Cost shared effort is any work on a sponsored project for which the University, rather than the sponsor, provides salary support.

Cost share is captured in the RAMP Award record SmartForm when the "Months Effort" are higher than "Months Requested" for a Person in a Budget Period. When the effort person months does not equal the requested months, the "Cost Share Months" column with auto-populate. Enter a zero (0) in the Months requested column to indicate that effort in a budget period is being cost-shared.

In the budget and budget justification, commitments will typically be listed in either:

• Calendar months
• Academic months
• Summer months
• Or a combination of academic and summer months

• For unique situations where key personnel need flexibility due to balancing many projects, specific date ranges can be given to help those projects fit into their schedules. (for example, a PI could front-load more effort into a 3 month period, and then commit less time during the remaining 9 months of the year, so long as the overall commitment is upheld over the project period). For these unique situations, please consult with your RSP Awards Setup contact.

• Federal Projects
• UW-Madison requires a mandatory minimum 1% effort for the PI on federal and federal flow-through projects (with a few exceptions, like federal equipment grants).
• Nonfederal Projects
• While 1% PI effort is no longer required by UW-Madison policy for nonfederal awards, it is recommended that PI's propose and devote a minimum of 1% effort to all sponsored projects to carry out the essential scientific, administrative, and fiscal responsibilities needed for the research.
• Individual schools and colleges may choose to require their own PI minimum effort level on nonfederal projects. Enforcement of such a minimum is at the discretion of each school/college at the time of division proposal review.
• If a 1% commitment is entered in the proposal for the PI due to a nonfederal sponsor's requirements OR a particular school's requirement, it WILL be tracked centrally.
• There may be limited cases where a 1% minimum is needed even though it is not reflected in the proposal. It could be that a nonfederal sponsor's budget template does not allow for such an entity, or the sponsor asks for it at the time of award.
• Fellowships
• No effort needs to be input for the PI or Fellow. The Effort section will have no key personnel listed.
• Supplements
• A 1% minimum commitment is NOT required on the supplement, so long as the PI is committing effort on the primary project of the award.
• If new key personnel are being added specifically for the supplement, their effort should be input onto the supplemental project. However, the definition of a key person remains the same for supplements as primary awards.
• Diversity supplements do not require that the diversity candidate/recipient be listed as key personnel
• Clinical Trials
• Clinical trials are a unique award type and need to be treated differently in terms of effort commitments. Generally, if the trial is supported by non-federal funds an effort commitment is not required. If the trial will be funded from federal funding a minimum commitment may be required for the PI.
• Equipment Grants
• Any awards that are solely for the purchase of equipment are exempt from the minimum effort requirements. This is any award that 100% of the funding will be dedicated towards the purchase of a specific piece of equipment.
• Work Study
• These awards are similar to fellowships in terms of effort. Awards that are 100% of the support for a student work study program are exempt from the minimum effort requirements.
• Financial Aid
• We don't see many of these awards. They would be exempt from the minimum effort requirements.

Commitments can never total more than 100%. If a key person is over 100% when adding the new commitment to their existing workload, adjustments will need to be made, and the effort commitment on one or more projects will need to be reduced. You should work with your Effort Coordinator and key person to determine what projects need to be adjusted, and if the reduction needs sponsor approval first.

Link to Effort Commitment Update Form

• Project-based payroll certification is UW-Madison's means of assuring compensation compliance on federally sponsored projects. Payroll certification is an after-the-fact review and attestation that the payroll charged to a federally sponsored project is reasonable in relation to the work performed. Payroll must be certified by the project's PI or their approved designee. Payroll certification requires assurance that payroll charged to a federal sponsor is reasonable in relation to work performed.
• If a PI has not completed their payroll certification tasks within the 90-day certification period, the award cannot be set up until the tasks are completed.

