The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) supports faculty and staff with the administration of sponsored program activities, seeking and administering funding for research programs through grants, contracts and other external funding opportunities. The goal of ORSP is to reduce administrative burden on researchers, enabling members of the university community to compete successfully for outside funding and to effectively manage their sponsored programs.
Our comprehensive pre-and post-award services include:
- Preparing Proposals, including
- support of budget development and final review;
- proposal review and submission;
- guidance on grant related questions, agency guidelines and university policy as it relates to sponsored programs
- Assistance with budget revision requests and sponsor requested information
- Industry contract review and negotiation
- Award Management including
- review and acceptance of new grant and contract awards
- processing and setup of new grants and contracts in the University’s financial system
- sponsor invoicing and federal cash draws
- Subcontract/Subaward review, issuance, negotiation and approval
- review and approval of research related costs, payroll allocations and assistance with processing budget adjustments
- prior approval requests
- support for subrecipient monitoring
- sponsor financial and progress reporting
- award closeout
Before you propose to conduct research...
To transfer awards to Lehigh or to submit proposals to an external sponsor:
- Identify the ORSP Contract and Grant Specialist (CGS) assigned to your unit. ORSP assigns each department within each College a CGS or Sr. CGS for federal, government and private sponsored research including non-profit and for-profit entities. research.cc.lehigh.edu/contract-and-grant-specialist-assignments
- Identify your departmental/college resources who will be supporting you in developing your research proposals
- Request to be affiliated with Lehigh University in any relevant sponsor systems (grants.gov, research.gov, eRA Commons, etc.) in advance of your proposal.
- When considering submitting a proposal, review the ORSP Proposal Submission Policy requesting receipt of fully complete proposals a minimum of five working days prior to the agency deadline.
- Review LIRA Resources and Learning page to learn how to initiate a proposal in LIRA and begin the development and submission process.
- Create proposal in LIRA
- Review the Research Essentials Handbook and certify completion utilizing this online form. Completion of this review is required prior to your first proposal submission for sponsored research or activities at Lehigh.
- Reach out to, or have your departmental administrator reach out to, your CGS to discuss any questions, concerns or timeline issues. If you are transferring an award, be sure to provide the name and contact information of the responsible sponsored research administrator at the institution previously responsible for the award.
Industry Contracts:
- ORSP can help navigate relationships and agreements with Industry Sponsors. Reach out to your ORSP CGS first to begin discussions. ORSP is prepared to assist you in creating, negotiating and executing research agreements. Contact us early so we can collaboratively work to make your negotiations successful.
- Consider utilizing the Corporate and Foundations Relations (CFR) team to assist in your interactions with Industry and Foundation Sponsors. Contact your department/college administrator to identify and put you in touch with your CFR contact.
Other requirements/Information:
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: For researchers receiving external research funding from NSF and NIH
- Lehigh guidance on human subjects in research
- Lehigh guidance on use of vertebrate animals in research
- Foreign Talent Programs
- Export Control Policy and Compliance Manual
After you receive an award...
ORSP will contact you once your award is received through a notice out of LIRA.
- Review your new award document.
- Your CGS will reach out to discuss any reductions in budget or if there are special terms and conditions you need to be aware of.
- Review the Policy on Disclosure of Investigator Significant Financial Interests related to Sponsored Projects. You will be required to confirm or update your disclosure prior to your award being setup.
- Your CGS will establish or modify sponsored accounts in the financial system in coordination with Research Accounting.
- You will receive fund requirements, and a copy of the notice of award which will include any related agency terms and conditions once an account is established. Ensure you review these requirements thoroughly and ask any clarifying questions of your CGS at the beginning of the award/project.
To request a subaward to another institution/organization:
- ORSP will prepare, negotiate and execute subawards related to sponsored projects. Your CGS will prepare any subawards to other institutions/organizations. Please provide any point of contact information you may have for your subrecipients if not previously provided at time of proposal submission.
Effort Reporting:
- As recipients of federal funds, the government requires certification of effort when an individual has committed to contribute time to a federally sponsored project. Research Accounting is responsible for Effort Reporting at Lehigh. The Effort reporting policy can be found on the Research Accounting website here.
- Effort Certification is completed three times a year for faculty, staff and graduate students. The certification periods and distribution dates are:
|
Reporting Period |
Distribution Date |
|
September 1 – December 31 |
January 31 |
|
January 1 – May 31 |
June 30 |
|
June 1 – August 31 |
September 30 |
Travel and Expense Reports:
- Request a Research OneCard from your Department Administrator:
- Review Lehigh’s Travel Policy on the Controller’s Website:
- Before traveling for sponsored research, review the Lehigh and Sponsor guidelines on domestic and foreign travel, airfare, car rentals, hotel reservations, business meals/per diems and receipt requirements.
- Submit your OneCard receipts through the OneCard system within 30 days of the end of your travel, event date or transaction date. Work with your Department Administrator to understand any department specific processes for review and reconciliation before submission to ORSP.
Resources:
- ORSP Website: research.cc.lehigh.edu/contact-us-orsp
- Researchers Toolbox: research.cc.lehigh.edu/ORSPtoolbox
- Research Policies: research.cc.lehigh.edu/research-and-research-related-policies
- Research Integrity: research.cc.lehigh.edu/research-integrity
- Office of the Vice President and Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies: research.cc.lehigh.edu/Contact-OVPR
- Office of Technology Transfer: techtransfer.lehigh.edu/
- Lehigh Integrated Research Administration (LIRA) system: research.cc.lehigh.edu/lira
To download a pdf of this guide, please click here.