Intellectual Properties, Trademarks and Copyrights ExamREVIEW.NET (a.k.a. ExamREVIEW) is an independent content developer not associated/affiliated with the certification vendor(s) mentioned throughout this book. The name(s), title(s) and award(s) of the certification exam(s) mentioned in this book are the trademark(s) of the respective certification vendor(s). We mention these name(s) and/or the relevant terminologies only for describing the relevant exam process(es) and knowledge. We are NOT affiliated with RACC. This book is also NOT endorsed by RACC. The CRA certification exam is the property of RACC. ExamREVIEW(TM) and ExamFOCUS(TM) are our own trademarks for publishing and marketing self-developed examprep books worldwide. The EXAMREVIEW.NET web site has been created on the Internet since January 2001. The EXAMFOCUS.NET division has its web presence established since 2009. Copyright 2012, 13, 14. ExamREVIEW.NET. All rights reserved. Contents of this book are fully copyrighted. We develop study material entirely on our own. Braindump is strictly prohibited. We provide essential knowledge contents, NOT any generalized "study system" kind of "pick-the-right-answerevery time" techniques or "visit this link" referrals. 1
Contents Update All books come with LIFE TIME FREE UPDATES. When you find a newer version of the purchased book all you need to do is to go and download. Please check our web site s Free Updates section regularly: http://www.examreview.net/free_updates.htm Page Formatting and Typeface To accommodate the needs of those with weaker vision, we use LARGER PRINT throughout the book whenever practical. The text in this book was created using Garamond (size 16). A little bit of page resizing, however, may have happened along the actual book printing process. Exam topics covered According to the Research Administrators Certification Council, the designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA) means that an individual has met the requirements of the Research Administrators Certification Council's eligibility requirements and has demonstrated a level of knowledge necessary for a person to be a professional research or sponsored programs administrator. Exam candidates would have to pass the written examination developed by the Council and administered in the form of computer testing by the Professional Testing Corporation. The multiple choice based examination would test a broad base of fundamental information required to meet the demands and responsibilities of the profession. The examination is based on the Council s comprehensive BOK, which includes topics listed in http://www.cra-cert.org/crabodyofknowledge.html Simply put, a research administrator needs to act as: 2
a contract administrator a negotiator a project manager a record keeper a bookkeeper The CRA exam attempts to assess the knowledge of academic researchers via MC questions - this can become a problem as practical researchers are not always skillful in taking MC tests. ALSO, you must understand that the CRA exam is not about research skills. It is about the overall administration and management of the entire research effort. Therefore, a lot of business management kinds of concept are tested. Having rich academic research background is not enough you have to be a good administrator and manager as well. Keep in mind, managing a research project is no different from managing a traditional business project. All business concepts, principles and practices would apply. The BOK of the exam has a huge scope. Expecting full and complete coverage of all the knowledge items from a single source is unrealistic. You should use this book together with other study resources! Review Questions All review questions can be downloaded via this link: http://www.examreview.net/crabook/crabookpq.zip 3
Table of Contents (2014 Edition) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS...1 CONTENTS UPDATE... 2 PAGE FORMATTING AND TYPEFACE... 2 EXAM TOPICS COVERED... 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS... 3 RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION... 7 JOB ROLE OF A RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR... 7 SPONSORED PROJECTS... 8 PRINCIPLES OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY... 10 TYPES OF SPONSORS... 11 SPONSORSHIP SERVICING AND PROPOSAL...11 OVERALL RESEARCH PLANNING... 12 RESEARCH BUDGET DEVELOPMENT... 15 STANDARD COSTING AND CAS... 18 COST ALLOW-ABILITY... 19 INDIRECT COSTS, F&A COSTS AND G&A ITEMS... 22 TIMING AND METHODS OF AWARD PAYMENT... 23 WHAT FAR IS ALL ABOUT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM A GRANT OR AN AWARD?... 24 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS... 27 OTHER IMPORTANT REGULATIONS... 28 RESEARCH ETHICS & CONDUCTS... 