Research Contracts and Agreements Flashcards
7 cards from real CRA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Research Contracts and Agreements flashcards as text
A university discovers it has been acting as the lead institution on a multi-site study but never executed formal subaward agreements with participating sites. The primary compliance risk is:
Answer: Failure to comply with 2 CFR 200.332 pass-through entity obligations
Without executed subawards, the prime recipient has failed its mandatory pass-through entity obligations under 2 CFR 200.332, including communicating award terms and monitoring subrecipients.
A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) differs from a standard federal grant primarily because:
Answer: CRADAs allow a federal laboratory to collaborate with a private partner and share IP rights
A CRADA enables a federal lab to work with a non-federal entity, sharing resources and IP rights—distinct from grants where only funding flows to the recipient.
A research contract specifies deliverables using the term 'best efforts.' This language most directly affects which aspect of contract performance?
Answer: The contractor's liability for failure to achieve specific outcomes
'Best efforts' language limits contractor liability to making reasonable attempts rather than guaranteeing specific research results.
When a federally funded project ends and the grantee has unexpended balances, which action requires prior agency approval under 2 CFR 200.308?
Answer: Carrying over funds to the next budget period
Carryover of unobligated balances from one budget period to the next generally requires prior approval from the federal awarding agency.
Under FAR Part 31 cost principles, which of the following is an example of an INDIRECT cost?
Answer: Depreciation on shared departmental equipment
Depreciation on shared equipment benefits multiple projects and cannot be attributed to a single award, making it an indirect (F&A) cost.
A contractor needs to add a new work requirement that was not in the original contract scope. Under FAR, which document formally authorizes this change?
Answer: A bilateral contract modification
A bilateral contract modification, signed by both parties, is required to formally authorize changes to contract scope, price, or terms.
A research institution is negotiating a Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate with the federal government. Which federal agency typically leads the negotiation for most research universities?
Answer: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Cost Allocation
The DHHS Division of Cost Allocation (now Cost Determination) is the cognizant federal agency responsible for negotiating F&A rates for most research universities.