When conducting sponsored programs, investigators may desire to enter into an agreement with third parties to complete a portion of the scope of work. The third party, known as the subaward recipient, will be required to provide the resources necessary to complete the portion of the scope of work as a semi-independent project; this includes providing a responsible investigator at the work site of the cooperating institution or company to oversee program activities.

UCR's proposal to the prime sponsor should include the intent to establish a subaward, however some sponsors may allow investigators to add subawards after the prime award has been made. Refer to the terms and conditions of your award to verify whether sponsor prior approval is required to transfer a portion of the scope of work to another entity.

The Office of Research is responsible for drafting, negotiating and executing the subaward. A special type of subaward is used when the subaward recipient is another campus in the UC system, and the Office of Research is responsibility for establishing UC campus subawards.