Managing Consultant Costs

After conducting a Subrecipient vs Consultant analysis for your project, you’ve determined that a Consultant relationship is the best fit. It’s important to comply with both UNC-CH and NIH rules and regulations.

When a consultant is affiliated with another higher education institution, UNC-CH has specific requirements:

• IF: The consultant opts to use their own institutional letterhead and/or institutional email address.
  • THEN: A Consultant Certification Statement is required. This statement confirms that the individual can serve as a consultant on the project and has permission to use institutional resources, such as institutional letterhead and/or institutional email address, to perform their assigned tasks. This engagement does not establish a subrecipient relationship. An Authorized Organization Representative must sign this document.

For RAMSeS requirements:

• IF: The consultant is listed in the application.
  • THEN: The consultant must be included in the Personnel section of the IPF as non-UNC personnel.
  • NOTE: This information will be used by the Conflict of Interest team. Ensure the Consultant Certification Statement is attached in RAMSeS if the .edu email address is used.

For NIH requirements:

• IF: The consultant is listed in the application.
  • THEN: A Consultant Letter of Support must be included in the application.
  • NOTE: The letters should specify the rate/charge for consulting services and the anticipated level of effort/number of hours per budget period. If access to core facilities and resources is ensured, the letters should clarify whether access will be provided as a fee-for-service.

Confirm the Consultant Certification Statement is attached in RAMSeS if the Consultant Letter of Support uses Institutional Letterhead and/or a .edu email address.