Assignment of Interim Research Accounts




In the normal course of business, research accounts are assigned and issued promptly by the Office of Research to the grantee/principal investigator when all the appropriate documentation (agreements signed by all parties, human and animal protocols approved, budgetary issues resolved, etc.) is complete.

However, circumstances may arise where the grantee/principal investigator requests access to an account where the required documentation is incomplete but sufficient assurance of its completion is present in order to permit review and decision on an early assignment of the research account.

Where circumstances warrant, and in support of the commitment to have accurate accounting transactions from the outset (i.e. charges to the correct account), an interim research account (IRA) authorization (risk account) form may be completed by the grantee/principal investigator.   This form provides a reason(s) for the request for early account assignment, and when signed by him/herself, Academic Unit Chair/Director, Faculty Dean and Office of Research, will become the authorization for assignment of an IRA.

An IRA account will be assigned only with the approval of the appropriate Chair/Director and Dean and will be subject to any conditions required.  Signing authority rests with the Chair/Director, Dean or delegate until such time as final approval based on appropriate documentation is in place.  To create such an IRA, there must exist a reasonable and mutually agreed expectation by the researcher, Chair/Director, Dean and the Office of Research that the activity is likely to occur and that it is appropriate to incur costs in advance of final approval.  Note that, among other considerations in determining whether or not to provide an IRA, there may be sponsor regulations regarding the start date of the research activity and when expenses could legitimately begin to be incurred.  Regulations concerning human and animal research approvals may be a consideration.

If the appropriate documentation is completed as anticipated, the IRA already assigned simply becomes the regular research account and is administered like any other research account.  In addition, at the time of the finalization of the required documentation, signing authority reverts to the grantee/principal investigator or their delegate in accordance with sponsor and university guidelines.

If  the project is not funded, all expenses incurred will be resolved through the deficit resolution procedure.










Office of Research
October 2002                                                                                                                                                    Page 1 of 2

Office of Research
Interim Research Account (IRA) Authorization



TO:           Chair, Dean, Office of Research

FROM:    Principal Investigator/Grantee

DATE:       ___________________________
 
RE:            RAIS Award #_____________;  Title _____________________________________________
                   Sponsor: ___________________________________________________________________
                   Anticipated Start Date: ______________ Requested Start Date of IRA: ___________________

Project Description:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Anticipated Expenses:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Reason for request of IRA account:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Conditions:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

An account number for this project will be assigned in the absence of fully completed documentation on the condition that the Principal Investigator/Grantee, ____________________, guarantees that expenses incurred can be funded from other sources should the project fail to proceed for any reason.

It is understood that work on this project has commenced pending 
of the research agreement.

AGREED:

________________________________                            _____________________
Principal Investigator/Grantee                                                Date

_________________________________                            _____________________
Department Chair/Director                                                      Date

__________________________________                           _____________________
Dean                                                                                        Date

__________________________________                            ______________________
Office of Research                                                                    Date





Office of Research
October 2002                                                                                                                                                        Page 2 of 2