Sponsored Programs
The Executive Vice President for Research has the responsibility for all research programs conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology and works with the deans, chairs, directors, and other department heads in establishing research policies and procedures. In partnership with the Office of the President, the Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) and its subsidiary, Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC), the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) provides program development assistance as well as overall contract management for the sponsored research program at Georgia Tech. Organizationally, OSP reports to the Vice President for Research (VPR) who also serves as the General Manager for GTRC and GTARC. The VPR is responsible, in cooperation with Grants and Contracts Accounting, for negotiating facilities and administrative (indirect cost) rates. The VPR is responsible for the design and maintenance of an interactive automated database which integrates all contract administration functions and is used for management control and reporting.
OSP provides assistance and guidance in identifying, developing, processing and submission of formal proposals. OSP provides educational opportunities in research administration to the campus community. Classes include Early Career Series, New Faculty Orientation, Cayuse 424 (Grants.gov submissions), Certified Research Administrators (CRAs) and Departmental Research Admin Certification. OSP is responsible for submitting all proposal and grant applications for sponsored research, other sponsored proposals and instruction from GTRC, GTARC and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Contracting Officers review proposals and cost estimates for compliance with sponsor requirements and Institute policies, and prepare the business portion of proposals. Contracting Officers serve as the sponsor’s point of contact for business matters, negotiate terms of the contract or grant, and sign, in conjunction with an officer of GTRC or GTARC, the resulting agreement.
After sponsored research projects are funded, OSP has the responsibility for monitoring active grants and contracts. Upon receipt of a signed agreement, an initial in-depth review of the award documents takes place and relevant initiation forms are prepared and distributed, complete project files are established and maintained for the duration of the program. All post-award project modifications to existing programs are processed by OSP. OSP is also responsible for the preparation and monitoring of subcontracts and consulting agreements issued by Georgia Tech under sponsored programs. Responsibilities include monitoring programs to see that potential problems in meeting contractual obligations (i.e., assurance of satisfactory performance) are called to the attention of Georgia Tech management. OSP is responsible for all contractual closeout actions, i.e., submission of final billing, research property and patent reports, and accounting for the disposition of classified documents. OSP distributes all proposals, tracks project deliverables and serves as the filing center for deliverable reports, pending receipt of final reports and subsequent submission to the Archives section of the Georgia Tech Library. OSP is also responsible for the preparation and administration of Small Business Administration (SBA) subcontracting plans.
OSP furnishes specialized educational, informational, and technological support to research administrators and faculty and participates in an annual New Faculty Orientation, during which numerous resources are identified for new faculty. An Early Career Workshop Series is offered yearly for young faculty. Specialized conferences and other educational opportunities, such as webcasts and video conferences, NCURA’s SPA I and SPA II. Export Control Summit, and presentations by the National Institutes of Health and the National Academies of Science, are managed by OSP. The Research Administration Buzz (RAB) is supported by OSP and provides professional development and networking opportunities to departmental research administrators. RAB contributes to the development of policies and practices that fairly reflect the mutual interests and separate obligations of both departmental and central research administration. OSP also sponsors Departmental Certification in Sponsored Programs, which is targeted to academic department administrators who perform pre- and post-award functions. Candidates for certification must successfully complete a series of workshops and pass a written examination. Coursework is coordinated and/or presented by OSP. A newsletter, Research News, is published quarterly and is also posted to the OSP website. In addition to it’s own website, OSP maintains several other sites, including the Office of Research Integrity Assurance, the Conflict of Interest Management Office and www.export.gatech.edu. As gatekeeper for the Pivot database, OSP provides faculty with assistance in using the Pivot funding opportunity database. As the focal point for electronic research administration for sponsored projects, OSP maintains Georgia Tech’s access to Grants.gov, NSF FastLane, NIH Commons, and other federal electronic proposal submission systems. OSP developed and maintains resources to assist faculty, such as the Cayuse 424 proposal submission system and the OSP Contract Information System.
Georgia Tech’s mission is to encourage innovation, advance knowledge, and serve the public interest. To facilitate these goals, the Office of Industry Engagement was formed to ensure that Georgia Tech innovations are developed into products and services that can benefit society. Part of the Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC), Industry Engagement is composed of three groups: 1) Innovation Commercialization and Translational Research (ICTR); 2) Industry Collaborations and Affiliated Licenses (ICAL); 3) International Contracts and Technology Transfer (ICTT).
These offices promote partnerships with industry, government, and non-profits, help transform Georgia Tech’s breakthrough technologies into products, and spur economic development throughout Georgia and beyond. Together, these groups make Office of Industry Engagement a one-stop shop for anyone interested in pursuing strategic collaborations through sponsored research, licensing, and new venture agreements.