Dear ListServers,

I need some help in interpreting a NASA "Grant & Cooperative Agreement
Handbook" clause, 1260.27 -- Equipment and other property. It has been my
understanding that if we wish to purchase equipment costing in excess of
$5,000 that we have not proposed by name, we must have the approval of the
NASA grants officer. ("Acquisition of . . . equipment costing in excess of
$5,000 . . . and not included in the approved budget, requires the prior
approval of the NASA Grant Officer.") This assures that we have approval to
make this purchase and that title to the equipment will vest in the
University.

We presently have two NASA cooperative agreements which contained funds for
unspecified equipment and the grants officers are telling us that as long as
we do not exceed the authorized amount of the equipment allocation, we do
not need to request approval to purchase a specific item.

Is this correct and I do not need specific item purchase approval? Or should
I continue insisting on specific approval?

Val Seaquist
Office of Research Administration
The University of Alabama in Huntsville

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