Policies and Procedures

The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. We sponsor a range of programs that aim to promote a deeper understanding of our world.

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to grantmaking that inspires and supports greater diversity and inclusiveness by cultivating a funding environment that ensures representation of all identities and differences and equitable access to information and resources for all applicants and grantees.

The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants for funding without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law. The foundation also funds programs directed at supporting scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, often working closely with professional societies and other funding agencies.

Providing demographic data is voluntary. The demographic data provided by applicants and grantees to the Simons Foundation will serve multiple purposes: to help us understand how our grantmaking reflects the communities we seek to serve; and to equip our staff with critical data to help create equitable funding opportunities as one part of our overall commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Demographic data will not be shared with reviewers or otherwise used during the application review process unless stated otherwise in the request for application (RFA). Aggregate data may be used publicly. Demographic data may be visible to a subset of Simons Foundation staff, such as programmatic and grantmaking staff. If you wish to review our data collection and uses practices, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

The Simons Foundation is committed to the conduct of science in an environment that conforms to the highest ethical, professional, and legal standards.

Accordingly, in connection with a grant from the Simons Foundation, a grantee institution must maintain an environment that complies with law, professional codes of conduct, its own policies and procedures as well as those of the Simons Foundation.

All grantee institutions are expected to implement and adhere to policies and procedures that:

1. foster an environment free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation;
2. actively promote professional codes of conduct;
3. ensure employees understand, and are fully aware of, applicable laws, policies, and codes of conduct;
4. provide an accessible and effective process to report Prohibited Conduct (as defined below), with protection from retaliation;
5. respond promptly to reports of Prohibited Conduct, investigate the report thoroughly, and impose Administrative Action (as defined below) where appropriate.

Personnel (as defined below) funded by the Simons Foundation must comply with this Grant Code of Conduct.

Notifications

The Simons Foundation requires grantee institutions to provide notice, within 10 business days, of the following, except as prohibited by law:

1. any Determination (as defined below) involving Personnel (as defined below) relating to Prohibited Conduct; and
2. any Administrative Action (as defined below) involving Personnel (as defined below) relating to Prohibited Conduct.

The Notice should be submitted through the Simons Foundation’s secure portal: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/policies-and-procedures/institution-notification-form/.

The Simons Foundation will maintain the confidentiality of a Determination and Administrative Action as well as all related information to the extent required by law.

Individuals should report any Prohibited Conduct that impacts a grant funded by the Simons Foundation to the designated persons at their institution.  If the institution does not address the report, the individual may contact the Simons Foundation through its secure portal: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding-opportunities/policies-and-procedures/individual-notification-form/.

In that case, the Simons Foundation may follow up with the institution, as appropriate, to confirm that the grant is being performed in a workplace consistent with this Grant Code of Conduct.

Review of grant status following notification

The Simons Foundation will review the Determination and/or Administrative Action, consider the impact on performance of the grant, and determine whether it is appropriate for the grantee institution to proceed with the grant.

Pursuant to its Policies and Procedures, the Simons Foundation has the right to suspend or terminate any grant.

Definitions

For purposes of this Grant Code of Conduct, the following definitions apply:

Administrative Action: Any disciplinary or corrective action, including termination or suspension, taken with respect to Personnel.

Determination: The final disposition of a matter involving Prohibited Conduct.

Personnel: Principal investigators and all other members of the research team working on a grant funded by the Simons Foundation.

Prohibited Conduct:  Any violation of applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation laws; criminal laws, including those with respect to physical assault; institutional policies and procedures relating to anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation, including this Grant Code of Conduct; and professional codes of conduct.

The Simons Foundation will not tolerate research misconduct, defined as fabrication, falsification and plagiarism, and does not include honest error or differences of opinion.

Award or Grant

The Simons Foundation uses the terms award and grant interchangeably. The award or grant is the provision of funds by the Simons Foundation, based on an approved application and budget or progress report, to an organizational entity to carry out the approved project.

Grantee

The Simons Foundation uses the terms institution and grantee interchangeably.

Key Personnel

Key personnel include the principal investigator (PI) and other individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they request salaries or compensation. This may include co-investigators, collaborators, postdoctoral research associates or equivalent employee positions.

Principal Investigator

The individual(s) judged by the applicant institution to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program supported by the grant. All principal investigators (PIs) must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school or other research facility. The PI is responsible and accountable to the applicant institution and the Simons Foundation for the proper conduct of the project or activity, including the submission of all required reports. The PI will act as the main point of contact for the Simons Foundation and should be noted as personnel in the budget even if not requesting salary. There is no minimum percent effort required for PI, but it is expected that the PI will join the collaborative community of Simons Foundation Investigators, and that the PI will partake in some conferences, workshops and symposia that the Simons Foundation organizes.

The applicant institution may designate multiple individuals as PIs who share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically. Each PI is responsible and accountable to the applicant institution or, as appropriate, to a collaborating organization for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of all required reports. The presence of more than one identified PI on an application or award diminishes neither the responsibility nor the accountability of any individual PI. Each such designated individual will have the title of PI, as the Simons Foundation does not use the role type co-PI.

In circumstances where the applicant institution designates multiple PIs, the PI under whose name the application is submitted will serve as the contact PI for administrative purposes. The contact PI must be affiliated with the institution submitting the application. The contact PI will be responsible for communication between the Simons Foundation and the rest of the leadership team.

Due to the limitations of proposalCENTRAL postdoctoral fellowship, recipients and institution contacts may be listed as a PI in the grants management system, but only those individuals who meet the requirements above are considered by the Simons Foundation PIs.

Co-Investigator

An individual involved with the PI in the scientific development or execution of a project. The co-investigator must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent, and be employed by or be affiliated with the applicant/grantee institution or another organization participating in the project under a consortium agreement. A co-investigator is considered key personnel and should be noted as personnel in the budget even if not requesting salary. The Simons Foundation does not require a minimum effort from the co-investigator. The designation of a co-investigator, if applicable, does not affect the PI’s roles and responsibilities, nor is it a role implying multiple PIs.

Collaborator

An individual involved in the scientific development or execution of a project. A collaborator is considered key personnel and may or may not be supported by funds from the grant.

Consultant

An individual providing professional advice or services on the basis of a written agreement. These individuals are not normally employees of the organization receiving the services. Consultants also include firms providing professional advice or services.

Postdoctoral Research Associate or equivalent employee position

An individual who has received a doctoral degree (or its equivalent) and who is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their chosen career path. The postdoctoral research associate performs specific services in exchange for compensation and is treated as an employee of the grantee institution, with benefits.

Funds may not be used for fellowship stipend supplementation unless specifically authorized by Simons Foundation staff.