• Commitment Lookup Tool
• Commitment FAQs
• Effort FAQs
• General Effort and UW Effort Policy Information
• UW Cost Sharing Policy

The COI Program protects employees and the institution by identifying and preventing conflicts that might exist between an employee's personal interests and their public responsibilities to the University. Relationships with businesses and industries may result in the University's faculty and staff receiving financial gains from their roles in the industry - sponsored research, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship. To ensure that research is free from bias, the University is responsible for managing interactions that create potential conflicts of interest, by identifying outside financial interests disclosed in an ANNUAL electronically-submitted " Outside Activities Report." This applies to all key personnel and any individual engaged in federally funded research.

• New awards or contracts: Each of the key personnel in the budget/proposal will need to be listed in the RAMP record General Tab, under the "Personnel" section. These individuals will be checked to ensure they've submitted their ANNUAL required " Outside Activities Report." Key personnel also need to be current with their COI Training Course, which is taken every 4 years.

**Furthermore, if the specific awarding agency is a Public Health Service (PHS) agency, or another non-PHS agency that elects to use PHS regulations, additional COI activities are required for new awards. A member of the RSP award team will submit the RAMP Record to the FAST system (FCOI Award Setup Tool). If the key personnel have not submitted an updated OAR within 30 days prior to receiving an award notice, they will need to do so. Even though not all of these individuals may require effort commitment tracking, EVERY key person needs to be reviewed in the FAST system on PHS awards. The purpose of the FAST system is to:

1. Identify if the individual is current with COI Training
2. Identify if the individual has submitted an OAR in the last 30 days. If not, they will need to do so.
3. Identify if the individual has reviewed and accepted a COI Management Plan (only applies if the COI Office has identified a potential conflict)
4. Confirm that the sponsor has been notified of any potential conflicts identified during the process

If any potential conflicts are identified through this process, RSP reports them to the sponsor with assurance that a Management Plan is in place. This is done when RSP either submits the reports via eRA Commons, or sends an email with the FCOI information to the designated sponsor contact.

• Continuation awards or contracts (amendments, modifications, incremental funding or time, etc.): Each of the key personnel listed in the budget/proposal will be checked to ensure they've submitted their ANNUAL required " Outside Activities Report".

**Note: If a new key person is being added in the middle of an award funded by a PHS agency (or PHS-Reg following agency), they will need to submit an updated OAR and be reviewed in the FAST system.

• The above guidelines also apply to new and continuing subawards.

All sponsored projects with a 'yes' on compliance question #2 located on the general tab of the RAMP record will require an approved Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol in order to setup an award.

The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) provides oversight for all research activities involving human participants at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The HRPP is not an office, but rather a collective effort of all who participate in the conduct, review, approval and facilitation of human subjects research at UW-Madison. UW-Madison has three IRB offices who are charged with reviewing human subject research. The IRB reviews all human research protocols in accordance with federal regulations, state laws, and local and University policies.

To complete an award set-up that includes the use of human subjects RSP will need a valid protocol to appear in PLuS and the entry will need to list the current award as a funding source.

Example of What RSP Looks For

To obtain IRB protocol approval the PI will need to submit an application to the appropriate IRB office via ARROW. ARROW is the online system for preparing, submitting, reviewing, and managing applications for research oversight (protocol) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To find out more about starting an application in the ARROW system, click here. If you have questions, you are encouraged to contact your IRB office for additional information.

Human Subjects Example

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All sponsored projects with a 'yes' on compliance question #1 located on the general tab of the RAMP record will need an approved Biological Safety protocol in order to setup an award. If you’re unsure if a project needs an OBS protocol please see the OBS webpage for further guidance.

The UW-Madison Office of Biological Safety (OBS) assists all faculty and staff in observing safe laboratory practices for biological materials as prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and endeavors to assure that research is done in secure facilities in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. The OBS is the administrative office of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

All sponsored projects with a 'yes' on compliance question #1 located on the general tab of the RAMP record will need an approved Biological Safety protocol in order to setup an award. RSP will not release funds until OBS approval has been documented. Detailed information regarding how to obtain an OBS protocol can be found on the OBS website along with FAQs that should help you through the process.

