Effort Management is a critical component of proper award management and compliance. PIs make a commitment  to sponsors as to what amount of time the PI and key personnel agree to spend on a project. In exchange, the sponsor pays a portion of their salaries based on this effort commitment. 

Sponsored project teams are responsible for both the management of effort commitment of the PI and key personnel, and also the accurate and timely certification that this effort justifies the salaries paid by the sponsor. Federal guidelines and Notice of Awards provide the basis for commitment management, and 2CFR200 outlines requirements for certifying salary and effort are congruent. 

UTMB has a policy in place to manage the commitment levels of PI and key personnel, and ensure that any changes receive the appropriate sponsor approval as necessary.

Effort Reporting is our means of providing assurance to sponsors that salaries charged to sponsored projects are reasonable in relation to the work performed and faculty and staff have met their commitments to sponsored projects. 

UTMB uses the web-based system Effort Certification and Reporting Technology (ECRT) to meet the federal mandate. ECRT integrates financial, payroll, and research administrative functions and is designed to enhance compliance management, improve financial information for academic units through comprehensive reporting.

PIs are required to certify their sponsored effort and that of their support staff who work on their project(s) quarterly.

If you have questions concerning ECRT, please email ecrt.help@utmb.edu.