FAQ

Bulls iResearch is comprehensive suite of software solutions powered by the Huron Research Suite™ that is designed to facilitate exceptional research administration service delivery and compliance. In a complex regulatory environment, this suite will streamline research management at the University of South Florida.

As regulations, requirements, and compliance needs change, USF needed to optimize the research administration processes to effectively serve the research enterprise.

Implementing Bulls iResearch allowed USF to meet the deferred needs of the research enterprise, and fortify it to meet the anticipated growth the research portfolio in the future.

The suite is designed to improve proposal and grant management processes, and focuses on several key areas:

• Creating transparency and dashboard-visibility into processes and workflows
  
  
• Reducing overall time and effort required to submit proposals, and accept awards
  
  
• Optimizing processes and workflows to expedite access to awarded funding, ultimately enabling research to begin sooner
  
  
• Providing a uniform system and workspace that allows faculty, administrative staff, and central office personnel to administer research from a single environment
  
  
• Improving the overall user experience and satisfaction with the grants and contract processes.

The system offers several key benefits:

Streamlined Grants Management

• The system is a flexible, scalable, and configurable electronic grants management system.
  
  
• It simplifies the entire sponsored project lifecycle, from proposal submission to post-award management.
  
  
• The robust workflow ensures transparency.
  
  
• System-to-system transmission increases the likelihood of successful submissions to Grants.gov on the first attempt.

Efficiency and Accuracy

• Eliminates redundant data entry and reduces errors.
  
  
• Standardize budget preparation while complying with institutional and sponsor requirements.
  
  
• Automates proposal creation by repurposing existing data.
  
  
• Minimize review time through workflow processes.

Seamless Proposal Submission

• System-to-system eSubmissions to Grants.gov  (for grant Federal opportunities)
  
  
• Ensures the first submission is accurate and complete with validation checks, including verification by Grants.gov.
  
  
• Simplifies the process for researchers and administrators alike.

Organizational Benefits

• Relieves administrative burden: Free up time for core research activities
  
  
• Facilitates communication: Enhances collaboration between departmental, central, and ancillary offices and reviewers.
  
  
• Improves data continuity: From award setup to closeout.
  
  
• Is a hosted, software-as-a-service, which means Huron is responsible for maintaining the system, updating forms, and managing external changes – USF benefits from always having the latest version, and a nearly 100% up-time without committing additional resources to maintaining the system.

The degree to which you use Bulls iResearch will vary depending on your role (PI, URA, Reviewer, Approver, etc.), but in general all proposal development, routing, review, approvals, and submission, as well as award acceptance, negotiation, review, approval, and modifications are handled within Bulls iResearch. This system replaces the USF Internal Form, as well as several legacy forms and processes, such as the Grant Budget Release (GBR), and Underwrite forms and processes.

To learn more about how your role is impacted, sign up for Bulls iResearch training.

The system also sends automated e-mail notifications alerting users to a task needing action. From that e-mail, you can click a link that directs you to the specific proposal, award, or agreement workspace needing your attention.

End users also have a dashboard in Bulls iResearch that shows items in process, and those needing action.

In addition to e-mail status updates, users are able to view the status and a graphical workflow that represents where the item is in the process within the Bulls iReserach workspace.

1. Process begins with Draft.
2. Then go to Department Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Clarification Requested and back to Department Review.
3. Go to Specialist Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Clarification Requested and back to Specialist Review.
4. Go to Sponsor Review.
   1. If necessary, go to Changes Required and back to Sponsor Review.
5. Go to Complete.

Users are also able to identify history, review notes, send status updates, communicate with their assigned specialist (SRA), and access files and information, in one single place.

Yes, there are some changes to USF business processes including the following:

• The way Advance Accounts (underwrites) are processed
  
  
• The award and project numbering structure, etc.
  
  
• Reporting data-sources and infrastructures

These changes are addressed in detail in campus-wide training. Sign up for training.

Yes! Bulls iResearch provides additional tools and resources, such as:

• Deliverable tracking, reporting, and reminders: PIs or departmental staff have the option to track progress reports, deliverables, or reminders via Bulls iResearch, setting automated reminders and tracking to completion.
  
  
• Document and file storage: Bulls iResearch provides a portal to store project-related files and paperwork, that can be viewed only by assigned study and support staff, and the central office.

Bulls iResearch is available, as of early May 2024.

USF has made a significant investment in improving the research administration infrastructure. To ensure continuity of processes, data, and workflows, all research administered at the University of South Florida is using Bulls iResearch.

Transition planning has been accounted for, and a mechanism is available for an introductory grace period in which PIs and Research Administrators can utilize Bulls iResearch after their proposal has been successfully submitted.

After the initial grace period it will be expected that all proposals and awards flow through Bulls iResearch workflows.

Multiple training sessions are available. Sign up for training.

A host of resources are available including a System Introduction and Overview, Quick Guides, Recorded Training Sessions, and more. Access the Bulls iResearch resources.

Various forms of support, including live-chat, and a support hotline are available online.

We need your help to make sure USF is ready for Bulls iResearch. You can help by:

• Signing up for training opportunities
  
  
• Encouraging faculty and staff to attend training opportunities
  
  
• Sharing information and presentations about Bulls iResearch
  
  
• Adding Bulls iResearch as a topic to your staff meetings and listserves.
  
  
• Inviting USF Research and Innovation to present to your staff, committees, and work groups!
  
  
• Sharing suggestions for how we can reach others!