TSA/FSA FAQs
What are typical budget items we might see?
Examples of budget items in a services agreement would be labor and/or lab supplies. Follow your Department’s and/or College’s procedures to determine whether the budget is appropriate.
Where can I find the Compliance Checklist?
There is no longer a Compliance Checklist; these questions are now in PINS.
Who is the primary POC in SPARCS?
Contact SPARCS via email: sps@ncsu.edu or phone: 919.515.2444.
Where can I direct faculty to help them under the changes/reasoning?
Changes to the TSA/FSA process creates consistency in routing and review and clarifies which office has responsible oversight. A presentation from the Nov. 10, 2015, RSC Meeting provides additional information: TSAs and FSAs Presentation to RSC.
Does the project director have to have an established service center rate?
No. If the project director has used TSAs previously, follow the same procedures.
How will this route through PINS, e.g. who will approve the record?
Routing will follow the same process as research proposal reviews: PI/project director –> Department Head –> CRO –> SPARCS.
What if a project director does not have PI status in PINS?
Please submit a request to SPARCS to provide the project director with PI status.
During this transition, what if CRO receives a TSA that is partially executed?
Include this as an attachment in the PINS record and make a note in the comments that “partially executed is attached.
Are there any terms to look for in a Statement of Work that could indicate this is research?
It is important to ensure that the statement of work does not indicate research. Terms that might be an indication: develop, research, experiment, development, IP, interpret, interpretation of data, follow on testing, create, consult. In addition, an extensive statement of work needs to be scrutinized as TSA statements of work are typically simple.
What type of project ID can be used for TSAs?
Non-negotiated agreements must be placed in a Ledger 3 or 4 account.
What indirect costs (F&A) rate should be assessed for TSAs that have to be negotiated?
The rate will be 33.6% and will be administered in a Ledger 5.