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Sponsored Programs
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at UTRGV supports the development and submission of all externally funded proposals. This includes research, instructional activities, public service initiatives, training programs, equipment requests, and other sponsored projects. Our team works closely with faculty, researchers, and staff to prepare competitive applications, develop accurate budgets, review compliance requirements, and coordinate submissions with sponsoring agencies. OSP ensures that every proposal meets institutional, sponsor, and regulatory standards, enabling the UTRGV community to pursue innovative ideas and secure vital external funding.
What We Do
OSP provides structured, comprehensive support to Principal Investigators and Project Directors (PI/PDs) throughout the proposal development and submission process. Our work ensures that all sponsored project applications meet university, federal, and sponsor requirements while positioning proposals for success.
Our Core Services
- Technical guidance during proposal preparation — assisting with budget development, sponsor‑specific instructions, required documentation, and interpretation of university policies.
- Compliance oversight — monitoring adherence to institutional, federal, and sponsor regulations to ensure proposals are accurate, complete, and compliant.
- Comprehensive proposal review — examining submissions for omissions, inconsistencies, or areas that can be strengthened before they are sent to the sponsor.
- Administrative coordination with sponsors — managing official communications, submitting proposals on behalf of the university, and addressing administrative requirements throughout the submission process.
- Collaboration after funding — partnering with the Office of Grants and Contracts to support a smooth transition from proposal to award management and ensure proper stewardship of sponsored funds.
Announcements
Update: The NIH salary cap for faculty has increased from $225,700 to $228,000, effective January 11, 2026. Our office is now using this updated rate for all budgeting purposes. For more information, please refer to NOT-OD-26-034: Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2026.
- To support consistent and effective data management practices, NIH requires that all DMS Plans address defined key elements. A new DMS Plan Format Page is forthcoming pending OMB clearance, and a draft version is available for early review, which can be accessed here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants-process/write-application/forms-directory/data-management-and-sharing-plan-format-page.
- Starting with due dates on or after May 25, 2026, applicants and recipients must use this updated, simplified format. NIH will treat this as a pilot year and will review feedback to determine whether additional updates are needed.
National Science Foundation (NSF) - effective October 10, 2025
National Institutes of Health (NIH) - effective May 25, 2026
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) - effective May 1, 2025
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - effective October 1, 2025
As of May 19 th, 2025, UTRGV has negotiated an updated Indirect Cost Agreement (IDC).
NOTE: Applications that were submitted/awarded around this time may require additional action before the project can begin. Funding agencies set final budget and terms only when (and if) a grant is funded, and agencies require UTRGV to use the latest negotiated IDC rates. The office of Sponsored Programs has been working with faculty to help adjust the budgets appropriately to meet agency expectations. If you have any questions, or would like to know if you are affected, please reach out to us. The new IDC is incorporated into the latest budget template. Please reach out to Sponpro sponpro@utrgv.edu for the most recent revision.
Resources
- UTRGV is a member of the FDP Expanded Clearinghouse. This publicly available website provides online organizational profiles in support of subawards or monitoring their subrecipient entities. Please Click here to view the UTRGV profile.
- OSP Handbook - Overview of Sponsored Programs processes.
- Cayuse Login – Electronic System-to-System Proposal Submission
- The OSP Budget Development Worksheet is designed to facilitate the budgeting process by calculating expenses according to University and sponsor guidelines. The budget will be reviewed and edited by the OSP staff and changes will be made if necessary to meet internal and sponsor requirements.
- For proposed salaries, please consult the UTRGV Institutional Pay Plan. Any staff salaries should be budgeted at least at the 25th percentile of the salary range to allow for appropriate salary placement. For and questions, please reach out to HR-Compensation team to discuss the proposed amount.
- HOP 07-304: Institutional Base Salary