WHY PTAOE?

The RF BUSINESS SYSTEM permits sponsored projects to be organized in a hierarchical structure.  The basic funding unit is called an AWARD.  An award funds one or more PROJECTS which the Principal Investigator can specify at the time an award is received.  A PROJECT can be funded by more than one AWARD.  E.g., if a PI has two AWARDS, both of which fund similar aspects of the research activity, a PROJECT can be created which will draw its funding by partial allocations of funds from each AWARD.  AWARDS can also be created whose funding is from State sources (e.g., State equipment matching funds).

E.g., An NSF and DOE award each provide, among other activities, support for the construction of a major piece of equipment.  State Equipment matching funds also support the construction of the equipment.

• A single PROJECT can be created whose funding comes from the three sources, NSF, DOE and State.
• Other projects can be identified for other activities -- either one for each of the two externally sponsored AWARDS, or more complicated arrangements are possible.
• Individual transactions within the equipment construction project are then specified by a PROJECT and AWARD designation.  The charges are automatically made to the appropriate funding source, but the overall budget and expenses of the construction project are able to be tracked.

 

PROJECTS can be further divided into TASKS.  E.g., in the above example, the Construction project might be divided into three tasks: Design, Phase 1, Phase 2.

 

An expenditure for Task 2 would be characterized by its AWARD, PROJECT and TASK, namely: 02774-6638-2, and by the expenditure category.  (List of acceptable RF BUSINESS SYSTEM Expenditure Types)

Like AWARDS, PROJECTS have their own attributes (PI, Department, etc.).  Financial data in PROJECTS and TASKS roll-up to their respective AWARDS.  This permits the PI of an AWARD to examine the financial status of an award without having to examine each individual PROJECT which it funds.  PI's of AWARDS can also examine the details of any PROJECTS funded by their AWARD funds.  PI's on PROJECTS will see only the financial data for their PROJECTS.