RSP will use PLuS to confirm that an OBS protocol has been approved for a specific project. If the protocol has not yet been updated in PLuS, RSP will also accept signed documentation from the OBS stating that a protocol has been approved for a specific project.

Example of What RSP Looks For

Biosafety Protocol Example

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RSP will review the RAMP compliance questions identify if an animal use protocol is needed. If the third compliance question "use of vertebrate animals?"" is answered as 'yes' RSP will require an approved protocol before an award can be set-up. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is charged to oversee the use of vertebrate animals in research and to ensure that care and use of the animals is ethical and humane.

If the third compliance question, "use of vertebrate animals," is answered as 'yes' RSP will require an approved protocol before an award can be set-up. For more information on submitting and obtaining animal use protocol approval, please click here.

To complete an award set-up that includes the use of animals RSP will need a valid protocol to appear in the PLUS system and the entry will need to list the current award as a funding source.

Example of What RSP Looks For

Note: If your award is funded by the NSF or NIH and includes animal research please see the "IACUC Congruence" section.

Animal Use Protocol Example

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All sponsored projects with a 'yes' on compliance question #4 located on the general tab of the RAMP record will need an approved stem cell use protocol in order to setup an award.

The Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee provides oversight for all research on campus or involving campus faculty or staff that involves either:

• the use of hESCs or their derivatives; or
• the introduction of hPSCs, or their derivatives, obtained from a non-embryonic source, into non-human animals at any embryonic, fetal, or postnatal stage, if an expected effect is that human cells will be integrated into the central nervous system, testes, or ovaries of the animal; or
• the storage or disposition of human embryos or gametes obtained for the purposes of stem cell research.

A Principal Investigator (PI) conducting research on either of the above must have SCRO approval in place prior to beginning research.  The SCRO Committee is fully transitioned to ARROW, the online protocol application system.  All initial review, change of protocol, and continuing review applications must be submitted for review through ARROW. For more information please see the SCRO webpage.

RSP will use PLuS to confirm that a protocol is approved for a specific study. If the protocol has not yet been updated in PLuS, RSP will also accept signed documentation from SCRO stating that the protocol has been approved for a specific study.

To help UW-Madison manage sponsored project funds, the Shared Financial System contains a list of terms to provide supplementary information for awards. The intent is for the terms to be used as an aid in award management, although their inclusion is not a substitute for familiarity with the award document itself. Terms are selected to highlight certain conditions that govern agreements.

RSP Pre-Award staff enters items into the RAMP "Terms" tab at the time of award. When a new award is generated, the terms information flows into "Terms" tab of the Grants/Awards module. The Notice of Action Taken email, which is automatically generated and emailed to the PI/Dean/Departmental contacts when the award set-up process is complete, contains the terms that have been selected. Information also appears in the WISDM "Requirements" tab and is accessible to all campus users. Campus users should contact the RSP Awards Team if an important term is missing or requires amendment.

Facilities & Administrative Costs are actual costs incurred by the University in support of extramural activities, but cannot be charged to a specific grant or contract. Examples include RSP services, libraries, utilities, building and equipment depreciation, and other administrative functions. They are also known as "indirect costs."

The federal government recognizes that these costs to participate in research, including expenses that are shared across all sponsored programs, cannot be allocated to one specific project. To ensure these costs are captured in the project budget, F&A is included in the budget as a percentage of the project's direct costs.

Applicable F&A rates can be found on the Rates page.

When to use an older rate vs. current rate?

