The information that follows is specifically related to the procurement of goods and services in support of an approved tri-agency grant award. Each of these agencies provides funding for approved research initiatives. Funding is subject to the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide.
The tri-agencies include:
- Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) that reports to Parliament through the Ministry of Industry
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) that reports to Parliament through the Ministry of Industry
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) an arm's-length agency of government, and accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Health
The administration of funds granted by these agencies is carried out by the researcher or Principal Investigator (Grant Holder), York University and the Agency. Grant administration is guided by the Memorandum of Understanding on the Roles and Responsibilities in the Management of Federal Grants and Awards.
Representatives of the agencies conduct periodic monitoring visits to ensure that York has established appropriate procedures, systems and controls to ensure that agency policies and requirements are followed. Administrative, personnel and accounting procedures must conform to the standards, practices and policies of York University.
Using grant or award funds for purposes inconsistent with the policies of the agencies; misappropriating grants and award funds; contravening agency financial policies, namely the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide, and agency grants and awards guides; or providing incomplete, inaccurate or false information on documentation for expenditures from grant or award accounts all constitute breaches of the Agencies’ policies.
The information that follows is specifically related to the procurement of goods and services in support of an approved Tri-Agency grant award.
The Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) looks to both the researcher or principal investigator (PI) and York to provide:
- Evidence that research funds are managed in accordance with Tri-Agency policies, regulations and guidelines.
- Evidence that York University has policies, controls and systems in place to ensure that research funds are well-managed.
- Evidence that researchers are compliant with all the requirements throughout the grant life-cycle.
Minimum Requirements
Research/Pi Responsibility
- Exercise good economic management
- Know the rules
- Keep agencies up-to-date about eligibility status
- Submit reports
- Acknowledge agency support
York University Responsibility
- Provide grant holders with infrastructure and administrative support
- Implement policies, systems and controls
- Know the rules
- Look to the agencies for clarifications
- Keep agencies up-to-date about eligibility status
- Submit reports
Where acquisitions of goods and services (including external consultants) are required, the tri-agency has prescribed a number of activities that key institutional areas are responsible for during the Application Stage (PDF) and the Post Award Stage (PDF) of the grant process.
Eligible/Ineligible Goods & Services
Know what items and services can be purchased on Tri-agency grants.
How to purchase Tri-agency funded expenditures
Understand the approval process when procuring goods on a Tri-agency grant.