Sometimes it is necessary to have a UND project number established prior to the execution of the final award document. It is inappropriate to charge pre-award costs to a local or appropriated fund and then transfer them to a grant project number later.

To establishing a project number that will be used for pre-award costs, a memo needs to be sent from Research Administration to the UND Grants & Contracts Administration office. This memo should be signed by the department and the SMHS, and should include the following:

• The Principal Investigator's name.
• The proposal title.
• The sponsor's name.
• The anticipated award amount.
• The projected start date of the award.
• A copy of the budget.
• The department must accept the financial risk in the event an award is not forthcoming, the start date is changed by the sponsor, or an acceptable agreement can not be negotiated.

Once the project number is established, you will be able to view screens and reports just as if we had received the award document. The only difference is that we are unable to invoice the sponsor until we have received, negotiated, and signed a legally binding award document.