budget basics for administrators
DESCRIPTION
Budget Basics for Administrators. Sean Hine Branch Chief Office of Grants Administration National Cancer Institute June 2014. What we will be discussing:. Let’s discuss some logistics How do you start the request? Electronic submission Discussion of costs Overarching rules - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Budget Basics for Administrators
Sean HineBranch ChiefOffice of Grants AdministrationNational Cancer Institute
June 2014
What we will be discussing: Let’s discuss some logistics
How do you start the request? Electronic submission Discussion of costs Overarching rules
Types of budgets Dive into the nitty-gritty – budget specifics Pre-award considerations After the award
We have an idea for a project…now what? All applications to the NIH must be in
response to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Be sure you understand the specifics of the FOA Including: period of support, type of
budget(s), limits in $ levels, additional reporting, etc.
Abide by any provided submission dates
Welcome to the electronic world! NIH has completed the process of
transitioning all competing applications to the electronic (SF 424) process This includes multi-project proposals More information at the following Guide
Notice: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-075.html
The requirements may change from mechanism to mechanism – be careful!
All about costs A grantee is responsible for following and NIH for
ensuring that all cost considerations are met Ensure your understanding of the applicable cost
principles Particularly with the change to the uniform principles Grantees may shape their own systems as long as the
principles are followed and the CFR standards are met for financial management systems
Four tests for determining allowability:1. Reasonableness2. Allocability3. Consistency4. Conformance
Costs (cont.) Differentiation between a Direct Costs and
Facility & Administrative (indirect) Costs Directs – can be identified to a specific grant,
project, etc. F&A – common or joint costs that cannot be
readily identified with a specific grant More information including discussion on cost
transfers, reimbursement of F&A, specific items of cost, etc. can be found at the following within the NIH Grants Policy Statement: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2013/nihgps_ch7.htm
Costs (cont.) It is NIH’s responsibility as stewards of
Federal funds to ensure that a grantee’s financial management systems are adequate to receive support and that all costs being requested within a proposal are allowable If we have any concerns, we will be in
touch!
Salary Cap Effective Jan. 12, 2014, the salary cap
for Executive Level II has increased to $181,500 Guide Notice announcing the change:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-14-052.html
This level also applies to consortia
General Rules/Considerations Bona Fide Need
In any request, please be sure that the expenses you are including can be reasonably expected to be expended in the request time of support
A budget tells NIH what is needed in terms of $ for the proposed research. It is not used to assess the merit of that research; only accounted after the merit has been established
General Rules/Considerations (cont.) Cost Sharing
Not required Is assumed however when an expense is
listed but there is no reimbursement requested (includes personnel contributing effort exceeding the level of salary support)
Application requesting more than $500,000 Direct Costs (exclusive of consortia F&A) must seek permission from NIH at least six weeks prior to submission Understand the specifics of the FOA
General Rules/Considerations (cont.) Well-funded investigators should discuss
appropriateness and specific-Institute policies prior to submission
Responsibility for the Fiscal Management of the award rests with the award recipient and listed principal investigator(s)
Types of budgets Modular Categorical/Itemized Inclusion of consortia (modular &
categorical) Program specific:
SBIR/STTR Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research
Service Awards – Fellowship & Training Research Career Development Awards
Modular Budgets Availability of use is dependent on mechanism:
R01, R03, R15, R21, R34 and others as identified on FOA
Application and associated review process does not require a detailed (categorical) budget
Capped at $250K direct costs per year (exclusive of consortium F&A costs) If you exceed $250K directs, you are moving to
the categorical budget request If mechanism listed above, modular budget
must be used if at or below $250K
Modular Budgets (cont.) Grantee should begin with a categorical budget
for all years to craft the “module” request Module = $25K direct costs General example: All five years of an R01 budget
is $841,432. The average per year is $168,286. Modular budget request per year (rounding to next module) would be $175,000.
No escalation per year Request may fluctuate if appropriate per FOA or
one-time expense (i.e. equipment) but it should be justified
Modular Budgets (cont.) Full justification on personnel
Personnel should include names, person months and description of role
Include other information as you deem appropriate to assist in clarification of request
Consortia costs are calculated separately but same justification (personnel) requirements apply
Modular Budgets (cont.) A few more things:
If NIH needs further information, even a detailed budget explanation, we may ask for it
The NIH Salary Cap should be accounted for in your calculation/estimate of the number of modules needed
Be thorough in your personnel justification
Time for the details – Categorical Budgets Personnel
Indicate level of effort (calendar months) Provide institutional base salary up to the NIH salary
cap If salary exceeds the cap, welcome to include a
statement indicating as such in the justification Apply applicable fringe benefit for position Explain fluctuations in efforts!
