New GMAS Cost Sharing Functionality and Changes to Signature Requirements

May 4, 2020

The most recent GMAS release that went live on Monday, April 27 contained significant changes to how cost sharing will be recorded and tracked in GMAS, including a new form that supports all sources of cost sharing and more closely aligns with the cost sharing policy, a new cost sharing approval process, and a new cost sharing request type used to make changes during the life of an award. A detailed list of the changes to cost sharing is available in the GMAS release notes.

To accompany the GMAS changes, each school was asked to document their school-specific signature requirements, outlining which GMAS roles are required to sign off on proposals that include cost sharing commitments and on revisions made to cost sharing during the life of an award. As such, a new FAS Cost Sharing Approval and Signature Requirements document has been developed and is now available on the RAS website.

In addition to the cost sharing updates, this weekend’s release also included a change to the screen that appears when signing requests in GMAS. After clicking the Sign button, signatories will be presented with a screen that provides an overview of key elements of the proposal, including cost sharing, along with expanded certification language that has been modified to reflect the increasing scrutiny by our sponsors for verification of the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in grant applications:

By clicking “Sign” below I affix my signature to this proposal, agree to its terms, and certify the following:

  • I have read and understand the information contained in this proposal and confirm that the contents of the proposal are complete and accurate and represent the final application to be submitted to the sponsor; and
  • The information represented in the GMAS system and in all documents therein is complete and accurate; and
  • To the best of my knowledge and belief, this submission complies with all applicable University and sponsor policies.

Additionally, the PI certifies that:

  • All my sources of research funding are accurately disclosed in the current and pending/other support pages, as required by the sponsor, and
  • My conflict of interest disclosures and faculty activity reports are current and accurate.
If you have any questions about the new cost sharing functionality and documentation or the new GMAS signature screen, please contact Jennifer Lech (jennifer_lech@harvard.edu).