Re: definitions of equipment Audree Hughes 23 Mar 2004 13:15 EST
Our organization has established its own definition on when to consider an item as permanent equipment (>$2K, >2yrs) and that is how we prepare our budgets. Not knowing which Fed agency to which you are referring - NSF allows deviation from their >$5K, >1yr definition. The NSF GPG 04-2, pg 21 specifically says "unless the organization has established lower levels". You can always explain your established policy in your budget narrative. If you add these items to your Supply line instead of the Equipment line, then aren't you including these expenses in your IDC calculation as opposed to "non-IDC bearing permanent equipment?" When the expense comes in after award, how will these costs be treated by your accounting system? As a supply or as an equipment purchase? Just something to consider. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audree S. Hughes Sr. Grant & Contract Administrator Team Leader, Pre-Award Services ODU Research Foundation (757) 683-4293 ext. 604 fax (757) 683-5290 email: xxxxxx@odu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RESADM-L Member <xxxxxx@SBLHS.OR To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG G> cc: Sent by: Research Subject: [RESADM-L] definitions of equipment Administration List <xxxxxx@HRINET. ORG> 03/23/2004 12:41 PM Please respond to Research Administration Discussion List Hi, all - We are preparing a proposal submission to a federal agency which uses a definition for equipment which differs from the applicant organization's definition. (Feds use unit cost of $5,000 or greater & usable life of > 1 yr., and applicant organization uses unit cost of $1,000 or greater & usable life of > 1 yr). How do I reconcile these differences in the proposal budget? My inclination is to include our request for items > $1,000 but less than $5,000 in the Supply category of the budget and add a note that the applicant organization's policy requires that expenditures for items > $1,000 unit cost be treated as equipment. Does this cause a post-award nightmare for either the funding agency or the grantee? -------------------------- Molly Daniel Interim Manager, Healthier Communities Programs Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center 1000 Health Center Drive Mattoon, IL 61938 phone: 217-258-2195 fax: 217-258-4135 email: xxxxxx@sblhs.org web: www.sarahbush.org ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================