Key Personnel Effort and Fiscal Responsibility Reminder for Principal Investigators

November 10, 2010

EFFORT:

Each department should ensure the appropriate level of effort of Key Personnel on projects. Key Personnel include all Principal Investigators and others specifically listed on the awarding document. Auditors of grants and contracts review Key Personnel to ensure the appropriate effort is charged as budgeted on federal awards. Normally a person’s home department has the knowledge of the amount of estimated, accumulated, and reported effort for each Key Person.

Please take the time to review the percent of effort budgeted for Key Personnel on federal awards. Key Personnel must provide effort at the level budgeted. If there is a reduction of effort for Key Personnel greater than 25% of the budgeted amount, it is necessary to obtain the appropriate approval from the awarding agency.

FSTSCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

A Project should be completed within the time and budget constraints.

Remember Monthly Management Reports should be reviewed promptly upon receipt and retained in the department. It is the responsibility of each responsible person to review his/her monthly Management Reports. Your review (or that of your designee) MUST be documented on the first page of each Activity or Project.

A Project is to be charged with only those costs that are allowable and appropriate to the Project, following all applicable federal and state laws and University regulations, policies, and procedures.

Ask Us a QuestionIf you have questions, please contact the representative in Grants and Contracts Accounting responsible for your project.