Congratulations to the ERSO January 2016 SPOT Award winners.

Anne Anderssen
Dalene Cory
Derek Johnson
Elena Pozdniakova
Farah Pranawahadi
Henry Wong
Mary Cuison
Yulia Golubovskaya

These individuals showed exemplary contributions and demonstration of one or more of UC Berkeley's Operating Principles:
We include and excel, together.
We imagine and innovate.
We simplify.
We are accountable to each other.
We focus on service.

We will recognize more SPOT award recipients in June 2016. Nominations can be submitted anytime through May 6, 2016 to cssrecognition@berkeley.edu. Program information is available on the CSS Recognition webpage. In addition to recognizing your colleagues' contributions through the SPOT award program, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to also recognize your colleagues through the Scoop Salute, High Fives and Kudos programs. Please contact gangl@berkeley.edu with any questions, comments, or feedback on any of these programs.

Effective January 1, 2016, the maximum per person amounts for the reimbursement of travel and entertainment have been increased. (BUS-79), the new rates are:

Entertainment Meals
For Entertainment (BUS-79), the new rates are:

Travel Meals
The daily meal and incidental expense (M&IE) cap for travel within the U.S (CONUS), under BFB G-28, the amount has increased to $74. As a reminder, travelers may seek reimbursement only for their actual expenses in accordance with existing travel policy.

The annual closure of the campus to conserve energy will occur this year from Thursday, December 24, 2015 through Friday, January 1, 2016. ERSO is observing campus closure dates.

Purchasing Services

To ensure POs will be placed (i.e. sent to vendor) prior to December 23rd, please submit your purchase requests:

• before Wednesday, December 16th for orders under $5K;
• before Friday, December 11th for orders between $5K - $100K;
• within 16-business hours for BearBuy catalog vendors;
• contact Alice Wong, alicew@berkeley.edu, to discuss your specific requirements on orders over $100K.

Deadlines are based on receipt of complete order; incomplete requests will delay order placement.

Receiving Services

Shipments received at 266 Sutardja Dai Hall by Friday, December 18th will be delivered by Wednesday, December 23rd. Any shipment received after Friday, December 18th will be delivered by Tuesday, January 5th. If you have any questions, please contact ERSOpurchasing@erso.berkeley.edu.

Sponsored Project Office

The Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) will be closed during the campus energy curtailment beginning at noon on Friday, December 18, 2015 through Friday January 1, 2016 and will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2016. The revised schedule for proposal submissions is available at: http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/procedures/winter_curtailment.html

A warm welcome to Sara Rivera, who started with ERSO Payroll Services on 8/17/15. Having over 15 years of payroll experience, with the last 8 years working at UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science and Campus Shared Services, we are excited to have her as part of our team! Sara with be working in 197M Cory Hall. She can be reached by calling 642-9928, or by emailing sara_rivera@berkeley.edu.

CRA Certificate Recipient - Congratulations to Anthony Stamos who was just awarded the title Certified Research Administrator by the Research Administrator's Certification Council. He participated in ERSO's CRA Study Group which met October 2014 - May 2015 before taking the exam in May. Way to go Anthony!

http://www.cra-cert.org/

ERSO extends a warm welcome to Sarah Runyon. Sarah joined us on April 6, 2015 as a Research Administrator (RSO) with Jane Doyle's team. She brings her expertise in Contracts and Grants management to us from having been in the Division of Humanities at the University of Chicago. Prior to going to the "windy city" she worked in the Sponsored Programs office at our sister campus UC Davis. Sarah's office is in 3119 Etcheverry and she can be reach by phone at 642-4993 or by e-mail sarunyon@berkeley.edu.

Please join me in congratulating Alice Wong as she officially steps into the Purchasing Supervisor role for ERSO. For the past year, Alice has been serving in this role on an interim basis and effective March 16th, she took over in an official capacity after a successful competitive recruitment process. Alice brings a wealth of experience in supply chain management including low value goods and services, as well as delegation as a campus buyer. Congratulations Alice.

Every Friday at noon come meet at UCB's beautiful Edwards Track and walk or run with some of your colleagues. Thanks to Henry Wong and Anthony Stamos for this great idea. We have done this a couple of Fridays and want to include any others who might be interested. Take a Vitamin D and fresh air break. The sunrays on your skin will give you a natural Vitamin D boost.

Christina (TINA) Ochoa officially retired on 1/30/15. Tina left her office on January 29th but graciously "stayed with us" until February 25th. Tina devoted 28 years in the field of contracts and grants management at UCB. We were fortunate to have her work with us for the last six years. Her dedication and expertise will be remembered and she will be greatly missed. It is now time for her to enjoy the good life.

Thank you Tina for all your hard work.

In the past these contracts were directed to the Office of Risk Services for review.
Starting immediately, please:

• Submit event contracts a minimum of two weeks prior to first payment due date, to allow sufficient time for review.
• In BearBuy, complete the Off-Campus Events form and attach the contract and required documentation (Entertainment Form, host signature, attendees list) in your cart submission.
• For contract review only in advance of payment, send the contract to ersotravelhelp@erso.berkeley.edu.

Please send questions about contract reviews to ersotravelhelp@erso.berkeley.edu.