Postdoctoral Fellow

An individual who has received a doctoral degree (or its equivalent) and who conducts independent research at a host institution under the guidance of a mentoring PI (or PIs). Before submitting the fellowship application, the applicant must identify a sponsoring institution and an individual who will serve as a sponsor (mentor or supervisor), and who will supervise the training and research experience. The applicant’s sponsor should be an active investigator in the area of the proposed research.

The postdoctoral fellow is generally not treated as an employee of the grantee/sponsoring institution and is not an employee of the Simons Foundation. The fellow receives a stipend and funds toward a health allowance from the Simons Foundation. No indirect costs may be taken on postdoctoral fellowships, unless stated otherwise in the award letter.

The stipend may be supplemented by the postdoctoral fellow’s sponsoring institution or sponsor to meet the institution’s stipend levels, but the Simons Foundation must be the main source of support. The postdoctoral fellow may not hold another postdoctoral fellowship concurrent with the Simons Foundation fellowship. The stipend may not be less than the stipend awarded by the Simons Foundation.

Institution Profile

The Simons Foundation Institution Profile is a means for managing the institution’s primary officials, user access and electronic fund transfer (EFT) payment information in the Simons Award Manager (SAM). The institution is required to submit an EFT form and manage contacts and users through the SAM Institution Profile. Anyone from the institution can create an Institution Profile in SAM, but only an authorized institution official (AIO) or an approved contact delegate can manage the SAM Institution Profile. Each institution must have at least two certified AIOs to receive payments. It is the institution’s responsibility to maintain an up-to-date list of active contacts in their SF Institution Profile.

Authorized Institution Official (Simons Award Manager [SAM] only)

An authorized institution official (AIO) has the authority to legally bind the institution in grants administration matters. Two AIOs are required per institution. The AIO manages their institution’s profile in SAM. The AIO may or may not fulfill the role of a signing official (SO) or financial officer (FO) on individual proposals or grants. Users fulfilling both an AIO role and another institution role should select only the AIO role as their system role, as the AIO role will permit users to perform all necessary tasks.

The individual fulfilling this role may hold any of a number of titles at the applicant/grantee institution. The label AIO is used in SAM as a system role and is not necessarily the title of the individual.

The Simons Foundation certifies new AIO users after they register. Certified AIOs can view all applications and awards at their institution. Uncertified AIOs can view only applications and awards to which they have been assigned access.

AIOs were previously referred to as primary signing officials or primary financial officers.

Signing Official

A signing official (SO) has the authority to legally bind the institution in grants administration matters. The individual fulfilling this role may have any number of titles in the applicant/grantee institution. The label signing official is used in conjunction with proposalCENTRAL (pC) and the Simons Award Manager (SAM) as a role and is not necessarily the title of the individual. The SO is responsible for the proper administration of the grant, including but not limited to overseeing the submission of the electronically signed award letter, budgets, Activation Agreements, Reallocation Requests, Progress Reports, Carry Forward Requests and No-Cost Extensions. Additionally, the SO is required to certify that all information submitted is accurate, that the terms of the award are acceptable, and that the applicant/grantee institution will comply with all applicable laws and Simons Foundation policies. SOs may be given access to any number of awards on pC and SAM. Each award must have at least one SO.

For most institutions, the SO is located in its Office of Sponsored Research or equivalent.

Financial Officer

The financial officer (FO) is designated by the grantee institution and is responsible for the proper accounting of grant funds. The individual fulfilling this role may have any number of titles in the applicant/grantee institution. The label financial officer is used in conjunction with proposalCENTRAL (pC) and the Simons Award Manager (SAM) as a role and is not necessarily the title of the individual. In this role, the individual is required to complete the required annual Financial Statements and any budgets. Additionally, the FO is required to certify that all information submitted in the Financial Statement or budget is accurate, that the terms of the award are acceptable, and that the applicant/grantee institution will comply with all applicable laws and Simons Foundation policies. FOs may be given access to any number of awards on pC and SAM. Each award must have at least one FO.

For most institutions, the FO is located in its Office of Sponsored Research or equivalent.

Contact Delegate

In proposalCENTRAL, the contact delegate is an individual, selected by the authorized institution official (AIO), who will act on the AIO’s behalf to add or remove signing officials (SOs) or financial officers (FOs) in the institution profile. Requests received by the contact delegate are assumed to be valid and authorized by the AIO.

In the Simons Award Manager (SAM), a contact delegate is designated by the grantee institution and shares responsibility for managing contacts at their institution. In this role, the individual may review and approve SOs, FOs and other contact delegates, as well as deactivating the accounts of individuals who cease to be associated with their institution.

The label contact delegate is used in SAM as a system role and is not necessarily the title of the individual. The individual fulfilling this role may hold any of a number of titles at the applicant/grantee institution. There may be more than one contact delegate per institution.

Throughout 2023, the Simons Foundation will transition from proposalCENTRAL (pC) to a new grants management system, the Simons Award Manager (SAM). During this transition, awards funded through Requests for Applications (RFAs) in SAM will be managed in SAM.

Until notified otherwise, awards with start dates before March 1, 2023, will continue to be managed in pC. Awards not selected for funding through a competitive RFA will be managed in pC until notified otherwise. Principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, authorized institution officials, signing officials, financial officers and contact delegates, as well as any additional staff members as needed, will be granted access to and must use the web-based tools pC and/or SAM for submitting electronically signed award letters, progress reports, financial statements, publications and other documents to the Simons Foundation during the award period. The applicant/grantee institution must submit all required documentation to the Simons Foundation through pC and/or SAM; hard copies will not be accepted.

To access pC, go to http://proposalcentral.com/

To access SAM, go to https://sam.simonsfoundation.org/.

Each institution that applies for funding or receives an award from the Simons Foundation must maintain a Simons Foundation (SF) Institution Profile in the Simons Award Manager (SAM) and an Institution Profile in proposalCENTRAL (pC) if required, until further notice.

Within the SAM Institution Profile, institutions must provide a comprehensive list of all active authorized institution officials (AIOs), contact delegates, signing officials (SOs) and financial officers (FOs). Additionally, all institutions must manage their banking details using the SAM Institution Profile. Institutions are to access applications and funded awards, if submitted in SAM, via the SAM Institution Profile.

Anyone from the institution can set up an account in SAM, but only an AIO or an approved contact delegate can manage the SAM Institution Profile. Only an AIO can approve users in the roles of financial officer, signing official and contacts delegate. Each institution must have at least two certified AIOs to receive payments. The Simons Foundation certifies new AIO users after they register. It is the institution’s responsibility to maintain an up-to-date list of active contacts in their SAM Institution Profile.

