Funding Transition Updates: Please see Federal Transition Updates 2025 for the latest federal executive orders and research activities.
Subawards
When a sponsored project involves collaboration with an external investigator or organization, a Subaward may need to be established. A Subaward transfers a portion of the funding and project responsibilities to a qualified Subrecipient, outlining their role, deliverables, and the terms of the partnership.
Subawards should be distinguished from service contracts. While both mechanisms engage and compensate outside contributors, their purposes are fundamentally different. Subawards delegate a portion of the programmatic work to a collaborating institution and Subrecipients contribute to programmatic decision-making. Contracts, on the other hand, are used to procure specific goods or services. Contractors do not participate in shaping the direction of the project; and although their services may be essential, they remain peripheral to the projects core objectives.
Process
- Subaward Proposal Development
- The Subaward Process typically begins at the proposal stage. The principal investigator/project director (PI/PD) should work with their school/department administrator and prepare a subrecipient packet.
- Planning Considerations for Subawards
- Issuance of Subawards
- Subaward Monitoring & Invoicing
- Subaward Modifications & Renewals
- Subaward Closeout
Resources
- Subrecipient vs. Contractor Checklist
- § 200.331 Subrecipient and Contractor Determinations
- § 200.332 Requirements for Pass-Through Entities
- Subrecipient Monitoring Policy