Outgoing Subagreements

The term Subagreements refers to either a Subaward or a Subcontract. A Subagreement is a formal written contract between CU Boulder and another institution (Subrecipient) to perform an intellectually significant portion of CU Boulder’s Statement of Work under a sponsored project.

CU Boulder is responsible for monitoring the programmatic, technical, and financial activities of its subrecipients to ensure proper stewardship of sponsored funds. Outgoing Subagreements are a significant area of risk for CU Boulder.  

Lifecycle of an Outgoing Subagreement

Including an outgoing sub on your proposal

Subrecipients, also called subawardees or subcontractors, may be involved in certain proposal submissions. If you have any questions regarding whether or not collaborators should be designated as consultants versus subrecipients, see the tools found on the subagreement FAQ page. If you still have questions, contact your Proposal Analyst.Ìý

Documentation required from all proposed subrecipients:

  • Budget
  • Budget Justification
  • Statement of work
    • Subrecipient statement of work components:  
      • Detailed and clear purpose or objective of the work to be performed by the subrecipient Ìý
      • Possible timetable or schedule of the work to be performed Ìý
      • Any deliverables, products, or the expected outcomes Ìý
      • The statement of work should be detailed to ensure expectations are clear and can be enforced in the case of a disagreement between CU and the subrecipient
    • The PI is responsible for reviewing the subrecipient’s statement of work and budget to ensure that they are accurate and reflect what they have agreed upon. Ìý Ìý
  • Subrecipient Commitment Form
  • Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (unless the subrecipient is collecting the de minimus rate or the overhead rate is restricted by the sponsor)
  • Any other documentation required by the prime sponsor (e.g., other support, biosketch)

The proposal package must include:

  • Subrecipient proposal in the full proposal
  • Subrecipient’s budget total as a single direct cost line item in proposal budget
  • Other forms (e.g, budget, biosketches, other support) as required by Sponsor
  • PI forwards the completed proposal to Proposal Analyst for review.
  • The entire proposal, including the subrecipient proposal and budget, will be submitted by OCG's Proposal Analysts.

Prime award received with outgoing subrecipient(s)

After an award is received, the Grant or Contract Officer negotiates and then processes the prime award through InfoEd.

  • A short form is created in InfoEd for each proposed subrecipient
  • Once the prime award is fully executed, the Grant or Contract Officer then routes the award to Campus Controllers Office (CCO).

Subcontract Officer receives notice of new subrecipient

After the prime award is processed by CCO the subcontracts team receives notification.

The Subcontract Officer reviews subrecipient paperwork and works with the PI, Department Administrators (DRAs), and the Subrecipient to obtain any additional required documentation. If the subrecipient is funded less than proposed, a revised budget, revised budget justification, and statement of work (if affected), may need to be collected from the subrecipient.  Ìý

Provided by the subrecipient:Ìý

  • Subrecipient Commitment Form or the Subrecipient Statement of Collaborative Intent (only used with FDP Universities)
  • BudgetÌý
  • Budget Justification
  • Statement of Work (SOW)
    • This should include a clear description of the work to be performed, proposed timelines, and deliverables. The SOW should be detailed to ensure expectations are clear and can be enforced if there is any future disagreement between CU Boulder and the subrecipient.
  • Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
    • Not required if the subrecipient is only collecting the de minimus rate or the overhead (F&A) rate is restricted by the prime sponsor.
  • Most recent Single Audit or their No Audit QuestionnaireÌý
  • China Assurance (required only for NASA awards)
  • Human and/or animal subjects protocol approvals, if applicable

Completed by the CU Boulder PI and/or DRA:

  • Subrecipient review form
    • The PI should use this form to include any special terms they would like incorporated into the subagreement (reports, invoicing requirements, communication, deliverables, etc.) or information the Subcontract Officer should be aware of when drafting the subagreement. Ìý
    •  The PI should review the prime award prior to completing this form to include any appropriate flowdown reporting requirements. Ìý
    • Export Control information should be indicated, if applicable ÌýÌý
  • Sole Source Justification (subcontracts only)

Subagreement signed by both parties

  • The Subcontract Officer approves CU Marketplace requisition and creates a Purchase Order
  • The fully executedÌýagreement and Purchase Order will be automatically be sent to the subrecipient and department administrator
  • Subrecipient can begin invoicing

Modification received to prime award with outgoing sub(s)

The Grant orÌýContract Officer negotiates and processes the mod and routes to CCO. Once fully set up by CCO the Subcontract Officer is notified.

Modification routed to Subcontract Officer

The Subcontract Officer logs modification and reviews sub paperwork and works with PI, Department Administrators, and the Subrecipient to obtain all missing documentation.

Once all documentation has been obtained, a sub modification is written and sent to the sub. The purchase order is updated with the new information once the sub modification is fully signed.

Types of ModificationsÌý

Paperwork needed:

Paperwork needed:

  • Subrecipient Revised Budget
  • Subrecipient Revised Budget Justification
  • Subrecipient Revised Statement of Work (if effected by change of funding)

Paperwork needed if Sub is continuing work:

  • Justification for Deobligation
  • Subrecipient Revised Budget
  • Subrecipient Revised Budget Justification
  • Subrecipient Revised Statement of Work (if effected by change of funding)
  • Watch for more information

Paperwork needed if Sub is stopping work:

  • Justification for Deobligation, including description of deliverables completed by the Sub

No paperwork is needed. Notice will be sent to the PI and department from the Subcontract Officer.

Closeout of Sub

The Subcontracts team handles the closeout of all Subagreements.ÌýLooking to close out a subrecipient before the end of the period of performance? Watch Ìýfor next steps.

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We are stewards of the University of Colorado Boulder. We operate with the PI, Department, University and Subrecipient’s best interests in mind.

Need help?

Email OCGSubs or find your Subcontract Officer in the Unit Directory.

Sub Commitment Form News

CU Boulder is participating in a clearinghouse pilot program for outgoing subawards through the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) that went "live" August 18, 2016.

A select list of universities may provide a Letter of Commitment in place of the sub commitment form. For information, or .

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