# Award Lifecycle ## The Award Lifecycle ![veritas](/sites/g/files/omnuum12866/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-06/veritas.png?itok=ToZ_o1Q8) ### Teams within our office are organized to manage proposals from the beginning, or 'pre-award,' stage of a project through the termination, or closeout, of an award. ## The Award Lifecycle [Find Funding Sources chevron\_right](/finding-funding) [### Preparing a Proposal ](/preparing-a-proposal)[A well-written and skillfully prepared proposal is crucial to the success of an application for research funding](/preparing-a-proposal) [### Setting up an Award ](/setting-up-an-award)[Steps must be taken to set up accounts or authorize pre-award spending before spending begins](/setting-up-an-award) [### Managing an Award ](/managing-an-award)[Ensure compliance while maintaining public trust in research results and outcomes](/managing-an-award) [### Closing out an Award ](/closing-out-an-award)[Timely closeout of sponsored awards is essential to Harvard's compliance with sponsor requirements and University policies](/closing-out-an-award) ## Cross Lifecycle Topics ### Research Agreements expand\_more [### Research-Related Agreements ](/research-agreements) There are several types of research-related agreements that researchers, faculty, and administrators may encounter. They vary by the goal and nature of the engagement, as well as the identity of the other party. WAIT: Web-based Agreement Identification... description ### Data/Document Retention expand\_more [### Data/Document Retention ](https://vpr.harvard.edu/2020/06/26/research-data-management/) A set of basic principles to guide the retention and maintenance of research records by Harvard faculty and staff. description ### Equipment Management expand\_more [### Equipment Management ](/equipment-management) Preparing a proposal Equipment is defined as tangible personal property (including information technology systems) that have a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds: For all awards beginning June 30... description ### F&A, Fringe Rates expand\_more [### F&A and Fringe Benefits Rates ](/fa-and-fringe-benefits-rates) F&A Rates - Federal Sponsors F&A Rates - Non-federal Sponsors F&A Rates - Non-federal Sponsors: Indirect costs rates and bases for awards to Harvard within the last 5 years are available in GMAS on the “Recent overhead rates” section of each sponsor’s... description [### F&A Rates - Non-Federal Sponsors ](/fa-rates-non-federal-sponsors) For non-federal sponsors, indirect costs rates and bases for awards to Harvard within the last 5 years are available in GMAS on the “Recent overhead rates” section of each sponsor’s Organization page. description [### F&A Rate Agreements ](/fa-rate-agreements) Current Federal Rate Agreements Harvard University Area Rate Agreement, May 13, 2025 Harvard Medical School Rate Agreement, May 13, 2025 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Rate Agreement, May 13, 2025 F&A Cost Rates After World War II when the... description [### Fringe Benefits Rates ](/fringe-benefits-rates) Federal Rate Agreements Please see Harvard's current federal rate agreements. Fringe benefits (FB) are employee associated costs such as health plan expenses, pension plan expenses and workman's compensation expenses, among others. These costs are... description ### Stipend & Fellowships expand\_more [### Stipends & Fellowships ](/stipends-fellowships) Stipends Stipends are payments made to individuals for subsistence support or to defray expenses during a period of academic appointment. Stipend payments are not compensation for services rendered and, therefore, are not allowable on federal awards... description ### Harvard Global expand\_more [### Harvard Global ](/harvard-global) Overview: Harvard Global Research and Support Services, Inc. was established in February 2012 and is dedicated to providing operational support for Harvard University’s international activities. Harvard Global follows Harvard University’s institutional... description ### Sub-Recipient Monitoring expand\_more [### Subrecipient Monitoring ](/subrecipient-monitoring) Harvard University is responsible for monitoring the programmatic and financial activities of its subrecipients to ensure proper stewardship of sponsor funds. The PI is primarily responsible for ensuring that the subrecipient is meeting the programmatic... description