A subcontract, when Northern Kentucky University is the prime recipient, is an agreement with another institution ("subrecipient") to provide part of the research required in an original contract or grant.
If you plan to have a subcontract in your grant proposal (where NKU is the prime), you should:
Please note the following, depending upon your situation:
When you are proposing to be the prime recipient of a contract or grant and Northern Kentucky University is the primary (home) institution, your subrecipient(s) must send the following to you for your proposal:
As PI you must then submit the full proposal (including the items above from the subrecipient institution) to RGC for internal review as you would for any other proposal, along with the routing form.
According to Uniform Guidance, the department must make a case-by-case determination as to whether a party should receive funds in the role of a subrecipient or a contractor. In determining whether an agreement between the University and a 3rd party casts the latter as a subrecipient or a contractor, the substance of the relationship is more important than the form of the agreement. The department must use judgment in classifying each as a subaward or a procurement contract and the proposal should reflect this determination.
A subaward issued to a subrecipient is for the purpose of carrying out a portion of a federal award. Characteristics which support this classification include the party:
Additionally, the PI of the 3rd party should 1) be committing specified, measurable effort; 2) be using significant resources at his/her own institution; 3) budget indirect costs associated with participation in the project; and 4) have substantial involvement with the research which could result in the generation of new data, publication, and/or inventions.
If the involvement of the 3rd party is determined to be a subrecipient, the University will issue a subaward upon receipt of the prime award and the documentation listed above.
A contract is for the purpose of obtaining goods and services for the University's own use. Characteristics indicative of a procurement relationship between the University and a contractor include the party:
If the involvement of the 3rd party is determined to be a contractor, a fee-for-service/purchased service agreement or independent contractor services agreement will be issued.
This work typically consists of the execution of a predefined task or repetitive process, or the production of a product that meets predefined specifications. The activity, product or data collected is not expected to add to the body of fundamental knowledge of the project.
Consultants provide expert services to funded projects from outside the University. Examples of consultants include:
How the prime award describes consultant duties will impact the set-up process. For example, if the proposal and/or prime award makes reference to institutional resources, effort, etc. a consulting agreement would not be appropriate.