OBLIGATIONS OF THE GRANTEES AND NSF PROCEDURES Gowry Moorthy Research Division 31 st August 2016
Once the Grant is awarded & the Contractual Agreement signed Obligations of the Grantee Obligations of the Grantees Operate the grant in accordance with the rules & regulations of the funding agency Read the documents (Contractual Agreement and conditions given in the Annexures) and familiarize with the rules & regulations
Fund transfer will commence on signing of the contractual agreement Installment basis (half yearly) 1st installment - Equipment, Consumables Personnel, Lab. services, Travel, Miscellaneous Reimbursement of Postgraduate Registration fee ** Procedures for disbursement of funds Disbursement of Funds
Reporting Progress Reporting progress, is an important activity of grant/project management is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) as well as Co-Investigators (CoIs) Reports: Progress reports Financial reports Final report
Reporting progress cont The Investigator should give due consideration to this important component of the project, much in advance, at project formulation stage itself. Thus the time-based work plan (Gantt Chart) and the Key Performance Indicators are essential parts of the project proposal.
Reporting progress cont Gantt chart: Activity Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Activity 1 Planned Progress Activity 2 Planned Progress Activity 3 Planned Progress Activity 4 Planned Progress Activity 5 Planned Progress
Responsible Reporting Timely submission of reports According to the Format Actual facts to be presented Problems encountered/ envisioned Accurate financial figures
Progress Reporting: NSF Procedures Progress reports should be submitted biannually (on or before 15th of June & 15th of December of the year) irrespective of the date of commencement of the project. according to the NSF format Signed by all the Investigators through the Head of the Department of the PI ** Progress report format
Progress Reporting: NSF Procedures cont Progress reports should provide following information Administrative details of the project Objectives and objectives achieved to date Description of research carried out during the period Results/outputs Gantt chart for work done Brief work plan for next 6 months Expenditure for the period/utilization of funds Problems/deviations, if any
Final Reporting: NSF Procedures Comprehensive Final Report should be submitted within 3 months of the completion of the project period two bound hard copies along with a soft copy according to the format given signed by all the Investigators through the Head of the Institution of PI copies of published papers should be submitted Copy of the thesis of RS Follow up of Research Outputs of the projects ** Final report format
Final Reporting: NSF Procedures cont Final report should provide following information Administrative details of the project Executive summary Detailed report (background, objectives, method, results, discussion, conclusion) Research Outputs Publications/communications Equipment purchased Summary statement of expenditure
Financial Reporting: NSF Procedures Financial monitoring: Done through biannual and final financial reports Interim financial statements - along with the progress report (every 6 months) Final financial statement - within 30 days Balance funds should be returned to the NSF Expenditure - within the approved amount in each vote Transfers within votes - NSF approval ** Financial report format
Common mistakes in progress reporting/ submitting final reports Not according to the format Not providing adequate information for reviewing progress of the project/success of the project Poor quality images/diagrams Not sending through proper channels Not signed by all the Investigators Not informing deviations, if any Not submitting soft copy of the FR Not submitting bound copies of FR
Evaluation of Progress/Final Reports All the progress/final reports are evaluated by an independent Reviewer Collective recommendation will be taken by the Working Committee Members of the NSF Progress Review seminars and field visits to project sites are organized by the NSF to assess the progress Constructive comments/suggestions are made by the Reviewers and the Committee Members for improvement of the project
Evaluation of Progress/Final Reports cont. Based on the Reviewer's report and views of the Committee Members final report will be accepted and graded/revised and then graded Acceptance letter will be sent
Rewards NSF Research Awards Final Reports accepted with Very Good and Good ratings are considered for the awards
Problems faced on monitoring grants Audit queries on progress and financial monitoring No proper planning of the project and budget (extensions and fund transfers) Successful completion of the project NSF answerable to the Treasury on outputs/ outcomes of the project and impact on socioeconomic development
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