Seriously, there is insufficient information presented to make a reasonable statement on allowability.  The person is going to be "...doing research in Alaska."  Fairbanks?  Anchorage?  North slope?  Interior?  We don't know.  The risks are different in all of them. 
 
The items to be purchased included "...a holster..." which is indicative of a hand gun. As a former hunter/gun owner, I wouldn't even want to confront a bear with a hand gun. I still strongly believe that the largest risk to anyone working in Alaska's wilderness areas is not the 4-legged variety, but rather 2-legged and weather.  Both of these can be aided by a good guide. 
 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16366198 
 
This publication by NIH incidates that in the US in a period between 1991 and 2000 there were 12,400 non-fatal injuries and illnesses related to animals in the USA, most of those by domesticated farm animals.  During this period in Alaska, there were 43 animal-related injuries or illnesses and 25 animal-related fatalities.  Of the fatalities, 2 were fatal instances.  One was by bear, one by a bird strike that felled a plane carrying 24 persons. 
 
Take extra rations, warm clothing, a guide.  Leave the gun. Greg Schmidt

GKS Consulting, LLC
703-346-5696



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Nov 16, 2009 12:39:16 PM, xxxxxx@hrinet.org wrote:

This response and Paul Parker's response makes sense, but it seems like the researcher in question wants ammo and a box for his own, personal weapon, which is a handgun - not like one even the feds would pay for. To me, it's still a personal expense and the grant should not fund it. Was funding for “personal defense” in the proposal budget? I’m thinking if not, then again, it’s not allowable.



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-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On Behalf Of Holmberg, Janet
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 12:25 PM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable Cost?



I worked with a PI at SDSU who does research in the Alaskan tundra for

months at a time.  On at least one proposal I did, if not more, we

requested, and received, a rifle and ammunition from NSF's Arctic

Program (as I remember there is a long-term project funded in Alaska

that provided said items) because they were necessary for protection.

Sorry, been a few years now since I worked on this project so I don't

remember the name of the NSF program that provided the gun and ammo, but

it was provided and allowable.  For this project the researchers stay in

a very remote area for months at a time (the kind of place where a plane

comese in every few weeks to leave food and supplies) so the possibility

of animal issues is definitely there.

janet



Janet Holmberg

Grants & Contracts Specialist

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

505 348-9507



-----Original Message-----

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On

Behalf Of Cappellucci, James E.

Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 10:08 AM

To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org

Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Allowable Cost?



It is a personal cost, not allowable on a grant.



________________________________



From: Research Administration List on behalf of Lori Johnson

Sent: Mon 11/16/2009 10:45 AM

To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org

Subject: [RESADM-L] Allowable Cost?





Hello,

     I was wondering if I could get your help on a question of allowable

costs.

We have a PI that is doing research in Alaska.  He wants to purchase

ammunition,

a holster and a travel box on grant funds for his personal firearm. 

The justification for the expense is protection against bears.

 

Would you all consider that an allowable grant expense?

Thanks.

Lori Johnson

 



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