30 CODES AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES... 30 REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF INFORMED CONSENT ELEMENTS...33 CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION RELEASE... 34 DATA PROTECTION PLAN AND INFORMATION CODING/DELINKING... 34 HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE ENVIRONMENT... 35 BIOHAZARD AND RECOMBINANT DNA... 36 HIPAA AND OTHER STANDARDS... 36 RESEARCH PROJECT INVOLVING VERTEBRATE ANIMALS... 38 RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS...39 THE ROLE OF THE ORI AND THE DEFINITIONS IT SPECIFIES...40 RCR... 40 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST...40 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE... 41 MANAGING RESEARCH PROJECTS... 43 OVERVIEW... 43 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND PHASES... 44 PROJECT PROPOSAL AND PROJECT PLAN...46 PROJECT KILL AND HALT POINTS AND OTHER CONTROLS... 47 PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT... 48 MANAGING PROJECT TEAM...51 4
PROJECT RISKS... 52 RESEARCH PROTOCOLS, CONTROLS AND REPORT STRUCTURE... 53 OVERVIEW... 53 SAMPLE RESEARCH REPORT STRUCTURE...56 KNOWLEDGE ON ACQUISITION AND PROCUREMENT... 59 OVERVIEW... 59 REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS...60 PERFORMANCE BASED ACQUISITION PLANNING... 62 SUPPLIER PRE-QUALIFICATION... 64 SOURCE SELECTION PLAN...65 OTHER TOOLS AND METHODS FOR PROCUREMENT... 66 RFP IN DEPTH... 68 METHODS OF PUBLICIZING PROCUREMENT NOTICE... 70 A TYPICAL TENDERING AND BID EVALUATION PROCESS... 71 COMMON PROCEDURES FOR PLACING ORDERS... 72 KNOWLEDGE ON FEDERAL GRANTS... 75 ADMINISTERING CONTRACT... 79 DEFINITIONS... 79 CONTRACT FORM... 82 THE MOST POPULAR FIXED PRICE CONTRACT TYPES... 82 THE MOST POPULAR COST CONTRACT TYPES...83 OTHER POPULAR CONTRACT TYPES... 84 CONTRACT NEGOTIATION...85 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION... 87 SPECIFICATIONS... 89 DELIVERY OR PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS...90 CONTRACT COMPENSATION AND FINANCING... 90 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AND PARENT COMPANY GUARANTEES...93 LONG STOP DATES, COMPENSATION EVENTS AND RELIEF EVENTS... 93 CONTRACT MONITORING, SPECIAL CHANGES AND ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE... 94 CONCERN ON SUBCONTRACTING AND THE STEP IN RIGHTS...96 CONTRACT CLOSEOUT... 97 TERMS OF A TYPICAL RESEARCH AGREEMENT... 98 TERM...99 TERMINATION... 99 PROTECTED INFORMATION...99 INVENTIONS AND LICENSES...100 ASSIGNMENT...101 EXPORT CONTROLS...102 BUSINESS CONTRACT LEGAL ELEMENTS...102 CAPACITY AND INSANITY...104 LEGAL AUTHORITY...104 SOURCE OF LAW AND JURISDICTION...105 OFFER, ACCEPTANCE, AND INVITATION TO TREAT...107 CONSIDERATION...109 DISCHARGING OR INVALIDATING A CONTRACT...111 5
CONTRACTUAL MISTAKES...113 VOID CONTRACT, VOIDABLE CONTRACT, AND UNENFORCEABLE CONTRACT...113 MISREPRESENTATION AND MISTAKE OF FACTS...114 SETTING THE ORDER OF PRECEDENCE...114 ENTIRE AGREEMENT...114 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE...115 CHANGE ORDER PROCEDURES...116 EXPLICITLY SPELLED OUT REMEDIES...116 TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT/CAUSE...117 SATISFACTION CLAUSE...118 OTHER CLAUSES...118 AGENCY RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF LAW...120 ADR...121 SOME IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE UCC ARTICLE 1...123 SOME IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE UCC ARTICLE 2 AND 2A...125 GENERAL BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS...132 BASIC ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES...132 BASIC ACCOUNTING PRACTICES...134 DEPRECIATION AND VALUATION...137 BASIC MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES...138 ORGANIZATION SPAN OF MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT CONTROL...142 BASIC OB MODELS AND THEORIES...144 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT...145 GROUP MANAGEMENT...147 BASIC CHANGE MANAGEMENT...148 BASIC STRATEGIC PLANNING...150 US BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS...151 BASIC BUDGETING...155 OTHER COSTING ACTIVITIES AND METHODS...156 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, ROI AND BENCHMARKING...159 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT...160 COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT...161 BUSINESS NEGOTIATION...163 MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS...164 BASIC MARKETING...165 MANAGING QUALITY...167 LEADERSHIP...169 TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION...170 AGENCY THEORY...173 BUSINESS ETHICS...174 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...175 RECORDS MANAGEMENT...175 MANAGING TIME...176 MANAGING KNOWLEDGE...178 STAFFING...180 RISK MANAGEMENT...182 6