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Federal Grants

Federal grants are typically flexible instruments that the Federal Government uses to provide funding to support a public purpose. The grantee is responsible for conducting the project activities, reporting on progressÌýand preparing the results for publication. The granting agency monitors the use of funds it disburses, but it normally has minimal involvement in the substance of the work.

Occasionally CU Boulder receives a federal grant. Due to federal terms and conditions or negotiation requirements, it may be assigned to a Contract Officer.Ìý

CU Boulder also receives grants from sponsors who have been funded by federal agencies. Often these grants contain terms whereÌýno negotiation is required. There are instances where sponsors add their own terms that necessitate negotiation by OCG Grant or Contract Officers.

Cooperative Agreement

A cooperative agreement is similar to a grant, but the granting agency's staff may be actively involved in proposal preparation and anticipate having substantial involvement in the sponsored project's activities once the award has been made.

Occasionally CU Boulder receives a cooperative agreement. Due to federal terms and conditions or negotiation requirements, it may be assigned to a Contract Officer.

CU Boulder also receives cooperative agreements from sponsors who have been funded by federal agencies.Ìý The sponsor’s staff may be actively involved in proposal preparation. The sponsor and the granting agency’s staff may also anticipate having substantial involvement in sponsored project activities once the award has been made.Ìý Often these cooperative agreements contain terms where no negotiation is required.ÌýThere are instances where sponsors add their own terms that necessitate negotiation by Grant or Contract Officers.Ìý

Federal Contracts

Like a grant or cooperative agreement, a federal contract is a mechanism used by the Federal Government to provide funding for sponsored projects, development or service projects. Unlike a grant or cooperative agreement, the Federal Government uses contracts as a procurement mechanism.

The principal purpose of the federal contract instrument is to purchase property or services for the direct benefit or use of the United States Government, as opposed to the public good. Federal contracts are governed by a strict set of terms and conditions, including clauses from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and often include supplemental clauses specific to the awarding agency. These requirements differ depending on type of the contractor and the work being performed and many are negotiable.

CU Boulder also receives contracts from sponsors who have been funded by federal agencies under FAR.ÌýThe sponsor’s staff may be actively involved in proposal preparation, therefore it is imperative CU Boulder and the sponsor are in agreement on scope of the project and intentions of both parties prior to proposal submission.Ìý

The awarding agency’s staff may anticipate having substantial involvement in sponsored project activities once the award has been made.Ìý All federally funded FAR contracts require negotiation by Contract Officers to preserve CU Boulder’s mission and mitigate onerous and unnecessary compliance obligations.Ìý

These contracts usually require frequent reporting and many compliance obligations. A failure to perform these obligations could result in potential legal action and financial consequences. Contract Officers remove or mitigate legal and financial risks for these type of agreements through negotiation.

Notice of an Award

A Notice of Award (NOA) or Notice of Grant AwardÌý(NGA or NOGA)Ìýis an award notification from a sponsor. Typically, it contains information about the amount of funds obligated, the time period for performance, the scope of work andÌýinformation about the terms and conditions associated with the award. Sometimes the notice is as informal as an email from a sponsor requesting CU Boulder provide an agreement to facilitate the project.Ìý

An NOA is normally sent to the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) to receive and accept award notices on behalf of CU Boulder. If a Principal Investigator (PI) receives an NOA directly, they should immediately forward it to ocg@colorado.eduÌýfor prompt receipt into OCG's award management system.