{"id":17466,"date":"2026-02-18T11:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/administration\/?page_id=17466"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:47:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:47:34","slug":"selecting-an-instrument-type","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/administration\/budgeting-guidance\/selecting-an-instrument-type\/","title":{"rendered":"Selecting an Instrument Type in RED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following definitions are intended to help you determine which instrument type to select in RED PD. Please select the instrument type that most closely meets its definition on this page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE: If the proposal is awarded funding, SPARCS will verify the instrument type is correct when creating the award record. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n \n
\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Academic Course Design Agreements<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Agreements used to support a sponsor-provided \u201creal-life\u201d problem suitable for classroom instruction. There is a faculty advisor, but students enrolled in a class that have agreed to participate on this sponsored project complete all of the work during their course.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

College Delegated Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Research agreement that should only be used once with a sponsor to attract the sponsor to do work with the university. Its first use has a reduced F&A rate of 15% on a Total Direct Cost (TDC) basis.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Contract<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Contracts are procurement vehicles. The University is legally bound to complete the scope of work and any deliverables specifically defined in the written agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University has no latitude to change the scope of work independently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funders may include corporations, federal, state and local government agencies. Although rare, funders may include non-profit or corporate foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples include the NC State Sponsored Project Agreement; the Public Service Development Work Order; Student Project Agreements (a.k.a. internship\/traineeship agreements). <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Cooperative Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Reflects a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient and is used when the government’s purpose is to assist the intermediary in providing goods or services to the authorized recipient.
<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Data Use Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

A Data Use Agreement (DUA), which may also be called Data Sharing Agreement, Data Transfer and Use Agreement, or other similar titles, is a legally binding agreement between a data provider and a data recipient that requires signature or other acknowledgment to facilitate the transfer of data between the parties.
<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Grant<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Financial assistance awards. Funder has approved a specific statement of work that the University is required to pursue in exchange for the financial support provided. The University may have limited latitude to modify the details of the scope of work and budget as the research progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funders may include corporate or private foundations, federal, state, and local government agencies, nonprofits, associations, and other charitable organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Grant \u2013 File Only<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

This instrument type is primarily intended for SPARCS’ use only. It should be used in special cases when a record needs to be created in RED but carries funding managed outside of a ledger 5 account (e.g., proposals for certain internal funding programs).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

IPA Assignment<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program provides for the temporary assignment of personnel between the Federal Government and state and local governments, colleges and universities, Indian tribal governments, federally funded research and development centers, and other eligible organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Internal Award<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Internally funded and awarded projects (e.g., the Chancellor\u2019s Innovation Fund, RIFD, etc.). Not common for Sponsored Programs Instrument type.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Internship\/Traineeship Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Agreements used to govern a student\u2019s internship or traineeship at a company\u2019s facility. The sponsor provides the statement of work, and all work is completed by the student at the company\u2019s place of business. There is a faculty advisor, but the faculty member does not perform any work on the project.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Master Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

Agreements open to one or more units\/departments\/colleges on campus and intended for long-term, multi-project agreements with those units\/departments\/colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Member<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

NC State membership in external organization (external consortia, manufacturing institutes, etc).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Membership Pool<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

External parties\u2019 memberships in one of NC State\u2019s Centers and Institutes.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Non-monetary<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

An agreement under which funding is not contemplated, and where another instrument type is not available to use, such as the DUA, which has its own instrument type. (e.g., An example of a Non-monetary agreement would be a Collaborative Research Agreement; Equipment Loan Agreements).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Other Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

A catch-all category for agreements that contemplate funding but are not identified in another instrument type.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Task Order<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

A specific\/individual project agreement under a master agreement. All the terms of the master agreement apply to the specific project unless otherwise agreed upon by the contracting parties.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Teaming Agreement<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

An agreement between a potential prime contractor\/awardee and another company or institution to act as a subcontractor\/subawardee under a specified federal government contract or award.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

\n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

Testing Service Agreement (TSA)\/Fabrication Service Agreement (FSA) \u2013 Non-negotiated<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

\n \n\n

    \n
  • Non-negotiated Testing Service Agreements:<\/strong> Clinical, diagnostic or routine but specialized testing work based on a sponsor-driven protocol. These arrangements are most appropriate in established service centers of the institution that provide specialized testing services for a fee. University does not own or control any of the protocol-specific results. The \u201cNegotiated\u201d designation indicates that the client funding the work has negotiated the terms of the TSA template with SPARCS prior to signature. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Non-negotiated Fabrication Service Agreement: <\/strong>Fabrication Service Agreements are agreements where NC State fabricates an item based on client-created designs. These services are often completed by established service centers with specialized equipment and\/or capabilities, and the client funding the work has signed the SPARCS standard template without making any changes prior to signature. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n
    \n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

    Testing Service Agreement (TSA)\/Fabrication Service Agreement (FSA) \u2013 Negotiated<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

    \n \n\n

      \n
    • Negotiated Testing Service Agreements: <\/strong>Clinical, diagnostic or routine but specialized testing work based on a sponsor-driven protocol. These arrangements are most appropriate in established service centers of the institution that provide specialized testing services for a fee. University does not own or control any of the protocol-specific results. The \u201cNegotiated\u201d designation indicates that the client funding the work has negotiated the terms of the TSA template with SPARCS prior to signature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Negotiated Fabrication Service Agreement<\/strong>: Fabrication Service Agreements are agreements where NC State fabricates an item based on client-created designs. These services are often completed by established service centers with specialized equipment and\/or capabilities. The \u201cNegotiated\u201d designation indicates that the client funding the work has negotiated the terms of the FSA template with SPARCS prior to signature.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n
      \n \n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n

      Veterinary Clinical Trial<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

      \n \n\n

      Agreement used for veterinary clinical trials of investigational drugs or devices (a.k.a. Animal Trial Agreement).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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