Typically, the F&A rate in the proposal will remain in effect for the entire award. However, there are circumstances where an older rate is being used, but the current rate needs to be applied:

• New supplemental funds were requested and were not part of the original budget and scope of work
• Funding that wasn't previously committed at the lower rate is provided. For example, if incremental funding is provided beyond the originally proposed period of performance in the original budget and proposal, this would be considered new funding. The most current rates would then need to be built into the application, as this would fit the description of a renewal instead of a continuation.

• Re-budgeting may need to occur
• Further negotiation with the sponsor may help recover additional funds
• An F&A Waiver request may be submitted to the RSP Proposals Team. Approval of the waiver is at the discretion of Kim Moreland. This can be done via the RAMP record:
• Send an approval using the "F&A Waiver" approval type. Please send the approval to the appropriate division.
• In addition to the approval, attach a letter to the record stating how this study and waiver request benefits the university.
• Note: Review of an F&A waiver can take 1-2 weeks as some need to be reviewed by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.

• Select the F&A rate type that is applicable for your award (dropdown menu)
• Select the F&A Base (dropdown menu)
• Manually enter the F&A Rate that is appropriate for your award (as a %)

If a PI needs access to funding for a project prior to receipt of the official notice of grant award, an Advance Account may be created to allow the posting of charges to an account. The Principal Investigator's School/College/Division assumes responsibility for all charges allocated on an account in advance award status if the award is not finalized or accepted. Please see Advance Award Request Guidance for details on ADV AWD purpose, intent and use. Departments and PI’s may request an advance account via RAMP. The RAMP Desk Reference walks through the process for making the request via an approval request to the division using the "Request advance award setup" approval type and then the appropriate divisional authority approving the request and notifying RSP via the Division Action page in RAMP.

Note: All compliance items will need to be addressed prior to an advance account being created including FCOI, Animal, Human, Biosafety and HESC compliance protocols and Effort Commitments.

The PI or departmental research administrator should login to RAMP and on the Approvals tab select the "request Advance Award" approval from the drop down. Note that each division may require additional justification, attachments or information in order to process this request. Please contact your Divisional Research Contact for assistance with this request. Once the division has approved the advance account request they can request the advance award set-up of RSP by selecting the "Request Advance Account of SPO" button on the division action tab in RAMP. A page will open to verify this request. Click "Process Record" to proceed. The record has been submitted to the current RSP owner for processing. Award and Project information will be reported to you via email.

Chapter 230.047, Wis. Stats., authorizes state agencies and the University of Wisconsin System to participate in the temporary interchange of employees between and among government agencies at the same or different levels of government and with institutions of higher education. Typical interchanges involving the University of Wisconsin-Madison are with other state agencies, federal agencies, other government agencies such as school districts, and other universities outside the University of Wisconsin System.

The purpose of an IPA is to allow an individual to remain on UW payroll and benefits while providing service to a government agency. Academic employees and departments should work directly with the funding agency and RSP to draft IPA agreements. Typically the funding agency has a standard IPA agreement that is sent to the Department/PI and a RAMP record is created after the IPA agreement is received.

• If a UW-Madison employee will be on assignment to a Federal agency, the arrangement must be in compliance with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act.
• An employee of the UW must be employed for at least 90 days in a career position before entering into an Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreement
• "Career position" is defined as permanent career status receiving those employment benefits normally provided career employees of the agency, including participation in the retirement plan.
• For the William S. Middleton Memorial Veteran Hospital, an exception for an IPA for Research Associates, Research Assistants, and other training positions may be made with the written approval from the VA Hospital's HR Team.
• Employment interchanges are temporary and made for one year or less. An extension for up to one additional year may be approved. The maximum period allowed for an interchange involving the same employee is two years, including an extension.
• Employment interchange agreements are restricted to salary and fringe benefit costs.
• Reimbursement for any additional costs, such as supplies and equipment, generally may not be included as part of an employment interchange agreement.
• UW-Madison employees on assignment to another agency or institution may be eligible to receive supplemental compensation, which may be paid directly to the employee. The agency, not UW-Madison, is responsible for any tax withholding and reporting. UW-Madison employees may not receive supplemental compensation if on assignment to another State of Wisconsin agency.
• UW will not pay the travel expenses of employees incurred in connection with their work assignments at the receiving agency.
• To initiate an interchange agreement with a non-Federal agency, a Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix 2-B) should be prepared.
• Interchange agreements with a Federal agency will be initiated by that agency. Federal agencies have a specific agreement template for entering into an Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreement.

