RSS Other Support FAQs

  1. Is use of RSS to generate Other Support for the NIH required? Can I use another method?
  2. Is use of RSS to generate Other Support for non-PHS agencies required?
  3. Is use of the new RSS Other Support functionality required for non-UNMC collaborators?
  4. Why is Sponsored Programs Administration taking longer to review Other Support?
  5. What do I do if the data pulled from Sponsored Programs Administration’s records is incorrect?
  6. Active sources of Other Support cannot exceed 12 Person Months. Does RSS Other Support add up all Active sources of Other Support and provide a sum?
  7. How do I show my effort on a grant that doesn’t pay personnel costs?
  8. How do I show my effort on an equipment-only grant?
  9. What should I do if I’m not sure whether something needs to be included on Other Support?
  10. Should I include start-up support provided by UNMC on Other Support?
  11. When should I include an in-kind contribution in Facilities and Other Resources, and when should I include it on Other Support?
  12. Should I list institutional resources, such as core facilities or shared equipment that are made broadly available, on Other Support?
  13. Do I have to provide effort information for in-kind support?
  14. What types of agreements with a foreign entity need to be attached to Other Support?
  15. Will the information in the new RSS Other Support functionality pull information from the old Other Support functionality?
  16. Once I enter information into the new RSS Other Support functionality, will it be available for future versions of Other Support?
  17. Who can generate Other Support for an investigator?
  18. Who can sign Other Support for an investigator?
  19. Does the header and footer need to be removed when Other Support is being submitted as part of a competitive application?
  20. Can I reorder my projects?
  21. Can I exclude active project

1. Is use of RSS to generate Other Support for the NIH required? Can I use another method?

UNMC requires the use of RSS to generate Other Support for the NIH. Other methods are not to be used. RSS meets the NIH requirement to maintain supporting documentation to reasonably authenticate that the appropriate individual signed the form. UNMC must make this documentation available to the NIH upon request. The NIH does not accept wet ink or typed name signatures.

2. Is use of RSS to generate Other Support for non-PHS agencies required?

No, for non-PHS agencies, please follow the sponsor’s instructions for Other Support.

3. Is use of the new RSS Other Support functionality required for non-UNMC collaborators?

If we are submitting Other Support documents for another entity (e.g. subrecipient), we must rely on the other entity’s process for electronic signatures. UNMC SPA will not submit an Other Support document for which the investigator’s signature appears to be wet ink, typed, or a paste/insert of a graphic file.

4. Why is Sponsored Programs Administration taking longer to review Other Support?

The NIH has stated that if issues of noncompliance with the new Other Support instructions are identified, the NIH may take the following actions: withdrawing approval of personnel, imposing specific award conditions, disallowing costs, withholding future awards, and possibly suspending or terminating the award.

5. What do I do if the data pulled from Sponsored Programs Administration’s records is incorrect?

Work with your administrator to submit a ticket to SPA using the Ticker “Submissions Form” and the “! Data Concern for Other Support docs” type, or send an email to spadmin@unmc.edu with “! Data Concern for Other Support docs” in the subject line.

Please note, Sponsored Programs Administration’s data is based on information that was provided to us via ADIS Internal Forms and sponsor documents. Before SPA can change institutional data, we will have to validate it against sponsor data.

6. Active sources of Other Support cannot exceed 12 Person Months. Does RSS Other Support add up all Active sources of Other Support and provide a sum?

No, RSS Other Support has been built to align with the NIH instructions. The NIH Other Support example does not include a sum. Please be sure to add up all Active sources of Other Support before submitting to SPA for review and submission to sponsor. SPA will not submit an Other Support if Active sources exceed 12 Person Months, unless the Overlap statement addresses it.

7. How do I show my effort on a grant that doesn’t pay personnel costs?

Enter your effort on the project, even if the sponsor doesn’t pay for it.

8. How do I show my effort on an equipment-only grant?

If there is no associate effort, please enter 0.

9. What should I do if I’m not sure whether something needs to be included on Other Support?

Contact Sponsored Programs Administration to discuss the specifics. The NIH advises that, in the interest of full transparency, we should err on the side of disclosure.

10. Should I include start-up support provided by UNMC on Other Support?

No, UNMC start-up packages are not included on Other Support.

11. When should I include an in-kind contribution in Facilities and Other Resources, and when should I include it on Other Support?

If the in-kind contribution is intended to be used for the project, it should be included in Facilities and Other Resources. If the in-kind contribution is not intended to be used for the project, it should be included on Other Support.

12. Should I list institutional resources, such as core facilities or shared equipment that are made broadly available, on Other Support?

Institutional resources that are, in one’s professional judgement, broadly available should be included in Facilities and Other Resources, not Other Support.

13. Do I have to provide effort information for in-kind support?

In-kind support must show at least either an estimated dollar value or estimated effort.

14. What types of agreements with a foreign entity need to be attached to Other Support?

Attach agreements specific to foreign appointments, affiliations, or employment with a foreign institution.

15. Will the information in the new RSS Other Support functionality pull information from the old Other Support functionality?

Yes, the new RSS Other Support functionality pulls Major Goals/Aims information from the old Other Support functionality (if available).

16. Once I enter information into the new RSS Other Support functionality, will it be available for future versions of Other Support?

Yes, for that investigator. However, if you delete manually-entered information on the most recent version of Other Support saved, it will no longer be available for future versions. Also, each time you generate an Other Support document, it will pull the most-recent institutional data (if available).

17. Who can generate Other Support for an investigator?

Any user can generate an Other Support document for an investigator. Only the investigator can sign and finalize their Other Support. If you are gathering Other Support documents for a proposal with key personnel from other UNMC units, SPA recommends you coordinate with the respective key personnel’s department administrators.

18. Who can sign Other Support for an investigator?

Only the investigator can sign and finalize their Other Support because it is a legal certification as to the truth and accuracy of the information therein.

19. Does the header and footer need to be removed when Other Support is being submitted as part of a competitive application?

Per the NIH: The margins should not present an issue when submitting the Other Support document.

20. Can I reorder my projects?

Yes, use the blue arrows to move your projects up and down. Note: The NIH does not specify a certain order of items within each section.

21. Can I exclude active projects?

Yes, in certain circumstance. Click the “Exclude” button and provide the reason the active project should not be included on Other Support. Possible reasons include:
Note: if prior approval was needed but not received for a reduction in effort to 0%, then SPA will not be able to submit the Other Support document.