For some sponsors, such as NSF and NIH, the Institute’s expenditure of funds demonstrates award acceptance. For other awards, MIT negotiates terms and conditions with the sponsor before accepting:
- MIT receives the award agreement from the sponsor. If the PI or DLCI receives an award directly from the sponsor, they must send all paperwork to their RAS CA for appropriate processing.
- If required, RAS negotiates the award terms with the sponsor while consulting with the DLCI. Depending on the complexity of the agreement, the negotiation process can range from a few days to several months.
- If the award requires written acceptance by the sponsor, an authorized individual in RAS signs the award and returns the documents to the sponsor.
- RAS prepares a Notice of Award in Kuali Coeus that summarizes the award's key requirements.
- The Notice of Award and any accepted and negotiated award documents are made available to the PI and DLCI in KC.
- The PI and DLCI review the notice of award and award document(s), noting:
- Information about future years of committed funding by the sponsor, if any
- Special budget or programmatic restrictions placed on the award by the sponsor.
Key Factors in Award Negotiation and Acceptance
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Submission of Revised Budgets
- Standard Contract Terms and Conditions
- Contractual Obligations and Problematic Terms and Conditions
- Review and Negotiation of Federal Contract and Grant Terms and Conditions
- Industrial Collaboration
- International Activities
- Open Research and Export Control Resources
- Nondisclosure and Confidentiality Agreements
Updated March 27, 2025