2017 College and Community Innovation Program Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide

The College and Community Innovation Program Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide was recently revised to reflect the participation of all three granting Agencies (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [NSERC], the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [SSHRC] and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR]). Changes made to this year’s guide supersede previous versions and take effect on October 1, 2017. The Summary of Changes is available.

Unless otherwise indicated, these policies and requirements apply to all three Agencies. Any exceptions to these will be indicated in the program description of the respective Agency.

Note:

• For the purposes of this guide, the term "institution" refers to a community college, institute of technology, post-secondary private college or public college (for example, CEGEPs) and could also apply to Canadian universities, if eligible under a specific program. The term "Agency" refers to one of the three agencies—NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR. This guide only applies to grants under the College and Community Innovation Program and not all programs in which the colleges can participate. For all other programs, consult the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide.
• All terms are meant to be inclusive of all genders

Responsibilities and Accountability

• Accountability to Taxpayers
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Deviation from Proposed Activities and/or Budget
• Financial Monitoring
• Non-Compliance
• Acknowledgement
• Intellectual Property/Patents
• Open Access
• Archiving of Research Data (SSHRC only)
• Ownership of Collections and Specimens

Annual Funding of Grants

• Communication of Competition Results
• Payment of Grants
• Over-expenditures
• Extension Period for Use of Funds Beyond a Grant Period

Use of Grant Funds

• Preamble
• General Principles
• Overhead and Administration
• Retroactive Expenses
• Categories of Expenses
• Compensation-Related Expenses
• Travel and Subsistence Costs
• Operating, Equipment and Supplies
• Computers and Electronic Communications
• Dissemination of Research Results/Networking
• Research and Technology Transfer Support Services
• Services and Miscellaneous Expenses

Reporting and Supporting Evidence

• Progress Reporting
• Financial Reporting
• Supporting Evidence

Administrative Matters

• Ownership of Items Purchased With Grant Funds
• Transfers of Funds Between Institutions
• Deferral of Instalment/Annual Commitment Payments
• Termination of a Grant
• Residual Balances

Reference Documents:

• Checklist for Transfert of Funds from a Primary Institution to an Eligible Secondary Institution (New)
• Table of the Agencies’ Programs Eligible to Transfer to the Institution’s General Research Funds (GRF) (Revised)