Why Faculty Complete the Faculty Effort Certification (FEC)

The Federal government requires certified documentation for faculty salary costs charged to grants and contracts and for cost sharing related to sponsored agreements. Sponsored agreements include grants and contracts.

What are the Compliance Risks

Recent audits resulting in multi-million dollar settlements between the federal government and research institutions, coupled with policy changes at the national level, have resulted in an increased level of risk to effort reporting.

Improper or inadequate certification of effort can result in the following restrictions imposed on the University by the federal government:

• Payback of award funds to sponsor
  • The PI, in consultation with the Department Chair, will be responsible for any resulting deficits.
• Withholding of future awards
  • Sponsors may not continue to grant awards to an institution or a PI who has not complied with the terms of the award and federal reporting guidelines. This includes effort reporting.
• Special monitoring by sponsor
  • Limitations on independence and autonomy in relation to sponsored research activities may be imposed.
• Temporary withholding of payments
  • The University will not be paid for the work done on the project if reporting is not completed in a timely manner. Some sponsors may require cost sharing to be completed for specific reporting periods before additional funding will be allocated.
• Audit findings
  • Potential financial repayment may be required resulting in loss of credibility with sponsors putting a national spotlight on errors.
• Requirement for corrective action plan
  • Sponsor may require the institution to submit and follow a detailed corrective action plan.
• Designation as a "high risk" organization and loss of Expanded Authorities
  • Result of designation as "high risk" results in loss of reputation and credibility and possible loss of expanded authorities.
• Payment of punitive damages
  • DHHSⁱ can either suspend or debar individuals for commission of fraud or a criminal offense, lack of business integrity, willful failure to perform according to the terms of sponsored agreements and other serious violations.

How the FEC Form Is Used

The FEC is used:

• In audit and compliance:
  • Faculty Effort Certification reports are used in the audit process to ensure compliance with the level of effort agreed to in the award document and/or to determine cost shared effort.
  • Ensures compliance with the CFR Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 220  requirement to confirm that the distribution of effort "represents a reasonable estimate of the work performed by the employee during the period."
  • FECs are reviewed by:
    • Granting Agencies
    • The University of Washington, Internal Audit
    • State Agencies/Auditors
    • Federal Government Agencies/Auditors
• To show salary information and amounts available as a cost share source.
  • FECs provide departments with the salary for an FEC cycle by budget source for a given individual and specify the non-federal budget amounts available for cost sharing.
• To certify that the faculty have performed the sponsored project work for which they are paid.
  • Provides verification that the compensation charged is appropriate to the activity performed as required by federal regulations.
• To document the faculty effort cost sharing.
  •  Cost share certified on the FEC provides documentation that the commitments made to sponsors have been met. The cost share is included in the Facilities and Administrative (indirect cost) proposal for the University.
• To complete the final report to the sponsor prepared by Grant and Contract Accounting (GCAⁱ).

Note:The FEC report is considered a public record under the terms of the State of Washington's Public Disclosure Act.