Sign PAF/Sign Award Record Activity in eRPM
U-M investigators must sign the PAF and Award record within the eResearch Proposal Management (eRPM) system to help the University ensure its full compliance with our funding agencies’ disclosure requirements. Learn more about this activity in eRPM.
The Sign PAF and Sign Award Record activities in the eResearch Proposal Management (eRPM) system require all investigators to sign. Gathering these signatures from all participating U-M investigators, and not just the principal investigator, will help the University ensure its full compliance with our funding agencies’ disclosure requirements, especially with regard to the accurate and complete disclosure of international engagements and collaborations.
What is the “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity?
The “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity includes:
- All investigators listed on a PAF must complete the “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity (see the following section)
- Questions regarding investigator outside interest disclosure as it relates to the proposal.
- Questions regarding investigator international engagements (e.g., appointments, resources).
- Attestation of investigator role and responsibilities.
Who must complete the “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity?
All investigators listed on a PAF, including the following roles:
- U-M Principal Investigator (PI)
- U-M Sponsor PI
- Participating Investigator with Specified Effort
- Participating Investigator without Specified Effort
- Non-faculty Investigator
When must the “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity be completed?
Investigators are expected to sign the PAF prior to proposal submission. The proposal will still be submitted even if the PAF lacks all required signatures, but:
- Investigators who have not signed at the time of proposal submission will receive email reminders to complete this activity.
- After 30 days, the proposal will be at risk of withdrawal. While the eRPM system will not automatically withdraw the proposal if an investigator has not completed the “Sign PAF” activity, project teams will receive reminders, and withdrawal may be manually completed.
- All signatures must be completed prior to award acceptance.
Investigators added at Award set-up will be required to complete a new “Sign Award Record” activity in eRPM.
- The “Sign Award Record” activity contains the same components and information as the “Sign PAF” activity.
- Investigators added after Award activation will provide the required information via the PACR process.
- Any new investigators added to a PAF will be required to perform the Sign PAF activity and must do so prior to the creation of an award record (AWD). (See SOP 300.01 – Revised PAFs).
- Restored PAFs will require all investigators to complete the “Sign PAF” activity. (See SOP 300.04 – Restored PAFs)
How are investigators’ answers used?
Staff in the Conflict of Interest (COI) offices use the International Engagement information provided by investigators in the eRPM “Sign PAF” activity to complete an “Other Support” congruence review of federally funded research with sponsor-required documentation, such as the “Biographical Sketch,” “Current & Pending (Other) Support” and associated resources. Visit the Current and Pending (Other) Support Reporting page to learn more.
Reminders and resources
- Ensure all investigators on the project team update their M-Inform outside interest disclosures. In order to complete the “Sign PAF” activity, investigators will need to have a current (within the past 365 days) outside interest disclosure on file in the system.
- A system-generated email will be sent to any investigators on the PAF who have not yet signed. Follow-up system-generated emails will be sent 10, 20, and 25 days after proposal submission to the sponsor.
- View details of the “Sign PAF/Sign Award Record” activity. Note: The red “Warning” message at the top of the page only displays if the investigator running the activity does not have an up-to-date M-Inform disclosure on record, or is lacking an M-Inform disclosure altogether.