To create a new institution profile in SAM, please select the “Register Here” button on https://sam.simonsfoundation.org/ and then select the “Register New Institution” button.

As the Simons Foundation transitions from proposalCENTRAL (pC) to SAM, each institution that has awards managed in pC must maintain a pC Institution Profile in pC as well. Within the pC Institution Profile, institutions are to provide SF with a comprehensive list of all active SOs, FOs and contact delegates. This list of contacts is authorized but will not automatically be able to access to all institution awards managed in pC.

The Simons Foundation will initially create the pC Institution Profile at the time that an institution receives its first award through pC and will contact the institution with detailed instructions for profile setup.

All institutions will be required to complete the Contacts & Users Certification to establish the initial list of active SOs, FOs and contact delegates in their pC Institution Profile. After this certification is submitted, it is the institution’s responsibility to keep the list of active institution contacts up-to-date by submitting a web form in pC entitled “Institution Contact Update Request.”

Contact & User Access in pC

Each award in proposalCENTRAL (pC) contains its own list of institution contacts within the Contacts & User Access section. When the award is made, the contacts listed in this section will reflect the institution staff that an applicant has added during the application stage. The foundation strongly prefers that applicants provide names of the signing officials (SOs) and financial officers (FOs) for both pre- and post-award management in the application.

Once an award activates, only the foundation’s grants staff can assign roles and add/remove users to the Contacts & User Access section of an award in pC; pC staff cannot assign roles or add/remove users to an award. The foundation only allows users to have edit access on its awards. Importantly, only the SO and FO listed in the Contacts & Users Access section have the authority to sign reports.

In order to add or remove an SO, FO or administrator to or from an award, the grantee institution must e-mail [email protected] with the following details:

1. Name of the individual requiring a change in grant access
2. Impacted pC Award ID
3. Role on the award (e.g., SO, FO, administrator)
4. Indication if access should be added or removed
5. Email address associated with the contact’s pC account. If a contact does not have a pC account, the contact must create one before the request is made.

The foundation will then determine if further information is required to give award access.

pC User Profile Modification

Simons Foundation grant staff cannot modify the details of pC user profiles. If a user needs to update their contact information (e.g., title, address, phone number, email), the user must update this within their own pC profile. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the institution and users to maintain up-to-date pC accounts, which includes current email addresses.

Shared proposalCENTRAL User Accounts

If an institution permits multiple signing officials and financial officers to use a single proposalCENTRAL user account, the Authorized Institution Official must submit a web form entitled “Grantee Acknowledgment of Shared pC User Account” on an annual basis within the Simons Foundation Institution Profile to certify the authority of all individuals who use the shared account.

Contacts & User Access in SAM

Each Simons Foundation award in SAM includes a list of institution contacts in the Contacts & Personnel section. This list is created during the application stage. It is strongly recommended that applicants provide both pre- and post-award signing officials (SOs) and financial officers (FOs) during the application stage.

Once an award is activated, users with application access can add or remove institution personnel from the award at any time using the Institution Administrative Contacts table in the Contacts & Personnel section. In the application and intent-to-fund stages, changes to project personnel must be made by grants staff.

To add or remove project personnel from an award, please send an email to the appropriate grants staff as outlined in the Contact section below, with the following details:

• Name(s) of the project personnel
• SAM Award ID
• Role on the award (e.g., subcontract PI, postdoc, etc.)
• Indicate if access should be added or removed
• Email address associated with the contact.

SAM User Profile Modification

The Simons Foundation grant staff is unable to modify SAM user profiles. If a user needs to update their contact information (such as their title, address, phone number or email), they must do so within their own SAM user profile. It is the responsibility of both the institution and its users to ensure that their SAM accounts are kept up-to-date, including email addresses.

Shared SAM User Accounts

If an institution allows multiple signing officials and financial officers to access and manage awards using a shared SAM user account and email address, the AIO or contacts delegate must certify the authority of all users who use the shared account. Instructions on how to certify users can be found in the Institution Information section of your SAM Institution Profile in the Shared Email Address section.

Only institution administrators, financial officers and/or signing officials can register a shared email address. The role(s) that you select when creating the shared account will determine which tasks users are authorized to perform when logged in to that account. Shared email addresses may not be registered with an authorized institution official or contact delegate role.

The required naming convention for shared email accounts is as follows: The first name of the user account must be the name of the institution (plus the relevant department, if applicable) and the last name must be “Shared Account.” For example, Simons Foundation (first name) Shared Account (last name).

The grantee institution agrees to consent to transact business using electronic communications, to receive notices and disclosures electronically, and to utilize electronic signatures (e-signatures) in lieu of using paper documents. The grantee institution is not required to sign documents electronically.

If a grantee institution is in a country where e-signatures are not legally binding, the Simons Foundation requires a PDF upload of the physically signed documents.

In proposalCENTRAL, grantee institutions should follow the procedures outlined below:

• • First, the phrase “Electronic Signature Not Legally Binding” should be typed in the electronic signature section of the web form or electronic financial statement.
  • Second, submit the deliverable by clicking save and submit.
  • Third, print out the entire deliverable, and then have the FO or SO, whichever is appropriate, physically sign the deliverable.
  • Fourth, create a PDF of the physically signed deliverable.

• Fifth, upload the deliverable to the Deliverables section on pC by selecting add deliverable on the Award Deliverables page; select “Signed deliverable for institutions that do not submit electronic signatures” as the Deliverable Type; click on browse to upload the signed PDF; and then click save.

In SAM, grantee institutions should follow the instructions found within SAM.

For international grants, the Simons Foundation requires that an organization be the equivalent of a U.S. public charity before awarding the grant. If an organization has a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. stating exemption under 501(c)(3) and furthermore, either a 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) classification, this letter must be included in the grant application. If an international institution does not have the aforementioned documentation, the Simons Foundation will require that the institution complete an equivalency determination if an award is recommended for funding. All costs associated with the determination will be paid for by the Simons Foundation.

The purpose of the equivalency determination is to conclude whether an organization is the equivalent of a U.S. public charity. The Simons Foundation contracts with NGOsource, http://www.ngosource.org/, an independent U.S.-based service, to assist in the equivalency determination process. NGOsource handles all administrative and financial aspects of this determination. A representative of the institution will be required to complete an online questionnaire. Once an institution is determined to be the equivalent of a U.S. public charity, the institution will be approved for funding for all awards made to the institution for a period of two (2) years from the date of the fiscal year documents that the institution provided to NGOsource. Three (3) months prior to the end of this period, an equivalency renewal process will be initiated by NGOsource to determine if the institution has remained the equivalent of a U.S. public charity.

