13-1000 Vice President - Agriculture and Natural Resources Contract and Grant Authority

13-1010 Delegation of Contract and Grant Authority

Based on the authority granted in Section 100.4(dd) of the Standing Orders of the Regents, the President has delegated to the Vice President--Agriculture and Natural Resources the authority to solicit and accept or execute certain extramural grants and contracts. The delegation of authority states in part:

The authority granted to the President in Standing Order 100.4(dd) is delegated to you as Vice President--Agriculture and Natural Resources, in your area of responsibility and to the extent described below, as it pertains to extramural grants and contracts for research, scholarly or professional training, or for public service programs relating either to research or to scholarly or professional training not exceeding $5,000,000 in direct costs in any one project year. For purposes of this delegation, the term grant includes grants from private sources, but excludes gifts as defined in the Policy Guidelines for Review of Gifts/Grants for Research issued by the President on July 8, 1980.

Within the scope of this delegation, you are authorized to solicit and accept or execute such grants and contracts, including the signing of related documents as necessary, except those grants, contracts, or related documents which contain provisions falling within the restrictions and limitations set forth in Standing Order 100.4(dd). Notwithstanding Standing Order 100.4(dd)(9), you may execute State of California Standard Agreements which include an indemnity clause under which the University assumes liability for the conduct of persons other than University personnel.

In addition, in your area of responsibility, you are authorized to act for the President in those instances when the President has authority granted by The Regents to solicit and accept or execute grants and contracts, including the signing of related documents as necessary, except when those grants, contracts, or related documents include an arrangement for indirect costs which changes the rates or bases thereof as promulgated by the President.

13-1020 Restrictions on Vice President - Agricultural and Natural Resources Contract and Grant Authority by Board of Regents

Exceptions to the contract and grant authority of the President of the University, which require specific authorization by resolution of the Board, are stated in Standing Order 100.4(dd)(1) through (9) (see Section 13-510).  The delegation of authority to the Vice President--Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) includes the same restrictions as outlined in Standing Order 100.4(dd)(1) through (9).  The delegation does not include powers granted to the President of the University by subsequent amendments to the Standing Orders, as does the delegation of authority to the Provost and Executive Vice President—Academic Affairs (see Section 13-610). However, the delegation to the Vice President--Agriculture and Natural Resources does include authority to execute agreements and subsequent modification once Regents approval has been secured.

13-1030 Administrative Restrictions on Vice President - ANR Contract and Grant Authority

The only restriction imposed by the President of the University on the delegation of contract and grant authority to the Vice President--Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is “except when those grants, contracts, or related documents include an arrangement for indirect costs which changes the rates or bases thereof as promulgated by the President.”

13-1040 Review for Legal Sufficiency

The delegation of contract and grant authority from the President to the Vice President-- Agriculture and Natural Resources states:

A critical factor in processing contracts and grants is the review for legal sufficiency. Responsibility for accomplishing that review must be assigned specifically as a part of any redelegation by you. Attached is a copy of a pertinent Office of General Counsel memorandum dated March 27, 1974 which provides guidance on this particular point.

Whenever there is any question as to whether a particular grant or contract requires legal review, General Counsel's advice shall be obtained.

See Sections 13-331 and 13-334 for the role of the Office of General Counsel, and Section 13- 333 for the text of the Checklist used for reviewing for legal sufficiency.

It is the responsibility of ANR Contract and Grant Officers who have delegated authority to sign agreements to make the determination as to whether the agreement requires advice from the Office of General Counsel, and if it does, to obtain this advice prior to execution.