Contracts Overview

The Office of Research Administration’s (ORA) Contracting Team is responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and executing research related agreements on behalf of the University of Miami. ORA serves as the University’s authorized institutional representative and ensures that all agreements comply with sponsor requirements, University policies, and applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations.

ORA supports agreements associated with a wide range of sponsored research activities, including those funded by federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners. The Contracting Team works collaboratively with Principal Investigators (PIs), departmental and unit staff, and external sponsors to facilitate timely, compliant, and well coordinated agreement execution.

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  • ORA’s Role in Research Agreements

    ORA’s Contracting Team plays a central role throughout the agreement lifecycle by:

    • Reviewing agreement terms to ensure compliance with University and sponsor requirements
    • Negotiating contractual provisions with external entities, as needed
    • Coordinating institutional approvals and required reviews
    • Executing agreements on behalf of the University of Miami through authorized signatory authority

    By serving as the institutional point of contact for contracts, ORA helps protect the University’s interests while supporting research collaborations and project timelines.

  • Coordination with Investigators and Departments

    Successful agreement processing requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders. ORA works closely with investigators and departmental administrators to:

    • Clarify agreement types and submission requirements
    • Identify potential compliance or policy considerations early in the process
    • Address questions related to agreement terms, timelines, or documentation
    • Support resolution of issues that may arise during review or negotiation

    Early engagement with ORA is encouraged, particularly for complex, industry sponsored, or time sensitive agreements.

  • Institutional Review and Compliance

    All research agreements submitted to ORA are reviewed to ensure alignment with:

    • Sponsor terms and conditions
    • University of Miami policies and procedures
    • Applicable regulatory and compliance requirements

    This review helps ensure that agreements are executed appropriately and that sponsored research activities may proceed in accordance with institutional and sponsor expectations.

  • Supporting Timely and Compliant Agreement Execution

    ORA’s Contracting Team is committed to facilitating efficient agreement processing while maintaining compliance and institutional integrity. Clear communication, complete documentation, and early submission of agreements help support timely review, negotiation, and execution.

    For questions regarding research related agreements, agreement types, or submission requirements, investigators and administrators are encouraged to contact ORA’s Contracting Team for guidance.

    💡 If your Sponsor has a hard deadline to get the contract finalized, please advise ORA of that deadline upon submission and provide ORA with the Sponsor documentation outlining this deadline.

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