There are two types of special advances available to investigators through RSP:
Some federal grants that will be awarded under the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) or other Expanded Authority Terms and Conditions allow pre-award spending within the 90 day period immediately preceding the grant’s effective date. Federal grants require the federal agencies' prior approval. To request RSP’s approval for pre-award spending, an investigator must submit a completed Temporary Authorization for Advanced Account Expenditures (Excel) to RSP. Pre-award costs are approved only when pre-award spending is necessary for the effective and economical conduct of the project.
Requests for pre-award costs should be made prior to the receipt of the grant. It must include a narrative explaining why the period of performance needs to begin early, a pre-award budget, and the pre-award start date. This request guarantees that the Principal Investigator (PI), department, center or college will cover all expended costs if for any reason the award is not made to the university or pre-authorized expenditures are disallowed. Approval of this form by the PI, department chair/center director, and college dean/VP or other authorized officer commits funds which are being used as the guarantee. The Provost or designee has final approval for all temporary extensions.
Investigators sometimes experience difficulties in starting or continuing personnel appointments when an award is assured or a funding release is anticipated but the arrival of the award documentation is delayed. RSP normally processes a temporary release for no more that 30 days at a time based on continued supporting documentation of anticipated award.
To request a temporary extension to an account, an Investigator completes the same Temporary Authorization for Advanced OR Post-Award Account Expenditures (Excel) to RSP. The request must include an anticipated effective start date of the renewal, the amount of unexpended budget to be released or a request for additional funds in excess of the unexpended budget to cover the extension period, and a guarantee statement that the PI, department, center or college will cover all expended funds if for any reason the award renewal or additional funds is not made to the university. The request must be signed by the PI, department chair or center director, and college dean or division vice-president, if college/division funds are being used as the guarantee. The Associate Vice President for Research will have final approval for all temporary extensions.
Investigators should include as an attachment to the request any correspondence they may have from the awarding agency indicating an award is going to be made to the university.