The Principal Investigator (PI) is accountable for project expenditures, and the PI or a designee, must approve all of the charges processed against the award.  However, since the Research Foundation has overall fiduciary responsibility for all externally funded sponsored programs on campus, the Grants Management Department also monitors the expenditures on the award. This helps to insure that all charges are being recorded accurately and timely, and that they comply with funding agency and Research Foundation requirements.  Payroll charges are also verified to insure that personnel costs are consistent with RF and Sponsor Policies. 

Award type, funding source, and program requirements are all considerations in determining the amount of flexibility that is permitted between cost categories on the  project budget.  They also help to determine how to proceed in the event that a budget needs to be modified.  In most cases, sponsor approval is required to substantially change the approved budget.  All budget changes must be approved by the Research Foundation Grants Management Department prior to contacting the funding agency.   The contract and Grants Management Liaison, Lisa Gatti, should be contacted for questions related to managing the proposal budget and for guidelines related to formal budget modifications.

Access to the PIAI and Quick View is not automatic.  Eligible individuals must request access by completing the New User Appointment Form and submitting it to the Research Foundation Security Administrator.   The  PI  can also designate access to key members of the  project staff – even customize their access.  For example, one staff member may be permitted access to accounts payable and purchasing information, but not to personnel information.  Or, a staff member may be allowed access to a project but not to the associated award.  For more information about accessing these tools, please contact the Research Foundation Security Administrator, Guy Cameron, or the Grants Management Liaison, Lisa Gatti.