Wendy,

I think you hit the nail on the head: "they...were written into the
proposal".  That's the key.  It doesn't guarantee that an auditor won't
dispute the necessity of cell phone charges, but it's a "best effort" to
think through the needed expenses and present them up front.  Every time
I've run into the use of cell phones it has been after the grant is
started, not in the budget, and pretty much as a "convenience" for
people who are on the road alot.  In that case, I won't allow any
charges but those directly attributable to the work and definitely not
the cost of the service.

Ruth Tallman

"Wendy A. Lawrence-Fowler" wrote:

> Great question - we have looked at this issue a couple of
> times....particularly after one of our PIs purchased a number of cell
> phones. In this case, they were used directly in the research for
> wireless connections from a remote location; they were used to create
> a wireless infrastructure supporting the work and were written into
> the proposal as such (both the cost of the cost of the phones and the
> service).
>
> Wendy A. Lawrence-Fowler, Ph.D.
>
> Assoc. VP for Research
>
> University of Texas-Pan American
>
> Edinburg, TX  78539
>
> Email: xxxxxx@panam.edu
>
> Phone: 956.381.2889
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Kris E. Rhodes [mailto:xxxxxx@UKY.EDU]
> Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 12:09 PM
> To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
> Subject: [RESADM-L] cell phones as a direct cost
>
> Hello Colleagues,
>
> If cell phones are typically in your F&A pool, can you describe
> potential situations where you would consider a cell phone justified
> as a direct cost on a sponsored project?
>
> We have taken the position that the extensive travel itself is not a
> sufficient justification.  We have allowed cell phones in the rare
> instances where an outreach worker's activities would place them in
> life or limb jeopardy and access to a cell phone could have the
> potential to mediate the extent of that risk.  We have also provided
> guidance that the "minutes package" should be consistent with use to
> mediate life or limb jeopardy situation.
>
> Would you consider the fact that the outreach activity would not be a
> service typically provided by the institution a sufficient
> circumstance to create a justification for a cost incurred for a
> different purpose?
>
>
>
> ______________________________________
> Kris E. Rhodes, CRA
> Associate Director
> Office of Sponsored Projects Administration
> University of Kentucky
> 213 Kinkead Hall
> Lexington, KY  40506-0057
> Phone: 859-257-4826  Fax: 859-323-1060
> http://www.rgs.uky.edu/ospa/ospamain.htm
>
> You would think we work in a business where millions of
> dollars and careers are on the line everyday
> - you know what, we do!
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