Working closely with University-area schools and departments, OSP Pre-Award supports Harvard investigators in their pursuit of external funding from proposal development through award set-up and administration. Comprised of the Proposal, Awards Management and Operations, and Grants and Contracts Officer Teams, OSP Pre-Award provides subject matter expertise and institutional review to facilitate our investigators’ sponsored research endeavors.
Pre-Award
Proposal Review Team
The Proposal Review Team facilitates the review and submission of funding requests on behalf of University Area and Wyss Institute researchers. The team:
- Acts as Authorized Officials on behalf of the President and Fellows of Harvard College
- Completes administrative and compliance review and submission of all initial, competing, or retroactive requests for funding support, as well as submission of Preproposals and Letters of Intent
- Serves as subject matter experts able to advise on a variety of federal and non-federal sponsors
- Provides timely responses to the general inquiries OSPProposalAssistance@harvard.edu inbox
- Coordinates exceptions to the University Five Business Day Submission Review Policy
- Liaises with OVPR, OTD, OGC, and School colleagues as necessary with the shared goal of successful proposal submission
- Processes “incoming” Billing Agreements using sponsored funds
Grants and Contracts Officer Team
The Grants and Contracts Officer Team facilitates the review, negotiation and execution of research-related agreements in support of sponsored projects conducted by University-area researchers. The team:
- Reviews, negotiates, and signs incoming sponsored research agreements
- Issues and signs outgoing subagreements
- Reviews, negotiates, and signs data use agreements and non-funded collaboration agreements
- Serves as subject matter experts on regulatory and contractual matters applicable to sponsored research
- Liaise with other University offices, including the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs, and the Office for Technology Development to resolve policy questions and implement guidance
- Provides dedicated support for international sponsored projects, including sponsored projects routed through Harvard Global
Awards Management and Operations Team
The Awards Management and Operations Team manages administrative and compliance matters relating to sponsored grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and subawards. These responsibilities span all aspects of the award lifecycle. The team:
- Reviews award notices for compliance requirements and ensures that all internal and external approvals are in place before processing receipt and activation of an award
- Coordinates with department administrators to provide budget allocations and account requests
- Manages all aspects of data integrity in GMAS, including GMAS security and the establishment of new accounts, renewals, and continuations of awards
- Reviews, approves, and submits sponsor requests including continuations (RPPR), supplements, no cost extensions, and other sponsor prior approvals (rebudgeting requests, changes of scope, PI changes, subagreements at no additional cost, reductions of effort for key personnel, carryforward, pre-award expenditures, award transfers, early termination, etc.)
- Coordinates, reviews, and approves outgoing subagreements and amendments
- Coordinates with Department Administrators and PIs to process closeout procedures such as final patent and progress reports
- Reports on all outgoing subagreements subject to the Federal Funding Accountability Transparency Act (FFATA)
