Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) is dedicated to supporting University faculty and staff in their efforts to seek out and secure external awards for programs of research, scholarly and creative activities, education and training, public service, and to assist in post-award administration.
SPS is located in Crofts Hall on the North Campus. Please click here for an interactive campus map if you need help locating Crofts Hall.
Our mailing address is:
Office of Sponsored Projects Services
402 Crofts Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-7016 Telephone: (716)-645-5000, ext. 1060
Fax: (716)-645-2760
info@research.buffalo.edu
SPS is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday
The Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs is responsible for overseeing proposal and award administration as well as the information dissemination processes and systems development. The Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Programs is one of two (The Vice President for Research being the other) who can sign documents that legally bind the Research Foundation.
Grant/ Agreement Administrators are responsible for reviewing all proposals for conformance to University and Research Foundation policies and for conformance to appropriate federal or state regulations. They are also responsible for award acceptance and negotiation and for post-award liaison with sponsors. To find the Grant/ Agreement Administrator responsible for your department, click here.
| Bradley Bermudez | bermudez@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1102 |
| Marlene Casey | casey@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1105 |
| Cynthia Daudelin | daudelin@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1100 |
| Susan Kalisz | kalisz@ria.buffalo.edu | 716-887-3302 |
| Mary Kraft | kraft@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1123 |
| Jeffrey Schieder | schieder@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1103 |
| Martina Tsai | tsai@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1127 |
| Michael Walsh | walsh@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1121 |
Each Proposal/ Account Establishment Specialist is responsible for processing and submitting applications and for processing all grant, contract and subcontract documents. Principal Investigators are advised to contact the appropriate Proposal/ Account Establishment Specialist for assistance in completing forms. Completed proposals should also be submitted to one of the following Proposal/ Account Establishment Specialist in 402 Crofts Hall, North Campus: To find the Proposal/ Account Establishment Specialist responsible for your department, click here.
| Barbara Catalano | catalano@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000 , ext. 1099 |
| Patricia German | pgerman@business.buffalo.edu | 645-5000 , ext. 1067 |
| Kimberly Kobel-Jimenez | jimenez@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1240 |
| Amy Lagowski | alagowski@business.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1079 |
| Mary Mirand | mirand@research.buffalo.edu | 645-5000, ext. 1104 |
The Information Specialist is responsible for disseminating information to University faculty and staff and to assist in identifying potential sources of funding for research, training, and public service projects.
| Sara Fuller | fuller@research.buffalo.edu |
The SPS web site provides several mechanisms for faculty to obtain information about funding opportunities. These mechanisms are detailed below.
Under "Funding Opportunity Information" on the SPS web site, click on:
While we will accept proposals until 5 pm, we cannot guarantee that the proposal will be reviewed and approved on the same day if it is received after 10am. Due to the operating hours of the on-campus U.S. Post Office, if Principal Investigators want Sponsored Programs to mail the proposal, it must be received in our office BEFORE 2 pm on the day it is to be mailed. Any proposals received after that time will be returned to the Principal Investigator for mailing.
Due to the volume of proposals handled by SPS, we are unable to make copies. Principal Investigators are responsible for providing SPS with the necessary number of copies required by the sponsor.
Beyond the number of copies required by the Sponsor, SPS needs two copies of the full application (We do not need the appendices).
Generally, any person holding an unqualified academic title may act as a Principal Investigator. Visiting faculty members may act as Principal Investigators with the approval of their Dean. Adjunct faculty members may never act as Principal Investigators. Please refer to Chapter One of "Guide to Developing and Administering Sponsored Programs" for a more detailed definition of Principal Investigator.
The first step in submitting a grant application for SPS approval is to submit your draft budget. SPS Grants Specialists review all budgets carefully to ensure correct salary levels, and fringe benefit and indirect cost rates, and to check for compliance with Sponsor guidelines. Generally, your draft budget will be reviewed on the same day you submit it. However, SPS policy is that draft budgets must be submitted 48 hours prior to the grant deadline. For more information, please refer to Chapter Five of "Guide to Developing Sponsored Programs"
Among the University's indirect costs are personnel and purchasing services, accounting services, operation and maintenance of the physical plant, library acquisitions and operations, etc. Indirect costs are as real as direct costs. Indirect costs are charged as a fixed percentage (the indirect cost rate) of all or a portion of a project's direct costs (the indirect cost base). The indirect cost charge is calculated by multiplying the applicable rate times the appropriate base. For more information, please refer to Chapter Five of "Guide to Developing Sponsored Programs".
Fringe benefits cover costs of statutory and other benefits provided to employees, such as Social Security, Workmen's' Compensation, Health Insurance, Retirement, and Sick Leave. Fringe benefit must be budgeted for every salary that is budgeted, and included in a separate budget category from salaries.
Fringe benefit rates vary depending upon the appointment (i.e., professional vs. graduate student) and fiscal agent (RF vs. UBFS). RF fringe benefit rates are available on the SPS home page. Assistance in calculating fringe benefit charges may be obtained by calling the Grant Specialist at SPS. For more information, please refer to Chapter Five of "Guide to Developing Sponsored Programs.