If an institution is already approved by NGOsource as an equivalent of a U.S. public charity for a period beyond the award start date, the institution will not be required to complete the equivalency determination paperwork; however, the institution may be required to submit equivalency determination paperwork mid-award if the approved period expires.

An institution’s failure to comply with the equivalency determination process will result in a termination of all awards at the institution. Furthermore, a mid-award determination that an institution is not the equivalent of a U.S. public charity may also result in the termination of all awards at the institution if the institution is not able to fulfill the requirements of expenditure responsibility outlined below.

Grantees are solely responsible for the eligibility of any subcontracts.

For more information regarding the IRS classification of exempt organizations, please see the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/life-cycle-of-a-public-charity.

Under U.S. law, the Simons Foundation grant funds and income earned, if the Foundation permits earned interest to be retained by the grantee institution, on those funds may be spent only for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes. Grants are made only for the purposes stated in the award letter, and it is agreed that these grant funds will be used only for such purposes substantially in accordance with the budget submitted with the grant proposal. It is also understood that no substantial changes will be made from the approved budget or grant proposal without the Simons Foundation’s prior approval in writing.

Grantees with subcontracts are responsible for entering into agreements with the investigators and/or other institutions that are consistent with the terms of the grant and Simons Foundation policies.

Grantees agree to cooperate with the Simons Foundation to assure that the Simons Foundation is able to satisfy all of the requirements of an expenditure responsibility grant in accordance with Section 4945(h) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the regulations thereunder and agree to the terms outlined below:

• All Simons Foundation grant funds received by the grantee institution must be maintained in a separate account dedicated to the charitable purposes described in the award letter. The Simons Foundation defines a separate account as a 1) a physically separate bank account restricted to the described charitable purposes or 2) a separate bookkeeping account (limited to the described charitable purposes) maintained as part of the Institution’s financial records.
• Grantees are required to maintain records of receipts and expenditures and make its books and records available to the Simons Foundation at reasonable times. Financial records with respect to a grant, along with any copies of annual reports submitted to the Simons Foundation, are required to be maintained by the awardees and their institution for at least four (4) years following the year in which all grant funds are fully expended.
• Grantees will repay any portion of the amount granted, which is not used for the purposes of the grant.
• Grantees agree not to use grant funds for any of the following restricted activities:
  • To carry on propaganda, lobbying, or otherwise to attempt to influence any legislation (within the meaning of Section 4945(d)(1) of the U.S. IRC).
  • In support of a candidate or party seeking elected office or to influence the outcome of any specific public election or to carry on, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive (within the meaning of section 4945(d)(2) of the U.S. IRC).
  • To make grants to individuals for travel, study or other similar purposes by such individuals (such as scholarships, fellowships or grants for research), unless such grants satisfy the requirements of section 4945(g) of the IRC.
  • To make any grant to any other organization (other than to public charities or exempt operating foundations) that does not comply with the requirements of section 4945(d)(4) of the U.S. IRC.
  • To undertake any activity for any purpose other than the charitable purposes specified in section 170(c)(2)(B) of the U.S. IRC.

Grantee agrees to use the funds provided in conjunction with this award in compliance with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations, Executive Order 13224, the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations set forth in 31 C.F.R. Part 594, and other applicable U.S. anti-terrorism laws and regulations. Grantee certifies that it will not knowingly provide financial support to, employ, or transact business with terrorists, terrorist organizations, or designated state sponsors of terrorism as defined in US anti-terrorism laws and regulations. Grantee certifies that it will not knowingly distribute the received award funds directly or indirectly to terrorist organizations or to designated state sponsors of terrorism as defined in US anti-terrorism laws and regulations.

If the grantee institution is a 501(c)(3), earned interest up to $5,000 per project may be kept by the grantee institution to be used for general operating support of the institution. Any amount over $5,000 must be returned to the Simons Foundation within 60 days of the end date of the grant.

If the grantee institution is not a 501(c)(3) any earned interest must be returned to the foundation within 60 days of the end date of the grant.

Investigators and their institutions must abide by all applicable laws and regulations, including those governing the conduct of research on humans or animals. The Simons Foundation follows the NIH guidelines for the humane care and use of animals, which can be viewed at  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/olaw.htm, in research and for the use of humans, which can be viewed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/hs/, in research.

All grants with human participants and/or animal research must have up-to-date ethical approval documentation as of the start date of the grant and at all times throughout the life of the grant or fellowship. The grantee is responsible for obtaining all human and/or animal ethical approvals.

Grants may not activate without current human participant and/or animal research ethical approval documentation, unless given prior approval by Simons Foundation staff.

Publication expenses, including Open Access costs, are an allowable budget cost.

Published research, including articles, preprints and books resulting from projects supported by the Simons Foundation must carry the following acknowledgment: “This work was supported by a grant from the Simons Foundation (Grant Number, Awardee Initials),” or if applicable “This work was supported by a grant from SFARI (Grant Number, Awardee Initials).”

All investigators who received funds from SFARI and/or have used SFARI resources, biospecimens or data must follow these guidelines when publishing work.

There is no formal approval process for publications by Simons Foundation grantees; however, it is helpful if the PIs notify the Simons Foundation when manuscripts are accepted for future publication. All publications resulting from projects supported by the Simons Foundation must be submitted on pC within the Annual and Final Progress Report web forms. Please note that the PI’s professional profile populates the Publication section.

All activities supported by or as a result of Simons Foundation funding such as posters, presentations, conferences and recruitment for Simons Foundation-supported positions must carry the following acknowledgment, unless stated otherwise in the award letter: “This work was supported by a grant from the Simons Foundation,” or if applicable: “This work was supported by a grant from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI).”

The Simons Foundation’s support, unless stated otherwise in the award letter, should be acknowledged by the grantee and by the institution in all public communication of work resulting from this grant, including scientific abstracts, posters at scientific meetings, press releases or other media communications and Internet-based communications. Unless stated otherwise in your award letter, press releases or other media communications and internet-based communications do not require prior written approval. Any advertisement must receive prior written approval. Please contact the Simons Foundation communications office at [email protected] to submit your request for approval.

Any Science Sandbox announcement or acknowledgement must be approved by Science Sandbox staff and should also refer to the Science Sandbox acknowledgement guidelines. Similarly, use of the Science Sandbox logo must be reviewed before publication.

The Simons Foundation may distribute information regarding the project, including, without limitation, the project title, abstract, publications, PI biographical information and photo, for publicity purposes on our website, in our annual report, in press releases or other venues.

