I have reviewed for NSF and have several good friends who are retired
program directors. My feedback indicates that you should never waive or
reduce the indirect cost figure. While it may seem to be a gift, it is
really just undermining the institutional daily programs. The indirect
cost figure is based on real costs at the university, and should not be
invalidated by waiving. The university DOES need it, and has to pay the
costs that the figure represents. An alternative practice that might be
preferable to NSF and other federal agencies over waiving the indirect
cost is to support the young investigators with cash -- for travel, for
released time for additional research, for student assistants, for
special equipment, for sustaining the projects --- it is possible to use
amounts that might be equivalent to the indirect cost rate, not exactly
funneling the money over to the young investigators, but essentially
using cash that might be equivalent or less to the indirect cost figure.
That way, the investigators get a special deal in the form of more than
normal institutional support, the indirect cost amount is kept where it
is supposed to be, and the validation of the support for the institution
goes on. Waiving the indirect cost seems to set up a situation where the
institution cannot sustain research. It was negotiated in good faith
with real costs, and it should be received and used judiciously.

Linda Mason, Ed.D.
Coordinator for Grants and
External Funding Assistance
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405-225-9486
800-858-1840
405-225-9230 Fax
xxxxxx@osrhe.edu
web: www.okhighered.org/grant-opps/
IP: 164.58.250.178 (on 24hr/7days/wk)

-----Original Message-----
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@hrinet.org] On
Behalf Of Carol Sprague
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 8:12 AM
To: xxxxxx@hrinet.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] NSF Career Grants

I'm looking for a little information about what others do for their
young investigators to support their career grants.  We traditionally
have waived the overhead on the NSF Career grants to show support of
these young investigators.  We recently had a proposal turned down and
one of the review comments was regarding us not budgeting the overhead.

Although I know this is not the reason it got turned down, the
investigator expressed concern over the negative comment.  With NSF's
change in policy with regards to cost share, we were nervous that we
were putting our grants at risk by not including the overhead.  I know
NSF's intent of the change in cost share policy was to level out he
playing field however, when our faculty talk with their program
officers, they say it is a very acceptable thing to do and they would
award a project that waived the overhead over one that didn't.  Because
we are changing our policy regarding waiving the overhead, our faculty
are really upset and feel that we are not supporting them.  Would others
be willing to share what things your institutions do for these young
investigators to give them the extra support to get them started?  Does
anyone else waive the overhead?

Thank you for any insights!

Carol

--
Carol P. Sprague
Director
University of Massachusetts
Office of Grant & Contract Administration Research Administration
Building 70 Butterfield Terrace Phone 413-545-0698 Fax 413-545-1202

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