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Internal Review and Processing
Each proposal for external funding must be approved by the project principal investigator, department head or director, dean or appropriate vice president, and the Office of Sponsored Projects. Proposals which request cost sharing from Texas A&M resources must be approved by the account holder during approval of the proposal process and signed by the Department of Contract Administration before the final contract is approved.
2.1 The principal investigator is responsible for: the proposal budget, technical content, quality and preparation of the proposal, the presentation of his or her ideas for a project, coordination with compliance committees, and compliance with applicable University Rules and Procedures, and System Policies and Regulations (including provisions governing access to and retention of data).
The principal investigator is delegated the overall responsibility of the technical and fiscal management of the project.
2.2 The department head (or equivalent for interdisciplinary or intercollegiate faculty) is responsible for:
2.2.1 certifying the academic soundness of the project,
2.2.2 the compatibility of the project with the principal investigator’s other commitments,
2.2.3 the availability of space and facilities,
2.2.4 cost-sharing commitments,
2.2.5 assuring that the project is in keeping with department (or equivalent for interdisciplinary or intercollegiate faculty) objectives, and
2.2.6 concurring that the proposal should be submitted to the agency named.
2.3 The dean of the college is responsible for:
2.3.1 determining the appropriateness of the project within college programs, and
2.3.2 determining that resources will be available.
When more than one college is involved in a proposal, the proposal must be approved by the department head and dean of each involved department and college, respectively.
2.4 The Office of the Vice President for Research is responsible for:
2.4.1 ensuring that the project content meets with acceptable rules and standards of the campus, including intellectual property,
2.4.2 reviewing the proposal to ensure that matters involving conflict of interest, human subjects, DNA research, hazardous substances, and the experimental use of animals, and other compliance issues have been identified and approved,
2.4.3 resolving any academic policy issues that may arise at this level, and
2.4.4 reviewing the document for institutional commitments such as cost sharing and making sure there is proper approval
2.5 Facility and Administrative (F&A) costs are real costs that are necessary for the operation and conduct of research and other sponsored projects. Proposal budgets submitted to external sponsors should charge the approved F&A rate as negotiated by TAMUS with the responsible federal agency, currently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Any exception to the use of the negotiated rate requires a statement of explanation from the principal investigator and approval of the President. The President has delegated authority to reduce any and all of the F&A rate charged to a research or sponsored project to the Vice President for Research. Approval of a reduction requires that the principal investigator of the project forward a statement of explanation through his or her department head and dean, recommending the reduction to the Vice President for Research. The statement should include; a) the exact rate requested, b) an exhibit that shows the calculated difference between the negotiated rate and the requested rate, and c) an explanation of how the reduction in F&A will benefit the research and educational missions of the University. As is necessary, the Vice President for Research may require additional information to make a decision. Any reduction in F&A is considered cost sharing.