Actually, NSF now limits salary in proposed budgets to two months per year but doesn’t say anything about summer salary being preferred.        At two presentations of the NSF policy office in the past year,  I have heard staff say that the limitation applies to proposals and does not create a prohibition post award to approving a budget change such as the one you describe.      However, they also say that institutions need to be sure that if they do allow such a budget change (increase in number of months spent on a grant) that they review carefully the following:

-  does such an increase constitute a change in scope?

-  does such a budget change have a negative impact on some other aspect of grant objectives?

-  doe such a budget change impact an outgoing proposal that is subject to the limit of two months per year for all NSF projects?

 

I don’t think that NSF can give express approval for situations that fall under expanded authorities.       But you probably can get the grants management specialist to confirm that you have the right to allow such a change, and the PI could get a program officer to weigh in on whether the plan is “reasonable”.    

 

 

Franci Vinal Farnsworth

Associate Director of Grants & Sponsored Programs
Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT 05753

802.443.5889 

 

 

 

 

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Lori Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 2:47 PM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] NSF Budget Revision

 

Hello,

    Wondering if I could get input/opinions on a requested budget revision.  A PI has an NSF award that granted summer salary for senior personnel.  The PI would now like to re-budget more funds into the salary line to take some academic year salary (a course buy-out) to dedicate more time to the award.

     NSF rules don't indicate this is a revision that needs approval, but they also indicate they usually only award summer salary.

      Would you allow this budget revision without express NSF approval?

Thanks,

Lori Johnson

--

Lori Johnson, MBA
Director, Sponsored Proj Accounting
Idaho State University
PO Box 8219
Pocatello,   ID   83209
PH:  208-282-3899
FAX:  208-282-5923

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