Understanding Award-Specific Audit: A Comprehensive Legal Overview
Definition & Meaning
An award-specific audit is a focused examination of a single Technology Investment Agreement (TIA). This type of audit is typically requested by the agreements officer to address specific issues that may arise during or after the execution of a research project. Unlike a periodic audit, which assesses multiple awards or participants over time, an award-specific audit concentrates solely on one individual award.
Legal Use & context
Award-specific audits are primarily used in the context of federal grants and agreements, particularly within the Department of Defense. These audits help ensure compliance with the terms of the TIA and can be critical in resolving disputes or uncertainties regarding the use of funds. Legal professionals may encounter this term in areas related to government contracting and grant management. Users can manage some aspects of this process using templates from US Legal Forms, which provide guidance on necessary documentation and procedures.
Real-world examples
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: A university receives a TIA to conduct research on renewable energy. Midway through the project, the agreements officer requests an award-specific audit to clarify the use of funds after discrepancies are noted in expense reports.
Example 2: A defense contractor is subject to an award-specific audit after concerns arise regarding compliance with contract terms during the project execution (hypothetical example).