As of April 1, 2014, Emory research faculty served by RAS units have a new streamlined process to receive their electronic Notice of Awards (eNOAs) and SmartKeys. This new process allows these Principle Investigators (PIs) to start their projects and charge against the SmartKeys prior to submitting a detailed budget for single-, or multi-project awards. This new process is in response to conversations with Emory PIs, department chairs, deans and research administration personnel, and follows a detailed evaluation of the Compass software modifications needed to streamline the processing of awards.
The new process was designed specifically for PI’s currently served by RAS units, but may impact any university faculty, even if not yet served by a RAS unit, based on their collaboration with RAS-served PI’s. Thus, the processes related to award set-up for these awards may vary from that used for their own awards. The new, streamlined, process is as follows:
- OSP establishes SmartKey and provides it, along with eNOA, to RAS & PI
- A high-level budget will be established for the Primary project, with $100 direct costs loaded at a high level for each Associate Budget
- The $100 budget will be the flag that the project does not yet have detailed budgets in Compass
- The school/department is ultimately accountable for ensuring that the PI submits a detailed budget; RAS procedures specify that the detailed budget be submitted within 30 days of NOA issuance.
- If a detailed budget is not provided for awards with Associate Budget(s), the PI & Department responsible for the Master Budget are accountable for all award deficits
- It remains the case that other materials (e.g., compliance approvals, COI disclosures, etc) may still be needed before an NOA can be issued by OSP.
Exception: This applies with the exception of those contracts and awards with strict requirements. For these OSP will continue to issue detailed budgets with the SmartKey.
Please contact Holly Sommers or Evelyn Balabis if you have additional questions.