Grant & Contract Services
The Grant and Contract Services (GCS) team of the Office of Research Administration (ORA) serves as a liaison between the Cedars-Sinai research community and sponsoring agencies to provide administrative and compliance oversight for the acquisition of federal and nonindustry grant funding through expert-level proposal review, grant submission, contract negotiation and award management.
All federal and nonprofit proposals for sponsored research funding (regardless of submission type) are routed through the ORA's GCS team prior to submission. GCS team members are authorized organizational representatives who review, approve, negotiate and sign on behalf of Cedars-Sinai.
Essential Grant Services & Award Oversight
GCS officers work with a range of sponsors, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, American Heart Association and others.
Some GCS services include:
- Pre-award management
- Review and approve federal and nonprofit sponsored research proposals
- Ensure proposal application compliance with sponsor guidelines, regulations and policies
- Review budgetary information for sponsor financial requirements
- Coordinate with principal investigators and staff to submit proposal application in a timely manner considering sponsor deadlines
- Liaise between Cedars-Sinai and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and subaward partners
- Negotiate research agreements with federal, nonprofit and private institutions
- Award management
- Just-In-Time
- Re-budgeting requests
- Carry-forward requests
- No-cost extensions
- Reduction of effort requests
- Subcontract monitoring
- Award modifications
- Interim and final reporting
- Financial conflict of interest reporting
- Award transfers (incoming and outgoing)
- Administrative compliance oversight in the areas of sponsor regulations
- Training and education in research administration and compliance
- Award closeout
For updated A-133 and negotiated rates, please see the following
- A-133 Audit FY2023 (PDF)
- A-133 Audit FY2022 (PDF)
- A-133 Audit FY2021 (PDF)
- A-133 Audit FY2020 (PDF)
- A-133 Audit FY2019 (PDF)
- A-133 Audit FY2018 (PDF)
- NIH Rate Agreement FY2018 to FY2023 (PDF)
For more information, visit the Federal Demonstration Partnership.
Grants & Contract Training
New research administrators will learn regulatory principles and best practices, as well as how to navigate the complexities of grants and clinical trials.
Frequently Asked Questions
GCS is the primary grant management and proposal development resource for Cedars-Sinai researchers. In partnership with faculty and research staff, the GCS team provides consummate service, support and administrative oversight of federal and nonprofit sponsored research. In an effort to provide useful resources, the GCS team has compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding proposal development and award management at Cedars-Sinai.
Information for Cedars-Sinai can be found on the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse website.
The most current negotiated rate agreement can be found on the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse website. These rates are subject to change on an annual basis. It is important to check the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse website to ensure the use of accurate rates when completing applications and proposals.
The normal indirect cost rate is calculated on the modified total direct costs (MTDC) base. MTDC is defined as total direct costs excluding the following:
- Equipment
- Alterations and renovations
- The portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000, regardless of the period covered by the subaward
- Hospitalization and other fees associated with patient care
- Rental of space and maintenance costs of rental space
- Student support costs, i.e., tuition, fees, stipends, fellowships and scholarships
For nonfederal sponsors, such as foundations or other nonprofit organizations, unless specifically stated otherwise, indirect costs are calculated on a total direct cost base.
Cedars-Sinai fringe benefit rates can be found in the rate agreement on the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse website.
Each department is assigned a designated grant and contract officer who is available to assist you in all administrative aspects of your application.
Not always. A response will be required if you are in a fundable range, but some federal agencies, including NIH, will provide a link in their electronic portal for submission of JIT information to all scored applications. It is generally more appropriate to wait for an actual request for JIT information. Your grant and contract officer can advise you on the timing of JIT information.
Sponsors will typically request the following JIT documentation
- Institutional Review Board approval
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval
- Human subjects education
- Updated other support
- Other information requested by the awarding institute
In certain circumstances, arrangements can be made to establish a project number for the project in advance of receiving a fully executed award document. Contact your ORA grant officer to discuss your options.
An approved IRB protocol is required to be in place before any work involving human subjects can take place. Without confirmation of this documentation, ORA cannot release the award for a project. If funds are required to start work that does not involve human subjects, please contact the IRB administration to obtain administrative approval.
The recommended timeframe to apply for a no-cost extension is 60–90 days prior to the award end date. This also applies to all subawards affiliated with the prime award.
A grant is awarded and belongs to the grantee institution. The grantee institution has the right to relinquish the grant to the new institution or to retain it and nominate a new principal investigator with sponsor approval.
The principal investigator (PI) initiates the grant transfer process. The PI should discuss the transfer with his/her department chair as appropriate, requesting approval to transfer. PI notifies the NIH grant management specialist and NIH program officer of each grant he/she is intending to transfer prior to departure from current institution. A change of grantee organization request must be made before the anticipated start date at the new organization and preferably several months in advance. Failure to provide timely notification may result in disapproval of the request or a delay in processing.
Every sponsor is different and has different guidelines concerning the transfer of a grant. Some are clearly stated in the terms and conditions of the award document, while others require that you check with the sponsor. Note that some types of grants may not be eligible for transfer due to the guidelines under which they are awarded.
Technology & Innovations
Technology Ventures protects and supports the commercialization of discoveries and technologies. Learn about Technology & Innovations at Cedars-Sinai.
Office of Research Administration
If you have questions or wish to learn more about the Office of Research Administration, please call us or send a message.
6500 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90048