1. An IPA agreement is received at the UW.
2. The Department/Deans Office creates a RAMP record for the IPA, obtains all necessary approvals, completes the projects tab and submits the record to RSP.
3. The record will be assigned in RSP for review of the documents to determine if IPA language is acceptable.
4. RSP will negotiate if appropriate, obtain signature on the IPA and return it to the funding agency.
5. RSP will review the record for project setup and send an award set up approval if appropriate.
6. When the agreement is finalized RSP will set-up a 133 or 144 project in SFS for salary and fringe benefit expenditures.

1. The Award type on the RAMP General Tab should be IPA.
2. The Project Type on the Projects Tab should be GM_05 Employee Interchange Agreement.
3. The F&A Rate Type on the Projects Tab should be None-No F&A.
4. The F&A Base Type on the Projects Tab should be No F&A (Base A).
5. The Purpose in the SFS award module should be Miscellaneous.
6. Total dollar amount should always be Direct Costs.

As with all other Sponsored Projects, we only capture effort for individuals identified as Key Personnel on the award. Department Personnel will make the determination and enter effort on the projects tab in RAMP only for Key Individuals.

The PI on the RAMP record does not need a minimum 1% commitment unless that individual has a quantifiable effort commitment.

Occasionally, visitors (e.g., students, academics, scientists) come to UW under a visiting or exchange opportunity. Such an arrangement carries with it the general purpose of educating the person and is with an educational or higher education institution. Some institutions (often international institutions) provide “bench fees” or support in the form of a check payable to UW-Madison. This is provided without application by the UW and is provided to support costs such as consumable materials, travel, and related costs associated with the visitor’s opportunity at the UW.

1. Project title as: "Bench Fees for visitor name"
2. Begin date as the date of check issue unless otherwise indicated by sponsor
3. End date dependent upon date of visiting arrangement ending unless otherwise indicated by sponsor
4. F&A costs will not be assessed for arrangement with other non-profit institutions but will be for For-profit sponsors.

Participant support costs are costs to support individuals who are receiving a training opportunity as part of a workshop, conference, seminar, symposium or other short-term instructional or information sharing activity funded by a sponsored award. Participant support costs are direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registrations fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or training projects.

A participant does not perform work or service for the project or program. The participant is not required to deliver anything or provide any service to the university in return for these support costs.

Participant support costs are typically incurred for projects that include an education or outreach component. These types of costs are most commonly included in National Science Foundation (NSF) grants, such as the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) or Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program. NIH indicates that participant support costs are allowable only if specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

For more information on what can and cannot be included as participant support costs, click here: Participant Support Costs Guidance

Funds provided for participant support costs that are not spent cannot be rebudgeted for use in other categories unless prior written approval has been obtained from the sponsor.

Participant support costs are budgeted in a separate category in the application budget and must be accounted for separately. Participant support costs are excluded from the MTDC base when calculating F&A costs. RSP requires a separate project under the award to isolate participant support costs and to ensure that F&A is not applied against these costs. If possible, this additional project should be added to the Projects Tab in RAMP before the award is generated. Click the “Add Project” button on the Projects Tab to create the additional project.

• The RAMP project type to select in the Project Tab detail: GM04 (Participant Support)
• Please include in the Project Description: "Participant Support"
• F&A Rate Type: None (No F&A)
• F&A Base: No F&A
• F&A Rate: 0%
• All funds should be entered into the Direct Costs budget line
• No effort commitments are required on the Participant Support project