Note:   Resources listed below are provided as examples and have been obtained through topic-specific web searches. The list is not intended to be a comprehensive representation of content included on the exam and inclusion on the list doesn’t reflect RACC support of the materials or indicate verification of accuracy of the information.  Links to original sources for funding sources, statutory requirements, grant regulations and common electronic proposal systems are not provided since they are easily assessable with simple web searches.  Candidates for the CPRA exam are encouraged to explore additional resources related to the exam’s content outline.

Links provided are current as of 4-15-2013.

Annotated Content Outline for Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA) Exam

I.        Research Partnership and Funding

A.      Setting for research administration

B.      Roles and responsibilities

§         RACC role delineation study

§         Sample campus roles and responsibilities matrix

§         Sample campus guidance 

§         Sample campus policy

§         Sample sponsor glossary

§         Sample campus definition 

C.      Perspectives for seeking and awarding sponsored funding   

D.      Collaborations

§         Sample sponsor definition of multiple PI

§         Sample campus procedure for multiple PI

§         Sample campus guidance on vendor/subrecipient distinction Link 1  |  Link 2

§         Sample campus subrecipient procedure

§         IRS determination of independent contractor

§         Sample teaming agreement

E.       Professional skills development

§         NCURA educational programs

§         SRA meetings and webinars

§         Presentation on strategies for career growth

§         Sample campus training program

F.       Funding and research development

§         Sample sponsor funding opportunities

§         Sample solicited funding announcement

Sample unsolicited funding opportunity

§         Sample campus limited submission programs definition

 Sample sponsor limited funding opportunity announcement 

§         SRA grants web information 

§         Fed Connect.net

§         Sample agency website 

§         Foundation Center website 

§         Sample foundation directory 

§         General explanation of funding opportunity databases

§         Sample organization’s tool for seeking funding 

§         Sample campus listing of electronic funding sources

§         Sample expertise database and funding search tool Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor funding opportunities

§         Sample sponsor assistance types

§         Sample campus funding alert newsletter

§         Sample campus funding opportunity page

§         Sample sponsor research program

§         Sample sponsor fellowship program

§         Sample sponsor training programs

§         Sample sponsor equipment/instrumentation program 

§         Sample campus listing of instrumentation programs

§         Sample sponsor program project/center grants  Link 1  and  Link 2

§         Sample sponsor career development funding program Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus internal funding program Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample of other funding programs Link 1 and Link 2

G.      Overview of grants regulatory framework and legislative process

§         Sample campus listing of federal policies and procedures

§         Description of federal budget process Link 1 and Link 2

§         Definition of congressionally directed funding 

§         Sample of statutory requirements Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample of uniform administrative requirements  

H.      Sponsors

§         Sample campus description of types of sponsors 

§         Sample of sponsor guidelines on grants to federal entities

§         Description of federal government structure

§         Grants.gov information in agency that provide grants

§         Description of federal budget process 

§         Description of state and local government

§         Definition of private foundation

§         Definition of a corporation  

§         Sample campus description of differences between public and private funding sources Link 1 and Link 2

I.        Identification of internal capacity

§         Sample of campus institutional space committee 

§         Sample of campus space study

§         Sample sponsor report on recharge centers

§         Sample sponsor guidance on matching funds

J.        Public Relations

§         Sample Wikipedia entries on FOIA, chemical waste and material safety data sheet

§         Sample of state’s public records law

II.      Project Development and Proposal Submission

A.      Proposal Writing

§         Sample sponsor pre-proposal/pre-application guidelines Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor glossary of proposal types 

§         Sample of internal seed grant program 

§         Sample campus guidance on writing proposals

§         Sample campus guidance on proposal development process 

§         Sample sponsor tips for proposal writing Link 1  and Link 2  and Link 3

§         Sample sponsor definition of senior/key personnel  Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample excerpts of grant proposal

B.      Effective management of proposal teams

§         Sample campus guidance on grant proposal timeline 

C.      Understanding and interpretation of agency guidelines

§         Sample campus guidance on interpreting agency guidelines

§         Sample sponsor definition of BAA

§         Sample campus guidance on responding to RFP

§         Sample sponsor program announcement

D.      Documentation to meet sponsor requirements

§         Sample campus instructions for subawards in proposals Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor guidance on JIT 

