Award Mechanisms

Prizes

Prizes are awarded as a result of a competition. The competition may be by an individual or a team. Contact your departmentally-assigned pre-award specialist if you plan to apply for a competition. ORSP can assist with interpreting eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, and other issues that may impact receiving funds if the prize is awarded. Prizes require a proposal, and are treated as sponsored programs. Prizes may be for research, instruction, or other sponsored activities. Prizes are not charitable contributions, so they cannot be considered gifts. Prizes are not payment for services, so they cannot be deposited in designated accounts.

Training Grants

Training grants support pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research training experiences. While funded by federal and non-federal sponsors, the primary federal agencies providing training grants are the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Office of Education (ED). Requests for proposals for such training grants will clearly cite allowable F&A recovery.  If funded by the State, such programs can involve students for credit or outreach activities involving non-UM students or non-credit.  

Grant, Cooperative Agreement, Contract, Contracted Services

Grant

Cooperative Agreement (JVAs, CESUs, Challenge Cost Share Agreements) Contract Contracted Services
Institutional Process Processed by ORSP Processed by ORSP Processed by ORSP Processed via Procurement.
Basic Purpose Provides financial assistance with few restrictions.  Typically used to fund a program designed by the recipient Provide assistance with substantial involvement of both parties Provide tangible goods or services that carry out a program of mutual interest to the sponsoring entity and recipient. Procure goods, service, or data for the sponsoring entity.
Solicitation Method Application kit or guidelines Request of Application or Proposal (RFA, RFP) Request for Proposal (RFP) or Quote May originate without a "contract" as often more of a "work for hire" relationship. Sometimes generated through personal contacts.
Award Instrument Short - a may refer to general conditions More detailed than a grant award, and will describe the level of involvement of both parties Detailed specifications, clauses, regulations, and expected results or deliverables Generally none beyond identification of goods, service, or data required.
Level of Sponsor Involvement Generally none Substantial involvement May be extensive; generally grantor and grantee both have programmatic decision making Generally none
Rebudgeting Flexible and typically done through internal mechanisms such as OPAS Usually flexible and may be allowed through OPAS More restrictive N/A
Equipment title Vests with grantee Varies Varies N/A
Performance Period Specified in grant Specified in Cooperative Agreement Specified in Contract Specified when services requested
Intellectual Property Rights Usually vested with grantee May be shared Specified in Contract N/A
Publications Sponsor may request that they be informed prior to any publication Sponsor may request that they be informed prior to any publication Sponsor may require prior review and approval N/A
Technical Reports Annual summary Frequent reports and communication Detailed and frequent (monthly) N/A