The Simons Foundation encourages PIs to post preprints on recognized servers, such as arXiv https://arxiv.org/ or bioRxiv http://biorxiv.org/, in parallel with (or even before) submission to a peer-reviewed journal. The Simons Foundation also encourages PIs to publish under Open Access licenses, which are allowable budget costs. All preprints and Open Access publications resulting from projects supported by the Simons Foundation must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL with the Annual and Final Progress Report web forms. Please note that the PI’s Professional Profile populates the Publication section where preprints are added.

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that researchers own and control, and that distinguishes them from every other researcher. Researchers can connect their iD with their professional information — affiliations, grants, publications, peer reviews and more.

Simons Foundation funded PIs are required to provide their ORCID iD as part of the application process.

Anyone supported by the project, unless stated otherwise in the award letter, must have an ORCiD ID (including PIs, co-investigators, collaborators, visitors, postdoctoral fellows, postdoctoral research associates, graduate students, etc.). ORCID iDs will be collected for all people supported as part of the annual progress report.

The Simons Foundation has no wish to participate in the commercialization of any intellectual property that may result from a grant. Notwithstanding this commercialization disclaimer, the Simons Foundation has the right to release a summary of findings of the research within a reasonable period of time, typically within six (6) months of the date of the grant expiration.

It is essential that institutions and PIs share renewable reagents and data developed using Simons Foundation funds with other qualified investigators. PIs will be required to have a renewable reagents and data-sharing plan in place prior to receiving a grant. At the foundation’s discretion, the PI may be required to provide the foundation with an electronic copy of all properly de-identified research-generated data prior to the end of the grant. In all reasonable cases, the foundation will assume financial responsibility for costs associated with the data transfer.

Foundation personnel may, at their discretion, release these data to other qualified investigators who agree not to publish on these data until after an embargo period expires. The length of this embargo period will be established on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the PI(s) but will generally not exceed one (1) year after the end of the grant or until publication, whichever comes first. These data may eventually be integrated with the other foundation data collections.

How, when and if such data are made available to the wider research community will remain under the sole discretion of the foundation. In addition, upon publication of results, the PI(s) shall make every effort to deposit all research-generated data into public databases that are widely accessible, without charge, to the scientific research community. If no such databases are available that properly fit the type and content of the research-generated data, the PI(s) shall make every effort to make these data available through electronic supplementary tables and figures, which are now routinely associated with publications.

Genetically modified model organisms (e.g., mutant mice, rats, drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish) as well as primary or genetically modified cells (e.g., fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells, lymphoblastoid cell lines) are considered renewable reagents, and PI(s) and their institution(s) are required to share renewable reagents developed with Simons Foundation funding or used in a Simons Foundation–funded project by deposition at a third-party repository (e.g., the Jackson Labs, the Mutant Mouse Research and Resource Center, the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center, the Zebrafish International Resource Center, the Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository) or at a repository indicated by the Simons Foundation. In instances where a legally binding restriction prevents deposition of a reagent in a third-party repository, the Simons Foundation expects the PI(s) and the PI(s) institution(s) to work with the licensed grantor, the repository and Simons Foundation staff members to identify an acceptable solution. The Simons Foundation prefers that this be done before use of the reagent. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory solution may affect future funding decisions.

To close the grant, the PI(s) must deposit the renewable reagents into the repository by the end of the grant and/or within a month of the initial publication, whichever occurs first. An embargo period for access to a model organism or a cell lines, negotiated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the PI(s), will be maintained until the initial results are published by the PI(s), at which time it will expire. The PI(s) is responsible for transferring the animals/cells to the appropriate center. Once the transfer has occurred, the Simons Foundation will pay costs assessed by the third-party repository for maintenance of the reagent at the depository. In specific cases at the foundation’s discretion, the foundation may contract with the repository to pay the additional costs necessary to maintain the model organism as a viable colony versus preservation in a frozen repository or to backcross the model into a different strain in the case of rodent models.

The Simons Foundation salary support guidelines are outlined below.

Faculty

There is no salary cap for principal investigators (PIs) or other faculty on a Simons Foundation grant; however, the compensation is prorated according to the individual’s percent effort on the grant.

There is no minimum percent effort required for PIs or other personnel on any Simons Foundation award type, but it is expected that PIs will join the collaborative community of Simons Foundation Investigators and partake in some conferences, workshops and symposia organized by the Simons Foundation.

Postdoctoral Research Associate/Scholar/Scientist/Fellow or equivalent employee position

The postdoctoral research associate or equivalent employee must be an employee, with benefits, of the grantee institution. There is no salary cap for a postdoctoral research associate or equivalent employee position.

Funds may not be used for fellowship stipend supplementation unless specifically authorized by Simons Foundation staff. 

Graduate Research Assistant or equivalent

There is no cap on the compensation package for a graduate research assistant (GRA) on a Simons Foundation grant; however, the compensation package is prorated according to the GRA’s percent effort on the grant. It is expected that graduate student compensation will be within the usual norms of the relevant department or program. The compensation package may include salary, stipend or wages; health-care allowance or fringe benefits; and tuition remission. Indirect costs may be taken on GRA salaries, stipends or wages and health-care allowances, but not on tuition or tuition fees.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Fellows’ stipend or salary amounts are outlined in their award letters. In addition to the stipend, fellowships will include a research allowance. Depending on the fellowship, fellows will receive an allowance for health insurance or equivalent in the country where the fellow’s institution is located, for the fellow and the fellow’s family, or employee benefits from the grantee institution, as outlined in the award letter. Approved research allowance and allowance for health insurance amounts are outlined in the fellow’s award letter. Fellowships are administered by the host institution. Payment cannot be made directly to fellows. No indirect costs may be taken unless specified otherwise in the award letter.

The Simons Foundation will own equipment purchased with Simons Foundation grant funds with a unit cost of $50,000 or more, unless stated differently in the award letter. At the end of the grant funding period or in case of grant termination for any reason, the Simons Foundation reserves the right to retain ownership or cede ownership to the PI’s institution. Equipment with a unit cost of $50,000 or less shall be the property of the PI’s institution.

Indirect costs are not allowable on equipment; however, indirect costs on small equipment with a unit cost of $10,000 or less is permissible.

The Simons Foundation does not require a detailed justification of supplies, unless stated otherwise in the award letter.

The Simons Foundation reserves the right to purchase and provide to grantees some research supplies (e.g., human DNA microarray kits). We expect Simons Foundation Investigators and grantees to share renewable reagents and data developed with Simons Foundation funds with other qualified investigators. Access to the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), a resource of rigorously characterized phenotypic data, genetic data and biomaterials, will be available to all approved scientists through SFARI Base at https://sfari.org/resources/sfari-base. We encourage applicants and grantees to use this resource. Policies regarding acquisition of SSC biospecimens are available online at SFARI Base at https://sfari.org/rescources/sfari-base. For more information on the SSC, go to https://sfari.org/resources/simons-simplex-collection.