§         Sample sponsor current and pending support Link 1 and Link 2 and Link 3

§         Sample campus example of required proposal components 

E.       Institutional clearances and approvals

§         Sample campus proposal review  and internal routing form Link 1  and Link 2   and Link 3

§         Sample campus records retention schedule

§         Sample sponsor requirements for records retention

F.       Electronic research administration

§         Sample campus list of agency eRA systems 

§         Sample sponsor overview of eRA  

§         Grants.gov guidance on system-to-system interface 

G.      Deadlines and target dates

§         Sample sponsor instruction on deadlines and target dates Link 1 and Link 2

H.      Unfunded and revised proposals

§         Sample campus guidance on resubmission of unfunded proposals 

§         Sample sponsor guidance on resubmission of unfunded proposals 

III.    Budget Design and Development

A.      Budget Preparation

§         Sample campus guide to budgeting 

§         Sample sponsor guide to developing budget

§         Sample sponsor description of budget categories

§         Sample campus guidance on budget categories

§         Sample campus budget justification 

§         Sample campus budget template Link 1 and  Link 2

B.      Project Costs

§         Sample campus definition of direct and F&A costs Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidance on major project/unlike circumstance Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus policy and guidance on cost sharing Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor guidance on allowable costs Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidelines on CAS 

§         Sample sponsor definition of cost and price analysis 

§         Sample campus guidance on cost price analysis 

§         Sample campus guidance on program income 

§         Sample sponsor guidance on program income

C.      Direct Costs

§         Sample campus explanation of NIH salary cap 

§         Sample campus time and effort policy/procedures Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus description of salary and fringe benefits Link 1  and  Link 2

§         Sample campus travel guidelines Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor travel guidelines 

§          Sample campus guidance on equipment purchase on sponsored programs Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor terms and conditions for subawards   

§         Sample campus guidance on proposals for subaward support

§         Sample campus guidance on consultants Link 1 and Link 2

D.      Facilities and Administrative Costs

§         Sample campus explanation of F&A costs Link 1  and Link 2 

§         Sample campus description of MTDC and unrecovered F&A costs Link 1 and Link 2  

§         Sample campus policy on waived F&A costs 

§         Sample sponsor overview of F&A costs

§         Sample sponsor guidance on developing F&A cost proposal 

E.       Budget revisions

§         Sample campus internal procedure for budget revisions

IV.    Awards and Pre-award Compliance Considerations

A.      Sponsor reviews

§         Sample sponsor review processes Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus explanation of sponsor reviews Link 1  and Link 2

B.      Site visits

§         Sample sponsor explanation of site visits 

C.      Sponsored project awards

§         Sample sponsor description of award mechanisms 

§         Sample campus description of award types Link 1  and Link 2  and Link 3  

D.      Negotiations

§         Sample campus award negotiation process 

§          Sample sponsor terms and conditions Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidance on award terms Link 1  and Link 2

E.       Intellectual Property

§         Sample definition of IP   

§         Sample campus IP policy Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus information on types of IP 

§         Sample campus policy on classified research Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor instructions for classified research 

§         Sample campus information on nondisclosure agreement 

F.       Assurances, certifications and disclosures

§         Sample campus guidance on reps and certs 

§         Sample other guidance on reps and certs Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidance on COI Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidance on export controls Link 1 and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor guidance on export controls Link 1  and Link 2

G.      Research compliance

§         Sample sponsor requirements for human subjects approval and training Link 1  and Link 2 and Link 3

§         Sample campus directives on human subjects training 

§         Sample campus guide to animal care and use Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus radiation safety and chemical safety committees Link1  and Link 2

§         Sample sponsor guidance on biosafety committees 

H.      Health Information Portability and Accountability Act

§         Sample sponsor guidance on HIPAA Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus guidance on HIPAA Link 1  and Link 2

I.        Responsible Conduct of Research

§         Sample sponsor guidance on RCR Link 1  and Link 2

§         Sample campus training on RCR Link 1  and Link 2