An Interagency Personnel Agreement (IPA) is a funding mechanism for the VA to reimburse the Department at UAB for a portion or all of the salary and fringe benefits of a UAB employee (faculty or non-faculty) working on sponsored research projects funded by the VA. The goal of this type of agreement is to strengthen the relationship between UAB and the VA by the temporary assignment of UAB skilled personnel to work with the VA; the goal being a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties, e.g. the use of new technologies to solve governmental problems and provide experience to the UAB employee that will enhance his or her performance in their job at UAB.

IPAs can be made for a period of up to two (2) years and can be extended for an additional two (2) year period. Please allow at least thirty (30) days from the date the IPA agreement is generated by the VA for the processing and execution of the agreement.

Any significant changes in an employee’s duties, responsibilities, salary, or work location must be recorded as a modification to the original agreement. Minor changes, such as annual salary increases or change in benefit rates are processed via a standard VA memorandum.

VA IPA Initiation and Process

The VA Investigator notifies the VA and the Department at UAB of the UAB employee they would like to place on an IPA.

• Post Docs and Graduate Students cannot be on an IPA.
• The UAB employee must be a 01 or 03 status employee for at least 3 months or 90 days.
• Those residing in the US on a student visa cannot be placed on an IPA.
• The Department initiates the process with a letter or email to the VA.
• The letter includes the employee’s name, salary, fringe, work location and supervisor.
• The VA generates the agreement and sends it to the Department.
• The Department has the employee sign an original and generates a UAB checklist.
• The Department submits the IPA and Checklist to the OSP.
• OSP Data Entry enters the submission into IRAP. A project number (OSP Assigned Number) is automatically assigned.
• OSP reviews and signs the UAB checklist and the IPA and then calls the VA for pick-up of the original.
• After being signed by the VA, the fully executed original is sent to the OSP.
• Fully executed copies are distributed to the PI, Award Manager and G&C Accounting.

VA IPA Termination

When terminating an IPA, the VA must be notified as soon as possible so that the termination memorandum can be generated and the account closed.

• The Department notifies the VA of the request to terminate.
• The VA issues a termination memorandum.
• OSP reviews the termination memorandum and forwards to G&C Accounting to close the account.

Please direct questions regarding VA IPAs to your officer or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NOTE: The VA will not pay indirect costs on an IPA.