Tania,
This IS interesting. Actually, I don't think it is unreasonable to put some
of the cost of the unrecoverable equipment on the grant. It is justifiable
that, due to the nature of the work (and the ocean), a certain percentage of
the equipment will be lost. We do it with computers on a grant that is 48
months long, for instance. We put computer purchases in the first year and
computer replacement/upgrade in the 3rd year, and it gets funded.
You could propose that you will need to throw 5 widgets overboard in 3
years. Based on past experience, only 3 are recoverable, so you budget for
7 widgets.
Good luck,
Ruth Tallman
"Tania H. Clucas" wrote:
> This is a little interesting.
>
> I work with Oceanographers. They frequently, DELIBERATELY, throw very
> expensive equipment overboard, and hope that they can find it a year or
> so later. Most of the time we do find it. Sometimes we don't.
>
> Our institution is self-insured.
>
> We've had to file claims for four lost moorings this year. Our Risk
> Management office is starting to say that they are going to require us
> to put language/a provision in our awards to provide funds for
> replacement of lost equipment.
>
> My opinion - they're smoking something. That is totally ludicrous and
> unreasonable and they can in no way require us to do this, and no agency
> would. The adjusters in our Risk office are trying really hard to get
> out of paying the bill.
>
> My other opinion - We can start buying all of our equipment with
> unrestricted funds, and then this won't be an issue. But that will never
> happen.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on what I can do to prove to them (the
> campus adjusters) that they are barking up the wrong tree? I've told
> them that the equipment is owned by us, it's our responsibility. I feel
> like we should send them to some NPMA meetings or something.
>
> Other options - privately insure the moorings, and include fees for
> insurance in awards? We include the fees for hazardous duty insurance in
> our awards, I guess we could consider fees for the insurance of this
> equipment at risk (or at least engaging in risky behavior).
>
> Thanks for your thoughts,
>
> Tania
> --
> Accountability and accounting are not the same thing
>
> Tania H. Clucas, CRA mailto:xxxxxx@sfos.uaf.edu
> Sponsored Programs Manager Voice 907.474.6736
> School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Fax 907.474.7204
> University of Alaska Fairbanks http://www.sfos.uaf.edu
>
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