MIT Standard Terms

If a sponsored agreement is silent, the following standard MIT Policy terms apply:

  • Period of Performance extensions:

    •   Extensions require sponsor prior approval
  • Personnel Changes
    • Notify RAS as soon as possible to determine the necessary steps when:

      • the PI on a project will change*, or
      • the PI will be disengaged from the project for three months or more*.

* Either change should prompt a discussion between the PI and the sponsor to determine a plan for how the work will proceed.

  • Restrictions on Allowable costs

    • The business purpose of meeting expenditures must be substantiated by providing the following:

      • The purpose of the meeting or topic of discussion
      • A list of attendees (names and group association) present at the meeting
      • Itemized receipts
      • The date and location of the meeting, if it is not self-evident
    • Alcoholic beverages are not allowable costs unless the sponsor explicitly approves such expenses.
  • Rebudgeting authority:

    • Sponsored funds may be rebudgeted between allowable cost categories as necessary to meet the requirements of the project.
  • Equipment/Property
    • Title to property vests in MIT
  • Travel
    • Travel must be for an appropriate business purpose, and charged to the appropriate cost objects.
    • Travelers may fly Business Class (or First Class if Business Class service is not offered on the flight) only when the flight has a scheduled in-air flying time greater than 6 hours or if any part of a round trip in-air time is in excess of six hours. The difference in the cost of Business Class (or First Class if Business Class service is not offered on the flight) may not be charged to sponsored projects unless the grant explicitly allows such expenses. Travelers who fly Business Class (or First Class) must follow the requirements for documenting the lowest available coach fare (per 3.03 above). They must allocate the difference between the Business Class (or First Class) fare and the lowest available Coach fare to a non-sponsored discretionary cost object.
  • Subcontracting
    • The relationship with the subrecipient organization must be appropriate for a subaward, rather than a vendor or consultant
    • The subrecipient organization must have the appropriate facilities to be able to carry out the work, and the organization's policies and procedures must be sufficient to ensure the responsible use of sponsored funds
  • Reporting
    • A copy of any final report submitted to the sponsor should be provided to RAS at ospaward@mit.edu.
  • Publications:
    • Sponsor review is not required prior to publication unless the terms of the agreement, including any confidentiality provisions, require it.