Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF)

About Us

As the recipient of financial support from Federal and other sponsors to support the conduct of research, training, public service and other programs, as well as support for student financial aid, the University is obliged to comply with a myriad of regulations imposed by those sponsors. The function of Sponsored Projects Finance is to be knowledgeable of, and monitor changes in those regulations, to make those engaged in carrying out the various programs aware of them, to work with various offices within the University to insure that appropriate systems are in place to satisfy the regulations, and to monitor compliance.

With many millions of dollars in sponsored projects, the vast majority provided by Federal sponsors such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation), the risk of a disallowance of even a small portion of those funds would have a significant impact on the financial well-being of the University. A primary mission of Sponsored Projects Finance, then, is to work together with Principal Investigators and their delegates in insuring that funds received from sponsors to carry out the important work of the University are utilized in accordance with the terms and conditions of those awards.

Our Responsibilities

We serve the University community by assisting research principal investigators and others responsible for the fiscal administration of sponsored projects (i.e., grants, contracts and cooperative agreements) awarded to the University by government and other sponsors, and by providing guidance on allowable and non-allowable costs.

We also:

Monitor compliance with Federal and other regulations, including:

• Effort reporting
• Mandatory and voluntary cost sharing
• Unallowable costs
• Reviewing and authorizing cost transfers

Handle billing and receivables due from sponsors
Prepare and submit financial reports to sponsors including CU annual reports in connection with OMB Circular A133.
Serve as the locus of Sponsored Project Financial Audits,
including the annual audit required by Federal OMB Circular A-133.
Prepare and negotiate the University’s F&A and Fringe
Benefit rates
Handle certain property management duties