Equipment Generally, expected to be a one-time expense Be sure to comply with institution’s definition of
equipment (NIH defines as $5K or more and an expected life exceeding one year)
Categorical budgets (cont.) Travel
Dependent upon the needs of the research but be sure it provides direct benefit to the project
Must be consistent with institution’s own travel policies
Comply with Fly America Act: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2013/nihgps_ch4.htm#fly_america_act
Participant/Trainee Costs With exception of Training grants, this section
should be left blank unless specifically identified within FOA
Categorical budgets (cont.) Other Direct Costs
Highly dependent upon the type of research being conducted – be realistic!
Must be well justified – explain fluctuations and atypical expenses in the justification section
Include tuition remission in this section
Categorical budgets (cont.) F&A (indirect) costs
Be sure to follow the rate agreement in place at the time of the application explicitly
NIH will utilize whatever rate is in place at the time of award
If the indirect cost base calculation is rather complicated, it may be beneficial to include a brief explanation in the justification
Consortia Expenses Modular budget
May exceed the $250K direct cost limit only for consortia F&A
May round to the nearest $1,000 Beneficial to explain the direct cost need per year Personnel justification still required
Categorical budget Detailed budget and justification similar to the
parent grantee required Regardless, flow/pass-down rules are in effect!
Some Classic Mistakes Did not request permission for submitting
application greater than $500K directs Modular with multiple consortia without a
clear idea as to how much is needed for each site – we need to reflect their costs including appropriate F&A too!
Categorical budget does not justify fluctuations
Application indicates that the grantee is going to take care of the PI’s salary BUT when the award hits, not so much…
Some Classic Mistakes (cont.) The listed calendar months when
applied to the base salary does not equate to requested salary
Base salary exceeds current salary cap Calendar months in budget differs from
justification Costs in budget differ from justification Indirect cost base calculation makes no
sense given rate agreement and costs
Reminder: If you are submitting an R01 and the
request is: At or less than $250K each year, use a
modular format Above $250K in ANY year OR a foreign
(non-US) applicant, use a categorical format
The $250K direct cost limit is exclusive of consortia F&A
Special Programs The following programs have individual
budgeting requirements: SBIR/STTRs NRSA Career (K) awards
Be sure to comply with the specifics of the FOA and the listed budget requirements
Pre-Award Costs Costs associated with a project that are
incurred prior to the receiving of the NIH Award Remember – only the award is a guarantee of the
Federal commitment Allowable up to 90 days prior the start date of a
competing award Beyond 90 days requires prior approval
Cost considerations still apply Incurred at the grantee’s own risk and expense
– no requirement of the Federal government!
You got the $!! Now what? When receiving the award, be sure to:
Check that it was sent to the correct location
Ensure the funds are available in payment management
Understand the level of support - $ and time Account for any terms & conditions; keep an
eye out for any special restrictions on funds Any restricted funds must be tracked by the
grantee separately!
After the award (cont.) Funds not matching what you asked for?
Study section cuts have been applied Can discuss these with your awarding
Institute/Center for reconsideration Funding policies have been put into place
Not appealable and most likely being applied to all (i.e. you are not the only one!)
If there may be necessary changes, be sure to discuss any potential changes in scope to the project with the awarding Institute/Center
After the award (cont.) Build an internal budget utilizing the
information provided in the award Again, be sure to track restricted funds
separately Follow all regulations and policies If you are encountering start-up issues that
may result in a large amount being unspent, have a pro-active discussion with your NIH staff We are here to help!!
Last words… This is all of our Federal tax $ at work – we
have a mutual obligation to take care of it wisely!
There is a lot that goes into putting forward an application and conducting reviews – ask questions prior to help the process go smoothly
For investigators, learn what a great resource your own sponsored programs office can be
Resources NIH Grants Policy Statement (10/13):
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2013/
SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information:https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/
NIH Modular Research Grant Applications:http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm
Thank you!!
QUESTIONS???