The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is responsible for negotiating all contracts, agreements, and grant awards for externally funded sponsored programs/projects. Sponsored Program contracts/agreements must be written in the legal name of The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and include a signature line for the Comptroller.  Only the Comptroller, or her/his delegate, can sign contracts/agreements on behalf of the University.

Contract Approval Routing Form (CARF) must be submitted to ORSP to obtain the Comptroller’s signature for printed or email documents plus online portal submissions. The signed CARF documents that the Project Director, Unit Head, and Central Campus Administration agree to the accompanying document terms and conditions, statement of work, and project budget.

Additional notes:

  1. To ensure the submission of proposals by prescribed deadline dates, campus units should normally allow at least ten (10) working days for a proposal to be processed by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
  2. No award can be accepted without institutional review and approval of all sponsor terms and conditions.

Sponsored Research Agreement

An agreement with another entity that is providing funding for a research project being conducted under the direction of university faculty.

ORSP staff are available to assist with negotiating the agreement. Follow the procedure outlined below for processing.

Sponsored Project Agreement

Any other intellectual activity, such as instructional design or faculty consulting, funded by an external entity.  Please refer to Purchasing or the What Is a Sponsored Program webpage for guidance.