Indirect costs to the primary institution are limited to 20 percent of direct costs with the following exceptions: equipment, tuition and any portion of each subcontract in excess of $25,000. The primary institution may take indirect costs on the first $25,000 modified total direct costs of each subcontract. Indirect costs paid to a subcontractor may not exceed 20 percent of the modified total direct costs paid to the subcontractor.

The indirect cost rate is non-negotiable. No indirect costs may be taken on Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships.

All payments are made in U.S. dollars. Payments to institutions will be disbursed biannually by the end of the first and third quarters, unless otherwise stated in the award letter. The Simons Foundation makes payments via electronic fund transfer (EFT), unless otherwise specified. All domestic payments are made via Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer to the institution’s account at its financial institution. All international payments will be made by wire transfer (WT) unless the institution requests to be paid using a U.S. bank. All payments are made payable only to an institution, university or equivalent organizational entity. Checks will only be sent directly to the financial officer. Under no circumstances will the Simons Foundation make payments payable to an individual. The awardee institution will be responsible for providing the Simons Foundation with accurate and complete EFT information. The institution will receive a hard-copy check in the event a WT is not available.

Acknowledgment of the payment is not required. A payment reference on the EFT will state the PI’s last name, first initial and the Simons Foundation award ID. No other reference will be made.

The Simons Foundation will not reimburse, nor may grant funds be used, for costs or losses of funds that are a result of exchange-rate fluctuations or bank fees associated with the transmission of funds via EFT.

Failure to provide timely and complete Financial Statements, Progress Reports or other required deliverables may result in suspension of the grant, withholding of payments, early termination of the grant and/or reimbursement to the Simons Foundation of any unexpended funds. Payments will automatically be withheld if a grantee does not provide Financial Statements or Progress Reports by the due dates.

Payments may be suspended or terminated if the investigator’s Annual Progress Report or Annual Financial Statement indicates limited progress toward goals. Payments may be resumed upon written approval by Simons Foundation staff. This approval will be based on stated plans and discussion with the PI and must include a new timeline and ending date for reporting research progress.

The Simons Foundation reserves the right to suspend or terminate a grant if the change in key personnel is deemed unacceptable. Additionally, changing the research plan without prior written approval will result in the termination of the grant and reimbursement to the Simons Foundation of all funds.

Because interaction among scientists working at different levels can facilitate the evolution of questions, theories and methodologies, the Simons Foundation will foster communication among research groups by hosting small workshops, teleconference lab meetings and using online tools for data sharing and discussion. Simons Foundation Investigators are expected to share data, results, reagents and other research products developed with Simons Foundation funds. We welcome suggestions for ways to improve communication within the scientific community at large.

We expect that Simons Foundation Investigators will participate in some of the conferences, workshops and symposia that the Simons Foundation organizes. All travel and accommodation expenses exclusively related to these meetings will be reimbursed outside of the award funds.

Grants will not be activated without current human participant and/or animal research ethical approval documentation, if applicable, unless given prior approval by Simons Foundation staff.

Applicants/grantees who are notified that they have been selected for funding via proposalCENTRAL (pC) must submit a Signed Activation Agreement web form, which can be accessed and completed in the Deliverables section of the award at https://proposalcentral.com/. This Activation Agreement web form is due on or before the start date stated on the award letter, and must be signed by the designated SO. If required, it must include a color photograph of the PI(s) suitable for use for publicity purposes.

For applicants/grantees who are notified that they have been selected for funding via the Simons Award Manager (SAM), an electronically signed copy of the award letter is due on or before the start date of the award.

If the grantee does not submit the signed and completed Activation Agreement web form or submit an electronically signed copy of the award letter within thirty (30) days of the start date, the award will be terminated without activation. No funds will be paid toward the award.

EFT Payment Information forms are due annually for each institution. EFT payment information must be submitted using an EFT form, which can be accessed and completed online in the SAM Institution Profile. The EFT form must be signed and submitted by the appropriate authorized institution officials (AIOs). Failure to submit the EFT form by the due date annually will result in the withholding of funds for all awards at the institution.

Annual Progress Reports are due on or before the end of each funding year of the award, unless requesting a Carry Forward or stated differently in the award letter. If required, a Carry Forward Request must be submitted thirty (30) days prior to the end of the funding year, unless stated differently in the award letter.

Note, for most awards Carry Forward Requests are not required. Check your award letter or contact the Simons Foundation to determine if your award requires a Carry Forward Request.

Final Progress Reports are due within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the award end date, unless submitting a No-Cost Extension Progress Report, a No Cost Extension Request or stated differently in the award letter. No-Cost Extension Progress Reports and No Cost Extension Requests must be submitted thirty (30) days prior to the end of the funding year, unless stated differently in the award letter.

Progress Reports, Carry Forward Requests and No-Cost Extensions must be submitted using a web form, which can be accessed and completed online in the Deliverables section of the award in pC. Each web form must be signed and submitted by the appropriate SO.

If any report shows progress to be substantially less than anticipated, the Simons Foundation reserves the right to reconsider or redirect the remaining portion of the grant.

If relevant to the progress of the award, the progress of the subcontract must be included on the grant’s overall Progress Report Form. A separate Progress Report Form for the subcontract should not be submitted, unless stated otherwise in the award letter.

The contact PI/collaboration director must submit one overall Annual or Final Scientific Progress Report for the entire project, even if the project has PIs at different institutions, unless stated otherwise in the award letter.

Financial Statements are due within one hundred and twenty (120) days following the end of each funding year, one hundred and twenty (120) days following the end date of the grant or within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the termination of an award, unless stated otherwise in the award letter.

Expenses must be reported in the award period the expenses are incurred. The Simons Foundation does not allow negative expenditures.

Financial Statements are due within one hundred and twenty (120) days following the end of the funding year even if the grantee submitted a Carry Forward or No-Cost Extension.

All reporting to the Simons Foundation must be denominated in USD. Using the institution’s normal practices for foreign currency exchange, expenses incurred in local currency should be reported back to the Foundation in USD and may not exceed the amount in USD awarded for any given annual award period. Any gains or losses due to exchange rate fluctuations will not result in increases or decreases to the total USD award amount. The Simons Foundation will not reimburse for, nor may grant funds be used for costs or losses of funds that are a result of exchange rate fluctuations or bank fees associated with the transmission of funds via EFT to the institution or to subcontracts paid by the institution. Underspending due to expected costs not being incurred remains subject to the Foundation’s carryforward and unspent funds policies.

