pFACT
pFACT (Project
Financial, Accounting and Costing Tool) is the software used by the University
to calculate the Full Economic Cost (fEC) of any given project.
pFACT is
a commercial package used by a number of universities within the UK and was introduced into the University of Cambridge
in August 2005 specifically to cost research applications under the fEC regime.
For a full explanation of fEC, please see the University's fEC website.
Training
Coaching sessions
One-to-one coaching sessions are available at 'pFACTory' and the 'Costing
Clinic' and cover various aspects such as how to use pFACT and the procedures
on submitting a research grant application or contract through the Research Operations Office. A session lasts
approximately 1.5 hours.
Consultations
At any
stage during the development of an application,
please contact your School Team to discuss and assist with a particular pFACT project in
relation to the application form or contract/s. These sessions have proved to
be extremely popular and come highly recommended.
If you
would like to book a Coaching Session or a Consultation, please contact pfact.helpdesk@admin.cam.ac.uk or
telephone (7)65432.
Registration of pFACT users
New Standard User - this is for individuals who would like to use pFACT for creating,
amending or submitting project proposals.
Key Contact – this is for
individuals who use pFACT for submitting project proposals, counter-signing all
new standard user registration forms and the dissemination of information generated
by the pFACT Team to all departmental users on an ad-hoc basis. Departments can
nominate more than one pFACT key contact should they wish to do so.
The pFACT environments
The LIVE Environment – this is used when you are ready to develop a project.
Please note that the LIVE environment is to be used for proposals that will go
through to final submission. In all other instances, the PLAY environment
should be utilised.
The PLAY
Environment – once you have attended a coaching session and are using pFACT,
you will be given access to the PLAY environment. This area can be used to
develop various 'scenarios' or merely to brush up on your skills.
pFACT documentation
Documentation
has been developed to assist you in the use of the software, as well as to
guide you in various aspects of grant proposals.
-
pFACT User Guide
pFACT
User Guide contains simple step-by-step
instructions on how to use pFACT.
[NOTE: file last updated on 6 January 2011]
Release Notes: Amendments
-
pFACT Reports
contains a comprehensive breakdown of all the reports to be found in pFACT
[NOTE: file last updated on 1 October 2009]
Release Notes: Change of Research Services Division to Research Office.
-
pFACETS
provides guidance on all aspects of project
generation. It includes a handy workspell calculator, as well as information on
which income template should be used for a particular sponsor.
[NOTE: file last updated on 26 February 2013]
Release Notes: Updated with the new Salary Bandings
-
Troubleshooting in pFACT
contains a list of common questions and problem areas that pFACT users come across.
Should your question not be listed here, please contact the pFACT Helpdesk
(pfact.helpdesk@admin.cam.ac.uk).
[NOTE: file last updated on 6 January 2011]
Release Notes: Additional troubleshooting guidance added.
-
Checklist for Grant Applications
provides guidance on how to put the budget together for your proposal
as well as what makes a good justification of resources and checklists of what needs to be included.
[NOTE: file last updated on 22 December 2010]
Release Notes: Initial release of the Checklist for Applications.
pFACT Helpdesk
Assistance is available from Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) from 08h30 to
16h30. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your queries or concerns
regarding pFACT at pfact.helpdesk@admin.cam.ac.uk
or telephone (7)65432.
- Please include the pFACT project proposal ID number in your email as this will assist us in
expediting your request.
- In order to offer an efficient service and to prioritise the email, please indicate if your
query is of an urgent nature.
Passwords
If your password has expired or you are having trouble logging into pFACT, please
contact pfact.helpdesk@admin.cam.ac.uk
or telephone (7)65432.
Please note that user IDs and passwords must not be shared with anyone. This forms
part of the 'Conditions of Use' that pFACT users sign up for and is also part
of the 'Conditions of Use' of systems within Cambridge. We reserve the right to suspend
the account of anyone who is found in violation of this rule.
Exchange rate
The current exchange rates for use in costing grants are:
1.18 Euros = 1 British Pound
1.53 US Dollars = 1 British Pound
Downtimes
No pending downtimes at present.
Raven
Please be aware that if you use pFACT outside the Cambridge network, you will require a Raven
account. To obtain this or to learn more about Raven, please visit http://raven.cam.ac.uk/
