6.  The "Life Cycle" of
      a Sponsored Project

From Proposal to Closeout   

Stanford University has both central administrative functions and organizations, as well as local administrative processes within its schools and departments. In following a project along the "roadmap" shown above, the research administrator will typically coordinate and communicate with:

The Office of Research Administration, headed by the Associate Vice President, reports to the Vice President for Business Affairs & Chief Financial Officer. This office brings together many of the administrative functions related to research administration, and includes the following offices:

• Office of Sponsored Research, which incorporates the former Sponsored Projects Office and Grant & Contract Accounting Office
• Cost and Management Analysis, formerly Government Cost and Rate Studies
• Property Management Office.

The "roadmap" at the top of this page is typically divided chronologically into :

1. PREAWARD activity, involving the development, review, approval and submission of proposals and the negotiation of awards,
   and

2. POSTAWARD activity, involving the establishment of accounts, monitoring of project expenditures, reporting and closeout.

The regulatory environment adds complexity at every step along the way, from requirements for protocol approvals in advance of an award to closeout requirements and record retention. Policies in these areas may change in response to external and internal requirements. Every individual involved in the process needs to stay informed and in touch with others in several different organizations in order to assure the project is supported at every step.

Effective research administration at Stanford requires knowledge of process, policies and resources.