Published on Fri, 27/01/2023 - 14:01
The annual audit of US Federal Funding (including NIH awards) for the Financial Year 20/21 is now available. The following issues were highlighted which you need to be aware of when managing US Federal Funding.
- Salary costs: costs charged to the project must reconcile with time records.
- Air Travel: There is no provision for using Business Class Flights (even though the University travel policy does allow this under some circumstances). The lowest reasonable commercial airfare must be used. As the UK is no longer a member of the EU, the Open Skies Agreement with the EU does not include the UK. Therefore, travellers must use a US Flag Carrier to travel from the US to the UK and not a UK airline (e.g. British Airways), unless using a different Fly America Act exception. Further details can be found in a previous bulletin.
- Procurement: University Financial Regulations (Schedule 1 - Competition Procedures) must be followed unless prior dispensation has been granted in accordance with Regulation 18.3. Evidence needs to be documented.
- Moving costs to and from US federally funded grants (including NIH): Any transfer of costs should be made within 90 days of when the error was discovered. Transfers must be supported by documentation that fully explains how and why the error occurred, as well as evidence of authorisation regarding the correction. An explanation stating that the transfer was made "to correct an error" is not sufficient. Any transfers beyond 90 days will be reviewed the auditors.
If you have any questions, please contact CROCompliance@admin.cam.ac.uk.