Dear Val (and colleagues):

I asked my ONR Administrative Contracting Officer for his advice and
counsel, and here is what he said:

"My first thought is that the $5,000 threshold only applies if the
institution's definition of equipment is not lower.

It seems to me that proposals should include details about equipment
planned for acquisition. If the grants officer accepted a proposal with
an amount for unspecified equipment, then I, as AGO reviewing costs,
would ask that GO whether all equipment within the dollar limit would be
considered approved."

Hope this helps,

Maggie, GCS
University of Alaska Fairbanks

At 11:53 AM 8/27/2002 , you wrote:
>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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