The Office of Sponsored Awards & Research Administration (OSARA) is responsible for all pre-award and non-financial post-award functions including proposal submissions, the negotiation and acceptance of all sponsored awards and agreements on behalf of American University. In addition, OSARA oversees the management of post-award administration-sponsored project funds activity for the university. Our commitment and support is to provide sound financial reporting to our research community as well as to our funding agencies (federal and non-federal).

OSARA assists American University faculty and staff with interpretation of sponsor polices/guidelines, including applicable regulations, sponsored programs training, education, and communication. Specific OSARA services include:

• Maintain curated funding lists in Pivot

• Facilitate institutional routing/approvals of proposals

• Submission of proposals and other required documents to sponsors

• Assist with electronic proposal development and submission

• Provide institutional certification and/or assurances when required

• Serve as liaison between the University and sponsor to resolve sponsored award related concerns/issues

• Initiate sponsored award account set-up

• Facilitate sponsored award close-out functions

• Keep faculty and staff abreast of sponsor related policies and procedures

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local and university policies and regulations 

• Establishment of policies and procedures for best practice and ensuring compliance with federal regulations as well as signed contractual agreements and non-federal contracts.

• Preparation and dissemination of all sponsor research activities internal and/or external financial reports, invoicing and the collections effort on behalf of the university, letter of credit drawdowns to federal and non-federal funding agencies, etc.

• Management of the initial sponsored project account setup, budget setup and/or modification and final project account close-out (with coordination of OSP [Pre-Award]).

• Coordination of the Annual OMB Circular A-133 audit as well as the A-133 certification to sub recipients.

• Negotiation of the university's facilities and administrative and fringe benefit rates with our Federal Cognizant Agency (DHHS).

• Coordination of the Time & Effort reporting.