Thank you everyone for the response

Really appreciate it!

Janis Lenox, MBA, CRA

Grants/Contracts Coordinator

Physics Department

Willamette Hall

1371 E. 13^th Ave

Eugene, OR, 97403

xxxxxx@uoregon.edu

Phone: 541-346-4750

Fax: 541-346-5861

Room 120D

From: Totth, Judit <xxxxxx@cardio.chboston.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2019 6:48 AM
To: Janis Lenox <xxxxxx@uoregon.edu>
Subject: FW: [RESADM-L] Question for all about travel expenses on Federal awards [EXTERNAL]

Hi Janis,

I agree with both Heather and Michael that in general the answer would be no. Even if an RFP requires the insurance for emergencies, that is not a supplemental insurance that you buy with a plane ticket, and it should be more of a general coverage that your organization should look into and provide, thus making it an IDC cost. Also, the emergency insurance Michael mentions should also be linked in some ways to the Department of State, in case the government needs to step in for rescue purposes.

If you have a well-established travel agency, they might offer the coverage you need and can charge to the grant, but for the most part, an average supplemental insurance is only good for avoiding cancellation/change fees, which is not the emergency provision Michael mentions.

Let me know, if you have further concerns.

Best,

Judit

Judit Totth

Research Administrator

Clinical Research Unit, BCH Cardiology

617-355-5483

From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@LISTS.HEALTHRESEARCH.ORG] On Behalf Of Michael Spires
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2019 8:15 AM
To: xxxxxx@LISTS.HEALTHRESEARCH.ORG
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Question for all about travel expenses on Federal awards [EXTERNAL]

Expedited processing for visas would be a no, unless there were exigent circumstances (an EAGER grant, for example, to study disaster response where it wouldn’t have been possible to plan ahead and where the investigator needs to get there before all the data are cleaned up). Supplemental travel insurance would be a maybe. As Heather Sears pointed out, most institutions include coverage for employees traveling abroad in their regular plans. However, in certain circumstances that routine coverage might not be enough – and I think I remember seeing at least one RFP that specifically required participants to get supplemental coverage for evacuations (it would’ve involved fieldwork in some very remote areas where the expenses would be higher than usual). But normally not.

Michael Spires, M.A., M.S., CRA
(He/him/his)

Research Development Officer, Sciences

The Research Office

Oakland University

256 Hannah Hall

244 Meadow Brook Road

Rochester, MI 48309-4451

(248) 370-2207

xxxxxx@oakland.edu

Past President, National Organization of Research Development Professionals

I will be out of the office Monday, October 21 and Friday, November 1.

From: Research Administration List <xxxxxx@LISTS.HEALTHRESEARCH.ORG> On Behalf Of Janis Lenox
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 17:12
To: xxxxxx@LISTS.HEALTHRESEARCH.ORG
Subject: [RESADM-L] Question for all about travel expenses on Federal awards

Hi,

I have a question about travel expenses (including visas) on federal awards

Specifically –

1) Premium processing for visas – does your institution allow the premium processing expense on your federal grants:

…………..why or why not?

2) Supplemental travel insurance – this is the insurance that a traveler can buy that will cover such things as medical costs, emergencies and evacuations

- Again –does your institution allow these to be charged to federal grants - why or why not?

I’ve looked for specific regulations on supplemental travel insurance and have not found anything in Uniform Guidance or agency web sites.

Thank you,

Janis