What is an Award?

A notice of grant award – also referred to as notice, NOGA, NGA, sponsor notice or award letter – is a notification from a sponsor indicating that a proposal has been funded. Notices of grant awards are typically received by the ORA, although on occasion a primary investigator may be notified directly. This notification may require the signature of an authorized university official. Only the ORA is authorized to accept an award from a sponsor.  In the event a notice of award is sent directly to the PI, please forward it to the ORA for appropriate review and processing.

Review of Terms and Conditions

Before accepting an award on behalf of the university, the ORA reviews all terms and conditions, regardless of the sponsor, and is responsible for negotiating these terms and conditions if an award fits into one of the following categories:

  • Contains provisions that are incompatible with ECU’s policies on sponsored research.
  • Inconsistent with government-wide regulations for universities.
  • Fails to include all elements agreed upon prior to the award.
  • Requires modification to conform to the principal investigator’s needs.
  • Includes non-standard patent and/or licensing terms.
  • Requires extensive and/or unrealistic billing terms.

Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial Research

The responsibility for the review and approval of all industry-sponsored clinical trial research lies with the Clinical Trials Office (CTO). The CTO is familiar with the industry-sponsored clinical trial process and collaborates with the ORA in resolving potential questions concerning these agreements.

Non-Clinical Industry-Sponsored Research

The ORA also has responsibility for the review and approval of all non-clinical industry-sponsored research agreements at ECU. The office is familiar with the specific issues raised by such agreements, for example those related to ownership of intellectual property and publication rights. The ORA coordinates with ECU’s Office of Innovation and New Ventures regarding patent and licensing rights for industry sponsored research awards. The ORA should be consulted in the first instance when a relationship with private industry is being contemplated.

Award Acceptance

When a notice of grant award and related terms and conditions are accepted by ECU, a specific dedicated account is set up in Banner. Commonly referred to as a fund, this account reflects the approved budget as provided in the award documentation, the project start and end dates, and other related information. The PI will receive a memo which details the fund number, period of performance and dollar amounts. The PI should review this documentation carefully and verify the accuracy of the award set-up prior to spending funds.