A budget justification (narrative) should be prepared to explain how the budgeted costs relate to the project. The narrative should provide sufficient detail to allow the sponsor to determine whether the proposed costs are reasonable and appropriate.

Key elements to include:

Anticipation funds should be requested when there is a delay in award execution, but a high degree of certainty that the project will be funded. The unit may begin spending after all regulatory and compliance requirements have been met. Using anticipation funds is a best practice to minimize the number of cost transfers onto an award.

SPA supports university principal investigators and departments in the billing, invoicing, and financial reporting for sponsored projects by helping to manage the financial interactions with sponsors and assuring compliance with all university and sponsor policies. Below are the respective responsibilities related to billing, invoicing, and financial reporting.

SPA Pre-Award is responsible for reviewing and approving requests for external funding prepared and submitted by the campus community to federal, state, and private sponsors. Each campus unit has an assigned proposal coordinator as the primary SPA point of contact for that unit's proposal reviews.