Principal Investigator Responsibilities in Post-Award Administration

Principal Investigator Responsibilities in Post-Award Administration

The Principal Investigator (PI) has primary responsibility for management of the project within funding limitations: adhering to reporting requirements; ensuring that the sponsor will be notified when significant conditions related to the project status change; following award terms and conditions; hiring, training, and managing project personnel; directing technical aspects of the project; and coordination with departmental personnel to define administrative support.  UNT also requires all PIs to review their obligations for stewardship of sponsored funds and compliance with applicable regulations, including cost principles as defined by UNT Policy and the federal government in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 2, Part 200 of the Uniform Guidance.

PI Responsibilities:

  • Execute the project as outlined in the funded proposal and the terms and conditions of the award, using sound management techniques.
  • Authorize only those expenditures that are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the project goals and that are consistent with the sponsor’s terms and conditions. A list of unallowable costs can be found in the Uniform Guidance: 2 CFR Part 200 (General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost).
  • Spend no more than the amount authorized by the sponsor for the project period.
  • Carry out the project’s financial plan as presented in the funded proposal.
  • Notify GCA of any proposed changes in the scope of work, the PI or other key research personnel, the budget, or the period of performance.
  • Follow all applicable University policies and procedures such as travel, purchasing, employment, contracted services, and compensation policies.
  • Assure that cost-sharing or matching commitments are fulfilled and reported to GCA in a timely manner.
  • Assure that Time and Effort Reports for the funded project are completed accurately and timely.
  • Oversee the care and maintenance of property procured with project funds in accordance with sponsor guidelines.
  • Report any intellectual property development which relates to the project to the Technology Transfer Office.
  • Report project progress, including final reports, as required by the terms of the award.
  • Review project expenditures reflected in COGNOS regularly and in a timely fashion to assure they are correct and appropriate.
  • Expenditures or services rendered must directly relate to the scope of work and budget, be incurred within the award period and approved by the PI.
  • Sufficient funds must be available at the time of purchase to ensure overspending doesn’t occur.
  • Sponsor approval is required for PI disengagement from a Proj ID for more than 3 months. Applies to all sponsors—federal, state and private. Being away from campus does not necessarily constitute disengagement, as long as the PI continues to activity manage the award on a daily basis.
  • In any oral or written communication intended for public consumption or distribution—including but not limited to presentations and PowerPoint presentations, testimony, journal article or other types of printed material, news stories, and posting information on a website—the content of which is based on the results of sponsored research, a faculty member or other employee or appointee of an institution of higher education who conducted or participated in conducting the research shall conspicuously disclose the identity of each sponsor of the research.
  • The PI will ensure public access to research data on Federal awards and those other awards that require a data management plan according to UNT’s policy and procedures.