The Simons Foundation will not accept revisions under $500 to financial statements that were previously submitted and approved by the Foundation. The Foundation will accept revisions over $500 within one year of the due date of the financial statement only while the grant is active. The Foundation will not accept any revisions over one year of the due date of the financial statement or if the award is inactive and closed out.

Financial Statements can be accessed and completed online in the Budget section of the award on pC.

Please upload a PDF of the Subcontract Financial Statement to the Deliverables section of the award on pC. Grantees must use the Subcontract Financial Statement template available for download in the Deliverables section of the award on pC. Financial Statements must be submitted for each subcontract. Insert additional Subcontract Financial Statement tabs into the Excel workbook as necessary.

Record the total of each subcontract separately in your overall Electronic Financial Statement online. Subcontract direct costs must be included in the Consortium & Contractual Direct section, and subcontract indirect costs should be included in the Indirect Cost section of the overall Electronic Financial Statement online. For each subcontract, please add a separate line for direct costs and a separate line for indirect costs.

A separate Financial Statement must be completed online in the Budget section of the award on pC for each institution that receives funds directly from the Simons Foundation.

After review and approval of the Financial Statement the Simons Foundation will email the grantee institution to request any unspent funds. Unexpended funds must be returned to the Simons Foundation within thirty (30) days of the request for unspent funds.

Do not send a refund for the unexpended balance until you receive an email from the Simons Foundation requesting the unspent funds. Otherwise you may return an inaccurate amount. If you have any questions about an unexpended balance email the Foundation at [email protected].

Alternatively, if allowed by the award type, funds may be carried forward to the next funding period or paid out during a No-Cost Extension; see Carry Forward and No-Cost Extension policies for additional terms and conditions.

Unless noted in the award letter, the Simons Foundation will not be responsible for any expenditure made before funds are committed (i.e., the date the award letter is issued). Expenditures must be consistent with the approved budget. The Simons Foundation is not responsible for unallowable expenditures as noted in the Request for Application (RFA), expenditures that are inconsistent with the approved grant proposal or research plan, or expenditures that exceed the total funded amount of the grant annually.

Funds may be reallocated without prior approval across budget categories within a funding year in a manner consistent with the approved budget and grant proposal or research plan, unless stated otherwise in the award letter. Funds may not be moved across budget categories if the result exceeds any maximum allowable cost set for a budget line item, such as salaries/wages or indirect costs. Reallocations may not exceed annual funding of the grant.

If an unexpended balance remains at the end of a funding year for a multiyear grant, the Simons Foundation may allow the grantee to carry forward the funds into the following year.

Unless stated otherwise in your award letter, unspent funds will be automatically carried over from one year to the next to use within approved budget categories toward the approved aims of the grant.

Grants that require a formal Carry Forward Request, as stated in the award letter, must submit the request 30 days prior to the end date of the funding year.

Grants with $200,000 or more of unspent funds will have subsequent payment(s) withheld until the unspent balance is less than $100,000 and then reported to the foundation via the Funds Expended webform deliverable. The Funds Expended deliverable is not a Financial Statement; it is an attestation by the institution that the unspent balance is less than $100,000. The deliverable must be signed and submitted by a Signing Official or Financial Officer.

Note: The total award amount will not be reduced.

As part of the Annual Progress Report, grantees must provide an estimate of the unspent funds that must include any funds previously carried forward, as well as indirect costs. If they can, grantees must also indicate the month the unspent balance will fall below $100,000.

If the grantee provides an estimated month by which unspent funds will be less than $100,000 in the Annual Progress Report, the Funds Expended deliverable will be due by the first day of that month. If the unspent balance is less than $100,000 before the originally estimated month, the grantee may submit a Funds Expended deliverable as soon as that happens. The next payment will then be released on or before the last day of the following month. If the Funds Expended deliverable is submitted by the first day of the month in which the unspent balance is less than $100,000, payments will be released by the last day of that month.

If the grantee is unable to estimate the month by which the unspent balance will be less than $100,000, a Funds Expended deliverable will be due by the first day of the month of the grantee’s next scheduled payment. Please reference your award letter to determine your grant’s payment schedule.

If the grantee does not submit the Funds Expended Deliverable by the due date, payments will be withheld for an additional three months and not released before the end of the third month. The Funds Expended deliverable must indicate that the remaining balance carried forward is less than $100,000, or it must specify a new date when the unspent balance carried forward is estimated to fall below $100,000.

The contact PI must submit one overall Carry Forward for the entire project, even if the PIs are at different institutions, unless specified otherwise in the award letter.

Unless stated otherwise in the award letter, grantees are permitted a one-time extension, without additional funding, for a period of up to twelve (12) months. No prior approval is required. Funds during the No-Cost Extension must be used within approved budget categories toward the approved aims of the grant. A No-Cost Extension Progress Report web form is due thirty (30) days prior to the end date of the funding year.

In rare circumstances, requests for additional time beyond the established expiration date of the first extension may be approved. A formal request for a No-Cost Extension beyond the first extension is due thirty (30) days prior to the end date of the first extension. To request approval, manually add and complete the No-Cost Extension Request web form in the Deliverables section of the award in pC.

If a No-Cost Extension is not requested, a Final Progress Report is due within one hundred twenty (120) days of the award end date, unless stated differently in the award letter.

An approval notification will not be sent for the first automatically approved No-Cost Extension.

The contact PI must submit one overall No-Cost Extension Request for the entire project, even if the PIs are at different institutions, unless specified otherwise in the award letter.

The Simons Foundation has the right to request and receive from the grantee institution and/or PI(s), or review during a site visit, copies of any and all documents including research records and other information related to the grant at any time during or after the term of the grant for up to four (4) years following the year in which all grant funds are fully expended, unless specified otherwise in the grant agreement.

As a condition of accepting the award, the grantee institution agrees to maintain books and records documenting the expenditure of the Simons Foundation grant funds in accordance with customary accounting procedures. The Simons Foundation reserves the right to review all financial books and records of the grantee institution and PI related to the grant and to perform an audit or other accounting procedures of all expenses related directly or indirectly to the grant.

Research records are materials that document the research effort for laboratory research, animal research and clinical trial research. These may be electronic or hard copy, such as various forms of logs, notebooks, correspondence, libraries, videos, computer databases or records, audio or digital records, or even the actual products of experiments, such as gels. In addition to maintaining accurate and complete research records for data analysis, all records relating to the conduct of the project are important, including those that document the management of the research funds and the intellectual property.

Although not an inclusive list, research records typically include:

• • Laboratory research: lab notes, notebooks, computer databases, microscopic slides, gels, images, photos, videos, laboratory equipment printouts and records of statistical and other data analysis.

