to certain foreign nationals studying and working within our programs and laboratories. The controls apply to items considered sensitive for military, security, or commercial purposes. An external consultant, Don Fischer, of Fischer and Associates, visited campus to discuss the enforcement of export control regulations at major research institutions and initiated a risk assessment for NDSU. Mr. Fischer has met with a number of administrators, faculty, and staff as part of the assessment and will provide recommendations for enhancing export control compliance at NDSU. (rev. 11.8.2012)
New! PHS conflict of interest rules. New requirements for financial conflict of interest (FCOI) disclosure and training were recently implemented for PHS proposals and awards. All project investigators must disclose their financial interests prior to proposal submission (once annually and whenever changes to financial interests occur). Upon notice of award, all investigators must also complete FCOI training. Refer to NDSU Policy 823, or contact Teryl Grosz at 231-8908 for more information. Disclosure Forms are available on the SPA Forms Page. (rev. 9.25.2012)
New! Assistance for writing Data Management Plans, now required as part of many grant proposals, can be found at the Research Data website or by contacting Kim Owen, ITS Advanced Applications Coordinator, 231-9522. (rev. 5.2.2012)
New! USDA NIFA has revised their indirect cost rates. The rate has changed from 22% of total federal funds (equivalent of 28.205% of total direct costs) to 30% of total federal funds (equivalent of 42.857% of total direct costs) for many of the grants funded by USDA/NIFA. Since the new rate is so close to NDSU's federally negotiated rate for on-campus research (44.5% of modified total direct costs), it is suggested to calculate using both rates. The rate that results in the lowest amount of indirect costs is the rate that is to be used. For questions, contact Marie.Slanger@ndsu.edu or Ona.Vig@ndsu.edu. (rev. 11.29.2011)
Note: The new rates described above do not apply to all USDA programs. This helpful chart displays the range of USDA programs with the indirect cost rates that apply to each: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/business/awards/indirect_cost.html (rev. 2.24.2012)
Check out Gear-Up-for-Grants Seminars offered during the academic year!
Responsibilities of SPA
- Encourage, facilitate, and support the efforts of NDSU faculty and staff in pursuit of external funding for their research and scholarly activities.
- Ensure that research and other scholarly activities, particularly activities supported by external sources, observe the policies and procedures of the University, state, federal, and other sponsors.
- Manage NDSU's animal-related activities (See IACUC), research involving human subjects (See IRB), the use of recombinant DNA, and biosafety issues (See IBC) to ensure compliance with federal regulations and University policies.
- Negotiate awards received from external sources for sponsored program activities on behalf of the university.
- Manage indirect cost policy and recoveries associated with sponsored programs.
- Develop, manage, and support internal programs and activities to stimulate increased submission of proposals that are able to compete successfully for sponsored funding.
- Maintain a central administrative database to generate reports that summarize the University's external research activities.
- Protect and manage intellectual property rights to enable commercialization of University technologies. (See Technology Transfer Office)
