Summary of Changes – 2013 Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide

1. NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR have revised the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide. A summary of the most significant changes appears below.
2. The Summary of Changes to the NSERC Program Guide for Professors is also available.
3. The  Summary of Changes to the  CIHR Grants and Awards Guide is also available.

Financial Administration
Section and Sub-section	Nature of Changes
Responsibilities and Accountability
Roles and Responsibilities	New reference and links to the  Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research and the new  Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions were added
Non-Compliance	Additional information was added relating to the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research
Ownership of Collections and Specimens	Further clarification was added to the Ownership of Collections or Specimens
Annual Funding of Grants
Communication of Competition Results	More details were provided on the type of information found on the agencies’ Web sites regarding the successful applications
Payments of Grants	More details were added on specified certification requirements
Extension Period for Use of Funds Beyond a Grant Period	Programs were added (SSHRC)
Use of Grant Funds
General Principles	Indirect and overhead costs were clarified
Compensation-Related Expenses	Clarification on Salary remuneration for Research Personnel was added
Other Types of Compensation-Related Expenses	Further clarification was added to the Other Types of Compensation-Related Expenses, and the salary to project coordinators (SSHRC only) was added to this sub-section.
Travel and Subsistence Costs	Eligible Expenses New guideline on seat reservations was added Additional information was added relating to eligible expenses for Collaborators Child care expenses was further clarified
Computers and Electronic Communications	Eligible Expenses Additional information relating to eligibility was included
Reporting and Supporting Evidence
Supporting Evidence	Clarification was provided for institutions and/or grantees on supporting documentation Additional information was provided on supporting documentation for expenditures
Administrative Matters
Ownership of Items Purchased with Grant Funds	Clarification was provided on ownership requirements. A new link was provided to the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institution Section 3.8
Moving Equipment or an Unexpended Equipment Grant	Clarification was provided on moving equipment Information previously found in Schedule 12 of the old Memorandum of Understanding is now found in this section
Termination of a Grant	SSHRC Existing policy regarding grantees relocating to other countries was modified
Maternity, Parental, Medical or Family Medical Leave for Grantees	CIHR Existing policy regarding extension of the term of the current grant was modified
Sabbatical / Research Leave	NSERC There is a new policy regarding grantees who are on leave of more than one year SSHRC The eligibility of the grantee during the leave period was further clarified
Transfer of Funds Between Institutions	New section added Information was added from Schedule 9 of the old Memorandum of Understanding, with links to two new checklists
Residual Balances	Information added regarding the sale of equipment (second sentence)
Checklists
Checklist for Confirming Continuing Eligibility	For SSHRC The eligibility of grantees during leave periods was clarified
Checklist for Sabbatical / Research Leave for Grantees	NSERC There is a new policy regarding grantees who are on leave of more than one year SSHRC The eligibility of the grantee during the leave period was further clarified
Checklist for the Transfer of Funds from a Primary Institution to an Eligible Secondary Institution	A checklist was created to replace information previously found in Schedule 9, Part A of the old Memorandum of Understanding. All information is the same; only the presentation is new
Checklist for the Transfer of Funds from a Primary Institution to a Non-eligible Secondary Institution (CIHR and SSHRC)	A checklist was created to replace information previously found in Schedule 9, Part B of the old Memorandum of Understanding. All information is the same; only the presentation is new