• • Animal research: protocol binders that include Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)–approved protocols with all approved modifications, animal health records, surgical or treatment records, breeding records, drug records and research data files.

• • Clinical trials: regulatory binders that include Committee on Human Research (CHR) approvals, protocols, informed consent documents, monitoring reports, adverse event reports and other documents pertaining to sponsors, drugs and devices. Other clinical records can include records for research data, data analysis, audio and videotapes of subjects, images of subjects and any other type of record that can identify persons from whom those data were collected.

• • Funding: records and correspondence relating to the grant financial records, purchasing records, scope of work, budgets and service records.

• All correspondence with granting agencies, institutions and collaborators.

Site visits and evaluations may occur for any Simons Foundation grant. Grantees will be notified in advance of an upcoming on-site evaluation. Payments for subsequent funding periods may be tied to the evaluation results.

The Simons Foundation, with reasonable notice to the grantee and accommodating the grantee’s scheduling conflicts, may require additional reporting or require the grantee to participate in site visits, telephone conferences, presentations or other speaking engagements.

The Simons Foundation defers to the institution’s policies for parental or personal leaves. If you wish to request personal leave, your institution’s SO must sign and submit a Parental or Personal Leave web form. We review all personal leave requests on a case-by-case basis, and your request must comply with your institution’s leave policy.

Any changes to the original grant proposal, research design and/or specific aims require a formal request and prior written approval before implementation. All requests can be accessed and completed online in the Deliverables section of the award on pC. Minor adjustments in approach do not require written approval; however, they should be communicated to Simons Foundation staff and further documented in the Progress Report. Changes without prior written approval may result in suspension of payments, early termination of the grant and/or reimbursement to the Simons Foundation of any expended or unexpended funds.

With approval Simons Foundation PIs may transfer their grant to a new institution, provided that both the old and new institutions agree to the change of institution. PIs may transfer their grant to domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations and public and private institutions, such as colleges or universities, unless specified otherwise in the Request for Application (RFA) or award letter. The award cannot be transferred to for-profit organizations. The following documentation is required for a change of grantee institution.

Required from the original institution:

• • A Transfer Web Form for Original Institution web form signed and submitted by the institution’s SO. The web form must state the reason for departure, plans for continuation of the project, confirmation that the transfer will not alter the project’s plans and an effective date of transfer. The web form can be accessed and completed online in the Deliverable section of the award on pC.

• • A Financial Statement completed online in the Budget section of the award on pC.

• Unexpended funds must be returned to the Simons Foundation within thirty (30) days following the successful submission and approval by Simons Foundation staff of the Financial Statement.

Required from the new institution:

• • A Transfer Web Form for New Institution web form signed and submitted by the institution’s SO. The web form must confirm the PI’s appointment at the new institution and indicate the new institution’s support for the project, the PI start date and the updated contact information for the PI, SO and FO. The web form can be accessed and completed online in the Deliverable section of the award on pC.

• • A renewable reagents and data sharing agreement, if applicable. The agreement must be uploaded to the web form as a PDF.

• A budget for the remainder of the funds. The budget must be uploaded to the web form as a PDF.

Change of institution approval
Once the Simons Foundation has approved the change of institution web forms from both institutions, the foundation will send a close-out letter to the original institution and an award letter to the new institution. The new institution must complete an Activation Agreement that must be signed and submitted by the new institution’s SO. Upon receipt and approval of the signed Activation Agreement, unexpended funds received from the original institution will be made payable to the new institution.

Under rare circumstances, a change in PI will be approved. All changes in PIs require a formal written request. A Change of Principal Investigator web form must be signed and submitted by the institution’s SO. The web form must state the reason for the personnel change and provide verification of the new person’s eligibility, qualifications and availability and a description of how the change will affect the scope of work, implementation and timeline of the research project. The new PI’s curriculum vitae and/or biosketch must be uploaded to the web form. The web form must be submitted to the Deliverables section of the award on pC.

Changes in project or key personnel do not require prior request or approval.

Changes in percent effort of project or key personnel do not require prior request or approval.

Typically, the Simons Foundation will allow the grantee to take corrective measures should the possibility of termination arise from financial, ethical, administrative or programmatic insufficiencies. In such cases, the award will be suspended until corrective actions are taken as outlined by the Simons Foundation.

Either party may terminate the grant upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to the other. If the institution wishes to terminate an award, a Termination web form must be signed by the institution’s SO and submitted to the Deliverables section of the award on pC. In the event of such termination, the grantee may not incur new obligations after the effective date of termination or suspension and must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible. The Simons Foundation will allow full credit to the grantee for the Simons Foundation’s share of otherwise approved and allowable costs if the obligations were properly incurred by the grantee before suspension or termination — and not in anticipation of it — and, in the case of termination, are not cancelable.

Additionally, the Simons Foundation may initiate programmatic termination if progress on the project is substantially less than anticipated. Simons Foundation staff will make this determination, based on the required Progress Reports and/or additional programmatic information submitted to the Simons Foundation.

All early terminations require within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of termination the submission of a Final Progress Report, a Final Financial Statement and within thirty (30) of the submission and approval of the Final Financial Statement a check for any unexpended funds after withholding any costs that were not cancelable.

To close out a Simons Foundation grant, the grantee must submit the following:

• • Final Progress Report web form, via the deliverables section of the award on pC, due within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the end date.

• • Final Financial Statement completed online in the Budget section of the award on pC, due within one hundred (120) days of the end date.

• • Unexpended funds must be returned to the Simons Foundation within thirty (30) days following the successful submission and approval by Simons Foundation staff of the Financial Statement.

• • Do not remit payment for unspent funds until the Simons Foundation has approved the Financial Statement and requested the refund.

Upon receipt and approval of all deliverables and refund if applicable, the Simons Foundation will email via pC the PI and institution to notify them that the award is closed out. In this email the Simons Foundation will notify the institution if the Simons Foundation will cede or maintain ownership of any equipment over $50,000.

Please reference the PI’s name, the title of the grant and the pC proposal number in all pre-award or the pC Award ID in all post-award correspondence with the Simons Foundation.

For payment related questions: [email protected]

To update contacts: [email protected]

For Science, Society and Culture; For Flatiron; Founders; Science Sandbox; and Science, Society and Culture questions: [email protected]

For Life Sciences questions: [email protected]

For MPS Society of Fellows questions: [email protected]

For all other MPS questions: [email protected]

For Neuroscience questions: [email protected]

For SFARI questions: [email protected]

For SPARK questions: [email protected]

For SAM technical assistance: [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding the use of proposalCENTRAL, please contact Customer Support:
Phone: (800) 875-2562
Email: [email protected]